and gloves were familiar among women who were not in a state of ritual consecration, which entails covering their faces and hands.

Allah Most High prohibited anything that would make hidden adornment known through sound or otherwise. He said:

“And let them not stamp their feet to make known what they conceal of their adornment.”

He also said:

“Let them draw their head coverings over their chests.”

When this was revealed, the believing women took their head coverings, tore them, and let them hang down over their necks. The “neck opening” is a slit running lengthwise down the tunic. Thus, when a woman draws her head covering over this opening, she covers her neck.

She was subsequently commanded to let her outer garment hang down over herself. This applies when she leaves the house; while she is at home, she is not commanded to do so. It is established in an authentic hadith:

“When the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, consummated his marriage to Safiyya, his Companions said: ‘If he draws a veil over her, she is one of the Mothers of the Believers; if he does not place a veil over her, she is one of those whom his right hand possesses.’ So he placed a veil over her.”

Veiling was prescribed for women so that their faces and hands would not be seen. It applies specifically to free women, not slave women. Such was the practice of the believers during the time of the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, and his caliphs: a free woman would veil herself, whereas a slave woman would appear openly. Whenever Umar, may Allah be pleased with him, saw a slave woman wearing a head covering, he would strike her and say: “Are you imitating free women, you wretch?” Thus, a slave woman’s head, hands, and face are left uncovered.