What is meant by the "chest opening"? Is it obligatory to cover the entire chest or only the upper part? Is it obligatory to cover it with a headscarf if it is not visible when wearing a jilbab? Is the "muftakaf" head covering obligatory? What about covering the back?
Source: FtawySummary from Ftawy's records · added here Sep 2, 2026
The legal is any covering for the entire body that is neither descriptive nor transparent, regardless of its name or form. It is not a condition to cover the shoulders or back with the same head covering if they are already covered by an abaya or jilbab.
If the chest is small and does not show when wearing a jilbab that achieves proper covering, then there is no harm in that. However, it is still better to let the khimar fall over the entire chest, as stated in the verse: "and to draw their headcovers over their chests." The meaning of this verse includes covering the neck and the entire chest.
Summary from Ftawy's records · added here
Reviewed by El Fatwa's sharia committee.
Read the full answer on Ftawyhttps://ftawy.com/en/questions/126836
Where this answer came from
- Source platform
- Ftawy
- Original fatwa ID
- 126836
- Added here
- . This is when the answer was added to El Fatwa, not the fatwa's date.
- Text
- Summary from Ftawy's records, reviewed by El Fatwa's sharia committee.
- Read the full ruling
- Read the full answer on Ftawy