Two verses of the Qur’ān and a few ahadith (traditions of Prophet Muhammad, may Allah bless and grant him peace) which speak about Hijab or veil are quoted hereunder.

First of all let us see what hijab means. In the Quran, Surah Ahzab verse 59, the word “Jilabeeb” has been used; it is plural of “Jilbab” which means “a sheet or covering for the whole body especially the head, neck and chest”. 

In another verse in Surah Noor, verse 31, Allah provides a list of steps that a believing woman should take to conceal her beauty and also a list of those people in front of whom she need not adhere to veiling.

Now moving on to the ahadith, the word “veil” appears 62 times in 39 ahadith in Sahih Al Bukhari translation, including the following:

1. Sahih Bukhari, Volume 4, Book 52, Hadith No. 130.

Narrated Aisha: Whenever the Prophet ﷺ intended to proceed on a journey, he used to draw lots among his wives and would take the one upon whom the lot fell. Once, before setting out for Jihad, he drew lots amongst us and the lot came to me, so I went with the Prophet; and that happened after the revelation of the verse on Hijab (i.e., veiling). Now from this hadith we understand that hijab was not made obligatory in the nascent phase of Islam. The order or “wahi” (revelation) regarding this was sent down at a later period in Madinah.

• Sahih Bukhari, Volume 1, Book 8, Hadith No. 368:

Narrated Aisha: Allah’s Apostle used to offer the Fajr prayer and some believing women covered with their veiling sheets used to attend the Fajr prayer with him and then they would return to their homes unrecognised.

3. Sahih Bukhari, Book 15, Hadith No. 96

Narrated Aiyub: Hafsa bint Sirin said, “On Eid we used to forbid our girls to go out for Eid prayer. A lady came and stayed at the palace of Bani Khalaf and I went to her. She said, ‘The husband of my sister took part in twelve holy battles along with the Prophet and my sister was with her husband in six of them. My sister said that they used to nurse the sick and treat the wounded. Once she asked, ‘O Allah’s Apostle! If a woman has no veil, is there any harm if she does not come out (on Eid day)? The Prophet said, ‘Her companion should let her share her veil with her, and the women should participate in the good deeds and in the religious gatherings of the believers.” The point to be appreciated in this hadith is that if required women may leave their homes but with a veil.