What is the meaning of the immigrant women covering their faces after the revelation of Surat An-Nur: "And let them cast their head coverings over their bosoms," if the verse of drawing near (Al-Idna') in Surat Al-Ahzab—which is likely to have been revealed before An-Nur—commanded covering the entire face and body?

Scholars have differed on the chronological order of the revelation of the verses pertaining to hijab (definition), specifically whether Surat Al-Ahzab was revealed before Surat An-Nur or vice versa. This difference stems from their varying opinions on the sequence of the Battles of Al-Ahzab and Banu Al-Mustaliq.

Some scholars lean towards Surat Al-Ahzab being revealed before Surat An-Nur, citing as evidence Aisha's narration regarding the incident of the slander (Al-Ifk), which occurred after the command of hijab, and the revelation of the hijab verse in Surat Al-Ahzab when the Prophet consummated his marriage with Zaynab bint Jahsh.

Abu Al-A'la Al-Mawdudi asserts that the hijab verses in Surat Al-Ahzab were revealed first, and then the verses of Surat An-Nur followed as a complement to them.

Sheikh Muhammad ibn Ismail holds the view that the verses in Surat Al-Ahzab, which command complete hijab, were revealed in the fifth year of the Hijra, whereas the verses in Surat An-Nur, which command lowering the gaze, were revealed in the sixth year.

Based on this, Aisha's statement regarding the Muhajirat women, when the verse "and to draw their veils over their bosoms" was revealed, that they tore their garments and veiled themselves with them, does not imply that they were not veiled before. Rather, it means they went to great lengths in complying by wearing thicker veils. Similarly, the departure of the Ansar women, as if crows were on their heads, after the revelation of "they should draw over themselves some of their outer garments," indicates their deliberate act of wearing black in compliance.