“That is more suitable, so that they may be recognized” as free women, “and not harmed,” meaning that they would not be accosted. “And Allah is Ever-Forgiving, Most Merciful.”

Anas said: A slave woman passed by Umar ibn al-Khattab wearing a face veil, so he struck her with his whip and said, “You wretch! Are you imitating free women? Take off the face veil!” (1)

“If the hypocrites, those in whose hearts is a sickness, and those who spread rumors in Medina do not desist, We shall surely incite you against them. Then they will not remain your neighbors therein except for a little while, (60) accursed; wherever they are found, they shall be seized and ruthlessly slain. (61) This is Allah’s established way with those who passed on before, and you will never find any change in Allah’s way. (62)”