from the book “Aḥkām wa Masā’il in the Light of the Qur’an and Sunnah” by Shaykh Mubashshir Aḥmad Rabbānī.
What is meant by Sharʿī (Islamic) veil, and from whom is veiling obligatory?
Sharʿī veiling means that when a woman steps outside the four walls of her home, she should go out covered in such a large outer cloak that the attractive features of her body are not visible. She should be completely concealed within the veil.
Allah, the Blessed and Exalted, says in the Noble Qur’an:
﴿يَا أَيُّهَا النَّبِيُّ قُل لِّأَزْوَاجِكَ وَبَنَاتِكَ وَنِسَاءِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ يُدْنِينَ عَلَيْهِنَّ مِن جَلَابِيبِهِنَّ﴾
Translation:
“O Prophet! Tell your wives, your daughters, and the women of the believers to draw over themselves their outer garments (when they go out).”
In this noble verse, the word “jalābīb” is the plural of “jilbāb”, and jilbāb refers to a large outer sheet that covers the entire body.
(See: Tafsīr al-Zamakhsharī)
ʿAllāmah Abū Ḥayyān al-Andalusī writes in his Tafsīr al-Baḥr al-Muḥīṭ:
“In our land of Andalusia, Muslim women observe veiling in such a manner that the entire face is covered, with only one eye left uncovered.”
This manner of veiling by women has also been mentioned in Tafsīr Ibn Kathīr.
Meaning, a woman should go out wrapped in a large cloak in such a way that her entire body is concealed, and no part of it is prominent or visible.
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
المرأة عورة
Translation:
“A woman is to be concealed.”
Therefore, women who wear a burqaʿ in such a way that the adornment of their eyes is clearly visible, or the shape of the chest is apparent, their veil is non-Sharʿī.
In the present era, the common form of the burqaʿ often defeats the very objective of veiling. Women adorn themselves and wear the burqaʿ in such a manner that the beauty of their eyes is evident, and even an attractive woman appears beautiful and appealing through it.
Hence, this method should be changed, and Muslim women should observe veiling according to the correct Sharʿī manner.
A woman must observe veil from every man with whom her marriage is permissible.
(And Allah knows best.)
Question:
What is meant by Sharʿī (Islamic) veil, and from whom is veiling obligatory?
Answer:
Sharʿī veiling means that when a woman steps outside the four walls of her home, she should go out covered in such a large outer cloak that the attractive features of her body are not visible. She should be completely concealed within the veil.
Allah, the Blessed and Exalted, says in the Noble Qur’an:
﴿يَا أَيُّهَا النَّبِيُّ قُل لِّأَزْوَاجِكَ وَبَنَاتِكَ وَنِسَاءِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ يُدْنِينَ عَلَيْهِنَّ مِن جَلَابِيبِهِنَّ﴾
Reference: Al-Aḥzāb: 59
Translation:
“O Prophet! Tell your wives, your daughters, and the women of the believers to draw over themselves their outer garments (when they go out).”
Explanation of “Jalābīb”
In this noble verse, the word “jalābīb” is the plural of “jilbāb”, and jilbāb refers to a large outer sheet that covers the entire body.
(See: Tafsīr al-Zamakhsharī)
Practice of Early Muslim Women
ʿAllāmah Abū Ḥayyān al-Andalusī writes in his Tafsīr al-Baḥr al-Muḥīṭ:
“In our land of Andalusia, Muslim women observe veiling in such a manner that the entire face is covered, with only one eye left uncovered.”
This manner of veiling by women has also been mentioned in Tafsīr Ibn Kathīr.
Meaning, a woman should go out wrapped in a large cloak in such a way that her entire body is concealed, and no part of it is prominent or visible.
Prophetic Guidance
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
المرأة عورة
Reference: Jāmiʿ al-Tirmidhī: 1173
Translation:
“A woman is to be concealed.”
Clarification Regarding Improper Veiling
Therefore, women who wear a burqaʿ in such a way that the adornment of their eyes is clearly visible, or the shape of the chest is apparent, their veil is non-Sharʿī.
In the present era, the common form of the burqaʿ often defeats the very objective of veiling. Women adorn themselves and wear the burqaʿ in such a manner that the beauty of their eyes is evident, and even an attractive woman appears beautiful and appealing through it.
Hence, this method should be changed, and Muslim women should observe veiling according to the correct Sharʿī manner.
From Whom Is Veiling Obligatory?
A woman must observe veil from every man with whom her marriage is permissible.
(And Allah knows best.)
