Hijab in the Light of the Quran and Hadith

exempt from covering. He draws his argument in support of this from the Hadith. After studying many hadith in connection with the verse from chapter 24 of the Quran, he writes: “It is clear from the instances drawn from the Quran and the Hadith that, although it accords with the shariah and a woman should cover her face, she does not need to do so. It would be better if women followed this practice, but there is no harm if they do not.” (Muhammad Nasiruddin al-Albani, Hijab al-Mar’ah al-Muslimah fil Kitab was-Sunnah [1914], p. 31) The second rule of hijab, according to Muhammad Nasiruddin al-Albani’s research, is that hijab in itself should not be a source of attraction. It should not become a display of finery referred to in the Quran as tabarruj: “Stay in your homes and do not flaunt your charms as in the former times of ignorance. Attend to your prayers, pay the zakat and obey God and His Messenger. Women of the [Prophet’s] Household, God seeks only to remove all impurity from you and to make you completely pure.” (33:33) According to the author, the intention of this verse is that a woman should not display her beauty and attraction in such a way as to produce carnal desires in the hearts of men. Since the purpose of the gown (jilbab) is to hide such attractions, it is, therefore, unimaginable that the gown itself should become a source of attraction. (Muhammad