By Asma bint Shameem
The Aayaat only talk about covering the “chest”.
This is a common misconception among people who don’t know Arabic.
They think that the word “head” or “hair” must be used in the Qur’aan in order for the obligation of Hijaab; although that was NOT the understanding of the Prophet Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam, nor the Sahaabah, nor the Sahaabiyaat.
That’s because the Aayaat of Hijaab clearly use the word *“Khimaar”. *
Allaah tells us:
وَقُل لِّلْمُؤْمِنَاتِ يَغْضُضْنَ مِنْ أَبْصَارِهِنَّ وَيَحْفَظْنَ فُرُوجَهُنَّ وَلَا يُبْدِينَ زِينَتَهُنَّ إِلَّا مَا ظَهَرَ مِنْهَا وَلْيَضْرِبْنَ *بِخُمُرِهِنَّ* عَلَىٰ جُيُوبِهِنَّ
“And tell the believing women to lower their gaze (from looking at forbidden things), and protect their private parts (from illegal sexual acts, etc.) and not to show off their adornment except only that which is apparent, and to draw their (*khumur*) veils all over *Juyubihinna* (i.e. their bodies, faces, necks and bosoms, etc.)....”
(Surah an-Noor Aayah 31)
Here the KEY words in this Aayah are:
وَلْيَضْرِبْنَ بِخُمُرِهِنَّ عَلَىٰ جُيُوبِهِنَّ
In Arabic, the words “wal-yadribna” clearly means that this is a COMMAND from Allaah (because of the “laam” of command).
In other words, Allaah is commanding us women:
“and they are to draw their veils…”
Allaah uses the word “Khimaar” and He tells the women who claim to believe, that they should cover themselves.
The word “Khimaar” in Arabic is the singular form and the plural is *“Khumur”*.
Khimaar derives from the root
Kha-Ma-Ra, which “literally” means something that covers.
And interestingly, *alcohol* is called *“khamr”* in Arabic because it '*covers*' a person's mind, obliterating their ability to think.
Linguistically, khimaar in the Arabic language is a “scarf” or “veil”;
It is a cloth that drapes over the *top of the head* and hangs downwards and completely covers from the head downwards.
That *includes* the head, face, neck and chest.
Shaikh Ibn Uthaymeen said:
“It is a cloth with which a woman covers her HEAD.” (Tafseer Surah An-Noor, p. 167).
The next word Allaah uses is “Juyoob”, in the same Aayah.
This is the plural of “jayb”, which is the opening/slit in a dress that allows the head to fit through.
Imaam Al-Baghawi said:
“The term juyoob (sing. jayb) in this verse refers to their chests, hair, necks and ears.” (3/289)
And Shaikh Ibn Uthaymeen said:
“The Qur’aanic scholars have said it means that they are to cover their heads, necks, and chests with a scarf.” (p. 168)
One thing to keep in mind is that women in pre-Islamic times did cover their hair.
But they would throw the ends of their head coverings back such that their neck and chest, and sometimes their ears would be exposed.
Imaam al-Qurtubi describes this way of covering the head.
He said:
"Women in those days used to cover their heads with the Khimaar, throwing its ends upon their backs.
This left the neck and the upper part of the chest bare, along with the ears. Then Allaah commanded them to cover those parts with the Khimaar".
(Tafseer al-Qurtubi)
And ibn Katheer said:
"….the women of the jahiliyyah who did not do that but would pass in front of men with their chests uncovered and with their necks, forelocks, hair and earrings uncovered".
(Tafseer Ibn Katheer)
That is why, when the Aayaat of Hijaab were revealed, the Sahaabiyaat including the Mothers of the Believers immediately complied to the Orders of Allaah and covered themselves including their heads, necks and bosoms.
Aaishah radhi Allaahu anhaa says:
“When these words (surah Noor) were revealed – “and to draw their veils all over themselves” – they took their izaars (a kind of garment) and tore them from the edges and COVERED themselves with them.”(al-Bukhaari)
And Safiyyah radhi Allaahu anhaa said:
“We mentioned the women of Quraysh and their virtues in the presence of ‘Aa’ishah and she said:
“The women of Quraysh are good, but by Allaah, I have never seen any better than the women of the Ansaar, or any who believed the Book of Allaah more strongly or had more faith in the Revelation.
When Soorat al-Noor was revealed – “and to draw their veils all over Juyoobihinna (i.e. their bodies, faces, necks and bosoms)” – their menfolk came to them and recited to them what had been revealed, and there was not one woman among them who did not go to her apron, and the following morning they prayed wrapped up as if there were crows on their heads.” (al-Bukhaari)
If the Aayaat of Hijaab only meant “covering the chest area”, surely the women at that time would not have covered themselves the way Aa’ishah radhi Allaahu anhaa is describing them.
That shows that the *real* meaning of the Khimaar is to cover the head and everything below it.
And it does *NOT* mean to cover *“just the chest”.*
There has never been any disagreement about exactly “what” a woman is supposed to cover among the scholars of the Sahaabah, the Tabi’een or the next generations upon generations.
NO ONE ever disputed or doubted that, except recently when people have decided to leave the ways of the Sahaabah and “interpret” the rules of Islaam “their own way” without knowledge, although the Prophet Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam WARNED us about such people.
The Prophet Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam said:
“My ummah will split into seventy-three sects, all of whom will be in Hell except one group.”
They said: Who are they, O Messenger of Allaah?
He said: “(Those who follow) that which I and my companions follow.”
(at-Tirmidhi ;hasan by al-Albaani in Saheeh al-Tirmidhi)
In other words, those who follow the Deen the way the Prophet sal Allaahu Alayhi wa sallam and the Sahaabah understood the religion, are the ones who are upon the correct understanding of the Orders of Allaah.
How can we ignore the ahaadeeth?
The Hadeeth is just as important as the Qur’aan.
How can a person who calls himself “Muslim”, read only the Qur’aan and not refer to the ahaadeeth of the Prophet ﷺ about any matter?
The Qur’aan is the commands of Allaah.
The authentic ahaadeeth are the *practical implementations* of those commands.
Allaah tells us:
“He who obeys the Messenger has indeed obeyed Allaah . . .” [al-Nisaa’ 4:80]
And there are many other ahaadeeth that talk about the obligation of Hijaab either explicitly or implicitly.
For example:
The Prophet Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam said:
“When a woman reaches the age of adolescence, it is not correct that she displays any part of her body except this and this — and he pointed to his face and hands.” (Abu Dawood 4104; hasan by al-Albaani)
The Prophet Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam said:
"In later (generations) of my ummah there will be women who will be DRESSED but NAKED.
On top of their heads (what looks) like camel humps.
They will not enter into paradise or (even) get a smell of it." (Muslim)
The Prophet Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam once received a garment as a gift.
He gave it to Osamah ibn Zayd, who in turn gave it to his wife.
When asked by the Prophet why he did not wear it, Osamah indicated that he gave it to his wife.
The Prophet then said to Osamah "ask her to use a "gholalah" under it (the garment) for I fear that it (the garment) may describe the size of her bones."
(Ahmad, Abi-Dawood- Hasan)
(The word gholalah in Arabic means a ‘gown’ worn under the dress to prevent it from describing the shape of the body).
Aa’ishah radhi Allaahu anhaa said:
“The riders used to pass by us when we were with the Messenger of Allaah Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam
in ihraam, and when they drew near to us we would lower our jilbabs from our heads over our faces, then when they had passed we would uncover them again. “
(Abu Dawood, 1833; Ibn Maajah, 2935; saheeh by Ibn Khuzaymah (4,203) and by al-Albaani in Kitaab Jilbaab al-Mar’ah al-Muslimah)
And there are many more.
Besides, think about it this way.
Was Aaishah radhi Allaahu anhaa or the other Sahaabiyaat WRONG in their understanding of the Aayaat?
Were ALL the pious women who were covered from head to toe, mistaken?
Did the Prophet sal Allaahu Alayhi wa sallam not see them?
Did the Prophet sal Allaahu Alayhi wa sallam not see his own wives and daughters and others covering themselves?
Would he not have stopped them if it was wrong to cover that way?
Did the Prophet sal Allaahu Alayhi wa sallam himself not understand the Aayaat of Hijaab?
Of course that can’t be.
Muslim women have been covering their heads with things they call scarves, dupattas, sheilas, chaadars for thousands of years....
Whether any of these words appear in the Qur’aan or not is irrelevant.
What matters is that Muslim women are commanded to *“cover”* themselves including their heads, necks and chests; NOT what words are used to describe the covering itself.
And Allaah knows best
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