This matter requires clarification and explanation. The best place for a woman is her home and this is the place of her responsibilities. This is the foundation and is supported by the evidences of the Qur'an. Furthermore, it is in accordance with the Fitrah upon which the woman was created. As for the evidences from the Book and the Sunnah for this,
Allah, the Exalted, said when addressing the mothers of the believers:
وَقَرْنَ فِي بُيُوتِكُنَّ
And stay in your houses. (Al-Ahzab 33:33)
If there was a necessity that required them to leave their homes, they did so while maintaining good manners, abiding by the conditions of the hijab, and ensuring they did not engage in free mixing with men. This principle is seen in the way the Sahabiyat (RA) conducted themselves. Despite being active in society when needed, they remained steadfast in their adherence to modesty and did not compromise on their hijab.
It is obligatory on all Muslim women to have Taqwa (fearing Allah as He should be feared) and beware of what Allah has declared as Haram (prohibited) for them in regard to showing their adornment in front of other than those specified by Allah.
In the following is advice from Sheikh Salih Al-Fawan and Sheikh Al-Albani (May Allah be pleased with them) in regards to the conditions of the hijab In'Sha'Allāh.
1) To cover the whole of the body except that which is allowed to be uncovered.
And tell the believing women to lower their gaze and protect their private parts from lewd acts and not to show off their beauty except that which is apparent, and to draw their scarves (i.e. the khimaar) over themselves and not to reveal their beauty except to their husbands, their fathers, their husband’s fathers, their sons, their husband’s sons, their brothers or their brother’s sons, or their sister’s sons, or their (Muslim) womenfolk, or the female servants whom they possess, or old male servants who do not possess desire, or small children who have no sense of sexuality. And let them not stamp their feet so as to reveal what they hide of their adornments. And all of you beg Allah to forgive you, O believers, that you may be successful.” (An-Noor 24:31)
2) Wide and not tight (loose):
Concealing the shape of the body which can cause fitnah (temptation). Even if the beauty underneath cannot be seen because the garment is wide and spacious it must also fulfill the condition whereby the shape and size of her bodily parts of the woman are not described. The noble companion Usaamah bin Zaid said,
“Allah’s Messenger gave me a dense Coptic cloth to wear which he was given as a gift from Dihyah al-Kalbee.
So I dressed my wife with it.
So the Messenger said, ‘Why have you not worn that Coptic garment?’
I replied, ‘I clothed my wife with it.’.
So he said, “Command her to wear a garment underneath it, for I fear it will reveal the size of her bones”. (reported by Alhad and Al-Bayhaqee)
3) Free from adornment:
When she is appearing with it in front of men who are not her Mahārim, it should be a simple garment which does not attract attention or fascinate people.” and “do not display yourselves as women did in the days of ˹pre-Islamic˺ ignorance” (Al Ahzab 33:33)
4) It should not be an imitation of men or disbelieving women:
Because of his saying ﷺ “May the curse of Allah be upon the Woman who resemble and imitate men; and men who resemble and imitate women” Sunan Abi Dawud 4097
5) It is thick and not transparent:
The Prophet ﷺ said: There will in the latter part of my nation, women who will be dressed yet undressed. Their heads will resemble the humps of camels. Curse, them, for indeed they are accursed. They will not be admitted to Paradise not smell its fragrance” (Sahih Muslim 2128.)
The meaning of transparent as far as the jilbab is concerned is that the colour of the skin underneath of the garments should not be seen through it.
6) The Jilbab should not be scented or perfumed:
“Any woman who puts on perfume and passes by people so that they can smell her fragrance is a fornicator.” - may provoke men’s desires, and it may also provoke a woman's desire too [i.e., if she uses perfume, her desire may be stirred up]
Narrated by Imam Ahmad (19212) and al-Nasaa’i (5126); classed as hasan by al-Albaani in Saheeh al-Jaami‘.
7) Not worn for fame (to show off and impress people):
The Prophet ﷺ said, “Whoever wears clothing seeking to stand out and seeking fame in this world, Allah will dress him with clothing of humiliation on the Day of Resurrection, then it will be set ablaze.” (Reported by Abu Dawood and Ibn Majah)
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O Allah, make us among those who listen to the words and follow the best of them. Grant us success in obeying You in every matter, and make us among those who adhere to Your commandments and avoid Your prohibitions, Aameen.
