Abu Ya‘la. The first narrates from Hammad ibn Salamah, and the latter from Hammad ibn Zayd; and each of the two Hammads narrates from Ubayd Allah ibn Umar. I was therefore unable to determine which of the two is intended here, but this causes no problem, for both are trustworthy. The former was relied upon by Muslim, while the latter was relied upon by both al-Bukhari and Muslim.
The hadith is found in both Sahihs without mention of the face; this is why I have cited it. This is an explanatory addition that does not conflict with the narration in the two Sahihs, and it is therefore acceptable.
It is clear evidence that a woman’s face is not awrah. The proofs for this are numerous. Its not being awrah means that it may be uncovered. Nevertheless, covering it is preferable and more scrupulous, especially if it is beautiful. If it is adorned, however, then it must be covered, without any difference of opinion. Whoever wishes for a detailed discussion of this brief statement should consult our book The Muslim Woman’s Hijab, for it is comprehensive and exhaustive.
- “Islam has markers and landmarks like the markers of a road. Among them are that you believe in Allah and associate nothing with Him; establish the prayer; give zakah; fast Ramadan; perform pilgrimage to the House; enjoin what is right; forbid what is wrong; greet your family when you enter upon them; and greet people when you pass by them. Whoever leaves any one of these has forsaken a portion of Islam, and whoever abandons all of them has turned his back upon Islam.”
Abu Ubayd al-Qasim ibn Sallam reported it in The Book of Faith (hadith no. 3, in my edition), saying: Yahya ibn Sa‘id al-Attar narrated it to me from Thawr ibn Yazid, from Khalid ibn Ma‘dan, from a man, from Abu Hurayrah, from the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him.
Through Abu Ubayd’s route, Ibn Bishran also reported it in al-Amali (98/2), as did Abd al-Ghani al-Maqdisi in Enjoining What Is Right and Forbidding