Muftiate of Kabardino-Balkaria voices out its position on niqabs

Wearing niqabs is a custom and not an obligation of Muslim women, the Muftiate of Kabardino-Balkaria has stated after the idea of banning niqabs was supported by Spiritual Administrations of Muslims (SAMs or Muftiates) of Dagestan and Karachay-Cherkessia.

The “Caucasian Knot” has reported that a temporary ban on wearing niqabs had been introduced in Dagestan and Karachay-Cherkessia.

The Kabardino-Balkaria’s SAM has voiced out its position on wearing niqabs in its Telegram channel, citing the opinions of Islamic scholars.

“Most scholars believe that the awrat (the part of the body that Muslims are obliged to cover in the presence of other people, – note of the “Caucasian Knot”) of a free woman is her entire body, except for the face and hands. Wearing a niqab by a woman is not a mandatory Sharia injunction ... As for the niqab, in many societies wearing it is a custom rather than a Sharia obligation. Clothing is often more related to folk customs than to religious precepts,” the SAM’s post says.