Al-Qur'an Surah Al-Ahzab Verse 55

Mufti Taqi Usmani

There is no sin for them (the wives of the Prophet) in (appearing without Hijāb before) their fathers, or their brothers, or the sons of their brothers, or the sons of their sisters, or their own (Muslim) women, or their slave-girls. And (O wives of the Prophet,) fear Allah. Surely, Allah is witness to every thing.

Dr. Mustafa Khattab, the Clear Quran

There is no blame on the Prophet’s wives ˹if they appear unveiled˺ before their fathers,[[ Paternal and maternal uncles are similar to the fathers. ]] their sons, their brothers, their brothers’ sons, their sisters’ sons, their fellow ˹Muslim˺ women, and those ˹bondspeople˺ in their possession. And be mindful of Allah ˹O wives of the Prophet!˺ Surely Allah is a Witness over all things.

Ruwwad Translation Center

There is no blame on the Prophet’s wives [if they are seen unveiled] by their fathers, their sons, their brothers, their brothers’ sons, their sisters’ sons, their fellow [Muslim] women, and their slaves whom they own. And fear Allah [O Prophet’s wives], for Allah is Witness over all things.

A. J. Arberry

There is no fault in the Prophet's wives touching their fathers, their sons, their brothers, their brothers' sons, their sisters' sons, their women, and what their right hands own. And fear you God; surely God is witness of everything.

Abdul Haleem

The Prophet’s wives are not to blame [if they are seen by] their fathers, their sons, their brothers, their brothers’ sons, their sisters’ sons, their women, or their slaves. [Wives of the Prophet], be mindful of God. God observes everything.

Abdul Majid Daryabadi

It is no sin for them in respect to their fathers or their brothers, or their brothers sons, or their sisters sons, or their own women, or those whom their right hands own; and fear Allah; verily Allah is of everything ever a Witness.

Abdullah Yusuf Ali

There is no blame (on these ladies if they appear) before their fathers or their sons, their brothers, or their brother's sons, or their sisters' sons, or their women, or the (slaves) whom their right hands possess. And, (ladies), fear Allah; for Allah is Witness to all things.

Abul Ala Maududi

It will not be blameworthy for the wives of the Prophet if their fathers, their sons, their brothers, their brothers' sons, their sisters' sons, and the women with whom they have social relations, and the persons whom their right hands possess enter their houses. (O women), shun disobeying Allah. Allah is watchful over everything.

Ahmed Ali

There is no harm if they come before their fathers or their sons, or their brothers and their brothers' and sisters' sons, or their women folk or captive maids they possess. Follow the commands of God. Verily God is witness to everything.

Ahmed Raza Khan

There is no sin upon your wives in (dealing with) their fathers, or their sons, or their brothers, or their brothers’ sons, or their sisters’ sons or women of their own religion, or their bondwomen; and O women, keep fearing Allah; indeed all things are present in front of Allah.

Ali Quli Qarai

There is no sin on them [in socializing freely] with their fathers, or their sons, or their brothers, or their brothers’ sons, or the sons of their sisters, or their own womenfolk, or what their right hands own. Be wary of Allah. Indeed Allah is witness to all things.

Ali Ünal

There is no blame on them (the wives of the Prophet, if they speak without a screen) with their fathers (including grandfathers and uncles both paternal and maternal), or their sons (including grandsons), or their brothers, or their brothers’ sons, or the sons of their sisters, or the Muslim women and women of good conduct with whom they associate, or those (bondsmaids) whom their right hands possess. Keep, (O wives of the Prophet,) from disobedience to God in reverence for Him and piety (observing this command as well as all of His other commands). God is indeed a witness over everything.

Amatul Rahman Omar

No blame shall lie on the women (if they appear) before their fathers or their sons or their brothers or their brothers´ sons or the sons of their sisters or the womenfolk of their own (category) or those whom their right hands own. And you (all womenfolk) take (each of you) Allâh as a shield. Verily, Allâh is Ever Witness over all things.

English Literal

No offense/guilt/sin (is) on them in their (F) fathers, and nor their (F) sons, and nor their (F) brothers, and nor their (F) brother`s sons, and nor their sisters` (F) sons, and nor their women (F), and nor what their (F) rights (hands) owned/possessed, and fear and obey God, that truly God was/is on every thing a witness/testifier .

Faridul Haque

There is no sin upon your wives in (dealing with) their fathers, or their sons, or their brothers, or their brothers’ sons, or their sisters’ sons or women of their own religion, or their bondwomen; and O women, keep fearing Allah; indeed all things are present in front of Allah.

Hamid S. Aziz

If you do a thing openly or do it in secret, then surely Allah is Aware of all things.

Hilali & Khan

It is no sin on them (the Prophet's wives, if they appear unveiled) before their fathers, or their sons, or their brothers, or their brother's sons, or the sons of their sisters, or their own (believing) women, or their (female) slaves, and keep your duty to Allah. Verily, Allah is Ever AllWitness over everything.

Maulana Mohammad Ali

If you do a thing openly or do it in secret, then surely Allah is ever Knower of all things.

Mohammad Habib Shakir

There is no blame on them in respect of their fathers, nor their brothers, nor their brothers' sons, nor their sisters' sons nor their own women, nor of what their right hands possess; and be careful of (your duty to) Allah; surely Allah is a witness of all things.

Mohammed Marmaduke William Pickthall

It is no sin for them (thy wives) to converse freely) with their fathers, or their sons, or their brothers, or their brothers' sons, or the sons of their sisters or of their own women, or their slaves. O women! Keep your duty to Allah. Lo! Allah is ever Witness over all things.

Muhammad Sarwar

It will not be an offense for the wives of the Prophet (not to observe the modest dress) in the presence of their fathers, sons, brothers, sons of their brothers and sisters, their own women, and their slave-girls. They should have fear of God. God witness all things.

Qaribullah & Darwish

It shall be no offense for them (to be seen unveiled) by their fathers, their sons, their brothers, their brothers' sons, their sisters' sons, their women, and those whom their right hands possess. And fear Allah, for Allah is witness of everything.

Safi-ur-Rahman al-Mubarakpuri

It is no sin on them before their fathers, or their sons, or their brothers, or their brother's sons, or the sons of their sisters, or their own (believing) women, or their (female) slaves. And (O ladies) have Taqwa of Allah. Verily, Allah is Ever All-Witness over everything.

Wahiduddin Khan

There shall be no blame on them for appearing before their fathers, their sons, their brothers, their brothers' sons, their sisters' sons, their women or those whom their right hands may possess. Women, fear God. God observes all things.

Talal Itani

There is no blame on them concerning their fathers, or their sons, or their brothers, or their brothers’ sons, or their sisters’ sons, or their women, or their female servants. But they should remain conscious of God. God is Witness over all things.

Tafsir jalalayn

They [the Prophet's wives] would not be at fault with regard to [socialising with] their fathers, or their sons, or their brothers, or their brothers' sons, or their sisters' sons, or their own, believing, women, or what their right hands own, of slavegirls or [male] servants, in seeing them or conversing with them without a screen. And fear [O women] God, in what you have been commanded. Surely God is Witness to all things, with nothing being hidden from Him.

Tafseer Ibn Kathir

Relatives before Whom a Woman does not need to observe Hijab

Allah says;

لاَّا جُنَاحَ عَلَيْهِنَّ فِي ابَايِهِنَّ وَلَا أَبْنَايِهِنَّ وَلَا إِخْوَانِهِنَّ وَلَا أَبْنَاء إِخْوَانِهِنَّ وَلَا أَبْنَاء أَخَوَاتِهِنَّ وَلَا نِسَايِهِنَّ وَلَا مَا مَلَكَتْ أَيْمَانُهُنَّ

It is no sin on them before their fathers, or their sons, or their brothers, or their brother's sons, or the sons of their sisters, or their own (believing) women, or their (female) slaves. And (O ladies) have Taqwa of Allah. Verily, Allah is Ever All-Witness over everything.

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 Surah An-Nur, where Allah says;

وَلَا يُبْدِينَ زِينَتَهُنَّ إِلاَّ لِبُعُولَتِهِنَّ أَوْ ءَابَأيِهِنَّ أَوْ ءَابَأءِ بُعُولَتِهِنَّ أَوْ أَبْنَأيِهِنَّ أَوْ أَبْنَأءِ بُعُولَتِهِنَّ أَوْ إِخْوَانِهِنَّ أَوْ بَنِى إِخْوَانِهِنَّ أَوْ بَنِى أَخَوَتِهِنَّ أَوْ نِسَأيِهِنَّ أَوْ مَا مَلَكَتْ أَيْمَـنُهُنَّ أَوِ التَّـبِعِينَ غَيْرِ أُوْلِى الاِرْبَةِ مِنَ الرِّجَالِ أَوِ الطِّفْلِ الَّذِينَ لَمْ يَظْهَرُواْ عَلَى عَوْرَتِ النِّسَأءِ

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,
لاَّا جُنَاحَ عَلَيْهِنَّ فِي ابَايِهِنَّ
(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."

وَلَا نِسَايِهِنَّ
(or their own women),

means that they do not have to observe Hijab in front of other believing women.

وَلَا مَا مَلَكَتْ أَيْمَانُهُنَّ
(or their (female) slaves.

Sa`id bin Al-Musayyib said;

"This means female slaves only."

This was recorded by Ibn Abi Hatim.

وَاتَّقِينَ اللَّهَ إِنَّ اللَّهَ كَانَ عَلَى كُلِّ شَيْءٍ شَهِيدًا



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