Question Summary:
Assalamu alaikkum va rahmathullahi va barakaathuhu I would like to know whether Niqab(Face cover) is Fardh or Sunnah? What is the view point of various Madh’habs in this matter?

Question Detail:

Assalamu alaikkum va rahmathullahi va barakaathuhu
I would like to know whether Niqab(Face cover) is Fardh or Sunnah?
What is the view point of various Madh'habs in this matter?
 
And also need to know following Prophet(s) is Sunnah, I heard that
sunnah is not obligatory, same time, following Prophet in Islam is
mandatory, What is truth?
Kindly clarify for the sake of ALLAAH

Answer :

In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
As-salāmu ‘alaykum wa-rahmatullāhi wa-barakātuh.
Sister in Islam,
Niqaab (face covering) is necessary (Wajib) according to all the Mazahib.
There are different legal classifications in the Shari’ah. This has been codified so that it becomes easier for us to practice on the Shari’ah. Some of these classifications are: Fardh (obligatory), Sunnah, Mustahab (preferable), Mubah (permissible), Wajib (necessary), etc. Rasullulah (Sallallahu Alayhi Wa  Sallam) was given the entire Shari’ah which was made up of these different classifications. It is mandatory for us as Muslims to believe in the prophethood of Rasullullah (Sallallahu Alayhi Wa Sallam) and in whatever He propagated as the absolute truth (Haqq).
And Allah Ta’āla Knows Best
Moulana Ismail Desai,
Student Darul Iftaa
Durban, South Africa
Checked and Approved by,
Mufti Ebrahim Desai.