Hadithcore
Sahih al-Bukhari, 372
sahih

Narrated `Aisha:

Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) used to offer the Fajr prayer and some believing women covered with their veiling sheets used to attend the Fajr prayer with him and then they would return to their homes unrecognized .

حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو الْيَمَانِ، قَالَ أَخْبَرَنَا شُعَيْبٌ، عَنِ الزُّهْرِيِّ، قَالَ أَخْبَرَنِي عُرْوَةُ، أَنَّ عَائِشَةَ، قَالَتْ لَقَدْ كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم يُصَلِّي الْفَجْرَ، فَيَشْهَدُ مَعَهُ نِسَاءٌ مِنَ الْمُؤْمِنَاتِ مُتَلَفِّعَاتٍ فِي مُرُوطِهِنَّ ثُمَّ يَرْجِعْنَ إِلَى بُيُوتِهِنَّ مَا يَعْرِفُهُنَّ أَحَدٌ‏.‏

References2 variants
In-Book Reference
Book 8, Hadith 24
USC-MSA web (English) reference
Vol. 1, Book 8, Hadith 368 (deprecated numbering scheme)
Sharh · explanationclick to expand
Islam is a religion of modesty, chastity and dignity, and it enjoins the covering of women’s bodies and the wearing of hijab and loose-fitting garments that do not show their bodies or the shape of many parts of the body. That is to protect women and the entire society from the dangerous effects of wanton display and unveiling on societies. In this hadith, the Mother of the Believers ‘A’ishah (may Allah be pleased with her) narrates that the women used to go out to pray Fajr in the mosque and attend the prayer with the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him), then they would go back to their houses wrapped in their mirts, meaning that they covered their heads and their bodies with enveloping garments, so that they would not be recognized because of the extent of their covering. This is the hijab that Allah (may He be exalted) enjoins upon women. The mirt is a cloth of wool or other fabric, and it is akin to the milhafah (another type of enveloping garment). After hijab was enjoined, the women of the Sahabah (may Allah be pleased with them) adhered to it and did not show any part of their adornment except what Allah permitted. According to a report in al-Sahihayn, no one would recognize them because it was still dark; the word translated here as dark refers to the darkness at the end of the night, after dawn has broken. This refers to the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) offering Fajr prayer at the beginning of its time. This hadith indicates that it is permissible for women to go out to pray in the mosques at night..
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