Re: [Split]Obligation of proper dressing in Islam
Actually as far as I'm concerned the fact that it is forbidden to cover your face during hajj is taken as a proof that the niqab is farz. Another thing is that the hadeeth the OP mentioned has been "changed"(well that is what I've been told by a girl who went to a madrassah in UK) originally it was "hands and feet" instead of "hands and face". Additionally to that I've heard that one can actually cover the face during the state of ikhram, just the niqab isn't supposed to stick tightly to the face, thus they sell hats there which have an attached veil that doesn't touch your face but hangs loose in front of it.
As I said those were things someone said to me and I'm not forcing anyone to believe them.