In the previous posts, we have examined one central issue:
Did Islam command women to cover their faces?
We did not rely on:
- Emotions
- Cultural influence
- Social pressure
Instead, we relied on:
- Authentic narrations
- Real-life incidents
- Logical consistency
In this post, we address one of the last remaining arguments used to justify face covering
The Claim: “All These Incidents Happened Before Hijab Was Revealed”
Some argue: “These narrations are true… But they happened before the law of hijab came.”
At first, this may sound convincing but when examined carefully, it collapses completely.
Why This Argument Fails
Because the incidents we discussed:
- Span different periods
- Occur in Madinah
- Happen in public life
- Continue even after laws were established
And most importantly, there is no clear evidence that a later command came making face covering obligatory. So, this argument is not based on proof rather it is based on assumptions
A Foundational Principle
If a ruling is introduced later in Islam:
- It will be clearly stated
- It will be consistently enforced
- It will replace previous practice
But here there is no such transformation exists
Evidence from a Marriage Incident: Recognition by Appearance
A man married a woman. Later, another woman claimed that “I breastfed both of you.” This would make their marriage invalid. The man rushed to the Prophet ﷺ for clarification.
Now observe a subtle detail:
He described the woman as “a dark-skinned woman”
What Does This Mean?
He could identify her appearance and her physical features. This is only possible if her face was visible because If She Were Covered—
- Her skin tone could not be known
- Her identity could not be described
This is a direct contradiction to face covering as a norm
The Incident of the Crying Woman at a Funeral
At a funeral, a woman cried loudly.
The Prophet ﷺ asked: “Who is that?”
The people replied: “She is the daughter of so-and-so”
Now reflect:
How could they identify her? It was not identified by the voice alone rather by seeing her they identified it was her and they identified her lineage.
This Requires Two Things: a visible face and familiar recognition. If faces were covered the answer would be like, “we don’t know who she is.” but that hasn’t happened because Recognition Requires Repeated Visibility
To identify someone as “the daughter of Amr”, You must:
- Have seen her before
- Know her face
- Recognize her presence
This proves women were visible and known in society
The Incident of Shared Eating: A Qur’anic Proof
A guest was brought to a companion’s home. The couple had very little food.
They:
- Put their children to sleep
- Pretended to eat
- Let the guest eat fully
Now focus on one detail: They all sat together to eat.
Ask Yourself Honestly: Can people eat together Without seeing each other’s faces?
Impossible because Eating requires:
- Opening the mouth
- Visible interaction
- Direct presence
Qur’anic Confirmation of Shared Eating
Allahﷻ explicitly permits:
- Eating in relatives’ homes
- Eating in friends’ homes
- Eating together or separately
This is mentioned in Surah An-Nur (24:61).
Now Reflect Deeply: If face covering were obligatory, Would Allahﷻ allow mixed social eating environments? No. Because eating naturally reveals face, mouth and expression
The Logical Conclusion
If something necessarily exposes the face and Allahﷻ permits it then face exposure cannot be forbidden.
Allahﷻ did not say: “Eat separately to maintain concealment”
Instead, He said to eat together. This alone dismantles the argument of compulsory face covering
The Incident of Asma (RA): Recognition on the Road
Asma (RA), the sister of Aisha (RA) was walking carrying provisions. The Prophet ﷺ saw her and said: “O Asma, come ride with me.”
Now reflect carefully: How did he recognize her from a distance, while she was walking. Recognition requires clear facial identification. If She Were Fully Covered, he would not say “O Asma”
He would say: “Who is that?”
This is a direct and practical evidence that,
- She was visible
- She was recognized
- She was addressed by name
Another Important Point
Asma (RA) was not mahram. Yet She was seen, recognized and spoken. This again shows that normal social interaction with visible identity
Across all evidence:
- Women are seen
- Women are recognized
- Women are identified
- Women interact publicly
There is no consistent face covering, enforcement and command
The Real Issue: Imposing What Allahﷻ Did Not Command
The lecture raises a serious warning:
Some people:
- Add restrictions
- Label them as “modesty”
- Then enforce them as “Islam”
But Allahﷻ says: “Do not invent things in My religion.”
A Critical Reflection
If face covering was truly obligatory, why there is
- No clear verse?
- No consistent command?
- No enforcement by the Prophet ﷺ?
The Answer Is Simple. It is because it was never made obligatory
Final Summary
From the above examples, we conclude:
- The “before hijab” argument is weak
- Women were recognized by appearance
- Social interaction required visibility
- Qur’an allows shared environments
- Face covering was not enforced
Islam is not:
- A religion of hidden identities
- A system of excessive restriction
It is a religion of clarity, dignity, and balance
Final Words
Do not turn cultural practice into divine command, burden women with what Allahﷻ did not require and assume more restriction equals more piety because true piety lies in following and not adding
May Allahﷻ grant us:
- Clear understanding
- Sincere practice
- And protection from distortion
Peace be upon you, and the mercy and blessings of Allahﷻ.