Kazakhstan: Spiritual Administration of Muslims Cites Islamic Texts to Support Face-covering Ban
Photo: muftyat.kz
On June 3, 2025, the Spiritual Administration of Muslims of Kazakhstan issued a statement on the new law banning face-covering clothing in public, including the niqab, Orda.kz reports.
The Administration emphasized that the restrictions are framed as public safety measures, “not to restrict any religious faith or personal choice,” noting that “many countries, including Muslim states, have implemented similar rules”.
The statement referenced Surah An-Nur (24:31) from the Quran:
“And tell the believing women to lower their gaze and guard their chastity, and not to reveal their adornment except that which normally appears…”
This verse, the Administration explained, permits showing only the face, hands, and feet, interpreted as parts that “normally appear.”
They also quoted a hadith from Sunan Abi Dawud (Hadith 4104), attributed to the Prophet Muhammad:
O Asma’, when a woman reaches the age of puberty, it does not suit her that she displays her parts of body 'except this and this,' and he pointed to his face and hands.
From these sources, the Administration concluded that Islam does not require women to cover their faces completely.
The statement added:
“Such a practice is also not reflected in the traditions of our people.… Islam also calls for living in harmony with society, maintaining order and contributing to the peace and tranquility of the state.”
On June 30, President Qasym-Jomart Toqayev signed the law that bans face-concealing garments, including niqabs, in public.
Original Author: Anastasia Prilepskaya
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