The obligation of a woman to cover her entire body in the presence of non-mahram men
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Question:
A message was received for the program from the listener Abdulrahim Abdullah from Khartoum, Sudan. He asks a collection of questions, one of which is: What is the correct Islamic dress for a woman? Is it obligatory for her to cover her face and hands? Please clarify the evidence in this matter and elaborate on the topic. May Allah reward you with good.
Answer:
The woman is entirely 'awrah (the part of the body that must be covered), as the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said. Therefore, it is obligatory for her in the presence of non-mahram men to cover her entire body. By non-mahram, we mean those who are not mahram (a relative one may not marry), even if they are from her paternal uncles' sons. Anyone who is not a mahram is called a non-mahram: such as her paternal uncle's son, her husband's brother, her sister's husband, and others. She must cover her entire body: the face, the hand, the foot, and so on, based on his (peace and blessings be upon him) saying:.
The basis for this is the saying of the Exalted: [Surat al-Ahzab: 53]. The Exalted did not exclude anything; He said: [Al-Ahzab 33:53] Then He explained the cause and wisdom, saying: [Al-Ahzab 33:53] meaning: covering up. The hijab (the covering prescribed for women) is purer for the hearts of all and further from fitnah (trial, discord or temptation). And He said in Surat al-Nur: : [Surat al-Nur: 31]... to the end of it. The face and the hand are part of the adornment, the foot is part of the adornment, and the hair is part of the adornment. If there is something on the face that enhances its beauty, it becomes even greater in terms of adornment: such as kohl and similar things that brighten the face; it becomes even greater in terms of adornment and fitnah. Likewise, jewelry on the hand.
The point is: she is entirely 'awrah. Even if she has nothing on her hand and nothing on her face, she is still 'awrah. Therefore, it is obligatory for the woman to veil herself from the non-mahram, and to speak to him from behind a hijab, with her jilbab (the outer garment) on her, or with her khimar (the head covering) on her. She speaks to him and says to him: And upon you be peace, peace be upon you, how are you?
She asks about her need, just as they did in the time of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him). The hijab was initially lifted; the woman would speak while uncovered, with her face exposed.
Then Allah revealed the verse of the hijab, and they were commanded to cover up. After the verse of the hijab was revealed in Surat al-Ahzab: [Surat al-Ahzab: 53], and likewise the verse in Surat al-Nur: [Surat al-Nur: 31]. The "ba'ul" are the husbands. Until He said at the end of it: [Surat al-Nur: 31]. She was forbidden to strike her foot so that the sound of the anklet on her foot would be heard, because it may cause fitnah for people. If she is forbidden from striking her foot so that the anklet is not heard, how much more so for one who exposes her face, or her head, or her arm, or her leg, or the like. Yes.
The presenter: May Allah reward you with good.
A message was received for the program from the listener Abdulrahim Abdullah from Khartoum, Sudan. He asks a collection of questions, one of which is: What is the correct Islamic dress for a woman? Is it obligatory for her to cover her face and hands? Please clarify the evidence in this matter and elaborate on the topic. May Allah reward you with good.
Answer:
The woman is entirely 'awrah (the part of the body that must be covered), as the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said. Therefore, it is obligatory for her in the presence of non-mahram men to cover her entire body. By non-mahram, we mean those who are not mahram (a relative one may not marry), even if they are from her paternal uncles' sons. Anyone who is not a mahram is called a non-mahram: such as her paternal uncle's son, her husband's brother, her sister's husband, and others. She must cover her entire body: the face, the hand, the foot, and so on, based on his (peace and blessings be upon him) saying:
A woman is an awrah
المرأة عورةThe basis for this is the saying of 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 وَقُلُوبِهِنّfrom behind a partition
من وراء حجابThat is purer for your hearts and their hearts
ذلكم أطهر لقلوبكم وقلوبهنnot expose their adornment except to their husbands
وَلا يُبْدِينَ زِينَتَهُنَّ إِلَّا لِبُعُولَتِهِنَّThe point is: she is entirely 'awrah. Even if she has nothing on her hand and nothing on her face, she is still 'awrah. Therefore, it is obligatory for the woman to veil herself from the non-mahram, and to speak to him from behind a hijab, with her jilbab (the outer garment) on her, or with her khimar (the head covering) on her. She speaks to him and says to him: And upon you be peace, peace be upon you, how are you?
She asks about her need, just as they did in the time of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him). The hijab was initially lifted; the woman would speak while uncovered, with her face exposed.
Then Allah revealed the verse of the hijab, and they were commanded to cover up. After the verse of the hijab was revealed in Surat al-Ahzab:
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 وَقُلُوبِهِنَّexcept to their husbands, their fathers, their husbands' fathers, their sons, their husbands' sons
وَلا يُبْدِينَ زِينَتَهُنَّ إِلَّا لِبُعُولَتِهِنَّ أَوْ آبَائِهِنَّ أَوْ آبَاءِ بُعُولَتِهِنَّ أَوْ أَبْنَائِهِنَّ أَوْ أَبْنَاءِ بُعُولَتِهِنَّAnd let them not stamp their feet to make known what they conceal of their adornment
وَلا يَضْرِبْنَ بِأَرْجُلِهِنَّ لِيُعْلَمَ مَا يُخْفِينَ مِنْ زِينَتِهِنَّThe presenter: May Allah reward you with good.
Source
binbaz.org.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.