Tell me about covering the face during Hajj or Umrah?

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.

It is forbidden for a woman who is in the state of Ihram to cover her face. Ibn Qudaamah said: “Covering the face is forbidden for a woman during Ihram just as covering the head is forbidden for men. There is no disagreement among the scholars in this ruling except what is reported from Asmaa’ that she used to cover her face during Ihram. Probably she let a portion of her cloth hang over her face, though this interpretation of her practice does not contradict the agreement of all the scholars.” [End of quote]

Ibn ‘Umar narrated that the Prophet said: “A woman in the state of Ihraam must neither wear Niqaab nor gloves.” [Al-Bukhari]

If a woman in a state of Ihraam needs to cover her face due to the presence of non-Mahram men, she should let her head cover hang down on her face as reported from ‘Aa’ishah that she said: “Men on camels used to pass by us while we were with the Prophet and in the state of Ihram. We would cover our faces with our gowns when they passed by us, and then uncover them again [when they had moved away from us].” [Abu Dawood]

However, a woman in a state of Ihraam should not use any face covering that is prepared to cover the face only. Yet, she may hang a part of her head cover as a curtain over her face. There is no harm if such a cloth touches her face according to the preponderant opinion of the scholars.

Imam Ibn Qudamah said: “In fact, the cloth that is drawn before the face touches the face even though there is no expiation imposed on it.”

However, if a woman uses a face covering or anything else to cover her face, she has to offer an expiation for violating one of the conditions of Ihram.

Allah Says (what means): {And whoever among you is ill or has an ailment of the head [making shaving necessary must offer] a ransom of fasting [three days] or charity or sacrifice.} [Quran 2:196]

For more benefit that women must not wear Niqaab or gloves in the state of Ihraam, please refer to Fataawa 362104, 300796, 123588, 112703, and 96434.

Allah knows best.