Title: Is a Woman Directed to Hide her Face? Question: What do the commentators on the Qur'an say about the face veil? Do any of them interpret that the jilbab (Quran 33:59) and/or the khimar (Quran 24:31) are required to cover the face? Do they present any alternate interpretations of these verses? Which opinion does each commentator think is correct, and why? I would also like to know when each of the commentators cited lived, inshallah . Thank you very much and jazakallah khayrun for your help in this matter! May Allah SWT bless you for your work on this site. Answer: According to Tabariy - died 310 AH - Jami` al-Bayaan fi Tafseer al-Qur'an , there is a consensus among the Muslims that the face and the hands of women may not be hidden. (Under verse 24: 31), While according to Tabariy , there is a difference of opinion, among the commentators regarding whether or not (under 33: 59) women have been directed to cover their faces. Some take the directive to imply covering faces, except one eye, and others do not take it to imply the covering of faces. Although it would be slightly difficult to cite all the major commentators of the Qur'an, yet if you want, I shall cite the original words (with translations) of some of the major commentators. However, it is clear that neither of the verses has expressly mentioned the covering of faces. February 12, 2001