['Aalim Network QR] Hijab

[Mustafa Rawji <mrawji@sciborg.uwaterloo.ca>]

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|       In the Name of Allah, the Compassionate, the All-Merciful       |\
|  Greeting of Allah be upon Muhammad and the pure members of his House |\
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Salamun alaykum,

	The reply to the following question was kindly provided by Shaykh
Rasheed.

Wasalaam,

Mustafa Rawji
Moderator, 'Aalim Network

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QUESTION:

Salaams,

I wear hijab and have done so for some time.  My usual mode of dress
is something loose with a headscarf.  Now, my husband says that my
scarf must cover my bosom with my headscarf, with regard to the
following ayat:
	"....and to draw their veils over their bosoms," 24:31

Is loose clothing not enough?  One must explicitly cover the bosom
area, with a further covering?


ANSWER:
 
Wa Alaikum As-Salaam.

What we understand from this verse is two things. One, the woman is
obligated to wear the head covering as the verse assumes a woman to be
wearing it. Second, that she must also cover her bosom. Arab women (and
men) routinely wore head coverings to ward off the effects of the desert
sun. In this verse, women are commanded to bring their head coverings
forward to cover their bosoms as opposed to letting it fall behind their
shoulders. Understanding that this is being mentioned in the Quran while
defining "modesty," it is obvious that these matters of covering are
elements of modesty. As a result of this, it is understood that the proper
Hijab covers the hair, ears, neck and bosom. The bosom, meaning the area of
the chest adjacent to neck that may be visible under normal circumstances.

Therefore, proper Hijab is draped over the shoulders in such a way as to
the conceal the neck. Simply wearing a scarf that leaves the neck or bosom
exposed does not meet the standard of proper Hijab. The length of the Hijab
beyond this extent is a matter of personal choice.

Was-Salaam,

Ali Rasheed