Is the Hijab an obligation?

All perfect praise be to Allah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allah, and that Muhammad is His slave and Messenger.

Hijaab (a garment that covers the woman’s whole body) is an obligation for the Muslim woman. Allah Says (what means): {… and to draw their veils all over Juyoobihinnah (i.e. their bodies, faces, necks and bosoms, etc.} [Quran 24:31]

It is prohibited for a woman, who believes in Allah and the Last Day, to uncover a little part of her body to non-Mahram men (i.e. those to whom marriage is permissible).

Hijaab should meet the following conditions:

1- It should cover the woman’s whole body.
2- It should be thick enough.
3- It should not be transparent.
4- It should be loose.
5- It should not be decorated as to attract lookers.
6- It should not be similar to the dress of men or the dress of unbelieving women.

By the way, covering the whole body is not only better but also shows the best commitment to Islam.

For more benefit on the evidence for Hijaab and its conditions, please refer to Fataawa 81554, 83765, 83702, 81494, 354259 and 83033.

Allah knows best.