Today , The hijab, the iconic Muslim garb, has quite the historical makeover story.

Roll back to
the medieval and early Islamic days, and face veiling was the real deal.For example, the wives
of the Prophet and caliphs covered their faces, rigorously upholding the era's modesty
standards ( epitome of haya ) , Back then, a veil wasn’t just a piece of cloth; it was a verse in the
poetry of modesty.

The historic trajectory is intriguing , During the Umayyad Caliphate (661-750 CE) based in
Damascus and the Abbasid Caliphate (750-1258 CE) with its capital in Baghdad, face veiling
was a prominent practice. Elite women were secluded from public life to protect and maintain
family honor, as women were considered the custodians of dignity during that era. This broader
practice, known as pardah, kept women away from the male gaze to ensure haya
(modesty).Veiling served as a social distinction and a marker of wealth and nobility. The wives of
caliphs and those in Caliphal courts adopted this practice, with elites particularly invested in
upholding strict codes of conduct and modesty. During this period, elites, as role models of piety
and modesty, adhered strictly to Quranic teachings. Elites as role models by veiling their faces,
they set an example of modesty for others to follow. Overall, this practice was primarily
observed by the middle and upper strata of these Islamic societies.

The practice of face veiling among elite women is well-documented across various sources,
including historical records, literature, and art. For instance, the 10th-century Arab historian
Al-Masudi, in his work "Muruj al-Dhahab," describes the seclusion and veiling of elite women.
The 14th-century Moroccan traveler Ibn Battuta, in his travelogue, noted the prevalence of face
veiling among elites, particularly in cities like Damascus and Baghdad.Moreover, the poetry of
Abu Nuwas, a prominent poet of the Abbasid era, often highlights the beauty and modesty of
veiled women, emphasizing their piety. Persian miniatures from the Safavid period, depicting
scenes from Umayyad and Abbasid courtly life, frequently show women with veiled faces. Well
not to mention , the collection of Middle Eastern folktales known as "The Arabian Nights" ( one
thousand one nights ) also illustrates the practice of face veiling among elite women.

You might be wondering , what about the lower-class women? Is modesty just a fancy concept
for the elites? Well, nope you see For many families, women's labor was crucial for survival and
financial well-being. These women were out in the fields, crafting, trading , basically keeping the
local economy afloat. Veiling their faces would have turned them into blindfolded jugglers ,
stumbling around instead of getting work done. So, practically to veil their face would impede
their vision and such an attire would restrict theit movement . Modesty was still in the game, just
in a more down-to-earth way. In rural and lower-class settings, almost everyone chipped in with
agriculture or craft production. The goal was to keep their dignity intact and dodge unwanted
attention, so they opted for loose-fitting clothes instead of veils.And not to forget the economic
constraints. Luxurious veils made from fine fabrics with intricate designs were about as
affordable as a kidney joy to a 6 yo. Lower-class women had more pressing things to spend
their money on, like food and shelter. So, modesty had to be practical and budget-friendly, and
adaptive.

So, what did the women of the lower strata wear? . Well , they typically drew a veil ( loose it may
be ) over their heads, covering their neck and hair. They wore garments like the Qamis or
thawb, which were long, loose-fitting dresses that covered the body from shoulders to ankles ,
they often wore a Jilbab or Abaya, which served as an extra outer layer over the thawb for more
covering . lower garments included Sirwal, which were loose-fitting trousers worn under the
thawb. For tasks like cooking or other messy activities, women often wore aprons or additional
overlays. Despite practical needs, modesty remained a key principle in their clothing choices.

What's the difference you may ask , Is veiling the face that mandatory? Well yes , Qur'an [ 33:53
] allah says "And when you ask [wives of the prophet] for something, ask them from behind a
curtain. That is purer for your hearts and their hearts." , this verse is often cited to signify the
importance of a complete veil , many scholars and the hanbali school of thought place
significant weight on the practice of early Muslim community and wives of the prophet who
veiled their faces , This historical precedent is seen as a model for muslim women to follow ,
now get back to the verse 53 of surah ahzab , Allah has even warned the wives of the prophet
to converse through a curtain , ( WIVES OF THE PROPHET ) the benchmark of modesty.
Muslim women must look up at the wives of the rightly guided caliphs and the wives of prophet
to derive their concept of modesty rather some hijabi with a corset on Instagram reels.

Even , Ibn taymiyyah , one of the most prominent and influential islamic jurists to have ever lived
had similar opinions , in his exegesis He interprets Qur'an [ 24:31 ] , [ 33:53 ] as mandating the
veiling of a woman's face , cites hadiths where prophet's wives veiled their faces , He saw there
actions as a model for all muslim women to follow , In his work "Al hijab al Mar'ah wa - libasuha
fi al salah" he states that the face holds significant attraction and it's exposure can lead to fitnah
, therefore it's obligatory for women to cover their faces in presence of na mehram. in his work
"majmu al fatawa" [ a book referred by most of the salafists ] ( volume 22 ) he asserts that this
ruling is based on the principle to prevent (fitnah) and maintaing ( haya ) , the face is considered
as part of the awrah and must be veiled echoing similar viewpoints as Imam Ahmad ibn hanbal (
780-855 ).

Apart from historical accounts , in sahih bukhari ( vol 1 , book 4 , hadith 148 )

Narrated by Aisha (RA): "When the verse 'That they should draw their veils over their
Juyubihinna (bodies, faces, necks and bosoms)' was revealed, they (the women) cut their waist
sheets at the edges and covered their faces with the cut pieces." ( Indicating wives of the
prophet adopted the face veil in response to the Quranic command )

Aisha (RA) narrated: "Riders would pass us while we were with the Messenger of Allah in the
state of Ihram. When they came near, each of us would draw her outer garment from her head
over her face. When they passed by, we would uncover our faces again." ( Sunan Abu Dawood
, book 10 , hadith 1833 ) highlighting the importance of veiling the faces in presence of na
mehram

One may ask, what about the hijab? In today's world, where the hijab intersects with the realms
of fashion, its significance has become somewhat superficial. The blend of modesty and fashion
has diluted its connotations of (haya) . In the early 20th century, this trend of adopting the
modern modified version of hijab gained popularity, even among the elites who gradually
abandoned their stringent clothing and relinquished purdah altogether, forsaking the sanctity of
modesty.The hijab, in the modern context, often appears as merely a piece of cloth tightly
wrapped around the head, with the essence of haya eroded. The core concept of haya has
been overshadowed , The profound connection to modesty that it once symbolized has, for
many, become a relic of the past.
Now, anyone with a bit more than a peanut for a brain might ask, why are women always the
ones being grossly sexualized? Why do men seem to need us to cover up to control

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themselves? Fair point, and here's the thing , modesty is mutual , such an element of surprise
?

In Qur'an [24:30], Allah says, "Tell the believing men to lower their gaze and guard their private
parts. That is purer for them. Indeed, Allah is acquainted with what they do." The very next
verse [24:31] tells women to do the same. Ibn Qayyim, a student of Ibn Taymiyyah, in his work
"Al-Fawa'id," emphasizes that when a man lets his gaze and thoughts wander, he loses his
modesty.
not to forget, there are clothing restrictions for men too. In Islam, upholding modesty is a
two-way street. Only with this mutual respect can society function smoothly under the principles
of nizam-e-mustafa. So, the burden of modesty isn't just on women; it's a shared responsibility!!!

In my opinion , Attire has the least to do with anyone's modesty . dude trust me I've seen
women covered in hijab do way worse than those who dress fairly casual , My mother doesn't
don a burkha nor any form of islamic attire lol , yet she's the most pious i have ever seen , its
never about the attire modesty as a concept resides within , cloth may cover but intentions lay

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bare for ( haya ) is in the soul and not the garment's lace , Adopt purdah within yourself rather
than inheriting it like an heirloom The sanctimonious attitude of some who wear hijab and
claim moral superiority is so off-putting istg . The assumption that wearing a hijab inherently

wrapping a cloth around your head? 😭

elevates one's moral standing is just funny imo. Such a holier-than-thou demeanor for just
.