Hijab in Islam The Quranic Command, Its Rules and Its Importance Today

Hijab in Islam is the dress code Allah prescribed for Muslim women, and it is one of the most discussed topics in British Muslim life. For a Muslim woman in modern Britain, hijab is at once a Quranic command, a personal spiritual discipline, a public statement (whether intended or not), and a daily practical decision. In this guide, we cover all four dimensions honestly. Above all, we wrote it for British Muslim families who want their daughters to understand hijab from within, rather than as an imposed rule, and for Muslim women navigating modesty in modern Britain.

What Is Hijab in Islam?

In Arabic, the word ḥijāb means a barrier or screen. In fact, the Qur’an uses it in this sense in Sūrat al-Aḥzāb 33:53, where Allah tells the Companions to speak to the Prophet’s ﷺ wives “from behind a screen (ḥijāb)”. However, the Qur’an uses two other words for a woman’s covering: the khimār (head-covering) and the jilbāb (outer garment). Today, Muslims use the word hijab for both the headscarf and the whole code of modest dress. Moreover, modesty in Islam starts with men: Allah first commands believing men to lower their gaze and guard their chastity (An-Nūr 24:30), and only then addresses believing women.

The Quranic foundation

The obligation of hijab in Islam rests on two foundational verses: Surah An-Nūr 24:31 and Surah Al-Aḥzāb 33:59.

Surah An-Nūr 24:31: "And tell the believing women to lower their gaze and guard their chastity and not expose their adornment except that which appears thereof, and to draw their head-coverings (khumur) over their breast-fronts (juyūb)..."

Surah Al-Aḥzāb 33:59: "O Prophet, tell your wives and your daughters and the women of the believers to draw their outer garments (jalābīb) over themselves. That is more suitable that they will be known and not be abused."

Together, these verses set out two distinct commands: the head-covering (khimār) drawn over the chest, and the outer garment (jilbāb) drawn over the body. As a result, the mainstream Sunni position on hijab in Islam is a covering of the head and the whole body in public. In most schools, the face and hands may stay uncovered. However, some classical scholars held that a woman should also cover her face.

Hadith on Hijab in Islam: What the Sunnah Adds

The Sunnah shows how the first Muslim women understood these verses. For example, ʿĀʾishah (RA) said that when Allah revealed “let them draw their head-coverings over their chests”, the early Muhājir women tore their wraps and covered themselves with them (Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī 4758). In addition, the Prophet ﷺ described “women who are clothed yet naked” among the people of the Fire (Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim 2128). Scholars understand this as clothing that is thin or tight. Moreover, in a narration about Asmāʾ bint Abī Bakr, the Prophet ﷺ pointed to the face and hands as what a woman may show (Sunan Abī Dāwūd 4104). Abū Dāwūd himself noted a break in its chain; however, many scholars accept it through supporting reports. Above all, he ﷺ said: “Modesty is part of faith” (Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī 24).

Conditions of Hijab: What It Actually Requires

The rules of hijab in Islam, according to the mainstream position across the four Sunni schools:

• Cover the entire body except the face and hands

• Use clothing that does not cling to the body shape

• Use clothing that is opaque (not transparent)

• Not imitate male dress — the Prophet ﷺ cursed women who imitate men (Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī 5885)

• Not be ostentatious in style

• Not be perfumed in a way that would attract attention in public — the Prophet ﷺ warned strongly against this (Sunan al-Nasāʾī 5126)

Some classical scholars hold the face-covering (niqāb) to be obligatory (particularly within the Hanbalī and Shāfiʿī traditions), while others consider it recommended but not obligatory (particularly within the Hanafī and Mālikī traditions). However, the mainstream contemporary British Muslim position generally holds the niqāb as recommended in some contexts but not strictly required.

Why Hijab in Islam Still Applies Today

Allah revealed the hijab verses in the middle of the Madinan period, around 5–6 AH. At that time, Madinah was a mixed community, and Muslim women were becoming more visible as the community grew. According to the classical commentators, some hypocrites harassed women in the streets at night. Therefore, as Al-Aḥzāb 33:59 itself states, the outer garment made believing women “known” so that they would “not be abused”.

However, the command did not end with that context. The principle of modesty in dress, combined with a visible Muslim identity, applies directly to modern Britain. Of course, styles vary by culture: a Senegalese hijab looks different from a Pakistani British style, and both differ from an Arab woman’s style. Nevertheless, the principle of modesty in Islam, and the importance of hijab within it, stays constant.

Why Muslim women wear hijab: the importance of hijab in daily life

When British Muslim women explain why they wear hijab, the same reasons come up again and again:

• Religious obligation — the Quranic command is the foundational reason most women cite

• Personal spiritual discipline — an act of worship (ʿibādah) that builds taqwa and daily mindfulness of Allah

• Identity and visibility — proudly Muslim in a non-Muslim majority context

• Protection from objectification — refusing to let others judge them mainly on physical appearance

• Family and community continuity — connection to one's mother, grandmother, heritage

• Solidarity — particularly in periods of heightened Islamophobia, hijab becomes a public declaration of faith despite the cost

Of course, different women weigh these reasons differently. Moreover, the same woman may weigh them differently at different stages of her life. None of this changes the underlying religious command; however, it does enrich the lived experience of it.

The British Muslim hijab realities

For British Muslim women, hijab in Islam meets daily life in very practical places. As a result, families often ask the same questions about work, school, sport and ID. Here is the current picture in the UK:

How British Muslim parents should approach hijab with their daughters

1. Build the why before the what

A girl who understands why hijab matters will choose it differently from one whose parents simply told her to wear it without explanation. Therefore, from age 9-10, begin substantive conversations about the Quranic command, the prophetic precedent, and the dignity it represents.

2. Lead by example

If you (the mother) wear hijab consistently and confidently, your daughter has the strongest possible model. However, if you wear it inconsistently or apologetically, your daughter will absorb that ambivalence.

3. Don't make it forced

Hijab becomes obligatory at puberty, and parents carry a real responsibility to guide their children (At-Taḥrīm 66:6). However, harsh pressure in the early teen years often backfires. Instead, wise teaching, warmth and a good example usually lead to genuine conviction.

4. Honour the choice when made

When a daughter chooses to begin wearing hijab, the family should celebrate it. For example, some British Muslim families hold a small celebration (a "hijab day") when a daughter takes the step.

5. Support through the difficult moments

British Muslim girls wearing hijab face documented harassment at school, in public, and online. They need their family's active support — not just verbal but practical (changing schools if needed, formal complaints to authorities, legal action where appropriate).

6. Don't pressure other people's daughters

Each family makes its own decisions about timing and approach. In addition, avoid public commentary on whether other Muslim women in your community are "properly" covered. Moreover, the Quranic prohibition of backbiting applies here (Al-Ḥujurāt 49:12).

Is Hijab in Islam Compulsory? And What About Women Who Don’t Wear It?

The classical scholarly position is clear: hijab is obligatory, so leaving it is a sin, because it goes against a clear Quranic command. However, it does not place a woman outside Islam. In fact, many British Muslim women don’t wear hijab at all, wear it inconsistently, or begin wearing it later in life. Therefore, the Islamic response is to keep your own practice without judging other women. Above all, model the practice with kindness, in a way that may, over time, encourage others to consider it.

Common Misconceptions About Hijab in Islam

“Hijab is oppressive”

Many people assume that men impose hijab on women. However, the Qur’an addresses modesty to men first (An-Nūr 24:30), and it speaks to women directly as believers, not through their husbands or fathers. Indeed, Allah revealed Sūrat al-Mujādilah in answer to the complaint of one woman, Khawlah bint Thaʿlabah.

In fact, many British Muslim women choose hijab despite social pressure, not because of it. Moreover, the Equality Act 2010 protects that choice in the UK. Therefore, for these women, hijab is an act of freedom: they decide who sees them, and how.

“Hijab is just a cultural tradition”

Some argue that hijab is an Arab custom rather than a religious duty. However, the command comes from the Qur’an itself (24:31 and 33:59), and the female Companions applied it immediately (Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī 4758). Of course, culture shapes the style: Malaysian, Somali and Turkish Muslim women wear hijab very differently. Nevertheless, the obligation itself crosses every culture, because it comes from revelation, not from any one people. Even the Qur’an honours Maryam, the mother of ʿĪsā (AS), for guarding her chastity (At-Taḥrīm 66:12).

“Hijab holds women back”

Another myth says that hijab keeps women out of education and work. In reality, hijab-wearing women in Britain work as doctors, teachers, lawyers, police officers and athletes. Moreover, Islam requires knowledge from every Muslim, man or woman: “Seeking knowledge is an obligation upon every Muslim” (Sunan Ibn Mājah 224). In Islamic history, women such as ʿĀʾishah (RA) taught leading Companions. Therefore, hijab and ambition have always gone together.

Conclusion

Hijab in Islam is far more than a piece of cloth. It is a clear Quranic command, a daily act of worship, and a visible sign of faith. For British Muslim families, the goal is not only that daughters wear hijab, but that they understand it and love it. Therefore, build the why, lead by example, and support them through every challenge. To study the hijab verses with a qualified female teacher, book a free trial lesson with Eaalim.