وَقُل لِّلْمُؤْمِنَـٰتِ يَغْضُضْنَ مِنْ أَبْصَـٰرِهِنَّ وَيَحْفَظْنَ فُرُوجَهُنَّ وَلَا يُبْدِينَ زِينَتَهُنَّ إِلَّا مَا ظَهَرَ مِنْهَا ۖ وَلْيَضْرِبْنَ بِخُمُرِهِنَّ عَلَىٰ جُيُوبِهِنَّ ۖ وَلَا يُبْدِينَ زِينَتَهُنَّ إِلَّا لِبُعُولَتِهِنَّ أَوْ ءَابَآئِهِنَّ أَوْ ءَابَآءِ بُعُولَتِهِنَّ أَوْ أَبْنَآئِهِنَّ أَوْ أَبْنَآءِ بُعُولَتِهِنَّ أَوْ إِخْوَٰنِهِنَّ أَوْ بَنِىٓ إِخْوَٰنِهِنَّ أَوْ بَنِىٓ أَخَوَٰتِهِنَّ أَوْ نِسَآئِهِنَّ أَوْ مَا مَلَكَتْ أَيْمَـٰنُهُنَّ أَوِ ٱلتَّـٰبِعِينَ غَيْرِ أُو۟لِى ٱلْإِرْبَةِ مِنَ ٱلرِّجَالِ أَوِ ٱلطِّفْلِ ٱلَّذِينَ لَمْ يَظْهَرُوا۟ عَلَىٰ عَوْرَٰتِ ٱلنِّسَآءِ ۖ وَلَا يَضْرِبْنَ بِأَرْجُلِهِنَّ لِيُعْلَمَ مَا يُخْفِينَ مِن زِينَتِهِنَّ ۚ وَتُوبُوٓا۟ إِلَى ٱللَّهِ جَمِيعًا أَيُّهَ ٱلْمُؤْمِنُونَ لَعَلَّكُمْ تُفْلِحُونَ 31
Translations
And tell the believing women to reduce [some] of their vision and guard their private parts and not expose their adornment except that which [necessarily] appears thereof and to wrap [a portion of] their headcovers over their chests and not expose their adornment [i.e., beauty] except to their husbands, their fathers, their husbands' fathers, their sons, their husbands' sons, their brothers, their brothers' sons, their sisters' sons, their women, that which their right hands possess [i.e., slaves], or those male attendants having no physical desire, or children who are not yet aware of the private aspects of women. And let them not stamp their feet to make known what they conceal of their adornment. And turn to Allāh in repentance, all of you, O believers, that you might succeed.
Transliteration
Wa qul lil-mu'minati yaghdudhna min absarihinna wa yahfazna furujahunna wa la yubdina zinatahunna illa ma zahara minha wa al-yadribna bi-khumurihinna ala juyubihinna wa la yubdina zinatahunna illa li-bu'ulatihinna aw aba'ihinna aw aba'i bu'ulatihinna aw abna'ihinna aw abnai bu'ulatihinna aw ikhwanihinna aw bani ikhwanihinna aw bani akhawatihinna aw nisa'ihinna aw ma malakat aymanuhunna aw al-tabi'ina ghayra uli al-irba min al-rijali aw al-tifl alladhina lam yazharu ala awarat al-nisa wa la yadribna bi-arjulihinna li-yu'lama ma yukhfina min zinatihinna wa tubu ila Allah jami'an ayyuha al-mu'minun la'allakum tuflichun.
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah establishes comprehensive guidelines for modesty and chastity for believing women, commanding them to lower their gaze, guard their private parts, and conceal their adornment except what naturally appears. According to classical scholars like Al-Qurtubi and Ibn Kathir, the command to strike their garments (khimar) over their bosoms refers to covering the chest and neck area, while the specified categories of male relatives are those with whom women may appear without full hijab due to the mahram (guardian) relationship or the man's lack of sexual interest. The prohibition against striking their feet emphasizes that even indirect displays of hidden ornaments (such as ankle bracelets) should be avoided to prevent drawing attention to concealed beauty.
Revelation Context
Surah An-Nur (Chapter 24) was revealed in Medina and deals extensively with issues of modesty, chastity, and moral conduct in the community. This ayah specifically addresses the growing Muslim community's need for clear guidance on appropriate social interaction and dress, particularly as the Muslim state expanded and social mixing became more common in Medina.
Related Hadiths
Sahih Muslim reports that Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) stated: 'When the verse about jalabib (outer garments) was revealed, the women of Medina came out wrapped in their garments.' Additionally, the hadith in Sahih Bukhari describes the Prophet's (peace be upon him) instruction that women should cover themselves during prayer and in public, emphasizing the practical application of this ayah.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches that Islamic modesty is not merely about external appearance but encompasses a conscious guard over one's gaze, heart, and conduct, reflecting an internal commitment to purity and respect. For modern believers, it emphasizes that dignity and honor are achieved through balanced adherence to divine guidance while maintaining awareness of the spirit behind the law—protecting both individual virtue and communal wholesomeness.