When Allah commands women to observe Hijab in front of men to whom they are
not related, He explains who are the relatives before whom they do not need to
observe Hijab. This is like the exceptions stated in Surat An-Nur, where Allah
says:
[وَلاَ يُبْدِينَ
زِينَتَهُنَّ إِلاَّ لِبُعُولَتِهِنَّ أَوْ ءَابَآئِهِنَّ أَوْ ءَابَآءِ
بُعُولَتِهِنَّ أَوْ أَبْنَآئِهِنَّ أَوْ أَبْنَآءِ بُعُولَتِهِنَّ أَوْ
إِخْوَانِهِنَّ أَوْ بَنِى إِخْوَانِهِنَّ أَوْ بَنِى أَخَوَتِهِنَّ أَوْ
نِسَآئِهِنَّ أَوْ مَا مَلَكَتْ أَيْمَـنُهُنَّ أَوِ التَّـبِعِينَ غَيْرِ أُوْلِى
الإِرْبَةِ مِنَ الرِّجَالِ أَوِ الطِّفْلِ الَّذِينَ لَمْ يَظْهَرُواْ عَلَى
عَوْرَتِ النِّسَآءِ]
(And not to reveal their adornment except to their husbands, or their
fathers, or their husbands' fathers, or their sons, or their husbands' sons, or
their brothers, or their brothers' sons, or their sisters' sons, or their women,
or their right hand possessions, or the Tabi`in among men who do not have
desire, or small children who are not aware of the nakedness of women.) (24:31).
The Ayah contains more detail than this, which we have already discussed in the
Tafsir of the Ayah and do not need to repeat here. Ibn Jarir recorded that
Ash-Sha`bi and `Ikrimah said concerning the Ayah,
[لاَّ جُنَاحَ
عَلَيْهِنَّ فِى ءَابَآئِهِنَّ]
(It is no sin on them before their fathers...) I said, "What about the
paternal uncle and the maternal uncle -- why are they not mentioned'' He said:
"Because they may describe her to their sons, so it is disliked for a woman to
remove her covering in front of her paternal uncle or maternal uncle.''
[وَلاَ
نِسَآئِهِنَّ]
(or their own women,) means that they do not have to observe Hijab in front
of other believing women.
[وَلاَ مَا مَلَكَتْ
أَيْمَانُهُنَّ]
(or their (female) slaves.) Sa`id bin Al-Musayyib said: "This means female
slaves only.'' This was recorded by Ibn Abi Hatim.
[وَاتَّقِينَ اللَّهَ
إِنَّ اللَّهَ كَانَ عَلَى كُلِّ شَىْءٍ شَهِيداً]
(And (O ladies) have Taqwa of Allah. Verily, Allah is Ever All-Witness over
everything.) means, and fear Him in private and in public, for He witnesses all
things and nothing is hidden from Him, so think of the One Who is always
watching.
[إِنَّ اللَّهَ
وَمَلَـئِكَـتَهُ يُصَلُّونَ عَلَى النَّبِىِّ يأَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ
صَلُّواْ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلِّمُواْ تَسْلِيماً ]
(56. Allah sends His Salah on the Prophet, and also His angels (do so). O you
who believe! Send your Salah on him, and greet him with Taslim.)
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