Editing Hijab (section)

===During Muhammad's lifetime===
{{Main|Sīrah|Sunnah}}
[[File:PLATE8CX.jpg|thumb|Early costumes of (Free) [[Arab people|Arab]] women; It can provide clues in understanding some of the Quranic emphases such as [[ma'ruf]] / [[Urf]], as well as sunnah and [[bid'a]]]]
The word ''ḥijāb'' in the Qur'an refers not to women's clothing but to a spatial partition or curtain as in other early Islamic texts in literal usage<ref name="El Guindi" /><ref>{{cite book|last=Ahmed|first=Leila|title=Women and Gender in Islam|year=1992|publisher=Yale University Press|location=New Haven|pages=53–54}}</ref> while in other cases the word denotes separation between deity and mortals (42:51), wrongdoers and righteous (7:46, 41:5), believers and unbelievers (17:45), and [[Nūr (Islam)|light from darkness]] (38:32).<ref name="El Guindi" /> Available evidence suggests that veiling was not introduced into Arabia by [[Muhammad]], but already existed there, particularly in the towns, although it was probably not as widespread as in the neighbouring countries such as Syria and Palestine.<ref name="ahmed55-56">{{cite book |last=Ahmed |first=Leila |title=Women and Gender in Islam |publisher=Yale University Press |year=1992 |location=New Haven |pages=55–56}}</ref> Similarly to the practice among Greeks, Byzantines, Jews, and Assyrians, its use was associated with [[Social stratification|high social status]].<ref name="ahmed55-56" />{{refn|group=nb|It is reported that [[Umar]] prohibited [[history of slavery in the Muslim world|female slaves]] from resembling free women by covering their hair.<ref name="Fadl">{{cite book|author=Khaled Abou El Fadl|title=Speaking in God's Name: Islamic Law, Authority and Women|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=FU4QBwAAQBAJ&pg=PT198|date=1 October 2014|publisher=Oneworld Publications|pages=525–526|isbn=9781780744681}}</ref>}}

The current understanding of hijab can be traced back to the verse in Sura 33:53 which is believed to have been revealed in 627;<ref>{{cite book|last=Aslan|first=Reza|title=No God but God|year=2005|publisher=Random House|isbn=978-1-4000-6213-3|page=[https://archive.org/details/nogodbutgodorigi00asla/page/65 65]|url=https://archive.org/details/nogodbutgodorigi00asla/page/65}}</ref> states, "And when you ask [his wives] for something, ask them from behind a partition. That is purer for your hearts and their hearts".<ref>{{cite web |title=Surat Al-'Ahzab |url=http://quran.com/33/53 |access-date=1 December 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130207003453/http://quran.com/33/53 |archive-date=7 February 2013 |url-status=live }}</ref> As Muhammad's influence increased, he entertained more and more visitors in the mosque, which was then his home. Often, these visitors stayed the night only feet away from his wives' apartments. It is commonly understood that this verse was intended to protect his wives from these strangers.<ref name="Aslan 2005 66">{{cite book|last=Aslan|first=Reza|title=No God but God|year=2005|publisher=Random House|isbn=978-1-4000-6213-3|page=[https://archive.org/details/nogodbutgodorigi00asla/page/66 66]|url=https://archive.org/details/nogodbutgodorigi00asla/page/66}}</ref> [[Leila Ahmed]] adds that Muhammad's concubines did not wear veils, while his wives did, and emphasizes that the term "darabat'ül hijab" was used among Muslims over time to mean "she entered among [[Muhammad's wives]]."<ref name="ahmed54-55">{{cite book |last=Ahmed |first=Leila |title=Women and Gender in Islam |publisher=Yale University Press |year=1992 |location=New Haven |pages=54–55}}</ref>

Some have also offered different interpretations of this barrier; A visual barrier between Muhammad's family and the surrounding community, a physical barrier is used to create a space that provides comfort and privacy for individuals, and an ethical barrier, such as in the expression ''purity of hearts'' in reference to Muhammad's wives and the Muslim men to make something forbidden.<ref name="Bucar, Elizabeth 2012" />