“Slaughter and battle are decreed for us;
For fair women, the trailing of hems.”

This applied when women went out of their homes. Hence the report:

“He was asked about a woman who trails her hem over a filthy place, and replied, ‘What it passes over afterward purifies it.’”

Inside her home, however, a woman did not wear such clothing. Likewise, women later adopted leather footwear to cover their lower legs when going out, but did not wear it inside their homes. This is why they said, “Then their lower legs will be exposed.” The purpose was therefore to cover the lower leg, because when a garment ends above the ankles, the lower leg becomes exposed while walking.

It has also been reported:

“Deprive women of clothing, and they will remain in their secluded chambers.”

This means that if a woman had no clothing to wear when going out, she would remain at home. Muslim women used to pray in their homes. The Prophet—may Allah bless him and grant him peace—said:

“Do not prevent the female servants of Allah from attending the mosques of Allah, though their homes are better for them.”

In addition to their tunics, they were instructed to wear only head-coverings. A woman was not instructed to wear trousers, because her tunic sufficed. Nor was she instructed to cover her feet with leather footwear or socks, or to cover her hands with gloves or anything else. This indicates that she is not obliged to cover these parts during prayer when no unrelated men are present.

It has also been reported:

“The angels do not look upon concealed adornment. When a woman removes her head-covering and tunic, they do not look at her.”

A hadith concerning this has also been related from Khadījah.