The hijab is often sold as a divine, eternal command in Islam, a symbol of modesty rooted in the Quran. But when you dig into the so-called “authentic” sources—Sahih Bukhari, Sahih Muslim, and the Quran itself—a messier picture emerges. The hijab’s origin story involves Umar ibn al-Khattab harassing one of the Prophet Muhammad’s wives, Sauda, and a suspiciously timed revelation that conveniently aligns with Umar’s demands. This post lays out the events, quotes the texts, and rips apart the problems in a section called “What’s Wrong Here?” Let’s get into it.
The Dirty Reality of Medina
In 7th-century Medina, sanitation was nonexistent, even for the Prophet’s household. His wives had to trek out to open fields at night to relieve themselves. Sahih Bukhari 146 and Sahih Bukhari 6240 spells it out:
“The wives of the Prophet (ﷺ) used to go to Al-Manasi, a vast open place (near Baqi` at Medina) to answer the call of nature at night.”
Sahih Muslim 2170d backs this up:
“‘A’isha reported that the wives of Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) used to go out in the cover of night when they went to open fields (in the outskirts of Medina) for easing themselves.”
No toilets, no privacy—just women sneaking out under darkness to do what they had to. This humiliating setup left them exposed, and it’s where Umar steps in.
Umar’s Fixation and the First Incident
Umar ibn al-Khattab, a top-tier companion of Muhammad, had a thing about veiling the Prophet’s wives. He kept nagging Muhammad to make it happen, but the Prophet brushed him off. Sahih Bukhari 146 says:
“`Umar used to say to the Prophet (ﷺ) ‘Let your wives be veiled,’ but Allah’s Apostle did not do so.”
Then one night, Sauda bint Zam’a, a tall and recognizable wife of Muhammad, went out during Isha time to relieve herself. Umar, apparently watching, pounced. Sahih Bukhari 146 continues:
“One night Sauda bint Zama the wife of the Prophet (ﷺ) went out at Isha’ time and she was a tall lady. `Umar addressed her and said, ‘I have recognized you, O Sauda.’ He said so, as he desired eagerly that the verses of Al-Hijab (the observing of veils by the Muslim women) may be revealed.”
Sahih Muslim 2170d gives more detail:
“So there went out Sauda, daughter of Zarn’a, the wife of Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ), during one of the nights when it was dark. She was a tall statured lady. ‘Umar called her saying: ‘Sauda, we recognise you.’ (He did this with the hope that the verses pertaining to veil would be revealed.) ‘A’isha said: Allah, the Exalted and Glorious, then revealed the verses pertaining to veil.”
Umar wasn’t subtle. He spotted Sauda in the act, called her out by name, and openly admitted he wanted a revelation to force the hijab. And lo and behold, it worked. Quran 33:59 dropped soon after:
“يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلنَّبِىُّ قُل لِّأَزْوَٰجِكَ وَبَنَاتِكَ وَنِسَآءِ ٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ يُدْنِينَ عَلَيْهِنَّ مِن جَلَـٰبِيبِهِنَّ ۚ ذَٰلِكَ أَدْنَىٰٓ أَن يُعْرَفْنَ فَلَا يُؤْذَيْنَ ۗ وَكَانَ ٱللَّهُ غَفُورًۭا رَّحِيمًۭا”
Translation: “O Prophet! Tell thy wives and thy daughters and the women of the believers to draw their cloaks close round them (when they go abroad). That will be better, so that they may be recognised and not annoyed. Allah is ever Forgiving, Merciful.”
Suddenly, veiling was mandatory. Coincidence? Hardly.
Umar Strikes Again
You’d think the hijab mandate would’ve satisfied Umar, but no. Even after Quran 33:59 made veiling obligatory, he kept at it. Sahih Bukhari 4795 records another incident:
“Sauda (the wife of the Prophet) went out to answer the call of nature after it was made obligatory (for all the Muslims ladies) to observe the veil. She had a large frame and everybody who knew her before could recognize her. So Umar bin Al-Khattab saw her and said, ‘O Sauda! By Allah, you cannot hide yourself from us, so think of a way by which you should not be recognized on going out.’ Sauda returned while Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) was in my house taking his supper and a bone covered with meat was in his hand. She entered and said, ‘O Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ)! I went out to answer the call of nature and Umar said to me so-and-so.’ Then Allah inspired him (the Prophet) and when the state of inspiration was over and the bone was still in his hand as he had not put in down, he said (to Sauda), ‘You (women) have been allowed to go out for your needs.’”
Umar saw Sauda again, recognized her despite the veil, and taunted her about it. Sauda ran to Muhammad, who was mid-meal, and complained. Then, mid-bite, Muhammad got another revelation letting women go out for their “needs.” Convenient timing, right?
What’s Wrong Here?
This isn’t just a quirky historical anecdote—it’s a pile of problems that undermine Islam’s claims and expose ugly realities. Let’s break it down.
1. The Quran’s Reactive Revelation vs. the “Preserved Tablet” Myth
The Quran loves to brag about being eternal. Quran 85:21-22 declares:
“بَلْ هُوَ قُرْءَانٌۭ مَّجِيدٌۭ ٢١ فِى لَوْحٍۢ مَّحْفُوظٍۭ ٢٢”
Translation: “Nay! This is a Glorious Qur’ân, (Inscribed) in Al-Lauh Al-Mahfûz (The Preserved Tablet)!”
If it’s pre-written in some cosmic tablet, why does Quran 33:59 only show up after Umar harasses Sauda? Same with the follow-up in Sahih Bukhari 4795—another revelation hits right after Umar’s second jab. This isn’t a timeless script; it’s a reaction to Umar’s antics. The “Preserved Tablet” claim falls apart when verses drop on demand like this. Was Allah just waiting for Umar to nudge things along?
2. Umar: Harasser, Not Hero
Umar’s behavior is indefensible. He stalked Sauda at night—twice—while she was relieving herself, a private and vulnerable moment. He called her out by name, shaming her in the dark (Sahih Bukhari 146, Sahih Muslim 2170d). Even after the hijab was mandatory, he kept at it, mocking her inability to hide (Sahih Bukhari 4795). This isn’t “pious concern”—it’s harassment, plain and simple. Yet, Umar’s hailed as a great companion, a model Muslim. How does that square? If a man did this today, he’d be called a creep, not a saint.
Umar’s Behavior vs. the Quran 24:30
Modesty: Calling out a woman by name while she’s in a private act like relieving herself isn’t modest—it’s intrusive and disrespectful. Umar’s actions suggest he prioritized his agenda (pushing for the hijab) over the modesty Quran 24:30 demands.
Lowering the Gaze: The verse explicitly tells men to avoid looking at women inappropriately. Yet, in both incidents, Umar deliberately observed Sauda. He didn’t just glance—he watched closely enough to recognize her by her height and frame, even in the dark, and addressed her directly. This is the opposite of lowering one’s gaze; it’s active scrutiny.
3. Muhammad’s Silence: No Rebuke, Just Revelation
Here’s the kicker: Muhammad didn’t call Umar out. Not once. Sauda got humiliated, and instead of telling Umar to back off, Muhammad waited for a revelation to fix it—first with the hijab (Quran 33:59), then with permission to go out (Sahih Bukhari 4795). Why not address Umar’s invasive behavior directly? Why let divine verses do the talking instead of showing some backbone? It’s a leadership fail that leaves Sauda hanging and Umar unchecked. If your wife’s being harassed, shouldn’t you at least say something?
4. Sanitation Mess: The Real Scandal
Medina’s lack of toilets forced women into this mess in the first place (Sahih Bukhari 146, Sahih Muslim 2170d). Instead of solving that—like building latrines—the “solution” was to cover women up. It’s absurd. Women were vulnerable because of a basic infrastructure failure, and the fix was a dress code, not a practical improvement. Why didn’t Allah inspire a sanitation revolution instead of a wardrobe one?
5. Divine Convenience or Human Influence?
Umar wanted the hijab so badly he admitted it (Sahih Bukhari 146, Sahih Muslim 2170d). Each time he pushed, a revelation followed. That’s not prophecy—that’s a man getting his way through “divine” coincidence. If Allah’s will bends to Umar’s whims, what does that say about who’s really calling the shots? It’s less about eternal truth and more about one guy’s agenda.
The Bottom Line
The hijab’s origin isn’t some lofty divine decree—it’s a reaction to Umar’s harassment and a primitive society’s failures. The texts (Sahih Bukhari 146, 4795, Sahih Muslim 2170d, Quran 33:59, Quran 85:21-22) show a Quran shaped by events, not preordained. Umar’s a harasser, Muhammad’s passive, and the solution’s a cop-out that punishes women instead of fixing problems. Today, the hijab’s still debated, but its roots are rotten—tied to stalking, shame, and a revelation that reeks of convenience. Reflect on that.