Is it permissible for a woman to uncover her face during prayer?
Chapter on the Description of Prayer
Al-Mughni
Book of Prayer
Primary text
It is permissible for a woman to uncover her face during prayer, and there is no known difference of opinion among scholars regarding this ruling. The majority of scholars agreed that she may pray with her face uncovered. This permission is supported by the interpretation of the verse, "and not display their beauty except what is apparent thereof," (Quran 24:31) by Ibn Abbas, who specified that what appears are the face and the hands. Furthermore, the necessity of uncovering the face for transactions like buying and selling, and the hands for giving and taking, supports this allowance.
Supporting text
Some scholars among our companions hold that the entire woman is 'awrah (private parts), citing the Hadith, "The woman is 'awrah" (Tirmidhi, Hasan Sahih). They permit uncovering the face and hands due to the hardship of covering them and because looking upon them is permitted for the purpose of proposing marriage as they are the collection of beauty.