Mu' meneen Brothers and Sisters,

As Salaam Aleikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh.  (May Allah's Peace, Mercy and Blessings be upon all of you)

One of our brothers/sisters has asked this question:

Assalaam-u-Alaikum what is the ruling of wearing the veil from the Qur`aan and the Sunnah. Jazak Allah Khairan Wassalaam...

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Answer:

Ruling of veil from Quran and Sunnah

In the name of Allah, We praise Him, seek His help and ask for His forgiveness. Whoever Allah guides none can misguide, and whoever He allows to fall astray, none can guide them aright. We bear witness that there is no one (no idol, no person, no grave, no prophet, no imam, no dai, nobody!) worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear witness that Muhammad (saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His Messengers.

Allah says in the Holy Quran Chapter 33 Surah Ahzaab verse 59:O Prophet, enjoin your wives and daughters, and the believing women, that they should cast their outer garments over their persons. It is expected that they will thus be recognized, and not molested. Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.

Allah says in the Holy Quran Chapter 24 Surah Nur verse 31: (O Prophet) enjoin the believing woman to restrain their gaze and guard their modesty, and not to display their adornment except that which is displayed of itself, and to draw their veils over their bosoms, and not to display their adornments except before their husbands, their fathers, …….and also forbid them to stamp their feet on the ground lest their hidden ornaments should be displayed.

There are two opinions amongst the scholars in Islam as to what does the phrase ‘except that which is displayed of itself’ mean. One opinion is that it means the face and the hands may be left uncovered, and the other opinion is that the face also has to be covered, and only the hands may be left uncovered.

The most accepted opinion is that if the women covers everything except her face and her hands, she would be following the command of Allah; and if she chooses to cover her face, then it will be purer and closer to the command of Allah.

The reason any woman, who sincerely believes in Allah and the Last Day, must cover herself is because it is a direct and clear commandment of Allah.

Allah enjoins the believing women to cover herself when not in the company of her (mehram) relatives, so that she may be recognized as a believer. Her chaste and modest clothing is a sign to the other people that she is different from the other non-believing woman. Her clothing is her certificate and a sign to others that she is one who sincerely believes in Allah and the Last Day and obeys His Commandments.

The One Who Created, is the One Who recognizes the nature of His creation. The believing woman is commanded not to display her figure and her beauty to men other than her (mehram) relatives, so that the illegal emotions of society may be curtailed; which will result in a God-fearing and pious society for all. Allah has commanded both the believing man and woman to also lower their gazes and guard their modesty, as that is indeed purer for them and for the society as a whole.

It should be an honor for any woman, who sincerely believes in Allah and the Last Day, to conform to this uniform that Allah has prescribed for her.

Whatever written of Truth and benefit is only due to Allah’s Assistance and Guidance, and whatever of error is of me. Allah Alone Knows Best and He is the Only Source of Strength.

Your Brother in Islam,

Burhan