BURQA' OR JALBAB

In the last Verse, Muslim women were asked not to leave their homes without necessity. If they must, they should not go out boldly without Hijab like the women of the olden Days of Ignorance. Further, in Surah Ahzab, Allah (swt) commanded them to use Jalbab when they came out of their homes:

This Verse is a very important one among the Verses revealed about Hijab, because it clearly states that hiding one's face is included in the Commandment of Hijab. Therefore, the scholars and Interpreters of the Holy Qur'an have discussed this issue at great length.

Secondly, since this verse is not specifically addressed only to the Consorts of the Prophet (saw), there is no room to make excuses about its applicability to all women.

Let us look at the literal meaning of the words Jalbab and Yudnina 'Alaihinna in this Verse.

WHAT IS JALBAB?

Jalabib is the plural form of the word Jalbab. Many different interpretations have been made in explaining Jalbab.

In his research of this word, 'Allamah Ibn Al-Manzur (ra) concludes:
"Jalbab is actually the outer sheet or coverlet which a woman wraps around on top of her garments to cover herself from head to toe. It hides her body completely." (Lisan -ul Arab, vol. 1, p. 273).

The root word is Jalbab, which is basically used for such things that completely cover something. For example, the blankets we use in cold weather or the darkness of the night, which covers all things completely.

The word Jalbab is therefore used for that outer sheet which a woman wrap around on top of her clothes to hide herself from the eyes of strangers.
In interpreting the word, 'Allamah Ibn Al-Hazam (ra) writes:
"In Arabic language, the language of the Prophet (saw), Jalbab is that outer sheet which covers the entire body. A piece of cloth which is too small to cover the entire body could not be called Jalbab," (Al-Muhalla, vol. 3, p. 217)

In describing it, Ibn Masud (ra) said that Jalbab is that sheet of cloth which is worn on top of the scarf, Ibn 'Abbas (ra) described it as follows:
"Allah (swt) commanded Muslim women to pull this sheet on top of them to cover their bodies except one eye, when it is necessary for them to come out of their home." (Ibn Kathir).

Imam Mohammed Bin Sirin (ra) said, "When I asked 'Ubaidah Salmani (ra) that meaning of this Verse and how the Jalbab was to be used, he demonstrated it to me by pulling a sheet of cloth over his head to cover his body, leaving his left eye uncovered. This was also the explanation of the word 'Alaihinna in this Verse."

This Verse clearly requires hiding of the face, which support the Commandments in the verse Hijab. The second phrase in this verse, which requires interpretation, is Yudnina

'Alaihinna, 'Allamah Alusi (ra) writes:
"(The root word) Adna literally means to bring something closer, Here it means to hang something close to you, or over you, since it is followed by 'Ala in the phrase. In my opinion Adna followed by 'Ala points towards covering themselves with the sheet hanging on top of them in a way so that they can see the road as they walk." (Ruh-ul-Ma'ani, vol. 22 pp. 88-89).

After quoting and discussing many interpretations 'Allamah Alusi (ra) concludes:
"All the above discussions deal with explaining the gist (of the term). The apparent meaning of the word 'Alaihinna is clearly to cover one's body completely, although some have interpreted it to mean covering the head and the face, because in the olden Days of Ignorance, women usually left their faces uncovered." (Ruh)

HOW TO WRAP THE SHEET AROUND

Not only did the scholars of the Holy Qur'an clarify for us that, according to this verse, it is mandatory for women to wear Hijab and hide their faces, but they also explain exactly how the Jalbab should be worn. The greatest interpreter of the Holy Qur'an, Ibn Abbas (ra), has been reported to have mentioned two ways of wearing Jalbab. The first one, where the sheet of cloth should be pulled over on top to cover the body with the exception of one eye, has been already mentioned above. The second method, which allows for keeping both eyes uncovered, has been reported by 'Allamah Alusi (ra) as follows:

"Ibn Jarir (ra) and Ibn Al-Munzir (ra) describe the method of wearing the Jalbab according to Ibn Abbas (ra) and Qatadah (ra). The sheet should be wrapped from the top covering the forehead, then bringing one side of the sheet to cover the face below the eyes so that most of the face and the upper body is covered. This will leave both of the eyes uncovered (which is acceptable under necessity)." (Ruh-ul-Ma'ani, vol. 22, p. 89).

Many other scholars, such as Mohammed Bin Sirin, 'Allamah Ibn Jarir, Imam Suddi, Imam AbuBakr Jassas, Imam Wahidi, and 'Allamah Ibn Saad Mohammed Bin Ka'b Kurazi (ra), have described the use of Jalbab in more or less the same way as the two ways described by Ibn Abbas (ra).

In addition to the scholars mentioned above, all interpreters of the Holy Qur'an, from the time of the Prophet (saw) to the present day, have consistently adhered to the same interpretation of this verse, i.e., women are required to cover themselves when coming out of their homes and the hiding of the face is included in the Hijab. To quote all these scholars would make there documents unnecessarily long, but the following are some examples:

'Allamah Ibn Jarir (ra) writes:
"In this verse, Allah (swt) is commanding the Prophet (saw) to ask his wives, his daughters and to all Muslim women that they should not dress like slave girls leaving their heads and faces uncovered when they come out of their homes. Instead, they should cover themselves with a cloak covering their faces so that nobody will stand in their way and everyone will know that they are respectable folks." (Tafseer Ibn Jarir, vol. 22, p. 29).

'Allamah Nishapuri (ra) writes:
"In the early days of Islam, all the women use to come out dressed in knee-length skirts and scarves as was the tradition in the former Days of Ignorance. There was no difference in the dresses of street women and those from respectably families. Then Allah commanded (Muslim women) to cover their heads and faces so that people would differentiate them from the street women." (Ahkam-ul-Qur'an, vol. 4, p. 354).

'Allamah Abu Hayyam (ra) states:
"The advantage in observing Hijab is that these women are recognised as pious and respectable. Thus, the perverts would not be after them and the women would not have to face unpleasantness. Nobody would dare follow and make advances to a woman who has completely concealed herself as opposed to the one who has come out nicely and decorated without Hijab; malicious and evil-minded folks will associate great hopes with such women. " (Al-Bahr-ul-Muhit, vol. 7, p. 250).

These quotations are taken from some of the well-known interpreters of the Holy Qur'an. Otherwise, almost all the scholars of the Holy Qur'an have been interpreting to include hiding of the face in the commandment of Hijab. It is also noteworthy that among these scholars are the followers of all the four schools of thought. Thus, regardless of whether they are Hanafi, Shafi', Hanbali, or Maliki, all include hiding of the face in the commandment of Hijab without and disagreement.

And, this is not a theoretical matter. We find from the Ahadith and other narrations that all women, including the wives of the Prophet (saw), immediately implemented this Commandment after the Revelation of this verse, and the use of Jalbab and Hijab by women who quickly became the norm of the Muslim society. Actually it was exemplary how readily the Muslim women obeyed and practiced it. Imam Abdul Razzaq (ra) narrated from Ummi Salamah (ra):
 

"After the revelation of this verse, the ladies of Ansar use to come out of their homes and walk with such dignity as if there were birds sitting on their heads (which would fly away if they walk any faster). And, they used to cover themselves with black cloaks." (Ruh)

It should be noted here that the modern day Burqa' (which is used in some countries by Muslim women) also serves as Jalbab. It is this Hijab, customary among Muslim women since the beginning of Islam, which is now being abolished by those who have been influenced by western thinking. To accomplish this, they interpret the Holy Qur'an and Ahadith according to their own desires thereby going astray themselves and leading others on the same path. May Allah (swt) guide us and protect us from these mischiefs. (Ameen)