Veil (Covering Face) for Women
Question:
Please elaborate ehkam parda.is it compulsory to cover face(veil).
please define from Qur'an n Hadith.
Thanks
Answer:
According to my understanding there is nothing in the Qur’an or the established Sunnah of the Prophet (pbuh) that would make covering face an obligation. Often the verses of the Sura of Ahzab (In particular 33:59) are used to prove this. However if you read the Sura from the beginning you will find that the verses about covering for women in this Sura were to deal with a very specific and local situation at the time of the Prophet (pbuh). I am referring to the issue of hypocrites and their ill attitude towards the wives of the believers. The verse 33:59 very clearly indicates that what the reason for the directive was:
… ذلِكَ أَدْنى أَنْ يُعْرَفْنَ فَلا يُؤْذَيْن …
"… this will be more proper so that they can be recognised (by hypocrites) and therefore do not be disturbed (by them) …"
To see how local and particular this directive was it is enough to look at the verse that comes after it:
لَّئنِ لَّمْ يَنتَهِ الْمُنَفِقُونَ وَ الَّذِينَ فىِ قُلُوبِهِم مَّرَضٌ وَ الْمُرْجِفُونَ فىِ الْمَدِينَةِ لَنُغْرِيَنَّكَ بِهِمْ ثُمَّ لَا يجُاوِرُونَكَ فِيهَا إِلَّا قَلِيلا
"If the hypocrites and those in whose hearts is a disease and the agitators in the Medina do not desist, We shall most certainly set you over them, then they shall not be your neighbours in it but for a little while." (33:60)
This is while 33:59 does not say to cover the face any way. It has been interpreted that way and there are scholars who disagree with this interpretation. Nevertheless, as I write above, this verse is not giving any general directives about Hijab, therefore I do not elaborate on this point here as it will go beyond the topic under question.
The only place in the Qur’an that there is a general directive for women to cover themselves is in the Sura of Nur (24:31) where there is a directive for women to cover their bosoms when it is embellished. Don’t you think that if covering face was an obligation then instead of bosoms, that should have been mentioned or at least the verse should have said bosoms and the face?
On the other hand the verse continues by advising women not to reveal their ornaments except those which are normally revealed. Those parts of the body that are normally revealed to others have always been the face, the hand and the feet.
Besides, how it is possible that covering the face is obligation yet, during the Hajj women are not allowed to do that?!
Most of the Ahadith that are used to prove covering the face are either weak or are misinterpreted. If there are any of them that you would like me to comment on, please let me know.
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February 2013
Please elaborate ehkam parda.is it compulsory to cover face(veil).
please define from Qur'an n Hadith.
Thanks
Answer:
According to my understanding there is nothing in the Qur’an or the established Sunnah of the Prophet (pbuh) that would make covering face an obligation. Often the verses of the Sura of Ahzab (In particular 33:59) are used to prove this. However if you read the Sura from the beginning you will find that the verses about covering for women in this Sura were to deal with a very specific and local situation at the time of the Prophet (pbuh). I am referring to the issue of hypocrites and their ill attitude towards the wives of the believers. The verse 33:59 very clearly indicates that what the reason for the directive was:
… ذلِكَ أَدْنى أَنْ يُعْرَفْنَ فَلا يُؤْذَيْن …
"… this will be more proper so that they can be recognised (by hypocrites) and therefore do not be disturbed (by them) …"
To see how local and particular this directive was it is enough to look at the verse that comes after it:
لَّئنِ لَّمْ يَنتَهِ الْمُنَفِقُونَ وَ الَّذِينَ فىِ قُلُوبِهِم مَّرَضٌ وَ الْمُرْجِفُونَ فىِ الْمَدِينَةِ لَنُغْرِيَنَّكَ بِهِمْ ثُمَّ لَا يجُاوِرُونَكَ فِيهَا إِلَّا قَلِيلا
"If the hypocrites and those in whose hearts is a disease and the agitators in the Medina do not desist, We shall most certainly set you over them, then they shall not be your neighbours in it but for a little while." (33:60)
This is while 33:59 does not say to cover the face any way. It has been interpreted that way and there are scholars who disagree with this interpretation. Nevertheless, as I write above, this verse is not giving any general directives about Hijab, therefore I do not elaborate on this point here as it will go beyond the topic under question.
The only place in the Qur’an that there is a general directive for women to cover themselves is in the Sura of Nur (24:31) where there is a directive for women to cover their bosoms when it is embellished. Don’t you think that if covering face was an obligation then instead of bosoms, that should have been mentioned or at least the verse should have said bosoms and the face?
On the other hand the verse continues by advising women not to reveal their ornaments except those which are normally revealed. Those parts of the body that are normally revealed to others have always been the face, the hand and the feet.
Besides, how it is possible that covering the face is obligation yet, during the Hajj women are not allowed to do that?!
Most of the Ahadith that are used to prove covering the face are either weak or are misinterpreted. If there are any of them that you would like me to comment on, please let me know.
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February 2013
