سُوْرَةُ الْاَحْزَابِ
Surah Al-Ahzaab (33) — Ayah 59
يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلنَّبِىُّ قُل لِّأَزْوَٰجِكَ وَبَنَاتِكَ وَنِسَآءِ ٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ يُدْنِينَ عَلَيْهِنَّ مِن جَلَـٰبِيبِهِنَّ ۚ ذَٰلِكَ أَدْنَىٰٓ أَن يُعْرَفْنَ فَلَا يُؤْذَيْنَ ۗ وَكَانَ ٱللَّهُ غَفُورًا رَّحِيمًا ﴿59﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
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 Allâh is Ever Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.[3]
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا
yāayyuhā
O Prophet
ٱلنَّبِىُّ
l-nabiyu
O Prophet
قُل
qul
Say
لِّأَزْوَٰجِكَ
li-azwājika
to your wives
وَبَنَاتِكَ
wabanātika
and your daughters
وَنِسَآءِ
wanisāi
and (the) women
ٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ
l-mu'minīna
(of) the believers
يُدْنِينَ
yud'nīna
to draw
عَلَيْهِنَّ
ʿalayhinna
over themselves
مِن
min
[of]
جَلَـٰبِيبِهِنَّ ۚ
jalābībihinna
their outer garments
ذَٰلِكَ
dhālika
That
أَدْنَىٰٓ
adnā
(is) more suitable
أَن
an
that
يُعْرَفْنَ
yuʿ'rafna
they should be known
فَلَا
falā
and not
يُؤْذَيْنَ ۗ
yu'dhayna
harmed
وَكَانَ
wakāna
And is
ٱللَّهُ
l-lahu
Allah
غَفُورًۭا
ghafūran
Oft-Forgiving
رَّحِيمًۭا
raḥīman
Most Merciful
Tafsir al-Quran al-Karim — Hafiz Abdus Salam Bin Muhammad Bhutvi
Tafsir al-Quran al-Karim is a 4-volume Quran commentary by Hafiz Abdus Salam bin Muhammad Bhutvi, a renowned Salafi (Ahl al-Hadith) scholar and Sheikh ul-Hadith from Pakistan. Based on over 45 years of teaching and research, this tafsir follows the methodology of Tafsir bil-Ma'thur — interpreting the Quran through authentic Hadith, statements of the Companions, and the understanding of the early generations (Salaf). It is distinguished by its complete avoidance of Israeliyyat (Judeo-Christian narratives) and unverified reports. The tafsir is originally written in Urdu, translated to English by tohed.com.
(Ayah 59) ➊ { يٰۤاَيُّهَا النَّبِيُّ قُلْ لِّاَزْوَاجِكَ وَ بَنٰتِكَ … :} After mentioning the warning for those who harm Muslims, Muslim women are instructed to observe hijab to protect themselves from harm. From this verse, it is evident that the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) had more than one daughter. Some people do not accept any daughters of the Prophet (peace be upon him) except Fatimah (may Allah be pleased with her). According to them, the daughters of the Prophet (peace be upon him) refer to the women of the Ummah, but this is not correct, because in the verse, after mentioning the wives and daughters of the Prophet (peace be upon him), the believing women are mentioned separately. In the books of hadith and biography, four daughters of the Prophet (peace be upon him) are mentioned: Zainab, Umm Kulthum, Ruqayyah, and Fatimah (may Allah be pleased with them). In {’’ نِسَآءِ الْمُؤْمِنِيْنَ ‘‘}, besides the wives of the believers, all women related to them are included, such as their mothers, sisters, daughters, nieces (brother’s daughters), and nieces (sister’s daughters), etc.
➋ {’’جَلَابِيْبُ‘‘ ’’جِلْبَابٌ‘‘} is the plural of a large sheet that covers the body. The word {’’ مِنْ ‘‘} is for partiality, meaning a part of their sheets. {’’ يُدْنِيْنَ عَلَيْهِنَّ ‘‘}, {’’أَدْنٰي يُدْنِيْ‘‘} means to bring close, and with the word {’’ عَلَيْهِنَّ ‘‘}, the meaning of hanging is added. The women of Arabia, like all ignorant societies, used to walk with uncovered faces in front of everyone, so Allah Almighty said: “O Prophet! Tell your wives, your daughters, and the women of the believers to let a part of their sheets hang over themselves.” What is meant by this hanging? Tabari has narrated with an authentic chain from the interpreter of the Quran, Abdullah ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them): {’’ أَمَرَ اللّٰهُ نِسَاءَ الْمُؤْمِنِيْنَ إِذَا خَرَجْنَ مِنْ بُيُوْتِهِنَّ فِيْ حَاجَةٍ أَنْ يُّغَطِّيْنَ وُجُوْهَهُنَّ مِنْ فَوْقِ رُؤُوْسِهِنَّ بِالْجَلاَبِيْبِ، وَ يُبْدِيْنَ عَيْنًا وَاحِدَةً ‘‘} [طبري : ۲۸۸۸۰ ] “Allah Almighty has commanded the believing women that when they go out for a need, they should cover their faces with the sheets thrown over their heads and leave one eye open.” Umm Salamah (may Allah be pleased with her) said: [ لَمَّا نَزَلَتْ : « يُدْنِيْنَ عَلَيْهِنَّ مِنْ جَلَابِيْبِهِنَّ» خَرَجَ نِسَاءَ الْأَنْصَارِ كَأَنَّ عَلٰی رُءُوْسِهِنَّ الْغِرْبَانَ مِنَ الْأَكْسِيَةِ ] [ أبو داوٗد، اللباس، باب في قول اللّٰہ تعالٰی: « یدنین علیھن من جلا بیبھن » : ۴۱۰۱، و قال الألباني صحیح ] “When the verse {’’ يُدْنِيْنَ عَلَيْهِنَّ مِنْ جَلَابِيْبِهِنَّ‘‘} was revealed, the women of the Ansar came out as if there were crows on their heads because of the (black) sheets.”
➌ { ذٰلِكَ اَدْنٰۤى اَنْ يُّعْرَفْنَ فَلَا يُؤْذَيْنَ :} Here is a question: If a part of the sheet is hung over oneself in such a way that only one eye remains open and the face is not visible at all, then how can a woman be recognized? Then what does it mean to say, “This is closer so that they may be recognized and not harmed”? The answer is that being recognized does not mean that this is such-and-such woman, but it means that by observing hijab, it will be recognized that these are honorable and modest women, so no one will dare to tease them, nor will anyone be tempted to attract them. On the contrary, how can an unveiled woman be recognized as honorable or as merchandise displayed in the market, which anyone can acquire? After removing the veil, instead of being safe from harm, she should expect harassment, force, and sometimes even abduction by wicked and immoral people.
➍ Some people say that covering the face is not required, but this verse refutes them. In addition, the command of hijab is also clearly established from Surah An-Nur, verses (31 and 60), and Surah Al-Ahzab, verses (53 and 55). Along with the verse under commentary, review the translation and exegesis of these verses as well. The statement of Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) in the incident of Ifk, that Safwan saw me before the verses of hijab were revealed, is also clear evidence for covering the face.
➎ { وَ كَانَ اللّٰهُ غَفُوْرًا رَّحِيْمًا: ’’ غَفُوْرًا ‘‘} means the one who covers, {’’ رَحِيْمًا ‘‘} means extremely merciful. That is, the reason Allah Almighty has given the command of hijab for believing women is due to His attribute of forgiveness and mercy. He wants to cover you and show mercy to you, and only by obeying His command will you become deserving of His covering and mercy. If you do not obey Him, then do not expect His covering and mercy for your shortcomings.
➋ {’’جَلَابِيْبُ‘‘ ’’جِلْبَابٌ‘‘} is the plural of a large sheet that covers the body. The word {’’ مِنْ ‘‘} is for partiality, meaning a part of their sheets. {’’ يُدْنِيْنَ عَلَيْهِنَّ ‘‘}, {’’أَدْنٰي يُدْنِيْ‘‘} means to bring close, and with the word {’’ عَلَيْهِنَّ ‘‘}, the meaning of hanging is added. The women of Arabia, like all ignorant societies, used to walk with uncovered faces in front of everyone, so Allah Almighty said: “O Prophet! Tell your wives, your daughters, and the women of the believers to let a part of their sheets hang over themselves.” What is meant by this hanging? Tabari has narrated with an authentic chain from the interpreter of the Quran, Abdullah ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them): {’’ أَمَرَ اللّٰهُ نِسَاءَ الْمُؤْمِنِيْنَ إِذَا خَرَجْنَ مِنْ بُيُوْتِهِنَّ فِيْ حَاجَةٍ أَنْ يُّغَطِّيْنَ وُجُوْهَهُنَّ مِنْ فَوْقِ رُؤُوْسِهِنَّ بِالْجَلاَبِيْبِ، وَ يُبْدِيْنَ عَيْنًا وَاحِدَةً ‘‘} [طبري : ۲۸۸۸۰ ] “Allah Almighty has commanded the believing women that when they go out for a need, they should cover their faces with the sheets thrown over their heads and leave one eye open.” Umm Salamah (may Allah be pleased with her) said: [ لَمَّا نَزَلَتْ : « يُدْنِيْنَ عَلَيْهِنَّ مِنْ جَلَابِيْبِهِنَّ» خَرَجَ نِسَاءَ الْأَنْصَارِ كَأَنَّ عَلٰی رُءُوْسِهِنَّ الْغِرْبَانَ مِنَ الْأَكْسِيَةِ ] [ أبو داوٗد، اللباس، باب في قول اللّٰہ تعالٰی: « یدنین علیھن من جلا بیبھن » : ۴۱۰۱، و قال الألباني صحیح ] “When the verse {’’ يُدْنِيْنَ عَلَيْهِنَّ مِنْ جَلَابِيْبِهِنَّ‘‘} was revealed, the women of the Ansar came out as if there were crows on their heads because of the (black) sheets.”
➌ { ذٰلِكَ اَدْنٰۤى اَنْ يُّعْرَفْنَ فَلَا يُؤْذَيْنَ :} Here is a question: If a part of the sheet is hung over oneself in such a way that only one eye remains open and the face is not visible at all, then how can a woman be recognized? Then what does it mean to say, “This is closer so that they may be recognized and not harmed”? The answer is that being recognized does not mean that this is such-and-such woman, but it means that by observing hijab, it will be recognized that these are honorable and modest women, so no one will dare to tease them, nor will anyone be tempted to attract them. On the contrary, how can an unveiled woman be recognized as honorable or as merchandise displayed in the market, which anyone can acquire? After removing the veil, instead of being safe from harm, she should expect harassment, force, and sometimes even abduction by wicked and immoral people.
➍ Some people say that covering the face is not required, but this verse refutes them. In addition, the command of hijab is also clearly established from Surah An-Nur, verses (31 and 60), and Surah Al-Ahzab, verses (53 and 55). Along with the verse under commentary, review the translation and exegesis of these verses as well. The statement of Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) in the incident of Ifk, that Safwan saw me before the verses of hijab were revealed, is also clear evidence for covering the face.
➎ { وَ كَانَ اللّٰهُ غَفُوْرًا رَّحِيْمًا: ’’ غَفُوْرًا ‘‘} means the one who covers, {’’ رَحِيْمًا ‘‘} means extremely merciful. That is, the reason Allah Almighty has given the command of hijab for believing women is due to His attribute of forgiveness and mercy. He wants to cover you and show mercy to you, and only by obeying His command will you become deserving of His covering and mercy. If you do not obey Him, then do not expect His covering and mercy for your shortcomings.
