Does 'Believing Women' In 33:59 Include Believing Slave Women?
Slave girls were not subject to this particular issue, which is why they were not addressed in this verse. It was culturally acceptable for them to interact with strangers, and such conversations were considered customary. In contrast, free women were not expected to engage in casual conversations in public pathways. Matters concerning slave girls have been addressed in other verses, such as 24:33. At that time, in the prevailing cultural context, slave girls were not permitted to wear the Hijab, as it served to distinguish free women from them. However, this distinction later became unnecessary. If wearing a Hijab can protect them from harassment, they are permitted to adopt it.