Fatwaa ID: 941

Question:
Salam

Is it necessary for women to cover their heads while cooking at home ? For barakah or as quoted by the person ‘Not even animals should be fed while the head is uncovered’ stating how awful it is.
Is it biddah ? Or does it have religious basis?
When else should the women be covering their heads inside their own home like while doing chores or reading quran, etc ?

Answer:
In the Name of Allaah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
As-salaamu ‘alaykum wa-rahmatullaahi wa-barakaatuh.

1. No, it is not necessary nor encouraged to cover one’s head when cooking. A person may dress as she wishes when cooking. The claims above are baseless.
2. She does not have to cover her hair when doing chores.
3. It is more respectful to cover one’s head when reciting the Qur’aan. However, it is not necessary. One should cover her hair when eating. Similarly, it is mustahabb to cover one’s head when relieving oneself.

It goes without being said that if mahrams are present, then the body must be covered even in one’s home.

And Allaah Ta’aala knows best.
Mufti Muajul I. Chowdhury
Darul Iftaa New York
https://askthemufti.us/

وصل اللهم وسلم وبارك على سيدنا محمد وعلى ءاله وصحبه أجمعين

__________________
Disclaimer

Darul Iftaa New York answers questions on issues pertaining to Shari’ah. These questions and answers are placed for public view on askthemufti.us for educational purposes. The rulings given here are based on the questions posed and should be read in conjunction with the questions. Many answers are unique to a particular scenario and cannot be taken as a basis to establish a ruling in another situation. 

Darul Iftaa New York bears no responsibility with regard to its answers being used out of their intended contexts, nor with regard to any loss or damage that may be caused by acting on its answers or not doing so.

References and links to other websites should not be taken as an endorsement of all contents of those websites. 

Answers may not be used as evidence in any court of law without prior written consent of Darul Iftaa New York.