Is hijab mandatory? What is the evidence?

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Question

A lot of Muslim girls say that the Qur’an does not mention covering the head directly. They quote the verses about drawing the veil over the bosoms and use this as an argument that covering the head (hijab) is not mandatory. Please give advice with Qur’an and Hadith.

Answer

1. Qur’an Evidence

  • Surah al-Nur 24:31:
    Allah says: “And let them draw their khumur over their bosoms.”
    The word khumur (plural of khimar) in Arabic means a headcover. Women at that time already wore it on the head but left the chest exposed. The verse ordered that the headcover be extended to also cover the chest and neck. It assumes the head was already covered.
  • Surah al-Ahzab 33:59:
    Allah says: “O Prophet, tell your wives and your daughters and the women of the believers to bring down over themselves their jilbab.”
    This is the command of the outer garment in public to increase modesty and protection.

Together, these verses show the covering of the head with the khimar and the body with the jilbab.

2. Sunnah and Practice of the Companions

  • Aisha (Allah be pleased with her) said: “When the verse in Surah al-Nur was revealed, the women of the Ansar tore their wrappers and covered themselves with them as khimars.” (Sahih al-Bukhari). This shows they immediately covered their heads and extended to the chest.
  • The hadith of Asma bint Abi Bakr states that when a girl reaches puberty nothing should be seen except the face and hands (Abu Dawud, hasan).

3. Consensus of the Scholars (Ijmā‘)

All four madhhabs and classical scholars are agreed that a Muslim woman’s hair, neck, and body must be covered before non-mahram men. The only area of difference was the face and hands.

The Prophet ﷺ said: “My Ummah will not agree upon misguidance.” (al-Tirmidhi, hasan). The consensus of the Ummah for centuries that hijab includes covering the head is binding proof.

4. Misuse of Tafsir Today

Some modern people isolate the words “bosoms” and claim the Qur’an only commands to cover the chest. This is incorrect because:

  • The Arabic word khimar means a headcover, not simply a chest cover.
  • The Prophet ﷺ and the Companions immediately understood it as covering the head.
  • All tafsir and fiqh works from the earliest generations confirm this.
    Rejecting that consensus and inventing new interpretations contradicts the correct method of tafsir which is Qur’an explained by the Sunnah, the Companions, and the scholars of Islam.

5. Advice to Sisters

  • Covering the head, neck, and body before non-mahram men is obligatory (wajib).
  • This ruling is not cultural but comes directly from the Qur’an, Sunnah, and the consensus of the Ummah.
  • Struggling with hijab is understood, but the ruling should not be denied. Take steps with sincerity, make dua, and seek reliable knowledge.

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