Surah Al-Ahzab 33:55

Relatives before Whom a Woman does not need to observe Hijab

When Allah commands women to observe Hijab in front of men to whom they are not related, He explains who are the relatives before whom they do not need to observe Hijab. This is like the exceptions stated in Surat An-Nur, where Allah says:

(And not to reveal their adornment except to their husbands, or their fathers, or their husbands' fathers, or their sons, or their husbands' sons, or their brothers, or their brothers' sons, or their sisters' sons, or their women, or their right hand possessions, or the Tabi`in among men who do not have desire, or small children who are not aware of the nakedness of women.) (24:31). The Ayah contains more detail than this, which we have already discussed in the Tafsir of the Ayah and do not need to repeat here. Ibn Jarir recorded that Ash-Sha`bi and `Ikrimah said concerning the Ayah,

(It is no sin on them before their fathers...) I said, "What about the paternal uncle and the maternal uncle -- why are they not mentioned" He said: "Because they may describe her to their sons, so it is disliked for a woman to remove her covering in front of her paternal uncle or maternal uncle."

(or their own women,) means that they do not have to observe Hijab in front of other believing women.

(or their (female) slaves.) Sa`id bin Al-Musayyib said: "This means female slaves only." This was recorded by Ibn Abi Hatim.

(And (O ladies) have Taqwa of Allah. Verily, Allah is Ever All-Witness over everything.) means, and fear Him in private and in public, for He witnesses all things and nothing is hidden from Him, so think of the One Who is always watching.

Tidak ada dosa atas istri-istri Nabi. untuk berjumpa tanpa memakai tabir dengan bapak-bapak mereka, baik bapak kandung maupun bapak sesusuan, anak-anak mereka, baik yang seketurunan maupun yang sesusuan, saudara-saudara mereka, atau anak saudara-saudaranya, baik laki-laki maupun perempuan, perempuan-perempuan muslimat yang dekat maupun yang jauh, atau hamba sahaya yang mereka miliki, baik laki-laki maupun perempuan. Adanya hijab di antara mereka itu akan menimbulkan banyak kesulitan karena mereka selalu berkhidmat dalam urusan rumah tangga. Tetapi, yang perlu diingat adalah agar selalu bertakwa kepada Allah untuk mengikuti perintah-Nya dan menjauhi larangan-Nya, karena Allah selalu menyaksikan segala sesuatu yang mereka perbuat.

Orang-orang yang disebutkan dalam ayat ini, yaitu ayah para istri Nabi., anak-anak mereka, saudara-saudara mereka, keponakan atau anak saudara mereka, baik saudara laki-laki maupun saudara perempuan, atau perempuan-perempuan lain dan juga budak mereka adalah mahram yaitu orang-orang yang tidak boleh menikahi mereka.

Adapun orang-orang selain tersebut di atas yaitu yang bukan mahram tidak boleh menemui istri-istri Nabi. tanpa hijab. Hal ini untuk menjaga kehormatan istri-istri Nabi. yang merupakan ummahatul mu'minin.