The evolution of the concept of women's religious veil in the eyes of Quran scholars of the first five centuries of the Hijri

Document Type : مقاله پژوهشی

Authors

1 Associate Professor, Department of Quranic and Hadith Sciences, Faculty of Theology and Islamic Studies, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Mashhad, Iran.

2 PhD Student, Department of Quranic and Hadith Sciences, Faculty of Theology and Islamic Studies, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Mashhad, Iran.

3 Professor, Department of Quranic and Hadith Sciences, Faculty of Theology and Islamic Studies, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Mashhad, Iran.

10.22084/qss.2025.31423.1163

Abstract

"Satr Shar'i" (women's legitimate covering) is a foundational yet complex concept in Islamic culture that has been a subject of significant challenge and diverse interpretation by scholars since the dawn of Islam. This research, employing a history of concepts approach through the analysis of historical reports, examines the evolution in the understanding and explanation of women's legitimate covering by Quranic scholars of the first five Hijri centuries. The main objective is to identify key concepts related to the verses on covering (An-Nur: 31, 60; Al-Ahzab: 59), recognize their semantic and interpretive changes, and analyze influential factors, including the Quranic text, Prophetic tradition, the practices of the Companions, and socio-legal contexts.

The findings indicate that in the first and second centuries, the concept of satr primarily emphasized social distinction between free women and slave girls and the reform of the basic head covering (khimār). In the third century, these concepts were consolidated and systematized, entering jurisprudential discussions. The fourth and fifth centuries marked the maturation of religious schools, witnessing the institutionalization of the jilbāb (outer garment), an expanded allowance for displaying conventional adornments like the face and hands, and emerging interpretive distinctions between Sunnis and Shias on such permissions. Mystical interpretations also added spiritual dimensions to the concept of adornment (zīnah).

The research concludes that the notion of women's legitimate covering has not been static; rather, it is the result of a dynamic interaction between text, tradition, socio-historical conditions, and intellectual schools. Understanding this evolution is crucial for explaining the roots of the contemporary discourse on Islamic dress.

Keywords

Social Studies of the Quran
Volume 4, Issue 2
February 2026
Pages 107-141

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History

  • Receive Date: 22 August 2025
  • Revise Date: 20 September 2025
  • Accept Date: 20 October 2025

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