Ibn ʿAṭiyyah said: “In view of the wording of the verse, it appears to me that the woman is commanded not to reveal and to strive to conceal everything that counts as an adornment. The exception applies only to what becomes visible by virtue of an unavoidable movement, some necessary task, or the like. Thus, ‘except what is apparent’ in this sense refers to whatever necessity compels to appear of a woman, and this is pardoned.”

al-Qurṭubī said:

“I say: This is a fine opinion, yet because the face and the hands are what most commonly appear—both customarily and devotionally, as in prayer and pilgrimage—it is suitable that the exception be referred to them. Indicating this is what Abū Dāwūd narrates from ʿĀʾishah (may Allah be pleased with her): that Asmāʾ bint Abī Bakr (may Allah be pleased with her) entered upon the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) wearing thin clothes, and the Messenger of Allah turned away from her and said, ‘O Asmāʾ, once a woman reaches the age of menstruation it is not proper that anything be seen of her except this,’ and he pointed to his face and his hands. This view is stronger from the standpoint of precaution and in consideration of people’s moral decline; therefore a woman should display none of her adornment except what appears of her face and hands. Allah is the One who grants success; there is no lord besides Him.”

I say: This rejoinder too calls for scrutiny, for although it is indeed the face and hands that generally appear by custom, that appearance still results from the agent’s intent, whereas—as we understand it—the verse conveys an exception for what appears without intent. How, then, can it legitimately be taken as encompassing what is deliberately exposed? Reflect on this.

After further reflection it became clear to me that the view of these scholars is correct, and that this attests to the subtlety of their insight—may Allah have mercy on them. The explanation is that the early generations agreed that the Most High’s words, ‘except what appears thereof,’ refer back to an action performed by the legally responsible woman; the only point of difference among them was that they—