Obligation Of Khimar For Elder Women Making It Compulsory
وعلیکم السلام That’s a good question and one that Dr. Amir Gazdar raises in his book. I would have adopted Dr Gazdar’s view, the view you too are proposing, had it not been for the position of وليضربن بخمرهن على جيوبهن. It is sandwiched between لا يبدين زينتهن. And that to me is strong evidence that the point of covering the جيب was ornaments. We also have to be careful with the word جيب. Usually, it is glossed as chest which it doesn’t mean. It actually means the opening of a shirt from where you enter your head. I don’t know whether we have information on the clothing of ancient Arabia to know whether women generally wore deep necked shirts (I don’t know whether this is the right term for it or whether I just came up with it 😅. Also, it isn’t that I don’t know of the reports we have. I am aware of them. I just don’t trust them yet.) Also, I do think it would be better if women of this era wore a shawl over their chests but that would be due to the previous order which was يحفظن فروجهن and because modern dressing seems to be form fitting. The chest is still outlined in the clothes worn. And if we consider the chest included in فروجهن, then I don’t think women would be comfortable if other parts included in فروجهن were outlined as such, so I don’t think the chest should be outlined either. At least, that is where I’m at. But is the Quran saying this very thing with وليضربن بخمرهن على جيوبهن? Is it clarifying what would otherwise need to be inferred from يحفظن فروجهن? I am not yet sure due to the wording and arrangement of the sentence. So, I have also asked a similar question here on the forum but I think you have worded it better.