The word “hijab” denotes whatever screens a woman from view—whether a wall, a door, or a garment. Although the verse was revealed in connection with the wives of the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, its ruling is universal for all believing women, for Allah justified it by saying, “That is purer for your hearts and theirs” (al-Ahzab 53).(1) Because the reasoning is universal, the ruling that rests upon it is likewise universal. The Exalted also says, “O Prophet, tell your wives, your daughters, and the women of the believers to draw their cloaks (jalabib) closely around themselves” (al-Ahzab 59).(2)

Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah (d. 728 AH) states in Majmuʿ al-Fatawa (22/110–111): “The jilbab is the milā⁠ʾah, which Ibn Masʿud and others called a ridāʾ, and which ordinary people call an izar. It is the large outer wrap that covers her head and the rest of her body. Abu ʿUbaydah and others related that she should lower it from above her head so that only one eye is visible; the niqab is of the same category.” End quote.

Among the proofs from the Sunnah that a woman must cover her face before men who are not her mahrams is the hadith of ʿAʾishah, may Allah be pleased with her. She said, “Riders used to pass by us while we were with the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, in the state of ihram. Whenever they came alongside us…”