Her Face will not be Unveiled

On the authority of Muhammad Ibn Moosaa al-Qaadee who said;

I was present in the gathering of Moosaa ibn Ishaq; the judge of al-Rayy in the year 286H. A woman came to him and her legal guardian (wali) claimed that her husband owed her 500 Dinaar in Dowry (mahr). He (the husband) denied the accusation.

The judge said to him; "Bring your witnesses."

He responded; "I brought them."

He (the judge) then called out some of the witnesses to look at the woman to see if she is indeed his wife. One of the witnesses stood up and said to the her; "Stand-up."

The husband said; "What are you doing?"

He (the judge) responded; "They are going to look at your wife while her face is unveiled to confirm her identity."

The husband said; "I bear witness to the judge that I owe her the dowry that she is claiming, her face will not be unveiled."

The wife was informed of what her husband did.

She said; "I bear witness to the judge that I have given the dowry to him as a gift, and hold him not accountable for it in this life and the hereafter."

The judge commented; "Record this incident in the books of noble character."