A brief explanation of Hijaab

1. Discover Islam society
16th September 2014
Discover Islam Manama
Room 204
7:00 – 9:00 pm

2. Definition of hijaab

3. HIJAAB
• is a veil that covers the head and chest, which is
particularly worn by a Muslim woman beyond
the age of puberty in the presence of
adult males outside of their immediate family.
• The term hijab in Arabic literally means “a
screen or curtain” and is used in the Qur'an to
refer to a partition.

4. Evidence from the Qur'an

5. [al-Noor 24:31]
• “And tell the believing women to lower their gaze (from looking at
forbidden things), and protect their private parts (from illegal sexual
acts) and not to show off their adornment except only that which is
apparent (like both eyes for necessity to see the way, or outer palms
of hands or one eye or dress like veil, gloves, head cover, apron), and
to draw their veils all over Juyoobihinna (i.e. their bodies, faces,
necks and bosoms) and not to reveal their adornment except to their
husbands, or their fathers, or their husband’s fathers, or their sons, or
their husband’s sons, or their brothers or their brother’s sons, or their
sister’s sons, or their (Muslim) women (i.e. their sisters in Islam), or
the (female) slaves whom their right hands possess, or old male
servants who lack vigour, or small children who have no sense of
feminine sex. And let them not stamp their feet so as to reveal what
they hide of their adornment. And all of you beg Allaah to forgive you
all, O believers, that you may be successful”

6. The evidence from this verse that hijab is
obligatory for women is as follows:
• Allaah commands the believing women to guard their
chastity, and the command to guard their chastity also a
command to follow all the means of doing that.
• Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning): “…and to
draw their veils all over Juyoobihinna (i.e. their bodies,
faces, necks and bosoms) …”. The jayb (pl. juyoob) is
the neck opening of a garment and the khimaar (veil) is
that with which a woman covers her head.
• Allaah has forbidden showing all adornment except that
which is apparent, which is that which one cannot help
showing, such as the outside of one's garment.

7. • Allaah grants a concession allowing a woman to show her inward
adornments to “old male servants who lack vigour”.
• 1 – That showing inward adornments to non-mahrams is not
permissible except to these two types of people.
• 2 – That the reason for this ruling is the fear that men may be
tempted by the woman and fall in love with her. Undoubtedly the
face is the site of beauty and attraction, so concealing it is obligatory
lest men who do feel desire be attracted and tempted by her.
• The words (interpretation of the meaning): “And let them not
stamp their feet so as to reveal what they hide of their adornment”
mean that a woman should not stamp her feet so as to make known
hidden adornments such as anklets and the like.

8. Hijab or not Hijab

9. [al-Noor 24:60]
• “And as for women past childbearing who do not
expect wedlock, it is no sin on them if they
discard their (outer) clothing in such a way as
not to show their adornment. But to refrain (i.e.
not to discard their outer clothing) is better for
them. And Allaah is All-Hearer, All-Knower”

10. [al-Ahzaab 33:59]
• “O Prophet! Tell your wives and your daughters
and the women of the believers to draw their
cloaks (veils) all over their bodies (i.e. screen
themselves completely except the eyes or one eye
to see the way). That will be better, that they
should be known (as free respectable women) so
as not to be annoyed. And Allaah is Ever
Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful”

11. [al-Ahzaab 33:55]
• “It is no sin on them (the Prophet’s wives, if they
appear unveiled) before their fathers, or their
sons, or their brothers, or their brother’s sons, or
the sons of their sisters, or their own (believing)
women, or their (female) slaves. And (O ladies),
fear (keep your duty to) Allaah. Verily, Allaah is
Ever All-Witness over everything”

12. Evidence from the Sunnah that it is obligatory to
cover the face

13. (i)
• The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be
upon him) said: “When any one of you proposes
marriage to a woman, there is no sin on him if he
looks at her, rather he should look at her for the
purpose of proposing marriage even if she is
unaware.” Narrated by Ahmad. The author
of Majma’ al-Zawaa’id said: its men are the men
of saheeh.

14. (ii).
• When the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah
be upon him) commanded that women should
be brought out to the Eid prayer place, they said,
“O Messenger of Allaah, some of us do not have
jilbaabs.” The Prophet (peace and blessings of
Allaah be upon him) said, “Let her sister give her
one of her jilbaabs to wear.” Narrated by al-
Bukhaari and Muslim.

15. (iii).
• It was narrated in al-Saheehayn that ‘Aa’ishah (may
Allaah be pleased with her) said: The Messenger of
Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him)
used to pray Fajr and the believing women would
attend the prayer with him, wrapped in their veils,
then they would go back to their homes and no one
would recognize them because of the darkness. She
said: If the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings
of Allaah be upon him) saw from the women what
we have seen, he would have prevented them from
coming to the mosques as the Children of Israel
prevented their women.

16. 1 – Hijaab and covering were
the practice of the women of
the Sahaabah who were the
best of generations and the
most honourable before
Allaah.
2 – ‘Aa’ishah the Mother of
the Believers and ‘Abd-Allaah
ibn Mas’ood (may Allaah be
pleased with them both), who
were both known as scholars
with deep insight, said that if
the Messenger (peace and
blessings of Allaah be upon
him) had seen from women
what they had seen, he would
have prevented them from
coming to the mosques. This
was during the best
generations, so what about
nowadays?!

17. iv.
• It was narrated that Ibn ‘Umar said: The
Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of
Allaah be upon him) said: “Whoever lets his
garment drag out of pride, Allaah will not look at
him on the Day of Resurrection.” Umm Salamah
said, “What should women do with their hems?”
He said, “Let it hang down a handspan.” She
said, “What if that shows her feet?” He said, “Let
it hang down a cubit, but no more than that.”
Narrated by al-Tirmidhi; classed as saheeh by al-
Albaani in Saheeh al-Tirmidhi.

18. v.
• It was narrated that ‘Aa’ishah said: The riders
used to pass by us when we were with the
Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of
Allaah be upon him) in ihraam. When they came
near us we would lower our jilbaabs from our
heads over our faces, and when they had passed
by we would uncover our faces. Narrated by Abu
Dawood, 1562.

19. Correct Hijaab

20. The conditions of hijaab:
• Firstly: (It should cover all the body apart from
whatever has been exempted).
• Secondly:(it should not be an adornment in and
of itself).
• Thirdly:(It should be thick and not transparent
or “see-thru”).
• Fourthly: (It should be loose, not tight so that it
describes any part of the body).

21. • Fifthly: (It should not be perfumed with bakhoor
or fragrance)
• Sixthly: (It should not resemble the clothing of
men).
• Seventhly: (It should not resemble the dress of
kaafir women).
• Eighthly: (It should not be a garment of fame
and vanity).

22. When is it permissible for a woman to uncover
her face?

23. I – Proposal of marriage:
• Sahl ibn Sa’d (may Allaah be pleased with him) said: “A
woman came to the Messenger of Allaah (peace and
blessings of Allaah be upon him) and said, ‘O Messenger
of Allaah, I came to give myself to you in marriage.’ So
the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah
be upon him) looked at her, he raised his gaze and stared
at her, then he lowered his head. When the woman saw
that he had not made any decision, she sat down. Then a
man from among his Companions stood up and said, ‘O
Messenger of Allaah, if you don’t want to marry her, then
marry her to me.’ …” (Reported by al-Bukhaari, 7/19;
Muslim, 4/143; al-Nisaa’i bi Sharh al-Suyooti, 6/113; al-
Bayhaqi, 7/84).

24. II – Business dealings:
• Ibn Qudaamah said: “If a person deals with a woman
when selling or renting, he may look at her face so he
knows who she is, and may go back to her when the
money is due (a guarantee of the price when the deal is
finalized). It was reported that Ahmad said this was
makrooh in the case of a young woman, but not in the
case of an old woman, and in the case where there is fear
of fitnah, or where there is no need for this business
deal. But in cases where it is necessary, and there is no
wrongful desire, then there is no harm in it.” (al-
Mughni, 7/459; al-Sharh al-Kabeer ‘ala Matan al-
Muqni’, 7/348 bi Haamish al-Mughni; al-Hidaayah
ma’a Takmilat Fath al-Qadeer, 10/24).

25. III – Medical treatment:
• Ibn Qudaamah said: “it is permissible for the doctor
to look at whatever is necessary of her body, of her
private parts and elsewhere, because there is a need
for it to be uncovered.
• It was reported that a boy who had stolen something
was brought to ‘Uthmaan. He said, ‘Look at his groin
(to see if he had pubic hair, which would indicate
whether he had reached the age of puberty [and
would therefore be considered to be a responsible
adult] or not).’ They did not find any pubic hair, so
they did not cut off his hand.” (Al-Mughni,
7/459; Ghidha’ al-Albaab, 1/97).

26. IV – Testimony:
• Ibn Qudaamah said: “The witness may look at
the face of the woman against whom he is
testifying so that his testimony will speak about
her in specific terms. Ahmad said: ‘He cannot
testify against a woman unless he knows who
she is.’” (Al-Mughni, 7/459;al-Sharh al-Kabeer
‘ala Matan al-Muqni’, 7/348, bi haamish al-
Mughni; al-Hidaayah ma’a Takmilat Fath al-
Qadeer, 10/26).

27. V – In court cases:
• It is permissible for a woman to uncover her face
in front of a qaadi (judge) who is to rule either in
her favour or against her, and in this situation he
may look at her face in order to know who she is
and for the sake of protecting people’s rights.

28. VI – In front of mature boys who feel
no physical desire:
• Shaykh Abu’l-Faraj al-Maqdisi said: “The mature
boy who feels no physical desire may see parts of a
woman’s body above the navel and below the knee,
according to one of the two reports, because Allaah
says (interpretation of the meanings): ‘… there is no
sin on you or on them to move about, - attending
(helping) you each other…’ [al-Noor
24:58] and ‘And when the children among you
come to puberty, then let them (also) ask for
permission, as those senior to them (in age)…’ [al-
Noor 24:59]. This indicates that there is a
differentiation between those who have reached
puberty and those who have not.”

29. VII – The man who has no desire:
• It was reported that Mujaahid and Qutaadah said: “This
is the one who has no interest in women, but if he is a
mukhannath who feels desire and knows about women,
then the rules that apply to others apply also to him,
because ‘Aa’ishah said: ‘A mukhannath entered upon the
wives of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be
upon him), and they used to think that he was a man
who felt no physical desires, but the Prophet (peace and
blessings of Allaah be upon him) entered upon us when
this man was describing a woman and saying ‘When she
comes in, she comes on four, and when she goes out, she
goes on eight.’ The Prophet (peace and blessings of
Allaah be upon him) said: ‘Do I not see that this man
knows who is here? This one should never enter upon
you.’ And he was kept away after that.” (Reported by Abu
Dawood and others).

30. IX – Old women who are past
marriageable age:
• Old women who are past marriageable age may
uncover their faces and what usually appears in
front of non-mahram men, but it is still better
for them to remain covered.

31. X – Uncovering the face in front of kaafir
women:
• Ibn Qudaamah said: “The ruling concerning women dealing
with women is the same as that concerning men dealing with
men. There is no difference between Muslims, and no
difference between a Muslim woman and a dhimmi (non-
Muslim living under Muslim rule) woman, just as there is no
difference between two Muslim men or between a Muslim
man and a dhimmi man when it comes to seeing. Ahmad said:
‘Some people think that she should not take off her head
covering in front of a Jewish or Christian woman. However, I
think that she (a Jewish or Christian woman) should not see
the private part (of a Muslim woman), or attend her when she
gives birth (i.e., she should not be her midwife, because she
will look at the most private part of her body when she gives
birth – except in cases of necessity, as discussed above).’”

32. XI – Hajj and ‘Umrah:
• Women must uncover their faces and hands
when they enter ihraam for Hajj or ‘Umrah. At
this time, they are forbidden to wear niqaab and
gloves, because the Messenger of Allaah (peace
and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “The
woman who is in ihraam must not wear niqaab
or gloves.”

33. XII – Compulsion:
• Some oppressive regimes have instituted harsh
laws which go against the religion of Islam and
rebel against Allaah and His Messenger. These
laws prevent Muslim women from wearing
proper hijaab, and some of them even remove
their niqaab by force and subject them to the
worst type of oppression and persecution.