Answering those claiming the obligation of Hijab is restricted to the Peninsula's women

Q 1: I read one of Your Honor's booklets entitled "Al-Sufur wal-Hijab" (Public Display and The Veil), in which you mentioned that covering the face and hands is an un-debatable Fard (obligation). Accordingly, I asked some of the people of knowledge who feel that the face and hands are not considered `Awrah (parts of the body that must be covered in public), and they quoted several Hadith in support. I have also read this in the book titled " Hijab Al-Mar'ah Al-Muslimah" (The Veil of a Muslim woman) by Al-Muhadith (Hadith scholar) Nasir Al-Din Al-Albany. Moreover, I was also told that the obligation of Hijab is restricted to the women of the Arabian Peninsula rather than other women, this was specifically mentioned by a professor at King Abdulaziz University named Hasan Ayyub, during his visit to Khartoum last year. Does his mean that we are (Part No. 17; Page No. 155) sinners if we abandon this practice, and what sets apart the women of The Arabian Peninsula from other women?

A: The correct opinion is that the face and hands of a woman is `Awrah, and there is no difference in this regard between the women of the Arabian Peninsula and other Muslim women, for the Shari`ah (Islamic Law) rulings are universal and there is no evidence indicating any specificity as far as we know. The basic Shar'i principle is the comprehensiveness of the rulings. May Allah grant us success. May peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and Companions.