Assalamu alaikum, I have seen the evidence of those scholars who say that niqab is obligatory. But what about the evidence of those who say that it is recommended only and not obligatory. Can you quote them here? May Allah bless you and reward you with good

All perfect praise be to Allah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allah, and that Muhammad is His slave and Messenger.

The scholars in the early times and in our contemporary time differed in opinion about the issue of covering the face for women; each scholar issues his Fatwa according to the opinion he believes to be the predominant one. The view that we consider to be preponderant is that covering the face for women is obligatory.

The evidence of the scholars who are of the view that it is not an obligation for a woman to cover her face, is the Hadeeth of Jaabir ibn 'Abdullaah who narrated: “I observed the prayer with the Prophet on 'Eed day. He commenced with the prayer before the sermon without Athaan and Iqaamah (the call to establish the prayer). He then stood up leaning on Bilaal, commanded the people to fear Allah, exhorted them on the obedience of Allah, and preached them and admonished them. He then walked towards the women and preached them and admonished them, and said, 'Give alms, for most of you are fuel for Hell.' A woman who had a dark spots on her cheeks stood up and said: 'Why is it so, O Messenger of Allah?' He said: 'For you complain often and show ingratitude to your husbands.'” [Muslim]

Since Jaabir described the woman to have a dark spot on her cheek, means that she was not covering her face, and this is in the presence of the Prophet who did not order her to cover it. The scholars who hold the view of mandating the face to be covered answered by saying that it is possible that this incident took place before the Hijaab was ordained.

The scholars who are of the view that it is not an obligation for a woman to cover her face, also provided the Hadeeth narrated by Ibn ‘Abbaas as evidence. Ibn ‘Abbaas narrated:

"Al-Fadhl was riding behind the Prophet and a woman from the tribe of Khath'am came up. Al-Fadhl started looking at her and she looked at him. The Prophet turned Al-Fadhl's face to the other side. She then said, 'The obligation of performing Hajj was ordained while my father is a very old man and cannot sit properly on his mount (camel). Shall I perform Hajj on his behalf?' The Prophet said: 'Yes.' That happened during the farewell pilgrimage of the Prophet .” [Al-Bukhaari and Muslim]

The point is that she was not covering her face and it is for this reason that Al-Fadhl was looking at her. The answer to this is that this was during Hajj and she was in the state of Ihraam, and a woman in a state of Ihraam does not cover her face, although it was more proper for her to do what the mother of the believer ‘Aa’ishah did, as well as other women. ‘Aa’ishah said:

"Riders would pass by us when we were in Hajj, so one of us would draw down her outer garment from her head over her face, and when they had passed us, we would uncover our faces.”

Another evidence they provided is the Hadeeth of Aa’ishah that Asmaa’ Bint Abu Bakr, entered upon the Prophet while she was wearing thin clothes, and the Prophet turned his face away from her and said: “O Asmaa', when a woman reaches the age of menstruation, it is not permissible for her to display any part of her body except this and this; and he pointed to his face and hands.” [Abu Daawood]

The answer to this is that the chain of narration of this Hadeeth is weak and it was not confirmed. After reporting this Hadeeth, Abu Daawood commented: “This is a Mursal Hadeeth (inauthentic). Khaalid ibn Durayk did not live at the same time as ‘Aa’ishah ."

These are some evidences cited by the scholars who believe that it is not obligatory for a woman to cover her face. If anyone wants more details on this subject, he may refer to some leaflets and books of Fiqh on this subject.

Allah knows best.