take shade beneath a roof or trees, or inside a tent and the like, by their agreement. As for taking shade beneath the canopy of a camel litter while travelling, there is disagreement. It is preferable for a man in ihram to remain exposed to the sun for the sake of the One for whom he entered ihram, as the Prophet—may Allah bless him and grant him peace—and his Companions used to perform Hajj. Ibn ‘Umar once saw a man being shaded and said, “Old man, expose yourself to the sun for the sake of the One for whom you entered ihram.” For this reason, the early generations disliked canopies over camel litters—that is, litters fitted with a roof. Open litters, however, were disliked only by some ascetics. This applies to men.

As for a woman, she is to be covered. She is therefore permitted to wear clothing that conceals her and to take shade beneath the canopy of a camel litter. However, the Prophet—may Allah bless him and grant him peace—forbade her to wear a niqab or gloves. Gloves are coverings made for the hands, like those worn by falconers. If a woman covers her face with something that does not touch it, this is permissible by agreement. If it does touch her face, the correct view is that this too is permissible. She is not required to hold her covering away from her face with a stick, her hand or anything else, for the Prophet—may Allah bless him and grant him peace—treated her face and hands alike: both are like a man’s body, not his head.

His wives—may Allah bless him and grant him peace—used to lower their coverings over their faces without taking care to keep them away from their skin. No scholar has transmitted from the Prophet—may Allah bless him and grant him peace—that he said:

“A woman’s ihram entails leaving her face uncovered.”

Rather, this is a statement of some of the early generations. The Prophet—may Allah bless him and grant him peace—only forbade her to wear a niqab or gloves.