Taking Hijaab (Cloak & Veil) In The Light of Sunnah - [Part 2]

Narrated Aisha, Ummul Mu'minin: The Prophet said: Allah does not accept the prayer of a woman who has reached puberty unless she wears a veil. [Sunnan Abu Dawud 2:641]

Narrated Aisha, Ummul Mu'minin: Asma bint Abu Bakr, entered upon the Apostle of Allah wearing thin clothes. The Apostle of Allah turned his attention from her. He said: O Asma', When a woman reaches the age of mensuration, it does not suit her that she displays her parts of body except this and this, and he pointed to her face and hands. [Sunnan Abu Dawud 32:4092]

Narrated Umm Salama Hind bint Abi Umayya, Ummul Mu'minin: When the verse: "That they should cast their outer garments over their persons" was revealed, the women of Ansar came out as if they had crows over their heads by wearing outer garments. [Narrated by Abu Dawood, 4101; classed as saheeh by al-Albaani in Saheeh Abi Dawood, 3456]

Narrated Safiya bint Shaiba: 'Aisha used to say: "When the verse: "They should draw their veils over their necks & bosoms," was revealed, (the ladies) cut their waist sheets at the edges and covered their faces with the cut pieces." [Sahih Bukhari 6:60:282, Sunnan Abu Dawud 32:4091]

Narrated Anas ibn Malik: I know (about) the Hijab (the order of veiling of women) more than anybody else. Ubay ibn Ka'b used to ask me about it. Allah's Apostle became the bridegroom of Zaynab bint Jahsh whom he married at Medina. After the sun had risen high in the sky, the Prophet invited the people to a meal. Allah's Apostle remained sitting and some people remained sitting with him after the other guests had left. Then Allah's Apostle got up and went away, and I too, followed him till he reached the door of 'Aisha's room. Then he thought that the people must have left the place by then, so he returned & I also returned with him. Behold, the people were still sitting at their places. So he went back again for the second time, And I went along with him too. When we reached the door of 'Aisha's room, he returned & I also returned with him to see that the people had left. Thereupon the Prophet hung a curtain between me & him & the Verse regarding the order for (veiling of women) Hijab was revealed.[Bukhari 7:65:375, Sahih Muslim 8:3334]

The Prophet (saw) said: “I disown every Muslim who settles among the mushrikeen.” [Narrated by Abu Dawood, 2645; classed as saheeh by al-Albaani in Saheeh Abi Dawood.] 

According to a tradition related by Hazrat Buraidah, the Holy Prophet Muhammad (saw) instructed Hazrat Ali (RA): “O Ali, do not cast a second look after the first look. The first look is pardonable but not the second one.” (Trimizi, Ahmad, Abu Da’ud)

Hazrat Jarir bin Abdullah Bajali says that he asked the Holy Prophet (saw) replied, “What should I do if I happen to case a chance look? “ The Holy Prophet Muhammad (saw) replied, “Turn your eyes away or lower your gaze.” (Muslim, Ahmad, Trimizi, Abu Da’ud, Nasai)

Hazrat Abdullah bin Masud quotes the Holy Prophet (saw) as having said: “Allah (swt) says that the gaze is one of the poisonous arrows of Satan. Whoever forsakes it, out of His fear, he will be rewarded with a faith whose sweetness he will relish in his own heart.” (Tabarani)

According to a traidion related by Abu Umamah, The Holy Prophet Muhammad (saw) said: “If a Muslim happens to glance at the charms of a woman and then turns his eyes away, Allah (swt) will bless his worship and devotion and will make it all the more sweet.” (Musnand Ahmad).

Imam Ja’far Sadiq (RA) has quoted from his father, Imam Muhammad Baqir (RA), who has quoted Hazrat Jabir bin Abdullah Ansari  as saying: “On the occasion of the farewell Pilgrimage, Fadal binAbbas, who was a young cousin of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (saw), was riding with him on the camelback during the return journey from Mash’ar al Harim. When they came to a few women passing on the way, Fadal started looking at them. Thereupon the Holy Prophet Muhammad (saw) put his hand on his face and turned it to the other side.” (Abu Daud)

On Another occasion during the same Pilgrimage, a woman of the clan of Khath’am stopped the Holy Prophet (saw) on the way and sought clarification about a certain matter pertaining to Hajj. Fadal bin ‘Abbas fixed his gaze at her, but the Prophet (saw) turned his face to the other side. (Bukhari, Abu Daud, Trimizi)

Son of Umm Khallad was killed in a battle; she came to the Holy Prophet (saw) to enquire about him and was wearing the veil as usual. It was natural to presume that on such a sad occasion one is liable to lose one’s balance and ignore the restriction of Purdah. But when questioned she said, “I have certainly lost my son but not my modesty” (Abu Daud)

Hazrat Aisha (RA) has stated that during the farewell pilgrimage when they were moving towards Makkah in the state of ihram, the women would lower down their head sheets over their faces whenever the travellers passed by them, and would uncover their faces as soon as they had passed by. (Abu Daud)

The Holy Prophet (saw) has said: “No man should look at the satar of another man nor a woman at the satar of another woman.” (Ahmad, Muslim, Abu Daud, Trimizi).

Hazrat Ali (RA) has quoted the Holy Prophet Muhammad (saw) as saying: “Do not look at the thigh of another person, living or dead.” (Abu Daud, Ibn Majah)

The Holy Prophet Muhammad (saw) has warned: “Beware, never remain naked, for with you are those (i.e angels of mercy and goodness), who never leave you alone except when you ease yourself or go you go to your wives. So feel shy of them and give them due respect.” (Trimizi)

According to another tradition, The Holy Prophet (saw) said: “Guard your satar from everybody except from your wife and your slave-girl.” The questioner asked, “Even when we are alone?” The Prophet (saw) replied, “Yes, even when alone, for Allah (swt) has a greater right that you should feel shy of Him.” (Abu Daud, Trimizi, Ibn Majah)

Hazrat Umm Salamah (RA) and Hazrat Umm Maimunah (RA), wives of Prophet Muhammad (saw) were stting with him when Ibn Umm Maktum, a blind companion, made his appearance. The Holy Prophet (saw) said to his wives: “Conceal your faces from him.” The wives said, “O Messenger of Allah: Is he not a blind man? Neither will he see us nor recognize us.” Thereupon the Prophet (saw) remarked: “Are you two also blind? Do you not see him?: Hazrat Umm Salamah (RA) has clarified that this incident occurred at a time when the commandments about the observance of Purdah had already been sent down. (Ahmad, Abu Daud, Trimizi)

The above Hadith is also supported by a tradition in Mu’atta saying that a blind man came to see Hazrat Aisha (RA) and she observed Pardah from him. When asked as to why she observed purdah when the man could not see her, she replied: “But I do see him.”

“The woman who perfumes herself and passes through a gathering is an adulteress.” [Abu Dawud, Tirmidhi].

Beware of entering where women are. A man from the Ansar asked: "O Messenger of Allah, what about the in-laws?". He (saw) replied, The in-laws is death." [Bukhari, Muslim].

“Whoever believes in Allah and the Last Day must never be in privacy with woman without there being a mahrem (of hers) with her, for otherwise Satan will be the third person (with them).” [Musnand Ahmad]. 

Note:In addition to the above proofs, the majority of Imams - including those of the four schools - hold the opinion that a woman is obliged to cover her entire body with the exception of her face and hands in the presence of non-maharem men.