The Hijab Isn’t as “Vague” as People Think

We’ve overcomplicated the hijab. Some argue that the Qur’an never clearly told us to cover our heads, ears, neck, or make sure not a single strand of hair shows — and they use that to say hijab rules are just cultural overreach. But I think there’s a simpler way to understand it. Think of it like this: imagine someone says, “Pull your long socks up to cover your knees.” Nobody interprets that to mean: “Just the knees, leave the ankles and feet exposed.” Why? Because socks, by their nature, already cover the feet and ankles. Pulling them up to the knees just adds coverage where needed. Only someone determined to expose parts would twist it otherwise. The Qur’an says: “Draw your khimār over your bosoms” (24:31). The khimār was already a headcover. The command wasn’t inventing a new garment or making vague rules — it was telling women to wear it properly, extending it to cover the chest. Allah didn’t need to list every tiny detail (ears, neck, hair), because the garment already did that. The focus was on modesty, not micromanaging every centimeter. Just like with socks, the instruction assumes you’re using the garment as it’s meant to be worn. Hijab isn’t about overcomplicating things — it’s about fulfilling Allah’s command in the spirit it was revealed.