Quran Verses about Covering the body and the hijab

11 ayahs · from 3 surahs

Allah has provided clothing to cover the body and warns people not to let Satan deceive them into exposing it. The verses command believing men and women to lower their gaze, believing women to draw their head coverings over their chests and to let down their outer garments and not to display themselves as in the time of ignorance, and the believers to speak with the Prophet's wives from behind a screen.

Clothing to cover the body

  1. يَٰبَنِيٓ ءَادَمَ قَدۡ أَنزَلۡنَا عَلَيۡكُمۡ لِبَاسٗا يُوَٰرِي سَوۡءَٰتِكُمۡ وَرِيشٗاۖ وَلِبَاسُ ٱلتَّقۡوَىٰ ذَٰلِكَ خَيۡرٞۚ ذَٰلِكَ مِنۡ ءَايَٰتِ ٱللَّهِ لَعَلَّهُمۡ يَذَّكَّرُونَ ٢٦

    Yābanī ādama qad anzalnā ʿalaykum libāsay yuwārī sawʾātikum wa rīshā, wa libāsut-taqwā dhālika khayr, dhālika min āyātillāhi laʿallahum yadhdhakkarūn.

    O children of Adam, We have bestowed upon you clothing to conceal your private parts and as adornment. But the clothing of righteousness - that is best. That is from the signs of Allāh that perhaps they will remember.

  2. يَٰبَنِيٓ ءَادَمَ لَا يَفۡتِنَنَّكُمُ ٱلشَّيۡطَٰنُ كَمَآ أَخۡرَجَ أَبَوَيۡكُم مِّنَ ٱلۡجَنَّةِ يَنزِعُ عَنۡهُمَا لِبَاسَهُمَا لِيُرِيَهُمَا سَوۡءَٰتِهِمَآۚ إِنَّهُۥ يَرَىٰكُمۡ هُوَ وَقَبِيلُهُۥ مِنۡ حَيۡثُ لَا تَرَوۡنَهُمۡۗ إِنَّا جَعَلۡنَا ٱلشَّيَٰطِينَ أَوۡلِيَآءَ لِلَّذِينَ لَا يُؤۡمِنُونَ ٢٧

    Yābanī ādama lā yaftinannakumush-shayṭānu kamā akhraja abawaykum minal-jannati yanziʿu ʿanhumā libāsahumā liyuriyahumā sawʾātihimā, innahū yarākum huwa wa qabīluhū min ḥaythu lā tarawnahum, innā jaʿalnash-shayāṭīna awliyāʾa lil-ladhīna lā yuʾminūn.

    O children of Adam, let not Satan tempt you as he removed your parents from Paradise, stripping them of their clothing1 to show them their private parts. Indeed, he sees you, he and his tribe, from where you do not see them. Indeed, We have made the devils allies to those who do not believe.

    Footnotes (1)
    1. The garments of Paradise.
  1. ۞ يَٰبَنِيٓ ءَادَمَ خُذُواْ زِينَتَكُمۡ عِندَ كُلِّ مَسۡجِدٖ وَكُلُواْ وَٱشۡرَبُواْ وَلَا تُسۡرِفُوٓاْۚ إِنَّهُۥ لَا يُحِبُّ ٱلۡمُسۡرِفِينَ ٣١

    Yābanī ādama khudhū zīnatakum ʿinda kulli masjidiw wa kulū washrabū wa lā tusrifū, innahū lā yuḥibbul-musrifīn.

    O children of Adam, take your adornment [i.e., wear your clothing] at every masjid,1 and eat and drink, but be not excessive. Indeed, He likes not those who commit excess.

    Footnotes (1)
    1. Literally, "place of prostration," meaning any place that a Muslim prays upon the earth. The term may also refer specifically to a mosque.

Lowering the gaze and drawing the head covering

  1. قُل لِّلۡمُؤۡمِنِينَ يَغُضُّواْ مِنۡ أَبۡصَٰرِهِمۡ وَيَحۡفَظُواْ فُرُوجَهُمۡۚ ذَٰلِكَ أَزۡكَىٰ لَهُمۡۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ خَبِيرُۢ بِمَا يَصۡنَعُونَ ٣٠

    Qul lil-muʾminīna yaghuḍḍū min abṣārihim wa yaḥfaẓū furūjahum, dhālika azkā lahum, innallāha khabīrum bimā yaṣnaʿūn.

    Tell the believing men to reduce [some] of their vision1 and guard their private parts.2 That is purer for them. Indeed, Allāh is [fully] Aware of what they do.

    Footnotes (2)
    1. Looking only at what is lawful and averting their eyes from what is unlawful.
    2. From being seen and from unlawful acts.
  2. وَقُل لِّلۡمُؤۡمِنَٰتِ يَغۡضُضۡنَ مِنۡ أَبۡصَٰرِهِنَّ وَيَحۡفَظۡنَ فُرُوجَهُنَّ وَلَا يُبۡدِينَ زِينَتَهُنَّ إِلَّا مَا ظَهَرَ مِنۡهَاۖ وَلۡيَضۡرِبۡنَ بِخُمُرِهِنَّ عَلَىٰ جُيُوبِهِنَّۖ وَلَا يُبۡدِينَ زِينَتَهُنَّ إِلَّا لِبُعُولَتِهِنَّ أَوۡ ءَابَآئِهِنَّ أَوۡ ءَابَآءِ بُعُولَتِهِنَّ أَوۡ أَبۡنَآئِهِنَّ أَوۡ أَبۡنَآءِ بُعُولَتِهِنَّ أَوۡ إِخۡوَٰنِهِنَّ أَوۡ بَنِيٓ إِخۡوَٰنِهِنَّ أَوۡ بَنِيٓ أَخَوَٰتِهِنَّ أَوۡ نِسَآئِهِنَّ أَوۡ مَا مَلَكَتۡ أَيۡمَٰنُهُنَّ أَوِ ٱلتَّٰبِعِينَ غَيۡرِ أُوْلِي ٱلۡإِرۡبَةِ مِنَ ٱلرِّجَالِ أَوِ ٱلطِّفۡلِ ٱلَّذِينَ لَمۡ يَظۡهَرُواْ عَلَىٰ عَوۡرَٰتِ ٱلنِّسَآءِۖ وَلَا يَضۡرِبۡنَ بِأَرۡجُلِهِنَّ لِيُعۡلَمَ مَا يُخۡفِينَ مِن زِينَتِهِنَّۚ وَتُوبُوٓاْ إِلَى ٱللَّهِ جَمِيعًا أَيُّهَ ٱلۡمُؤۡمِنُونَ لَعَلَّكُمۡ تُفۡلِحُونَ ٣١

    Wa qul lil-muʾmināti yaghḍuḍna min abṣārihinna wa yaḥfaẓna furūjahunna wa lā yubdīna zīnatahunna illā mā ẓahara minhā, walyaḍribna bikhumurihinna ʿalā juyūbihinn, wa lā yubdīna zīnatahunna illā libuʿūlatihinna aw ābāʾihinna aw ābāʾi buʿūlatihinna aw abnāʾihinna aw abnāʾi buʿūlatihinna aw ikhwānihinna aw banī ikhwānihinna aw banī akhawātihinna aw nisāʾihinna aw mā malakat aymānuhunna awit-tābiʿīna ghayri ulil-irbati minar-rijāli awiṭ-ṭiflil-ladhīna lam yaẓharū ʿalā ʿawrātin-nisāʾ, wa lā yaḍribna biʾarjulihinna liyuʿlama mā yukhfīna min zīnatihinn, wa tūbū ilallāhi jamīʿan ayyuhal-muʾminūna laʿallakum tufliḥūn.

    And tell the believing women to reduce [some] of their vision1 and guard their private parts and not expose their adornment2 except that which [necessarily] appears thereof3 and to wrap [a portion of] their headcovers over their chests and not expose their adornment [i.e., beauty] except to their husbands, their fathers, their husbands' fathers, their sons, their husbands' sons, their brothers, their brothers' sons, their sisters' sons, their women, that which their right hands possess [i.e., slaves], or those male attendants having no physical desire,4 or children who are not yet aware of the private aspects of women. And let them not stamp their feet to make known what they conceal of their adornment. And turn to Allāh in repentance, all of you, O believers, that you might succeed.

    Footnotes (4)
    1. Looking only at what is lawful and averting their eyes from what is unlawful.
    2. Both natural beauty, such as hair or body shape, and that with which a woman beautifies herself of clothing, jewelry, etc.
    3. i.e., the outer garments or whatever might appear out of necessity, such as a part of the face or the hands.
    4. Referring to an abnormal condition in which a man is devoid of sexual feeling.

Letting down the outer garment

  1. يَٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلنَّبِيُّ قُل لِّأَزۡوَٰجِكَ وَبَنَاتِكَ وَنِسَآءِ ٱلۡمُؤۡمِنِينَ يُدۡنِينَ عَلَيۡهِنَّ مِن جَلَٰبِيبِهِنَّۚ ذَٰلِكَ أَدۡنَىٰٓ أَن يُعۡرَفۡنَ فَلَا يُؤۡذَيۡنَۗ وَكَانَ ٱللَّهُ غَفُورٗا رَّحِيمٗا ٥٩

    Yāʾayyuhan-nabiyyu qul liʾazwājika wa banātika wa nisāʾil-muʾminīna yudnīna ʿalayhinna min jalābībihinn, dhālika adnā ay yuʿrafna falā yuʾdhayn, wa kānallāhu ghafūrar raḥīmā.

    O Prophet, tell your wives and your daughters and the women of the believers to bring down over themselves [part] of their outer garments.1 That is more suitable that they will be known2 and not be abused. And ever is Allāh Forgiving and Merciful.3

    Footnotes (3)
    1. The jilbāb, which is defined as a cloak covering the head and reaching to the ground, thereby covering the woman's entire body.
    2. As chaste believing women.
    3. Or "and Allāh was Forgiving and Merciful" of what occurred before this injunction or before knowledge of it.

Not displaying oneself as in the time of ignorance

  1. يَٰنِسَآءَ ٱلنَّبِيِّ لَسۡتُنَّ كَأَحَدٖ مِّنَ ٱلنِّسَآءِ إِنِ ٱتَّقَيۡتُنَّۚ فَلَا تَخۡضَعۡنَ بِٱلۡقَوۡلِ فَيَطۡمَعَ ٱلَّذِي فِي قَلۡبِهِۦ مَرَضٞ وَقُلۡنَ قَوۡلٗا مَّعۡرُوفٗا ٣٢

    Yānisāʾan-nabiyyi lastunna kaʾaḥadim minan-nisāʾi inittaqaytunn, falā takhḍaʿna bil-qawli fayaṭmaʿal-ladhī fī qalbihī maraḍuw wa qulna qawlam maʿrūfā.

    O wives of the Prophet, you are not like anyone among women. If you fear Allāh, then do not be soft in speech [to men],1 lest he in whose heart is disease should covet, but speak with appropriate speech.

    Footnotes (1)
    1. The meaning has also been given as "You are not like any among women if you fear Allāh. So do not be soft in speech..."
  2. وَقَرۡنَ فِي بُيُوتِكُنَّ وَلَا تَبَرَّجۡنَ تَبَرُّجَ ٱلۡجَٰهِلِيَّةِ ٱلۡأُولَىٰۖ وَأَقِمۡنَ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ وَءَاتِينَ ٱلزَّكَوٰةَ وَأَطِعۡنَ ٱللَّهَ وَرَسُولَهُۥٓۚ إِنَّمَا يُرِيدُ ٱللَّهُ لِيُذۡهِبَ عَنكُمُ ٱلرِّجۡسَ أَهۡلَ ٱلۡبَيۡتِ وَيُطَهِّرَكُمۡ تَطۡهِيرٗا ٣٣

    Wa qarna fī buyūtikunna wa lā tabarrajna tabarrujal-jāhiliyyatil-ūlā, wa aqimnaṣ-ṣalāta wa ātīnaz-zakāta wa aṭiʿnallāha wa rasūlah, innamā yurīdullāhu liyudhhiba ʿankumur-rijsa ahlal-bayti wa yuṭahhirakum taṭhīrā.

    And abide in your houses and do not display yourselves as [was] the display of the former times of ignorance. And establish prayer and give zakāh and obey Allāh and His Messenger. Allāh intends only to remove from you the impurity [of sin], O people of the [Prophet's] household, and to purify you with [extensive] purification.

Privacy at home and an allowance for elderly women

  1. يَٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ لِيَسۡتَـٔۡذِنكُمُ ٱلَّذِينَ مَلَكَتۡ أَيۡمَٰنُكُمۡ وَٱلَّذِينَ لَمۡ يَبۡلُغُواْ ٱلۡحُلُمَ مِنكُمۡ ثَلَٰثَ مَرَّٰتٖۚ مِّن قَبۡلِ صَلَوٰةِ ٱلۡفَجۡرِ وَحِينَ تَضَعُونَ ثِيَابَكُم مِّنَ ٱلظَّهِيرَةِ وَمِنۢ بَعۡدِ صَلَوٰةِ ٱلۡعِشَآءِۚ ثَلَٰثُ عَوۡرَٰتٖ لَّكُمۡۚ لَيۡسَ عَلَيۡكُمۡ وَلَا عَلَيۡهِمۡ جُنَاحُۢ بَعۡدَهُنَّۚ طَوَّٰفُونَ عَلَيۡكُم بَعۡضُكُمۡ عَلَىٰ بَعۡضٖۚ كَذَٰلِكَ يُبَيِّنُ ٱللَّهُ لَكُمُ ٱلۡأٓيَٰتِۗ وَٱللَّهُ عَلِيمٌ حَكِيمٞ ٥٨

    Yāʾayyuhal-ladhīna āmanū liyastaʾdhinkumul-ladhīna malakat aymānukum wal-ladhīna lam yablughul-ḥuluma minkum thalātha marrāt, min qabli ṣalātil-fajri wa ḥīna taḍaʿūna thiyābakum minaẓ-ẓahīrati wa mim baʿdi ṣalātil-ʿishāʾ, thalāthu ʿawrātil lakum, laysa ʿalaykum wa lā ʿalayhim junāḥum baʿdahunn, ṭawwāfūna ʿalaykum baʿḍukum ʿalā baʿḍ, kadhālika yubayyinullāhu lakumul-āyāt, wallāhu ʿalīmun ḥakīm.

    O you who have believed, let those whom your right hands possess and those who have not [yet] reached puberty among you ask permission of you [before entering] at three times: before the dawn prayer and when you put aside your clothing [for rest] at noon and after the night prayer. [These are] three times of privacy1 for you. There is no blame upon you nor upon them beyond these [periods], for they continually circulate among you - some of you, among others. Thus does Allāh make clear to you the verses [i.e., His ordinances]; and Allāh is Knowing and Wise.

    Footnotes (1)
    1. Literally, "exposure" or "being uncovered."
  1. وَٱلۡقَوَٰعِدُ مِنَ ٱلنِّسَآءِ ٱلَّٰتِي لَا يَرۡجُونَ نِكَاحٗا فَلَيۡسَ عَلَيۡهِنَّ جُنَاحٌ أَن يَضَعۡنَ ثِيَابَهُنَّ غَيۡرَ مُتَبَرِّجَٰتِۭ بِزِينَةٖۖ وَأَن يَسۡتَعۡفِفۡنَ خَيۡرٞ لَّهُنَّۗ وَٱللَّهُ سَمِيعٌ عَلِيمٞ ٦٠

    Wal-qawāʿidu minan-nisāʾil-lātī lā yarjūna nikāḥan falaysa ʿalayhinna junāḥun ay yaḍaʿna thiyābahunna ghayra mutabarrijātim bizīnah, wa ay yastaʿfifna khayrul lahunn, wallāhu samīʿun ʿalīm.

    And women of post-menstrual age who have no desire for marriage - there is no blame upon them for putting aside their outer garments [but] not displaying adornment. But to modestly refrain [from that] is better for them. And Allāh is Hearing and Knowing.

The hijab as a screen

  1. يَٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ لَا تَدۡخُلُواْ بُيُوتَ ٱلنَّبِيِّ إِلَّآ أَن يُؤۡذَنَ لَكُمۡ إِلَىٰ طَعَامٍ غَيۡرَ نَٰظِرِينَ إِنَىٰهُ وَلَٰكِنۡ إِذَا دُعِيتُمۡ فَٱدۡخُلُواْ فَإِذَا طَعِمۡتُمۡ فَٱنتَشِرُواْ وَلَا مُسۡتَـٔۡنِسِينَ لِحَدِيثٍۚ إِنَّ ذَٰلِكُمۡ كَانَ يُؤۡذِي ٱلنَّبِيَّ فَيَسۡتَحۡيِۦ مِنكُمۡۖ وَٱللَّهُ لَا يَسۡتَحۡيِۦ مِنَ ٱلۡحَقِّۚ وَإِذَا سَأَلۡتُمُوهُنَّ مَتَٰعٗا فَسۡـَٔلُوهُنَّ مِن وَرَآءِ حِجَابٖۚ ذَٰلِكُمۡ أَطۡهَرُ لِقُلُوبِكُمۡ وَقُلُوبِهِنَّۚ وَمَا كَانَ لَكُمۡ أَن تُؤۡذُواْ رَسُولَ ٱللَّهِ وَلَآ أَن تَنكِحُوٓاْ أَزۡوَٰجَهُۥ مِنۢ بَعۡدِهِۦٓ أَبَدًاۚ إِنَّ ذَٰلِكُمۡ كَانَ عِندَ ٱللَّهِ عَظِيمًا ٥٣

    Yāʾayyuhal-ladhīna āmanū lā tadkhulū buyūtan-nabiyyi illā ay yuʾdhana lakum ilā ṭaʿāmin ghayra nāẓirīna ināhu wa lākin idhā duʿītum fadkhulū fa idhā ṭaʿimtum fantashirū wa lā mustaʾnisīna liḥadīth, inna dhālikum kāna yuʾdhin-nabiyya fayastaḥyī minkum, wallāhu lā yastaḥyī minal-ḥaqq, wa idhā saʾaltumūhunna matāʿan fasʾalūhunna miw warāʾi ḥijāb, dhālikum aṭharu liqulūbikum wa qulūbihinn, wa mā kāna lakum an tuʾdhū rasūlallāhi wa lā an tankiḥū azwājahū mim baʿdihī abadā, inna dhālikum kāna ʿindallāhi ʿaẓīmā.

    O you who have believed, do not enter the houses of the Prophet except when you are permitted for a meal, without awaiting its readiness. But when you are invited, then enter; and when you have eaten, disperse without seeking to remain for conversation. Indeed, that [behavior] was troubling the Prophet, and he is shy of [dismissing] you. But Allāh is not shy of the truth. And when you ask [his wives] for something, ask them from behind a partition. That is purer for your hearts and their hearts. And it is not [conceivable or lawful] for you to harm the Messenger of Allāh or to marry his wives after him, ever. Indeed, that would be in the sight of Allāh an enormity.

  1. لَّا جُنَاحَ عَلَيۡهِنَّ فِيٓ ءَابَآئِهِنَّ وَلَآ أَبۡنَآئِهِنَّ وَلَآ إِخۡوَٰنِهِنَّ وَلَآ أَبۡنَآءِ إِخۡوَٰنِهِنَّ وَلَآ أَبۡنَآءِ أَخَوَٰتِهِنَّ وَلَا نِسَآئِهِنَّ وَلَا مَا مَلَكَتۡ أَيۡمَٰنُهُنَّۗ وَٱتَّقِينَ ٱللَّهَۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ كَانَ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَيۡءٖ شَهِيدًا ٥٥

    Lā junāḥa ʿalayhinna fī ābāʾihinna wa lā abnāʾihinna wa lā ikhwānihinna wa lā abnāʾi ikhwānihinna wa lā abnāʾi akhawātihinna wa lā nisāʾihinna wa lā mā malakat aymānuhunn, wattaqīnallāh, innallāha kāna ʿalā kulli shayʾin shahīdā.

    There is no blame upon them [i.e., women] concerning their fathers or their sons or their brothers or their brothers' sons or their sisters' sons or their women or those their right hands possess [i.e., slaves].1 And fear Allāh. Indeed Allāh is ever, over all things, Witness.

    Footnotes (1)
    1. It is permissible for a woman to appear before these people without complete covering and to be alone with them. The brothers of both parents (uncles) are included as "fathers" or "parents," according to ḥadīth.