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Shiavault - a Vault of Shia Islamic Books Hijab, The Muslim Womens Dress,Islamic or Cultural? The Qur’an and Hijab Islam has strongly emphasized the concept of decency and modesty in the interaction between members of the opposite sex. Dress code is part of that overall teaching. There are two verses in the Qur’an in which Almighty Allah talks about the issue of decency and hijab as defined earlier.

The First Verse In Chapter 24 known as an-Nur (the Light), in verse 30, Allah commands as follows: قُلْ لِلْمُؤْمِنِيْنَ يَغُضُّوْا مِنْ أَبْصَارِهِمْ وَ يَحْفَظُوْا فُرُوْجَهُمْ, ذَلِكَ أَزْكَى لَهُمْ. **“** Say to the believing men that: they should cast down their glances and guard their private parts (by being chaste).

This is better for them.” This is a command to Muslim men that they should not lustfully look at women (other than their own wives); and in order to prevent any possibility of temptation, they are required to cast their glances downwards. This is known as “ hijab of the eyes”. Then in the next verse, Allah commands the Prophet to address the women : قُلْ لِلْمُؤْمِنَاتِ يَغْضُضْنَ مِنْ أَبْصَارِهِنَّ وَ يَحْفَظْنَ فُرُوْجَهُنَّ...

“Say to the believing women that: they should cast down their glances and guard their private parts (by being chaste)…” This is a similar command as given to the men in the previous verse regarding “ hijab of the eyes”. This hijab of eyes is similar to the teaching of Jesus where he says, “You have heard that it was said by them of old time, you shall not commit adultery.

But I say unto you, That whosoever looks on a woman to lust after her has committed adultery with her already in his heart.”[^1] So if you see a Muslim casting his/her eyes downwards when he/she is talking to a member of opposite sex, this should not be considered as rude or an indication of lack of confidence — he/she is just abiding by the Qur’anic as well as Biblical teaching.

* * * * * After “ hijab of the eyes” came the order describing the dress code for women: وَ لاَ يُبْدِيْنَ زِيْنَتَهُنَّ إِلاَّ مَا ظَهَرَ مِنْهَا وَ لْيَضْرِبْنَ بِخُمُرِهِنَّ عَلىَ جُيُوْبِهِنَّ... “...and not display their beauty except what is apparent, and they should place their khumur over their bosoms...” There are two issues about this sentence. (1) What is the meaning of “khumur” used in this verse? Khumur خُمُرٌ is plural of khimar خِمَارٌ , the veil covering the head.

See any Arabic dictionary like Lisanu ’l-‘Arab, Majma‘u ’l-Bahrayn or al-Munjid .

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