"WHEN CIRCUMSTANCES OF REAL NEED ARISE women are allowed to emerge from their homes.
When circumstances compel her to leave the precincts of her home, she has to compulsorily observe
the conditions explained hereunder.
(a) She must be properly and thoroughly covered in a loose outercloak which totally conceals her
entire body including her face. In the following aayat, the Qur'aan Shareef commands this
Hijaab:
"O Nabi! Say to your wives, your daughters and the women of the Believers that they draw over
them their jilbaabs (outer-cloaks). That (covering with the jilbaabs) is the least (requirement) so
that they be recognized (as respectable and honourable ladies) and not be molested (by evil
men)". -(Surah Ahzaab, aayat 59)
A jilbaab is an outer sheet or cloak which during the time of Rasulullah Sallallahu alaihi wasallam was large
enough to conceal two women. The way in which the ladies during the time of Rasulullah & and the Sahaabah
wore the jilbaab covered them from head to feet including the face. The term (yudneena - they should lower or
draw down) appearing in the above aayat orders that the cloak be drawn over from above and lowered in such
a way as to conceal the face as well. Covering the face outside the home precincts was the standard and
normal practice of the womenfolk during the time of Rasulullah Sallallahu alaihi wasallam. In this regard
Hadhrat Aishah (R.A.) narrates:
“During the occasion of Hajjatul Wida when people passed near to us, we (the ladies) would draw the jilbaab
over the head and the
face. When they (the people) departed from us, we would open our faces”. -(Abu Dawood)
Imam Ghazaali (R.A.) mentions in Ihyaaul Uloom:
“Women emerged (during the time of Nabi Sallallahu alaihi wasallam) with niqaabs on their faces”.
Niqaab is a cloth which conceals the face and not a transparent veil. In a hadith in Abu Dawood an
incident is described in which a young man was martyred. His mother, wearing a jilbaab fully covering
her face came into the battlefield to enquire about her son. With face fully covered she appeared in the
presence of Rasulullah Sallallahu alaihi wasallam. Some people were surprised to observe that the lady
donned face- covering even during an emergency and on such a grave occasion. When she learnt of their
surprise, the mother of the slain Sahaabi said:
“My son is lost, but my shame and modesty are not lost”.
In Durrul Mukhtaar, the authoritative Islamic Law Book, the following verdict of the Shariah is recorded:
“Young women are compulsorily prohibited from revealing their faces in the presence of men”.
These narrations are sufficient to indicate that it is an Islamic demand of compulsion for women to
conceal their faces when circumstances compel them to leave the home boundaries. This practice of
concealing the face was not a later introduction, but existed from the very time of Rasulullah Sallallahu
alaihi wasallam. Certain narrations which indicate that women appeared in the presence of Rasulullah
Sallallahu alaihi wasallam should not be misconstrued and understood to have been the normal practice.
Such narrations, pertain to either incidents prior to the revelation of the Law of Hijaab or to special
circumstances which were exceptional cases and not the normal rule.
It has already been mentioned that this category of Hijaab in which women are allowed to emerge from
the home apply to cases of necessity. Such emergence, i.e. even with proper jilbaab covering, is not
permissible for trivialities and for participation in events and gatherings which the Shariah does not
impose on women nor considers meritorious for women. Among unnecessary gathering in relation to
women are weddings, child-naming ceremonies, funerals, jamaat Salaat, visiting market or other public
places, schools, visiting friends, etc. The ahadith mentioning the merits of visiting the sick and rendering
services to others outside the home apply in general to men. Special cases will also apply to women.
But, in general, such ahadith do not apply to women who are not allowed to emerge for such purposes. It
devolves upon men as an obligation - a compulsory demand of the Shariah - to prevent their womenfolk
from emerging unnecessarily from their homes and taking to the streets, markets, and public places
where they are intentionally or unintentionally making themselves objects of exhibition for all and sundry.
If men fail in discharging their obligation and permit their womenfolk free and unrestricted movement
outside the home environment, they will be regarded as sinners along with their womenfolk. Allah Ta’ala
commands Muslim men in the Qur’aan Shareef:
“Save yourselves and your family from the Fire (of Jahannam)”. The following appears in Shaami:
"The husband should forbid his wife from visiting strangers (i.e. ghair mahaareem) and attending
wedding feasts. If he permits her, both of them will be sinners".
(b) When circumstances compel her to leave the boundaries of the home, she is not allowed to
apply perfume. This has been expressly forbidden by Rasulullah g who said:
"Verily, a woman who applies perfume and passes by a gathering is like an Adultress''. -(Tirmizi)
What then is Islam’s view of women who emerge from the home scantily dressed, adorned and
decorated with perfume and jewels. showing off their bodies and charms to every Tom, Dick and Harry on
the public roads? Such women are constantly under the la’nat (curse) of Allah Ta’ala, curse of the
Malaaikah and the curses of all creation. This has been stated by Rasulullah Sallallahu alaihi wasallam.
(c) She must not emerge in attractive garments. According to Islam the dress of women also has
to be concealed by an outer-cloak which is not of attractive design. The aim of Hijaab is to make
woman as inconspicuous as possible. Attractive garments have the opposite effect. Attractive
garments for women are confined to the home environment and for the pleasure of their husbands.
Besides her home, all other places in relation to adornment are described by the hadith as
inappropriate places. Rasulullah Sallallahu alaihi sallam criticizing women who adorn themselves
for purposes and motives other than their husbands, said:
"The likeness of a woman who is in adornment in a place other than her husband's is that of the
darkness which will prevail on the Day of Qiyaamah. There is no Noor for her". -(Mishkaat)
Negating attractive dress and exhibition by women outside the home, the Qur’aan states:
"Do not make an exhibition (of yourselves) like the display of the former times of ignorance".
During the age of jaahiliyyah prior to Islam, immoral and lewd women paraded the streets displaying their
adornment and finery.When Muslim women are obliged by circumstances to leave the home precincts,
they should not imitate such evil ways of the kuffaar. Rasulullah Sallallahu alaihi wasallam ordered:
"But, they should emerge in unattractive garments (should need force them to emerge)". -(Abu
Dawood)
Hadhrat Ibn Hummaam (R.A.) said:
“If a woman has to emerge from home and go to a place which is permissible for her, she should not go
without Hijaab nor in an adorned state. But she should go in an unattractive condition which will not
capture the attention of men because Allah Ta’ala has commanded: ‘Do not make an exhibition (of
yourselves) like the displays of former times of ignorance’.” -(Majaalisul Abraar)
(d) When they emerge on account of necessity, they must cast down their gaze and not stare
audaciously nor cast surreptitious glances from behind the niqaab (face-covering veil). A niqaab is
not a licence nor a cover for unlawful glances. The Qur'aan Shareef commands:
"And, tell the believing women to cast down their gaze."
In this dignified and honourable manner Muslim women are permitted to emerge from their houses on
account of necessity."