Woman Between Islam and Western Society
10. Hijab in Islam
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The wording of the verse, “except such as are
normally displayed,” gives rise to the question of
what it is that has been exempted here from being
covered. The theologians and the commentators
have two views on the subject. These two views are
based on the fact that beauty is of two kinds — one
natural (by birth) and the other artificial (that is
acquired by the use of make-up, etc.). One group
says that the word ‘beauty’ here refers to both kinds
of beauty, whereas the other group believes that it is
artificial beauty which is referred to in this verse.
Ibn Mas’ud, Hasan, Ibn Sirin, and Abul Jawza’ have
interpreted this verse as referring to the kind of
beauty which depends on clothes, ornaments, etc.
They are of the opinion that when a woman goes
out, she should not display these deliberately.
However, if any part of such adornment is
unintentionally exposed, for instance, if a gust of
wind displaces the covering sheet momentarily, this
is deemed excusable.
The other point of view finds support from
‘Abdullah ibn ‘Abbas, ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Umar, ‘Ata’,
‘Ikrama, Sa’ib ibn Jubayr, Abu ash-Sha’tha’,
