سورة النور

Imam Sadiq (peace be upon him): Halabi narrates: Imam Sadiq (peace be upon him) recited the verse: أَن یَضَعْنَ ثِیَابَهُنَّ [that they lay aside their garments] and said: "What is meant by garments is the headscarf and the outer cloak." I asked: "In front of whoever it may be, is the removing of the hijab permitted?" He said: "In front of whoever it may be, [on the condition] that she is not adorned with ornaments, and if she does not remove her hijab it is better for her."

Imam Sadiq (peace be upon him): Hariz narrates: Imam Sadiq (peace be upon him) recited this verse: أَن یَضَعْنَ ثِیَابَهُنَّ [that they lay aside their garments] and said: "What is meant by garments is the headscarf and the outer cloak, on the condition that the woman is elderly."

Imam Baqir (peace be upon him): Muhammad ibn Muslim narrates: Imam Baqir (peace be upon him) was asked about the verse: وَ الْقَواعِدُ مِنَ النِّساءِ اللَّاتِی لا یَرْجُونَ نِکاحاً [And (as for) women advanced in years who do not hope for a marriage], as to which garment it is that elderly women may take off. That noble one said: "What is meant is the outer cloak (jilbab)."

Imam Sadiq (peace be upon him): Muhammad ibn Abu Hamza narrates: Imam Sadiq (peace be upon him) said: "As for what Allah has said: وَ الْقَواعِدُ مِنَ النِّساءِ اللَّاتِی لا یَرْجُونَ نِکاحاً فَلَیْسَ عَلَیْهِنَّ جُناحٌ أَنْ یَضَعْنَ ثِیابَهُنَّ [And (as for) women advanced in years who do not hope for a marriage, it is no sin for them if they put off their clothes] — what is meant by the garment is only the outer cloak (jilbab)."

Imam Sadiq (peace be upon him): Abu Sabbah al-Kinani said: I asked Imam Sadiq (peace be upon him): "What kind of garment can elderly women take off and put aside?" He said: "The outer cloak (jilbab); and if she is a slave-woman, there is no sin upon her in taking off her headscarf."

Ali ibn Ibrahim (may Allah have mercy on him): This verse is about elderly women who no longer menstruate and have no hope of marriage; these women may take off [their outer] garment.

Imam Rida (peace be upon him): Looking at the hair of women who are veiled on account of their husbands, and of other women besides them, is forbidden, because it stirs up men and this arousal calls to corruption and to entering into what is not lawful and not becoming. The same applies to what is similar to hair, that is, their other private parts, except for what Allah the Exalted has said: وَ الْقَواعِدُ مِنَ النِّساءِ اللَّاتِی لا یَرْجُونَ نِکاحاً فَلَیْسَ عَلَیْهِنَّ جُناحٌ أَنْ یَضَعْنَ ثِیابَهُنَّ غَیْرَ مُتَبَرِّجاتٍ بِزِینَةٍ [And (as for) women advanced in years who do not hope for a marriage, it is no sin for them if they put off their clothes without displaying their ornaments] — that is, except for the outer cloak (jilbab); in that case there is no objection to looking at the hair of such women.

Ali ibn Ibrahim: وَ الْقَواعِدُ مِنَ النِّساءِ اللَّاتِی لا یَرْجُونَ نِکاحاً فَلَیْسَ عَلَیْهِنَّ جُناحٌ أَنْ یَضَعْنَ ثِیابَهُنَّ غَیْرَ مُتَبَرِّجاتٍ بِزِینَةٍ [And (as for) women advanced in years who do not hope for a marriage, it is no sin for them if they put off their clothes without displaying their ornaments]; it was revealed concerning aged women who have lost hope of menstruation and marriage, and [based on this verse] they may put off their outer garments [provided that they do not adorn themselves]. Then He said: وَ أَنْ یَسْتَعْفِفْنَ خَیْرٌ لَهُنَّ [and if they restrain themselves it is better for them], meaning that if they do not display themselves before [non-mahram] men [it is better for them].

Imam Sadiq (peace be upon him): It is narrated from Imam Sadiq (peace be upon him) that he said: "A woman came to the Prophet (peace be upon him and his family) and asked him about the right of the husband over the wife." The Prophet (peace be upon him and his family) answered her. That woman said: "What is the right of the wife over the husband?" The Prophet (peace be upon him and his family) said: "That he clothe her nakedness, feed her from hunger, and if she sins, that he forgive her." The woman said: "Does the wife have no other right over the husband besides this?" He said: "No." That woman said: "By Allah, I will never marry." Then she wanted to leave. The Prophet (peace be upon him and his family) said: "Return," and that woman returned, and he said to her: Allah the Mighty and Majestic says: أَن یَسْتَعْفِفْنَ خَیْرٌ لَّهنَّ [and if they restrain themselves it is better for them].

Ali ibn Ibrahim: وَ أَن یَسْتَعْفِفْنَ خَیْرٌ لهُنَّ [and if they restrain themselves it is better for them], meaning that they should not display themselves before men.