Question # 562: Salaam Alaykum! I saw your response about wiping over socks during wudu for men. Does the same apply to women, like wiping over their hijab?
Assalamu ‘laikum warahmatullahi wabarakatuh,
All praise and thanks are due to Allah (سبحانه و تعالى), and peace and blessings be upon His Messenger (صلى الله عليه و سلم).
Dear questioner,
First of all, we implore Allah (سبحانه و تعالى) to help us serve His cause and render our work for His sake.
Shorter Answer: Scholars differ on whether women can wipe over their head covers (hijab) during wudu’. The majority, including Malik, say it’s not permissible unless the cover is thin enough for water to penetrate. Also, it is not permitted to wipe over the hijab in the Hanafi and Shafi`i schools. Ibn Hazm (Dhahiri school) permitted wiping over any headwear for both genders, without any reason to do so. The view supported by Ibn Taymiyyah and Shaykh Al-`Uthaymin allows it if the cover is difficult to remove. Ibn Taymiyyah noted two views: one disallowing it for women due to non-clarity in texts and another allowing it based on general permissions for head coverings. Shaykh Al-Uthaymin emphasized leniency if removing the cover poses a difficulty, such as cold weather or potential public exposure.
Therefore, the consensus among the Hanbali madhhab is that a woman is allowed to wipe over her head cover, worn in a state of purity, and that goes under the chin and covers the ear, if removal of it is difficult. There is no need to put the hands under the head cover to wipe them.
Long Answer: The scholars differed concerning the ruling on a woman wiping over her head cover; there are three views:
- The majority—which was also narrated by Ahmad—are of the view that it is not permissible for her to wipe over it only, and they ruled that if she does that, her wudu’ is invalid unless the head cover is thin and the water can penetrate it. [It is not permitted to wipe over the … hijab (insofar as fulfilling the obligatory wiping is concerned) in the Hanafi and Shafi`i schools.]
In says in Al-Mudawwanah: “Malik said concerning a woman wiping over her head cover: She has to repeat her wudu’ and her prayer.”
We should point out here that Ash-Shafi`i said that the permissibility of wiping over the head cover depends on whether the report that mentions it is authentic. There are some authentic reports concerning that, such as the hadith of Bilal (رضي الله عنه) in Sahih Muslim, according to which the Messenger of Allah (صلى الله عليه و سلم) wiped over his Khuffayn (leather slippers) and head cover. So Ash-Shafi`i should be included among those who allow wiping over the head covers of both men and women.
- The Hanbalis, according to the other report from their Imam, are of the view that it is permissible to wipe (over the head cover), and the wudu’ is valid. This is also the view of Ibn Hazm, who said: “Anything that is worn on the head, such as a head cover, cap, helmet and chain-mail, and so on, it is permissible to wipe over it, and women and men are the same in that regard, whether there is a reason to do so or not.” (Al-Muhalla)
- A third group is of the view that a distinction should be made between what is difficult to remove and what is easy. In the first case, they regard it as permissible to wipe over it, but not in the second. This is the view of Ibn Taymiyyah and, among contemporary scholars, Shaykh Al-`Uthaymin.
Shaykh Al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah said: “With regard to a woman wiping over her head cover, there are two reports: According to the first report, it is not permissible because the texts that speak of the concession only refer to men for sure, whereas there is some doubt as to whether they refer to women. According to the second report, it is permissible, and this is the apparent meaning of the general words “Wipe over the Khuffayn and the head cover.” (Narrated by Ahmad)
The commentators said: The hadith that says that the Prophet (صلى الله عليه و سلم) did that is authentic, but the hadith that says he allowed it is inauthentic, and women are also included in that, along with men, just as they are included with regard to wiping over the Khuffayn…
And because it is permissible for men to wipe over the head cover, that is permissible for women, too, like men. And because it is clothing that it is permissible to wear on the head and it is usually difficult to take it off, it is likened to a man’s head cover, and more so, because the woman’s head cover covers more than the man’s head cover, and it is more difficult to take it off, so the woman’s need for (this concession) is greater than in the case of the Khuffayn.” (Sharh Al-`Umdah)
Shaykh Al-`Uthaymin said: “The well-known view in the madhhab of Imam Ahmad is that she may wipe over her khimaar if it goes under her chin because it was narrated that some of the womenfolk of the Sahaabah (رضي الله عنهن) did that… It is also Sunnah to wipe whatever part of the head is uncovered, such as the forelock, the sides of the head, and the ears” (Fatawa al-Tahaarah). He said: “Whatever the case, if there is some difficulty, either because it is cold or because it is difficult to take it off and put it on again, then there is nothing wrong with being lenient in matters such as this. Otherwise, it is better not to wipe over it, as there is no authentic text concerning this matter.” (Ash-Sharh Al-Mumti` `Ala Zad Al-Mustaqni`)
It says in Sharh Muntaha al-Iraadaat: “It is also valid for a woman to wipe over a khimaar that goes under the chin because Umm Salamah (رضي الله عنهما) used to wipe over her khimaar, as was mentioned by Ibn al-Mundhir.”
Wiping over the khimaar is sufficient as long as it covers the ears; there is no need to put the hands under it to wipe them.
(Most part of the above reply is based on various answers on similar topics provided by Islamqa.info)
Allahu A’lam (Allah (سبحانه و تعالى) knows best) and all Perfections belong to Allah, and all mistakes belong to me alone. May Allah (سبحانه و تعالى) forgive me, Ameen.
Wassalaam
