Written by: Qari Usama bin Abd al-Salam
Covering the chest (bosom) is obligatory (farḍ) for women in Islamic law. This ruling is clearly established through:
✅ The Qur’an
✅ Authentic Hadiths
✅ The unanimous practice of the Companions (Ijmaʿ al-Ṣaḥābah)
Below is a comprehensive and research-based presentation of evidence from these three sources:
✅ 1. Evidence from the Qur’an
🔹 Surah al-Nūr, Verse 31
﴿وَلْيَضْرِبْنَ بِخُمُرِهِنَّ عَلَىٰ جُيُوبِهِنَّ﴾
(Surah al-Nūr 24:31)
Translation:
“And tell the believing women… not to display their adornment except that which (necessarily) appears thereof, and to draw their veils over their bosoms.”
✅ Explanation of Key Words:
- “خُمُرِهِنَّ“ = Plural of “khimār”, meaning veil, headscarf, or covering
- “جُيُوبِهِنَّ“ = Plural of “jayb”, meaning chest, neckline, or bosom
🔎 This verse commands women not merely to cover the head, but also to extend the veil over the chest, thereby fully covering the bosom and neckline.
✅ 2. Tafsīr from the Companions (ṣaḥābah)
🔹 Narrated by ʿĀʾishah رضي الله عنها:
“رَحِمَ اللَّهُ نِسَاءَ الْمُهَاجِرَاتِ الْأُوَلَ… شَقَقْنَ مُرُوطَهُنَّ، فَاخْتَمَرْنَ بِهَا“
(Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī, Kitāb al-Tafsīr, under verse 24:31)
Translation:
“May Allah have mercy on the early emigrant women. When this verse was revealed, they tore pieces of their garments and made headscarves from them and covered their bosoms.”
✔ This immediate reaction of the female companions is a practical implementation of the command.
✔ It reached the level of Ijmaʿ (consensus).
✅ 3. Support from Hadith
🔹 The Prophet ﷺ said:
“المرأةُ عورةٌ، فإذا خرجَتْ استشرفَها الشيطانُ“
(Sunan al-Tirmidhī: 1173 — Authentic)
Meaning:
A woman is entirely a private part (ʿawrah); when she goes out, Satan beautifies her (to others).
✔ This clearly indicates that the entire body of a woman, including the chest, must be covered.
✔ The chest is among the most prominent parts and must be concealed.
✅ 4. Consensus of the Companions (Ijmaʿ al-Ṣaḥābah)
During the era of the Companions and the early generations:
✔ No woman was allowed to appear publicly with an exposed chest.
✔ Statements and practices of ʿĀʾishah, Ibn Masʿūd, Ibn ʿAbbās, and others confirm that:
❝Covering the head and chest with the khimār was mandatory.❞
✅ Summary of the Ruling
📌 From the Qur’an:
Surah al-Nūr, verse 31 explicitly commands women to cover their bosoms with their veils.
📌 From Hadith:
The woman’s body is ʿawrah (must be covered), and exposing it leads to temptation (fitnah).
📌 From the Practice of the Companions:
Upon revelation of the verse, the believing women immediately took action and covered their chests.
⚠️ Important Note
🔸 In today’s time, the common practice of placing the scarf only on the head while leaving the chest exposed—often in the name of fashion—is a direct violation of the Qur’anic command.
📚 واللهُ أعلمُ بالصواب
