What Do Scholars, Narrations, and Quranic Verses Say About Hijab?

To supplement the questions and answers related to the subject of hijab, let us state the following:

Observing hijab is an explicit command from God, affirmed in the Qur’an. A woman who observes it is deserving of divine reward and special grace, while one who defies this command will face the painful punishment for disobedience.

A woman’s hijab is a setting in which her transcendent beauty is nurtured and the wondrous beauty she will attain in the Hereafter can flourish. Such women will be the delight of the heavenly houris; they will be خیرات حسان.

Observing hijab demonstrates that a woman is worthy of attaining more special and elevated mysteries, graces, and beauties. For safeguarding the trust of feminine dignity is the qualification for entering the higher studies of beauty beyond the realm of mystery.

To deny hijab is to deny the Qur’an, God’s commands, and the Messenger of God’s mission.

Whoever disregards hijab is, in a sense, setting out to wage war against God.

Hijab shapes the spirit, life, and well-being of the family and society.

At every stage of life, whether young or old, unmarried or married, hijab is a sign of a woman’s inner purity and a mark of her faith and piety.

Hijab is a woman’s practical response of «لبیک» to her Creator.

A girl’s hijab is a sign and declaration of her moral integrity and chastity. It also expresses her resolve to build a pure, healthy, and faithful family.

A married woman’s hijab is a clear sign of her faithfulness and her determination to remain so.

A girl’s hijab places loyalty and affection for her future husband first.

A married woman’s hijab is a clear sign of her love for her husband.

Hijab reflects the great value of the jewel it conceals.

Some verses and narrations related to hijab

النور : 31 و قل للمؤمنات یغضضن من أبصارهن و یحفظن فروجهن و لا یبدین زینتهن إلا ما ظهر منها و لیضربن بخمرهن على‏ جیوبهن و لا یبدین زینتهن إلا لبعولتهن أو آبائهن أو آباء بعولتهن أو أبنائهن أو أبناء بعولتهن أو إخوانهن أو بنی‏ إخوانهن أو بنی‏ أخواتهن أو نسائهن أو ما ملکت أیمانهن أو التابعین غیر أولی الإربه من الرجال أو الطفل الذین لم یظهروا على‏ عورات النساء و لا یضربن بأرجلهن لیعلم ما یخفین من زینتهن و توبوا إلى الله جمیعا أیها المؤمنون لعلکم تفلحون

And tell believing women to lower their gaze, guard their chastity, and not display their adornment except what ordinarily appears. Let them draw their veils over their chests, and not display their adornment except to their husbands, their fathers, their husbands’ fathers, their sons, their husbands’ sons, their brothers, their brothers’ sons, their sisters’ sons, their fellow women, those whom their right hands possess, male attendants who have no desire for women, or children who are not yet aware of women’s nakedness. And let them not stamp their feet so as to reveal the adornment they conceal. And turn to God in repentance, all of you, O believers, so that you may prosper.

الأحزاب : 59 یا أیها النبی قل لأزواجک و بناتک و نساء المؤمنین یدنین علیهن من جلابیبهن ذلک أدنى‏ أن یعرفن فلا یؤذین و کان الله غفورا رحیما

O Prophet, tell your wives, your daughters, and the believing women to draw their outer garments over themselves. That is more likely to ensure that they are recognized and not harassed. And God is ever Forgiving, Most Merciful.

الأحزاب : 53 یا أیها الذین آمنوا لا تدخلوا بیوت النبی إلا أن یؤذن لکم إلى‏ طعام غیر ناظرین إناه و لکن إذا دعیتم فادخلوا فإذا طعمتم فانتشروا و لا مستأنسین لحدیث إن ذلکم کان یؤذی النبی فیستحیی‏ منکم و الله لا یستحیی‏ من الحق و إذا سألتموهن متاعا فسئلوهن من وراء حجاب ذلکم أطهر لقلوبکم و قلوبهن و ما کان لکم أن تؤذوا رسول الله و لا أن تنکحوا أزواجه من بعده أبدا إن ذلکم کان عند الله عظیما

O you who believe, do not enter the homes of the Prophet unless you are invited to a meal, and do not arrive early, waiting for it to be prepared. But when you are invited, enter; and when you have eaten, disperse, without lingering in conversation. That troubles the Prophet, though he is too shy to say so to you; but God is not shy of the truth. And when you ask his wives for something, ask them from behind a screen. That is purer for your hearts and theirs. You must not offend the Messenger of God, nor ever marry his wives after him. Indeed, that would be a grave matter in the sight of God.

ان من خیر نسائکم المتبرجه من زوجها الحصان عن غیره.

The best of your women is she who adorns herself and displays her beauty for her husband, while keeping herself covered from those who are not permitted to see her.

بحار الأنوار (ط - بیروت)، ج‏100، ص: 235

قال رسول الله ص أی امرأه تطیبت ثم خرجت من بیتها فهی تلعن حتى ترجع‏ إلى بیتها متى ما رجعت.

الکافی (ط - الإسلامیه)، ج‏5، ص: 519

The Messenger of God, peace be upon him and his family, said: “Any woman who perfumes herself and then leaves her home remains under a curse until she returns home.”

صیانه المرأه أنعم لحالها و أدوم لجمالها.

Imam Ali, peace be upon him, said: “A woman’s being protected is more beneficial for her and more lasting for her beauty.”

قال رسول الله – صلی الله علیه و آله -: … و رایت امراه تاکل لحم جسدها و النار توقد من تحتها… فانها کانت تزین بدنها للناس….

The Messenger of God (peace be upon him and his family) said: “On the Night of the Ascension, I saw women eating the flesh of their own bodies while the fire of Hell blazed beneath them… They were women who adorned themselves for men to whom they were not related.”

“Bihār al-Anwār, vol. 8, p. 309”