The Ruling on Hijab for Women
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Question: What is the ruling on hijab for the Muslim woman? Often, the veiled woman among us is subjected to mockery and criticism by others. Is it obligatory in all four schools of jurisprudence?And what is the interpretation of the noble verse: [Surat al-Nur: 31], to the end of the verse,And does the meaning of His saying, the Exalted:[An-Nur 24:31] meaning: do they cover their heads and chests along with the neck? Does the face fall under this?If that is the case, what is the meaning of His saying: [An-Nur 24:31] ؟
Answer: Hijab is obligatory by the consensus of the Muslims.because of His saying, the Exalted: [Surat al-Ahzab: 53], and if the pronoun refers to the wives of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), it is general for the entire community.Regarding His saying:[Al-Ahzab 33:53], so this is a rationale that includes the entire community, because the purity of hearts is required for the entire community.
And after that, His saying, the Exalted: [Surat al-Ahzab: 59], so this is general for all women, from the Mothers of the Believers and the daughters of the Messenger to the other women of the believers. So hijab is obligatory by the consensus of the Muslims, and exposing oneself is forbidden.
And as for the meaning of His saying, the Exalted:[An-Nur 24:31]: So the correct of the two opinions of the exegetes is that what is meant by "what appears of it" is the adornment of clothing and jewelry, not the adornment of the body.
So what is meant by the apparent adornment is the adornment that a woman wears; if something of it appears without her intention, she is not held accountable for it. But if she intends it and displays it, she sins by doing so, and it is forbidden for her.Regarding His saying:[An-Nur 24:31] ،appears: Meaning it appeared without intention.
As for the issue of letting the khimar hang down,[An-Nur 24:31], it is as the questioner mentioned, that she lets her khimar fall. The khimar means the head covering. She covers her face and her throat with her khimar, letting the khimar hang from her head over her face and over her throat, contrary to what was the practice in the pre-Islamic age of ignorance, for the women of the pre-Islamic age of ignorance used to expose their throats and chests and let the khimar hang from behind them, as mentioned in the book of exegesis. And Allah (Exalted and Majestic is He) commanded the women of the Muslims to draw their khumurs over their bosoms.And the meaning of the pocket: The opening of the garment from the top of the throat at the front. This necessitates that the woman covers her face and her throat, and that nothing of her body appears. And because the face is the greatest adornment on the woman's body, and it is the place of gazes, and it is the place of temptation and the center of beauty and loveliness. So this is the correct in the interpretation of the noble verse: that the face must be covered, even though some scholars see the permissibility of exposing it, and exposing the two hands. But from each one is taken and left, except the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him). And this opinion does not fit the context of the verse and what the imams of the Salaf from the Companions and the Tabi'un interpreted it with. Until Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him), when 'Ubaydah al-Salmani asked him: about the meaning of His saying: [Al-Ahzab 33:59], Abdullah ibn Abbas drew his khimar over his face and exposed one eye so he could see the road. So this is his interpretation of the verse.
And Ibn Mas'ud used to interpret His saying, the Exalted:[An-Nur 24:31] that what is meant by it is the adornment of clothing, as we mentioned, and not the adornment of the face, as said by those who said it. So Ibn Abbas, if he returned to the saying of Ibn Mas'ud in the last of the two matters, as mentioned by the Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah.
So at first, it was permissible for the woman to expose her face, but after the verse of hijab was revealed, that was abrogated and it became obligatory for her to cover her face.
And tell the believing women to reduce [some] of their vision and guard their private parts and not expose their adornment except that which [necessarily] appears thereof and to wrap [a portion of] their headcovers over their chests and not expose their adornment except to their husbands, their fathers, their husbands' fathers, their sons
وَقُلْ لِلْمُؤْمِنَاتِ يَغْضُضْنَ مِنْ أَبْصَارِهِنَّ وَيَحْفَظْنَ فُرُوجَهُنَّ وَلَا يُبْدِينَ زِينَتَهُنَّ إِلَّا مَا ظَهَرَ مِنْهَا وَلْيَضْرِبْنَ بِخُمُرِهِنَّ عَلَى جُيُوبِهِنَّ وَلَا يُبْدِينَ زِينَتَهُنَّ إِلَّا لِبُعُولَتِهِنَّ أَوْ آبَائِهِنَّ أَوْ آبَاءِ بُعُولَتِهِنَّ أَوْ أَبْنَائِهِنَّto wrap [a portion of] their headcovers over their chests
وَلْيَضْرِبْنَ بِخُمُرِهِنَّ عَلَى جُيُوبِهِنَّexcept that which [necessarily] appears thereof
إِلَّا مَا ظَهَرَ مِنْهَاAnswer: Hijab is obligatory by the consensus of the Muslims.because of His saying, the Exalted:
And when you ask [his wives] for something, ask them from behind a partition. That is purer for your hearts and their hearts.
وَإِذَا سَأَلْتُمُوهُنَّ مَتَاعًا فَاسْأَلُوهُنَّ مِنْ وَرَاءِ حِجَابٍ ذَلِكُمْ أَطْهَرُ لِقُلُوبِكُمْ وَقُلُوبِهِنَّThat is purer for your hearts and their hearts
ذَلِكُمْ أَطْهَرُ لِقُلُوبِكُمْ وَقُلُوبِهِنَّAnd after that, His saying, the Exalted:
O Prophet, tell your wives and your daughters and the women of the believers to bring down over themselves [part] of their outer garments. That is more suitable that they will be known and not be abused
يَاأَيُّهَا النَّبِيُّ قُلْ لِأَزْوَاجِكَ وَبَنَاتِكَ وَنِسَاءِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ يُدْنِينَ عَلَيْهِنَّ مِنْ جَلَابِيبِهِنَّ ذَلِكَ أَدْنَى أَنْ يُعْرَفْنَ فَلَا يُؤْذَيْنَAnd as for the meaning of His saying, the Exalted:
except that which [necessarily] appears thereof
إِلَّا مَا ظَهَرَ مِنْهَاSo what is meant by the apparent adornment is the adornment that a woman wears; if something of it appears without her intention, she is not held accountable for it. But if she intends it and displays it, she sins by doing so, and it is forbidden for her.Regarding His saying:
except that which [necessarily] appears thereof
إِلَّا مَا ظَهَرَ مِنْهَاAs for the issue of letting the khimar hang down,
to wrap [a portion of] their headcovers over their chests
وَلْيَضْرِبْنَ بِخُمُرِهِنَّ عَلَى جُيُوبِهِنَّto bring down over themselves [part] of their outer garments
يُدْنِينَ عَلَيْهِنَّ مِنْ جَلَابِيبِهِنَّAnd Ibn Mas'ud used to interpret His saying, the Exalted:
except that which [necessarily] appears thereof
إِلَّا مَا ظَهَرَ مِنْهَاSo at first, it was permissible for the woman to expose her face, but after the verse of hijab was revealed, that was abrogated and it became obligatory for her to cover her face.