the house in all cases. The distinction made at the end of the surah is due to necessity, since a slave or child frequently comes and goes and needs to enter the house at any time. Requiring permission on every occasion would therefore cause hardship, unlike the case of someone who has reached puberty.

Allah Most High said:

“Tell the believing men to lower their gaze and guard their private parts. That is purer for them.”

The passage continues up to His words:

“And turn to Allah in repentance, all of you, O believers, so that you may succeed.”

Allah, glorified is He, commanded both men and women to lower their gaze and guard their private parts, just as He commanded them all to repent. He specifically commanded women to cover themselves and not to display their adornment except to their husbands and those whom Allah Most High excepted in the verse. The adornment that appears openly means the outer garments. There is no blame upon a woman for displaying these, provided this involves nothing else prohibited, since displaying them is unavoidable. This is the view of Ibn Masʿūd and others, and it is the well-known position reported from Ahmad.

Ibn ʿAbbās said: “The face and hands are part of the outward adornment.” This is the second position reported from Ahmad, and it is the view of a group of scholars, including al-Shāfiʿī and others.

Allah, glorified is He, commanded women to draw their outer garments down over themselves so that they would not be recognized or harmed. This supports the first view. ʿAbīda al-Salmānī and others mentioned that believing women would draw their outer garments down over themselves from above their heads, leaving only their eyes visible so that they could see the road. It is established in an authentic hadith:

“A woman in a state of ritual consecration is prohibited from wearing a face veil and gloves.”

This is among the indications that the face veil