The Veil In Islam

Misconception no. 1: Veil is an Arab culture dress, not religious.

Answer to this Misconception: Prophet's wives and other believing women did not use to veil before the verses of veil were revealed. This is enough proof that veil is religious, not cultural.

Sahih Bukhari, Volume 1, Book 4, Number 148: Narrated 'Aisha:
The wives of the Prophet used to go to Al-Manasi, a vast open place (near Baqia at Medina) to answer the call of nature at night. 'Umar used to say to the Prophet "Let your wives be veiled," but Allah's Apostle did not do so. One night Sauda bint Zam'a the wife of the Prophet went out at 'Isha' time and she was a tall lady.'Umar addressed her and said, "I have recognized you, O Sauda." He said so, as he desired eagerly that the verses of veil. So Allah revealed the verses of veil.

Misconception no. 2: No  cover up is necessary in front of a mahram (an unmarriageable kin) at home.

Answer to this Misconception: You are not allowed to reveal your adornment to the people other than unmarriageable kins. You are allowed to reveal your adornment to the unmarriageable kins at home except what is apparent of it and covering your breasts with your head scarf.

[Sura Nur 24:31]"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 extend their headcovers over their breasts and not expose their adornment 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, 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 Allah in repentance, all of you, O believers, that you might succeed."

Misconception no. 3: Prophet's  wives are not like other believing women, so dress codes for prophet's wives are different from other believing women.

Answer to this Misconception: God gives both prophet's wives and other believing women the same dress code [when outdoors]. Therefore, it is crystal clear that the dress code for prophet's wives is not different from other believing women.

[Ahzab 33:59] "Oh prophet ! Say to your wives, your daughters, and believing women to veil themselves with their garments [when outdoors]. That is more suitable that they should be known and not be abused. God is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful."

Misconception no. 4: God doesn't order to cover the entire body including face when in public.

Answer to this Misconception: In 33:59, god orders prophet's wives, daughters and believing women to cover themselves with garments when outdoors. How much body should the garments cover? Muhammad (pbuh) understands the Quran best after god. If you disagree to this point, you are not a muslim. Quran is the textbook and Prophet (pbuh) is the teacher. God sent the best of human beings Muhammad (pbuh) to teach us by example according to the Quran. Quran says to pray, Prophet (pbuh) teaches us how to pray. quran says to veil, Prophet (pbuh) teaches us how to veil. Prophet (pbuh) is the best example to follow for believing men and Prophet's wives are the best example to follow for believing women. Sahih hadith of Bukhari clearly state that Prophet's wives and believing women covered their entire bodies including faces (when outdoors) under the rule of Prophet (pbuh), yet some hypocrites among us deny the truth. let them be humiliated in this life and hereafter.

Sahih Bukhari, Volume 1, Book 8, Hadith Number 368, Narrated by 'Aisha (RA): Allah's Apostle used to offer the Fajr prayer and some believing women covered with their veiling sheets used to attend the Fajr prayer with him and then they would return to their homes unrecognized.

Sahih Bukhari, Volume 5, Book 59, Number 462: Narrated 'Aisha: "....He (Safwan bin Al-Muattal As-Sulami Adh Dhakwani) recognized me on seeing me as he had seen me before the order of compulsory veiling (was prescribed). So I woke up when he recited Istirja' (i.e. Inna lillahi wa inna llaihi raji'un) as soon as he recognized me. I veiled my face with my head cover at once...."

Sahih Bukhari Volume 1, Book 8, Number 347 Narrated Um 'Atiya (RA): .... A woman asked, "O Allah's Apostle ' What about one who does not have a veil?" He said, "Let her share the veil of her companion."

Sahih Bukhari, Volume 8, Book 76, Number 572: Anas (RA) narrates from Prophet (pbuh) "....and if  one of the women of Paradise looked at the earth, she would fill the whole space between them (the  earth and the heaven) with light, and would fill whatever is in between them, with perfume, and the veil of her face is better than the whole world and whatever is in it."

Conclusion:

You can uncover your face and hands up to wrists in front of unarriageable kins but you must cover your complete body in front of other men.