Can a Hijabi Show her feet in Islam?
C.J Ahmed-13.06.2023
In Islam a woman can show her feet and there is nothing wrong in a hijabi to show her feet in public. It is not haram to do so. The view that a hijabi cannot revel her legs is from those who are of the view that a woman should cover her entire boy.
Wrongly Misquoted Evidence from the Quran
Some try to prove the point of the face veil being obligatory by quoting the below verse.
Allah says:
“O Prophet! Tell your wives and your daughters and the women of the believers to draw their cloaks all over their bodies. That will be better, that they should be known so as not to be annoyed. And Allaah is Ever Oft Forgiving, Most Merciful”
(Al-Ahzab 33:59)
The above verse is wrongly interpreted as "Al idna" to mean covering the face. This meaning is totally wrong because the real meaning is not covering the face. It is "to come close"
Ar-Raaghib al-Asbahaanee mentions in his authoritative dictionary ‘Al-Mufradaat’.Some people claim that Jilbaab is “a garment which covers the face”. This too is a misinterpretation as it is contrary to the interpretation of the leading scholars of past and present as well, who define Jilbaab as a garment which women drape over their head scarves (khimaar). The Khimaar is not the face veil as wrongly interpreted by some. According to all the available authentic narrations and the authentic Arabic dictionary"Lisan-Al-Arab" it is clear that the "Khimaar" is only the head scarf. The next point will clarify this even further.
Taking the Verses of the Quran Out of Context
The other evidence that is put forward is also a very weak argument. They bring in the following verse to prove that the face veil is an obligation. Allah (swt) says:
“And when you ask for anything you want, ask them from behind a screen”
(Al-Quran-33:53)
The above verse is wrongly interpreted to say that women should conceal themselves completely and that the face veil is an obligation. The above verse was revealed only to the wives of the prophet (sal). The verses above this verse and the verses preceding it as well as the authentic tafsirs like Qurtubi, ibn kathir bear clear evidence for this. This verse as nothing to do with the face veil. This verse only speaks about speaking behind a screen when asking from something from the wives of the prophet (sal) and within precincts of the house.
There is no clear evidence from the hadiths stating that a woman should cover her feet and what has been said on this is based on assuptions and not facts.
In Islam a woman can show her feet and there is nothing wrong in a hijabi to show her feet in public. It is not haram to do so. The view that a hijabi cannot revel her legs is from those who are of the view that a woman should cover her entire boy.
Wrongly Misquoted Evidence from the Quran
Some try to prove the point of the face veil being obligatory by quoting the below verse.
Allah says:
“O Prophet! Tell your wives and your daughters and the women of the believers to draw their cloaks all over their bodies. That will be better, that they should be known so as not to be annoyed. And Allaah is Ever Oft Forgiving, Most Merciful”
(Al-Ahzab 33:59)
The above verse is wrongly interpreted as "Al idna" to mean covering the face. This meaning is totally wrong because the real meaning is not covering the face. It is "to come close"
Ar-Raaghib al-Asbahaanee mentions in his authoritative dictionary ‘Al-Mufradaat’.Some people claim that Jilbaab is “a garment which covers the face”. This too is a misinterpretation as it is contrary to the interpretation of the leading scholars of past and present as well, who define Jilbaab as a garment which women drape over their head scarves (khimaar). The Khimaar is not the face veil as wrongly interpreted by some. According to all the available authentic narrations and the authentic Arabic dictionary"Lisan-Al-Arab" it is clear that the "Khimaar" is only the head scarf. The next point will clarify this even further.
Taking the Verses of the Quran Out of Context
The other evidence that is put forward is also a very weak argument. They bring in the following verse to prove that the face veil is an obligation. Allah (swt) says:
“And when you ask for anything you want, ask them from behind a screen”
(Al-Quran-33:53)
The above verse is wrongly interpreted to say that women should conceal themselves completely and that the face veil is an obligation. The above verse was revealed only to the wives of the prophet (sal). The verses above this verse and the verses preceding it as well as the authentic tafsirs like Qurtubi, ibn kathir bear clear evidence for this. This verse as nothing to do with the face veil. This verse only speaks about speaking behind a screen when asking from something from the wives of the prophet (sal) and within precincts of the house.
There is no clear evidence from the hadiths stating that a woman should cover her feet and what has been said on this is based on assuptions and not facts.