20. The Quranic Principle of Modest Dress
Regarding the principle of modesty for women, the Quran instructs: “Say to believing women that they should lower their gaze and remain chaste and not to reveal their adornments—save what is normally apparent thereof, and they should fold their shawls over their bosoms. They can only reveal their adornments 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 maidservants or those whom their right hands possess or their male attendants who have no sexual desire or children who still have no carnal knowledge of women. Nor should they swing their legs to draw attention to their hidden ornaments. Believers, turn to God, every one of you, so that you may prosper.” (Quran, 24:31)
This verse establishes the rules of modesty (satr), specifying which parts of the body must be covered and which may be shown. Essentially, a woman’s body should be covered with loose and simple clothing. However, there exists one important exception indicated by the phrase “save what is normally apparent thereof.”
Commenting on this in his Tafsir ‘Uthmani (pp. 458-459), Maulana Shabbir Ahmad ‘Uthmani writes:
“Based on the hadith and early reports, it is established that the face and hands (al-kaffayn) are included in the phrase ‘except what appears thereof,’ because many religious and worldly needs require these parts to remain uncovered. If covering them were made strictly obligatory, women would face unnecessary hardship in daily life. Later jurists extended this ruling to the feet by analogy. Consequently, accessories such as rings, henna, kajal, and similar items are also understood to be included in this exemption. However, it should be clearly understood that ‘except what appears thereof’ grants permission only in cases of necessity.”
Thus, the Quran’s teaching on modesty combines dignity with practicality—prescribing decency without creating unnecessary difficulty, and enabling women to act responsibly within the limits of faith and propriety.
