Bismillah-hir-Rahman-nir-Raheem
Assalamu-`alaykum wa rahamatullahi wa barakatuhu
Women covered face[wore
niqab] so prophet pbuh instructed them not to cover in the state of Ihram.
Sahih Al-Bukhari HadithHadith 3.64 Narrated
byAbdullah bin Umar
A person stood up and asked,
"O Allah's: Apostle! What clothes may be worn in the state of Ihram?"
The Prophet replied, "Do not wear a shirt or trousers, or any headgear
(e.g. a turban), or a hooded cloak; but if somebody has no shoes he can wear
leather stockings provided they are cut short off the ankles, and also, do not
wear anything perfumed with wars or saffron, and the Muhrima (a woman in the
state of Ihram) should not cover her face, or wear gloves."
Bukhari Book 74 #247. Narrated Abdullah bin Abbas: Al-Fadl bin
Abbas rode behind the Prophet as his companion rider on the back portion of his
she-camel on the Day of Nahr [on the Farewell Hajj], and Al-Fadl was a handsome
man. The Prophet stopped to give people verdicts. In the meantime, a beautiful
woman from the tribe of Khath'am came, asking the verdict of Allah's Apostle.
Al-Fadl started looking at her as her beauty attracted him. The Prophet looked
back while Al-Fadl was looking at her; so the Prophet held out his hand
backwards and caught the chin of Al-Fadl and turned his face to the other side
in order that he should not gaze at her. She said, "O Allah's Apostle! The
obligation of performing hajj enjoined by Allah on His worshipers has become
due (compulsory) on my father, who is an old man and who cannot sit firmly on
the riding animal. Will it be sufficient that I perform hajj on his
behalf?". He said, "Yes".*Note:During the state of Ihram a
woman is not expected to cover her face,that is what prophet commanded.
Al-Muwatta Hadith
Hadith 20.15
Veiling the Face while in Ihram
Yahya related to me from Malik from
Nafi that Abdullah ibn Umar used to say that a woman in ihram should wear
neither a veil nor gloves.*Note:This proves women used to wear gloves as
well.
Sunan of Abu-DawoodHadith 1829 Narrated byAisha, Ummul Mu'minin
Riders would pass us when we
accompanied the Apostle of Allah (peace be upon him) while we were in the
sacred state (wearing ihram). When they came by us, one of us would let down
her outer garment[Jilbab] from her head over her face, and when they had passed
on, we would uncover our faces.
*Note:in ihram niqab is not commanded,but it is recommended when men pass by.
Important point:While one cannot deny the support of Hadith that indicate that the Prophet's wives wore khimar, one must realize that they also covered their faces at all times in the presence of non-mahram men. Here in the state of Ihram they cover temporarily with Jilbab,in normal circumstanes they used khimaar to cover facesneck,bosom as taught in suran nur 24 verse 31.
Allah knows best.