Taken from the book “Rights of Parents and Children” by Shaykh Jāwēd Iqbāl Sīālkōṭī
This directive is based on a clear command from Allah ﷻ:
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﴿ يَا أَيُّهَا النَّبِيُّ قُل لِّأَزْوَاجِكَ وَبَنَاتِكَ وَنِسَاءِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ يُدْنِينَ عَلَيْهِنَّ مِن جَلَابِيبِهِنَّ ۚ ذَٰلِكَ أَدْنَىٰ أَن يُعْرَفْنَ فَلَا يُؤْذَيْنَ ۗ وَكَانَ اللَّهُ غَفُورًا رَّحِيمًا ﴾
**
“O Prophet! Tell your wives, your daughters, and the believing women to draw their cloaks (jalābīb) over themselves. That is more likely that they will be recognized and not harmed. And Allah is Most Forgiving, Most Merciful.”
Surah al-Aḥzāb (33:59)
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أمرَ اللهُ نساءَ المؤمنينَ إذا خرجْنَ من بيوتِهنَّ في حاجةٍ أن يغطينَ وجوهَهنَّ من فوقِ رؤوسِهنَّ بالجلابيبِ ويبدينَ عينًا واحدةً
**
“Allah commanded the believing women that when they leave their homes for a necessity, they must cover their faces from above their heads with their cloaks (jalābīb), showing only one eye for the purpose of seeing the way.”
Tafsīr Ibn Kathīr, Vol. 3, p. 569
– Jalābīb is the plural of jilbāb, a large outer garment or cloak that covers the entire body.
– The command to “draw the cloak over themselves” means:
➤ To veil the face properly,
➤ By lowering the cloth from the head so that most of the face is concealed,
➤ Allowing vision through a slight opening while keeping eyes lowered.
▪ During the era of the Prophet ﷺ, the Ṣaḥābiyyāt wore simple garments.
They had no intention of displaying beauty, so even a large chador fulfilled the requirements of modesty and ḥijāb.
▪ In later times, this simplicity declined, and women began displaying decorated clothing and jewelry, making concealment difficult.
▪ Hence, burqas of various forms were introduced to preserve modesty. Though wearing a burqa may be uncomfortable in heat, it holds no comparison to the command of Shariah.
▪ A woman who chooses a large cloak/chador and covers her body fully, including a face veil in the correct manner, fulfills the requirement of ḥijāb even without a burqa.
⚠ However, in recent times, many women misuse the chador, first replacing the burqa with it, then abandoning even the chador, and finally discarding even the dupatta.
This has resulted in widespread immodesty, with many now proud of semi-nudity.
إِنَّا لِلَّهِ وَإِنَّا إِلَيْهِ رَاجِعُونَ
This verse commands the Prophet ﷺ’s wives, daughters, and all believing women to observe ḥijāb when leaving the house.
It proves that ḥijāb is not a man-made restriction or a cultural norm, as some claim today.
Rather, it is an explicit command from Allah, supported by Qur’ānic text.
Denying or belittling this obligation or persisting in public immodesty may lead a person towards disbelief (kufr).
Aḥsan al-Bayān
✦ It is obligatory upon parents to instruct their daughters to observe ḥijāb once they reach puberty.
✦ This command is from Allah, and is not optional.
✦ Face covering, modest dress, and lowering the gaze are part of the complete system of Islamic modesty.
✦ Neglecting it knowingly and persistently is a serious matter in the sight of Allah.
✿ Parents Must Instruct Their Daughters to Observe Proper Ḥijāb Once They Reach Puberty
This directive is based on a clear command from Allah ﷻ:
❀ Quranic Verse:
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﴿ يَا أَيُّهَا النَّبِيُّ قُل لِّأَزْوَاجِكَ وَبَنَاتِكَ وَنِسَاءِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ يُدْنِينَ عَلَيْهِنَّ مِن جَلَابِيبِهِنَّ ۚ ذَٰلِكَ أَدْنَىٰ أَن يُعْرَفْنَ فَلَا يُؤْذَيْنَ ۗ وَكَانَ اللَّهُ غَفُورًا رَّحِيمًا ﴾
**
“O Prophet! Tell your wives, your daughters, and the believing women to draw their cloaks (jalābīb) over themselves. That is more likely that they will be recognized and not harmed. And Allah is Most Forgiving, Most Merciful.”
Surah al-Aḥzāb (33:59)❀ Commentary of ʿAbdullāh ibn ʿAbbās رضي الله عنهما:
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أمرَ اللهُ نساءَ المؤمنينَ إذا خرجْنَ من بيوتِهنَّ في حاجةٍ أن يغطينَ وجوهَهنَّ من فوقِ رؤوسِهنَّ بالجلابيبِ ويبدينَ عينًا واحدةً
**
“Allah commanded the believing women that when they leave their homes for a necessity, they must cover their faces from above their heads with their cloaks (jalābīb), showing only one eye for the purpose of seeing the way.”
Tafsīr Ibn Kathīr, Vol. 3, p. 569✔ Clarification on the Term "Jalābīb":
– Jalābīb is the plural of jilbāb, a large outer garment or cloak that covers the entire body.
– The command to “draw the cloak over themselves” means:
➤ To veil the face properly,
➤ By lowering the cloth from the head so that most of the face is concealed,
➤ Allowing vision through a slight opening while keeping eyes lowered.
✿ Historical Context & Present-Day Implications:
▪ During the era of the Prophet ﷺ, the Ṣaḥābiyyāt wore simple garments.
They had no intention of displaying beauty, so even a large chador fulfilled the requirements of modesty and ḥijāb.
▪ In later times, this simplicity declined, and women began displaying decorated clothing and jewelry, making concealment difficult.
▪ Hence, burqas of various forms were introduced to preserve modesty. Though wearing a burqa may be uncomfortable in heat, it holds no comparison to the command of Shariah.
▪ A woman who chooses a large cloak/chador and covers her body fully, including a face veil in the correct manner, fulfills the requirement of ḥijāb even without a burqa.
⚠ However, in recent times, many women misuse the chador, first replacing the burqa with it, then abandoning even the chador, and finally discarding even the dupatta.
This has resulted in widespread immodesty, with many now proud of semi-nudity.
إِنَّا لِلَّهِ وَإِنَّا إِلَيْهِ رَاجِعُونَ
❀ Important Conclusion:
This verse commands the Prophet ﷺ’s wives, daughters, and all believing women to observe ḥijāb when leaving the house.
It proves that ḥijāb is not a man-made restriction or a cultural norm, as some claim today.
Rather, it is an explicit command from Allah, supported by Qur’ānic text.
Denying or belittling this obligation or persisting in public immodesty may lead a person towards disbelief (kufr). Aḥsan al-Bayān✔ Summary:
✦ It is obligatory upon parents to instruct their daughters to observe ḥijāb once they reach puberty.
✦ This command is from Allah, and is not optional.
✦ Face covering, modest dress, and lowering the gaze are part of the complete system of Islamic modesty.
✦ Neglecting it knowingly and persistently is a serious matter in the sight of Allah.
