Islam is a life system that is universal and eternal. In Islam, women’s dignity, and all rights are recognized, and there is a comprehensive program in place to protect their chastity and establish dignity. They are required to wear hijab by Islam in order to maintain their honor, dignity, and chastity. Essentially, the hijab or veil is a symbol of a woman’s beauty and dignity. Defender of the chastity and dignity of women. A very simple and effective method for both men and women to maintain their chastity of character. By following this provision, it is possible to achieve purity of heart and mind. In this regard, Allah says:
يٰۤاَيُّهَا الَّذِيْنَ اٰمَنُوْا لَا تَدْخُلُوْا بُيُوْتَ النَّبِىِّ اِلَّاۤ اَنْ يُّؤْذَنَ لَـكُمْ اِلٰى طَعَامٍ غَيْرَ نٰظِرِيْنَ اِنٰٮهُ وَلٰـكِنْ اِذَا دُعِيْتُمْ فَادْخُلُوْا فَاِذَا طَعِمْتُمْ فَانْتَشِرُوْا وَلَا مُسْتَاْنِسِيْنَ لِحَـدِيْثٍ ؕ اِنَّ ذٰلِكُمْ كَانَ يُؤْذِى النَّبِىَّ فَيَسْتَحْىٖ مِنْكُمْ وَاللّٰهُ لَا يَسْتَحْىٖ مِنَ الْحَـقِّ ؕ وَاِذَا سَاَ لْتُمُوْهُنَّ مَتَاعًا فَسْـَٔـــلُوْهُنَّ مِنْ وَّرَآءِ حِجَابٍ ؕ ذٰ لِكُمْ اَطْهَرُ لِقُلُوْبِكُمْ وَقُلُوْبِهِنَّ ؕ وَمَا كَانَ لَـكُمْ اَنْ تُؤْذُوْا رَسُوْلَ اللّٰهِ وَلَاۤ اَنْ تَـنْكِحُوْۤا اَزْوَاجَهٗ مِنْۢ بَعْدِهٖۤ اَبَدًا ؕ اِنَّ ذٰ لِكُمْ كَانَ عِنْدَ اللّٰهِ عَظِيْمًا
“O you who have faith! Do not enter the Prophet’s houses for a meal until you are granted permission, without hanging around for it to be readied. But enter when you are invited, and disperse when you have taken your meal, without cozying up for chats. Such conduct on your part offends the Prophet, and he is ashamed of [asking] you [to leave]; but Allah is not ashamed of [expressing] the truth. When you ask [his] womenfolk for something, do so from behind a curtain. That is more chaste for your hearts and theirs. You should not offend the Apostle of Allah, nor may you ever marry his wives after him. Indeed that would be a grave [sin] with Allah.” (Surat al-Ahzab: 53)
The veil was imposed by Islam primarily to eliminate obscenity and adultery, as well as to avoid social evils and sedition. He did not treat women unfairly or discriminatorily. On the contrary, it has been made necessary for them to follow this provision in order to maintain their sanctity and chastity. In this regard, Allah says,
وَقَرْنَ فِىْ بُيُوْتِكُنَّ وَلَا تَبَـرَّجْنَ تَبَرُّجَ الْجَاهِلِيَّةِ الْاُوْلٰى وَاَقِمْنَ الصَّلٰوةَ وَاٰتِيْنَ الزَّكٰوةَ وَاَطِعْنَ اللّٰهَ وَرَسُوْلَهٗ ؕ اِنَّمَا يُرِيْدُ اللّٰهُ لِيُذْهِبَ عَنْكُمُ الرِّجْسَ اَهْلَ الْبَيْتِ وَيُطَهِّرَكُمْ تَطْهِيْرًا ۚ
“And stay in your houses. Do not display (your embellishments) yourselves like the Time of Ignorance. And keep up the Prayer and pay Alms (Zakat). Obey Allah and His Messenger. O people of the House! Allah only wishes to keep away the sin from you and to cleanse you with a thorough cleansing.” (Surat al-Ahzab: 33)
As a result, the provision of a veil by the Islamic Shari’ah is a great blessing for society in general and for women in the Ummah in particular. This provision is essentially a hidden document stating the Islamic law’s eternal validity, completeness, and infallibility. There is no other way to keep human society holy and filth-free than to provide the veil. It is time to follow the rules and regulations in order to protect the youth and young generation of today’s society in particular, as well as to ensure the safety of women.
The word ‘veil’ is Persian in origin. Whose Arabic equivalent is “hijab.” To hide, to obstruct, to cover beauty with cloth or conceal, etc. The veil that is prescribed by Shari’ah for both men and women to achieve their characteristic sanctity is known as the veil in Islamic Shari’ah terminology. The veil, according to some, is a special system devised by Islam to keep women out of sight of their external and internal beauty.
Hijab or veil refers to not only the covering of one’s clothes, but also the entire social system, with various measures in place to prevent unholy and illicit relationships between men and women, as well as men’s oppressive behavior toward women.
Provisions of the veil
The veil is an important Islamic requirement that must be followed at all times. There is a clear obligation based on the irrefutable evidence of the Qur’an and Sunnah, such as the provisions of prayer, fasting, Hajj, Zakat, and so on. In this connection, Allah Ta’ala says,
يٰۤاَيُّهَا الَّذِيْنَ اٰمَنُوْا لَا تَدْخُلُوْا بُيُوْتَ النَّبِىِّ اِلَّاۤ اَنْ يُّؤْذَنَ لَـكُمْ اِلٰى طَعَامٍ غَيْرَ نٰظِرِيْنَ اِنٰٮهُ وَلٰـكِنْ اِذَا دُعِيْتُمْ فَادْخُلُوْا فَاِذَا طَعِمْتُمْ فَانْتَشِرُوْا وَلَا مُسْتَاْنِسِيْنَ لِحَـدِيْثٍ ؕ اِنَّ ذٰلِكُمْ كَانَ يُؤْذِى النَّبِىَّ فَيَسْتَحْىٖ مِنْكُمْ وَاللّٰهُ لَا يَسْتَحْىٖ مِنَ الْحَـقِّ ؕ وَاِذَا سَاَ لْتُمُوْهُنَّ مَتَاعًا فَسْـَٔـــلُوْهُنَّ مِنْ وَّرَآءِ حِجَابٍ ؕ ذٰ لِكُمْ اَطْهَرُ لِقُلُوْبِكُمْ وَقُلُوْبِهِنَّ ؕ وَمَا كَانَ لَـكُمْ اَنْ تُؤْذُوْا رَسُوْلَ اللّٰهِ وَلَاۤ اَنْ تَـنْكِحُوْۤا اَزْوَاجَهٗ مِنْۢ بَعْدِهٖۤ اَبَدًا ؕ اِنَّ ذٰ لِكُمْ كَانَ عِنْدَ اللّٰهِ عَظِيْمًا
“O you who have faith! Do not enter the Prophet’s houses for a meal until you are granted permission, without hanging around for it to be readied. But enter when you are invited, and disperse when you have taken your meal, without cozying up for chats. Such conduct on your part offends the Prophet, and he is ashamed of [asking] you [to leave]; but Allah is not ashamed of [expressing] the truth. When you ask [his] womenfolk for something, do so from behind a curtain. That is more chaste for your hearts and theirs. You should not offend the Apostle of Allah, nor may you ever marry his wives after him. Indeed that would be a grave [sin] with Allah.” (Surat al-Ahzab: 53)
It is a demand of faith to be fully devoted to this provision. There is no excuse to take this provision lightly or to disobey it. Because no one has the right to oppose the clear provisions of Islamic law. In this regard, Allah Ta’ala said,
وَمَا كَانَ لِمُؤْمِنٍ وَّلَا مُؤْمِنَةٍ اِذَا قَضَى اللّٰهُ وَرَسُوْلُهٗۤ اَمْرًا اَنْ يَّكُوْنَ لَهُمُ الْخِيَرَةُ مِنْ اَمْرِهِمْ ؕ وَمَنْ يَّعْصِ اللّٰهَ وَرَسُوْلَهٗ فَقَدْ ضَلَّ ضَلٰلًا مُّبِيْنًا
“If Allah and His Messenger give instructions on a matter, there is no right for a believing man or a believing woman to disobey that matter. And whoever disobeys Allah and His Apostle, he indeed strays off into a remote error.” (Surat al-Ahzab: 36)
Importance of the veil
Regarding the importance of the veil, Allah Ta’ala said,
يٰۤـاَيُّهَا النَّبِىُّ قُلْ لِّاَزْوَاجِكَ وَبَنٰتِكَ وَنِسَآءِ الْمُؤْمِنِيْنَ يُدْنِيْنَ عَلَيْهِنَّ مِنْ جَلَابِيْبِهِنَّ ؕ ذٰ لِكَ اَدْنٰٓى اَنْ يُّعْرَفْنَ فَلَا يُؤْذَيْنَ ؕ وَكَانَ اللّٰهُ غَفُوْرًا رَّحِيْمًا
“O Prophet, tell your wives, daughters and believing women to pull part of their veils over themselves. This will make it easier to recognize them. As a result, they will not be harassed. And Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.” (Surat al-Ahzab: 59)
The importance of walking with the veil is mentioned in this verse, with the implication that if one walks with the veil, everyone will recognize her as a decent and virtuous woman. As a result, no one will dare to bother the women who are veiled. In fact, those who walk without a veil are more likely to be harassed on the streets and are subjected to various forms of torture, such as eve-teasing and rape. As a result, the veil’s importance in protecting women’s chastity and dignity is enormous.
Special emphasis has also been laid on the veil in Hadith Sharif. It has been narrated from Hazrat Abdullah (R.A.) that the Prophet (SAW) said that “women are the object of being veiled. When he comes out naked, Satan looks up at him.” (Tirmidhi: 1163)
In another hadith, Hazrat Ali (R.A.) narrates that “Once he was with the Prophet (S). Then the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said, ‘What is the best thing for women?” They became silent. Then I came back and asked Fatima, what is the best thing for women? He said that no other man would see her (that is, women would be veiled). Then I mentioned that to the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him). He said, “Surely Fatima is my part, she has told the truth.” (Musnadul Bazar: 527)
This emphasizes the significance of the veil. So, too, is the demand for environmental consciousness. Furthermore, by observing the veil, one can gain Allah’s favor and honor. Because Allah Ta’ala is said to love those who are veiled in the Hadith Sharif. The Qur’an also says:
يٰۤاَيُّهَا النَّاسُ اِنَّا خَلَقْنٰكُمْ مِّنْ ذَكَرٍ وَّاُنْثٰى وَجَعَلْنٰكُمْ شُعُوْبًا وَّقَبَآٮِٕلَ لِتَعَارَفُوْا ؕ اِنَّ اَكْرَمَكُمْ عِنْدَ اللّٰهِ اَ تْقٰٮكُمْ ؕ اِنَّ اللّٰهَ عَلِيْمٌ خَبِيْرٌ
“O mankind, indeed We have created you from male and female and made you peoples and tribes that you may know one another. Indeed, the most noble of you in the sight of Allah is the most righteous of you. Indeed, Allah is Knowing and Acquainted.” (Surat al-Hujurat: 13)
In reality, the one who is pious or pious is the one who follows Allah’s instructions. And Allah’s command to wear the veil is unequivocal. Because the veil is a command from Allah to mankind, wearing it can make a person more honorable and dignified in Allah’s eyes. Also, if we think about the rules of the veil in depth, we can see that following them to the letter protects both men and women’s moral character. The family unit is stable and solid.
Because the veil is observed, a holy life without adultery is formed between husband and wife, and immorality and unbelief are banished. As a result, the Muslim Ummah is compelled to admit that the veil’s importance in this world and the Hereafter is undeniable.
Consequences of lack of veil
Due to the lack of a veil, heinous sins such as obscenity, arrogance, shamelessness, misdeeds, and adultery began. Eve-teasing, rape, and sexual violence are common as a result. As a result, various incidents disrupt individual and family life. When you open the daily newspaper, you can see the real picture. The lack of a veil also encourages heinous acts such as adultery and immorality. As a result, the couple loses faith in one another. The family was thrown into chaos and disaster as a result of this. Today, we have access to whoever’s reality we want. Women who do not wear veils are, in essence, the worst women on the planet. The Prophet (PBUH) said about them, “The worst of your wives are those who walk without a veil.” (Bayhaqi: 13256)
So we can say that a woman with a civilized and advanced character cannot be without a veil at all. It is even narrated in another hadith that the Prophet (peace be upon him) cursed them. In this connection, Hadrat Abdullah Ibn Abbas (RA) narrates that the Prophet (SAW) cursed the women who dressed as men. That is, it moves without a veil. (Abu Dawood: 4096)
Also the provision of Allah is disobeyed due to lack of veil. And for this disobedience there is a severe punishment for them in the Hereafter. In this connection, it is narrated in the hadith that the Prophet (S) said, “I have not seen two classes of hellfire (that is, they will be seen in society at a later time). One. A people who have a whip like the tail of a cow, and with that whip they will beat people (unjustly).
Two. Women who are naked despite wearing clothes. They attract others to them and they themselves are attracted to others. Their heads will be like the hump of a camel. They will not enter Paradise, they will not even get the fragrance of Paradise, while the fragrance of Paradise is available from far and wide. (Muslim: 5445)
In this hadith, it has been pointed out that they will not enter Paradise and will not even get the fragrance of Paradise. This has been stated more clearly elsewhere. Hazrat Abdullah bin Umar (R.A.) narrated that the Prophet (S) said: Three classes of people will not enter Paradise. One. Disobedient to parents. Two. Daius (meaning a man who does not screen his female subordinates). Three. Women behaving like men (meaning naked women). (Mustadrak ul Hakim: 244)
From this hadith it is known about the terrible consequences of veiling that for them there is a severe punishment of Hell. So no woman hoping for paradise can be without a veil at all. It is also known from this hadith that the same fate befalls the men who do not try to keep their subordinates behind the curtain. How to observe the veil: There are three stages of observing the veil of a woman. Namely- curtains while staying at home, curtains while walking outside and curtains in old age.
According to the instructions of the Qur’an and Sunnah, the veil must be protected at every stage. The three stages of the front veil are briefly discussed.
Veil in Home
The woman’s main abode is her home. Usually it is suitable for women to stay indoors. For this, Allah Ta’ala has instructed women to stay inside their homes. In this context, Allah says,
وَقَرْنَ فِىْ بُيُوْتِكُنَّ وَلَا تَبَـرَّجْنَ تَبَرُّجَ الْجَاهِلِيَّةِ الْاُوْلٰى وَاَقِمْنَ الصَّلٰوةَ وَاٰتِيْنَ الزَّكٰوةَ وَاَطِعْنَ اللّٰهَ وَرَسُوْلَهٗ ؕ اِنَّمَا يُرِيْدُ اللّٰهُ لِيُذْهِبَ عَنْكُمُ الرِّجْسَ اَهْلَ الْبَيْتِ وَيُطَهِّرَكُمْ تَطْهِيْرًا ۚ
“And stay in your houses. Do not display (your embellishments) yourselves like the Time of Ignorance. And keep up the Prayer and pay Alms (Zakat). Obey Allah and His Messenger. O people of the House! Allah only wishes to keep away the sin from you and to cleanse you with a thorough cleansing.” (Surat al-Ahzab: 33)
Allama Ibn Kathir (may Allah be pleased with him) explained in this verse that the real place of a woman is her home. Women will not go out of the house unless necessary but will stay at home. (Tafsir Ibn Kathir: 6/409)
Basically, the more restrained and covered a woman is, the more she becomes dear to Allah Ta’ala. In the eyes of Islam, his dignity and personality became even higher. In this connection, the Prophet (peace be upon him) said that a woman is closest to her Lord only when she is in her house. (Sahih Ibn Hibban: 5599)
Therefore, believing women should stay indoors in such a way that they do not fall in the sight of mahram or other men in the presence of relatives or non-relatives. And in this way the accuracy of the screen is achieved by staying in the house. In this regard, Allah Ta’ala says,
يٰۤاَيُّهَا الَّذِيْنَ اٰمَنُوْا لَا تَدْخُلُوْا بُيُوْتَ النَّبِىِّ اِلَّاۤ اَنْ يُّؤْذَنَ لَـكُمْ اِلٰى طَعَامٍ غَيْرَ نٰظِرِيْنَ اِنٰٮهُ وَلٰـكِنْ اِذَا دُعِيْتُمْ فَادْخُلُوْا فَاِذَا طَعِمْتُمْ فَانْتَشِرُوْا وَلَا مُسْتَاْنِسِيْنَ لِحَـدِيْثٍ ؕ اِنَّ ذٰلِكُمْ كَانَ يُؤْذِى النَّبِىَّ فَيَسْتَحْىٖ مِنْكُمْ وَاللّٰهُ لَا يَسْتَحْىٖ مِنَ الْحَـقِّ ؕ وَاِذَا سَاَ لْتُمُوْهُنَّ مَتَاعًا فَسْـَٔـــلُوْهُنَّ مِنْ وَّرَآءِ حِجَابٍ ؕ ذٰ لِكُمْ اَطْهَرُ لِقُلُوْبِكُمْ وَقُلُوْبِهِنَّ ؕ وَمَا كَانَ لَـكُمْ اَنْ تُؤْذُوْا رَسُوْلَ اللّٰهِ وَلَاۤ اَنْ تَـنْكِحُوْۤا اَزْوَاجَهٗ مِنْۢ بَعْدِهٖۤ اَبَدًا ؕ اِنَّ ذٰ لِكُمْ كَانَ عِنْدَ اللّٰهِ عَظِيْمًا
“O you who have faith! Do not enter the Prophet’s houses for a meal until you are granted permission, without hanging around for it to be readied. But enter when you are invited, and disperse when you have taken your meal, without cozying up for chats. Such conduct on your part offends the Prophet, and he is ashamed of [asking] you [to leave]; but Allah is not ashamed of [expressing] the truth. When you ask [his] womenfolk for something, do so from behind a curtain. That is more chaste for your hearts and theirs. You should not offend the Apostle of Allah, nor may you ever marry his wives after him. Indeed that would be a grave [sin] with Allah.” (Surat al-Ahzab: 53)
Although this verse specifically mentions the Prophets, this provision is widely applicable to the entire Ummah. The essence of this provision is that if it is necessary to take any practical objects, utensils, clothes, etc. from men other than women, they should not come forward, but should ask from behind the curtain. It is evident from this instruction that even when women are in their homes, they will remain behind the full screen from all the mahram or other men, be they close or distant.
But if necessary, he will speak from behind the screen. And other men also have to speak from behind the curtain. This reveals the essentials of the screen. At the end of the verse, it is said about the importance of the veil that this provision of the veil has been given for the purpose of keeping the hearts of both men and women free from mental intrigue.
It is important to note here that the veil has been given to the pious wives of the Prophet (peace be upon him) in this place, whose hearts Allah Ta’ala Himself has taken the responsibility of keeping pure. On the other hand, the men to whom this provision has been addressed are the Companions of the Holy Prophet (peace be upon him), many of whom are above the rank of angels.
But in spite of all these things, it has been deemed necessary to arrange a veil between men and women to save them from their sincere purity and mental intrigue. (Then tell me) who is the person today who can claim that his mind is more pure than the pure mind of the Companions and the mind of his wife is more pure than the mind of the pious prophets. And it may seem that their association with women will not cause any harm! (Tafsir Ma’areful Quran: 6/195)
It is also clear from many pure hadiths that the Ummah al-Mu’minun or the wives of the Prophet (PBUH) usually observed the veil by staying inside their homes. Allah Ta’ala has instructed the believing women to observe the veil in the same way. In this regard, Allah (S.W.T) said, “(O Prophet) tell the believing women to restrain their gaze and guard their private parts. And they should not reveal their beauty, but what is revealed (despite reluctance) is different. Let them cover their breasts with a veil.” Allah also says:
وَقُلْ لِّـلْمُؤْمِنٰتِ يَغْضُضْنَ مِنْ اَبْصَارِهِنَّ وَيَحْفَظْنَ فُرُوْجَهُنَّ وَلَا يُبْدِيْنَ زِيْنَتَهُنَّ اِلَّا مَا ظَهَرَ مِنْهَا وَلْيَـضْرِبْنَ بِخُمُرِهِنَّ عَلٰى جُيُوْبِهِنَّ وَلَا يُبْدِيْنَ زِيْنَتَهُنَّ اِلَّا لِبُعُوْلَتِهِنَّ اَوْ اٰبَآٮِٕهِنَّ اَوْ اٰبَآءِ بُعُوْلَتِهِنَّ اَوْ اَبْنَآٮِٕهِنَّ اَوْ اَبْنَآءِ بُعُوْلَتِهِنَّ اَوْ اِخْوَانِهِنَّ اَوْ بَنِىْۤ اِخْوَانِهِنَّ اَوْ بَنِىْۤ اَخَوٰتِهِنَّ اَوْ نِسَآٮِٕهِنَّ اَوْ مَا مَلَـكَتْ اَيْمَانُهُنَّ اَوِ التّٰبِعِيْنَ غَيْرِ اُولِى الْاِرْبَةِ مِنَ الرِّجَالِ اَوِ الطِّفْلِ الَّذِيْنَ لَمْ يَظْهَرُوْا عَلٰى عَوْرٰتِ النِّسَآءِ وَلَا يَضْرِبْنَ بِاَرْجُلِهِنَّ لِيُـعْلَمَ مَا يُخْفِيْنَ مِنْ زِيْنَتِهِنَّ ؕ وَتُوْبُوْۤا اِلَى اللّٰهِ جَمِيْعًا اَيُّهَ الْمُؤْمِنُوْنَ لَعَلَّكُمْ تُفْلِحُوْنَ
“And they should not reveal their beauty to anyone except their husbands, fathers, fathers-in-law, sons, husbands’ sons, brothers, nephews, nieces, their wives, their slave girls, sexless men and boys who are ignorant of women’s private parts. And they should not go out of their way to reveal their secrets. O you who believe! Repent to Allah, all of you, that you may be successful.” (Surat an-Noor: 31)
This verse proves that women cannot express their beauty in front of any man except mahram men, that is, men with whom it is haram or forbidden to enter into marriage. This proves the indispensability of the screen. In this connection, the Prophet (peace be upon him) said, “Refrain from going to women. Then one of the Ansar Companions said, O Messenger of Allah! What is your opinion about Debor? He said, Debor is like death.” (Bukhari: 5232)
The real meaning of the word ‘hamu’ used in the hadith in question is the close relative of the husband. The purpose of the term is broad. By the term, the husband means brothers, uncles, aunts, cousins, aunts and uncles of any side of the husband and their adult sons. Such as: brother-in-law, brother-in-law, uncle-in-law, uncle-in-law, son of each of them, etc.
Many scholars, including Imam Tirmidhi, Lais Ibn Sa’d, Allama Qazi Yaz, and Tabari, have given similar explanations. That is, for a woman to refrain from showing herself in front of her brother-in-law, brother-in-law, uncle-in-law, uncle-in-law and their sons the way she wants to stay away from death. And above all, women should protect the full veil from all men who are not mahram during their stay in the house. That is, women should stay at home in such a way that she does not fall in the sight of a mahram or a stranger in a close or distant house. It is essential for a woman to be covered in this way during her stay at home.
Outdoor Veil
Needless to say, it is inevitable for women to go out of the house. That is why Islam allows women to go out if necessary. In this connection it has been narrated in Sahih Bukhari and Muslim that after the revelation of the veil, the Prophet (peace be upon him) addressed his wife Hazrat Sawda (peace be upon him) and said, “If necessary, you have been allowed to go out.” (Bukhari: 4695)
Basically, Islam is a comprehensive and complete system of life. Therefore, all aspects of human needs have been considered in Islam. However, in this case, you have to go out after being screened. Nothing can come out without a screen. In this context, the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said that ” the object of a woman being veiled is that whenever she goes out without veil, Shaytaan peeks at her. (Tirmidhi: 1163)
And in the Holy Qur’an, women are instructed to wear the full veil when going out. In this context, Allah Ta’ala has clearly instructed,
يٰۤـاَيُّهَا النَّبِىُّ قُلْ لِّاَزْوَاجِكَ وَبَنٰتِكَ وَنِسَآءِ الْمُؤْمِنِيْنَ يُدْنِيْنَ عَلَيْهِنَّ مِنْ جَلَابِيْبِهِنَّ ؕ ذٰ لِكَ اَدْنٰٓى اَنْ يُّعْرَفْنَ فَلَا يُؤْذَيْنَ ؕ وَكَانَ اللّٰهُ غَفُوْرًا رَّحِيْمًا
“O Prophet! Tell your wives, your daughters, and the believing women, that when they go out (when necessary) they should pull off a part of their (clothed) jilbab. This will make it easier to recognize them so they will not be harassed. And Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.” (Surat al-Ahzab: 59)
In this verse, women are instructed to pull part of their jilbabs on themselves when they go out. Imam Qurtubi (Rah.) He said that jilbab is a garment of women with which they cover their whole body. That is to say, the jilbab is a garment that can be worn on the head and body of a woman when she goes out. In our country which is known as burqa.
From this it is understood that when going out, one must wear a burqa and go out with one’s head covered. And the instruction given in the verse to pull a part of the jilbab on oneself is to cover one’s head and face. Which is evident from the commentaries of the Companions, the Tabi’is and the reliable commentators.
Explaining the verse in this regard, the eminent Companion Abdullah Ibn Abbas (R.A.) said that “Allah Ta’ala (in this verse) has instructed the believing women to go out when necessary, when they go out with the jilbab (after covering the whole body) from the side of their heads. The face is also covered. But they will keep an eye open (for ease of movement).” (Ibn Kathir: 6/472)
The eminent Tabi’i Muhammad ibn Sirin (may Allah be pleased with him) said: “When I asked Abidah Salamanih about the interpretation of this verse, he covered his head and face. That is, he explained that in this verse (after covering the whole body) it is instructed to cover the head and face.” (Ibn Kathir: 6/472)
Looking at the interpretations of the later commentators of the Companions and the Tabi’is, it is seen that all the commentators including Ibn Jarir Tabari, Ibn Kathir, Bayyabi, Bagwi, Nasafi, Suyuti, Abu Bakr Jassas, Mufti Muhammad Shafi have given similar interpretations of this verse. That is, everyone agreed that in this verse women are instructed to go out with their faces covered. This proves the indispensability of the veil when going outside. And above all, if a woman needs to go out, she needs to cover her whole body with her face and come out with a full screen. Which is unanimously obligatory.
The veil in old age
There is some leisure for older women to relax in the veil. In this regard, Allah Ta’ala said,
وَالْـقَوَاعِدُ مِنَ النِّسَآءِ الّٰتِىْ لَا يَرْجُوْنَ نِكَاحًا فَلَيْسَ عَلَيْهِنَّ جُنَاحٌ اَنْ يَّضَعْنَ ثِيَابَهُنَّ غَيْرَ مُتَبَـرِّجٰتٍ ۭ بِزِيْنَةٍ ؕ وَاَنْ يَّسْتَعْفِفْنَ خَيْرٌ لَّهُنَّ ؕ وَاللّٰهُ سَمِيْعٌ عَلِيْمٌ
“It is not a crime for very old women who do not expect to get married, if they take off their extra clothes without showing their beauty. But it is better for them to refrain from it. And Allah is All-Hearing, All-Knowing.” (Surat an-Nur: 60)
The instruction of the verse is that the provision of veil has been relaxed for the old woman who is not attracted to anyone and she is not even worthy of marriage. The mahram person in Ghair also becomes like a mahram to him. It is not necessary for mahrams to cover their limbs. It is not necessary for old women to cover them even for mahram men. It has been said for such an old woman that the limbs that can be opened in front of mahram men can also be opened in front of mahram men in Ghair. (Tafsir Ma’areful Quran: 6/439)
Above all, this provision is for old women who are not suitable for marriage due to reaching old age and who are not attracted to anyone. They have been given the advantage that it is not necessary for them to cover their heads like other women in front of mahram men in Ghair. Such old women can go in front of other men without it. But the condition is that they will not be able to hide in front of them. With this it has been made clear that in their case this relaxation of the provision is only permissible. “So if they are extra careful and like other women, they also protect the veil completely in front of other men, then that is better for them.” (Tafsir Tawzihul Quran: 2/48)
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