The Conceptual and Evidential Study of the Words Zīnatahunna and Mā Ẓahara in Sūrat al-Nūr and Critique of Views

Document Type : Original Article

Author

Assistant Professor, Imam Khomeini Educational and Research Institute

10.22081/jqr.2023.66923.3797

Abstract

The words zīnatahunna and mā ẓahara in verse 31 of Sūrat al-Nūr are among the pivotal and role-creating words in the discussions of ḥijāb (Islamic dress code), positions to be covered, and positions of exception, which due to some conceptual and evidential ambiguities, have caused different views on the obligation and non-obligation of ḥijāb, positions of mandatory coverage and its exceptions. With the aim of explaining the concept and instances of these two words, the present article has studied them with an analytical-interpretive method and has come to the conclusion that although the word zīnat (charms) lexically means accidental (‘āriḍī) charms, but in the Qur'anic usages, it refers to both essential and accidental charms and it is applied to the female body, too. Furtheremore, what is meant by mā ẓahara minhā (what is outward) is charms or ornaments that are not normally and naturally covered, not organs that appear accidentally and involuntarily, and not especially the lower part of the legs or the clothes or organs that are visible in the original creation. Therefore, the instances of zīnatahunna (women's charms) are: women's body, jewelry, clothing, and cosmetics. And the instances of mā ẓahara minhā are: face, hands and makeup applied on them, which are exempted from the prohibition of outward expression (iẓhār).

Keywords

Files

Share

How to cite

Statistics