Is it Obligatory for Women to Cover their Heads?
Is there a direct order in the Qur'an for covering heads for women or is it derived from authentic hadiths or just from "ulema"?
Reply
The Qur’an has suggested a dress code for women in two kinds of situations: 1) when people visit their homes; and 2) when they have to go out of their houses into public places.
The first situation has been mentioned in Surah Al-Nur. The Qur’an says:
And say to the believing women that they should turn their eyes away from temptation and cover their private parts; that they should not display their ornaments except what appears (without the intention of displaying); that they should draw their head coverings over their bosoms (Al-Nur 24: 31)
A close look at this verse shall show that the Qur’an has mentioned the covering of the women’s head as a matter that is already in practice, and taken for granted. The covering of a woman’s head is thus not a direct Qur’anic commandment, in this situation, but has been mentioned in the Qur’an in such a way that it can easily be inferred that according to the Qur’an the natural and the desirable way for a woman is to cover her head when friends and relatives visit her house or when she has to go out to visit them.
The second situation has been mentioned in Surah Al-Ahza’b:
Prophet, tell your wives and daughters and the believing women that they should put their large wraps over their heads (pulling the corners of their wraps a little over their faces; when they have to go out), that is more convenient, that they should be recognized and (thus) not molested. (33: 59)
In this verse, in contrast to the earlier verse, the women are directed to put their large wraps over their heads. This direction, it must be remembered, is given to women for times when they have to go out of their houses or work places. But even here, the direction is not to cover their heads but to pull the a part of their large wraps a little over their faces. The direction is not that of veiling a woman. It only means that the woman, by her appearance, should be recognized as one belonging to a decent and noble class and thus should not be molested.
I hope I have been of some help. In case any requires further explanation, do let me know.
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