ladyofdeen'Aa'ishah (may Allah be pleased with her) narrated, 'The wives of Rasoolullah (peace be upon him) used to go to al-Manasi, a vast open place (near Baqee' in Madinah) to answer the call of nature at night. 'Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) used to say to the Prophet (peace be upon him),

"Let your wives be veiled (i.e. obligate this on them)."

But the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) did not do so (as this was not the command of his Lord as yet). One night Sawdaa' bint Zam'a (may Allah be pleased with her), the wife of the Prophet (peace be upon him), went out at 'Ishaa' time and she was a tall lady. 'Umar addressed (may Allah be pleased with him) her and said,

"I have recognized you, O Sawdaa'."

He said this because he eagerly desired that the verses of al-Hijaab (the observing of veils by the Muslim women) may be revealed. Then Allah revealed the verses of al-Hijaab.' (Saheeh al-Bukhaari, Volume 1, Book 4, Hadith # 148)

Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) said, "I know (about) the Hijaab (the order of veiling of women) more than anybody else. Ubay ibn Ka'b used to ask me about it. Allah's Apostle became the groom of Zainab bint Jahsh whom he married at Madinah. After the sun had risen high in the sky, the Prophet invited the people to a meal. Rasoolullah (peace be upon him) remained sitting and some people remained sitting with him after the other guests had left. Then Rasoolullah (peace be upon him) got up and went away, and I too, followed him till he reached the door of 'Aai'shah's room. He then thought that the people must have left the place by then, so he returned and I also returned with him. Behold, the people were still sitting at their places. So he went back again for the second time, and I went along with him too. When we reached the door of 'Aa'ishah's room, he returned and I also returned with him to see that the people had left.

Thereupon Rasulullah (peace be upon him) hung a curtain between me and him and the Verse regarding the order for Hijaab (veiling of women) was revealed. (Sahih Al-Bukhari Volume 7, Book 65, Hadith # 375)

Safiyyah bint Shaiba (may Allah be pleased with her) narrated, 'Aa'ishah (may Allah be pleased with her) used to say,

"When (the Verse), {They should draw their veils over their necks and bosoms} was revealed, (the ladies) cut their waist sheets at the edges and covered their faces with the cut pieces. (Saheeh al-Bukhaari Volume 6, Book 60, Hadith # 282)

'Aa'ishah (may Allah be pleased with her) narrated,

“Allah's Apostle 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." (Saheeh al-Bukhaari, Volume 1, Book 8, Hadith # 368)

niqaab344Umm Salamah, one of the Mothers of the Believer (may Allah be pleased with her) said,

"When the verse {That they should cast their outer garments over their persons} was revealed, the women of Ansaar came out as if they had crows over their heads by wearing outer garments. (Abu Dawood Book 32, Hadith # 4090)

'Aa'ishah, Ummul-Mu'mineen (may Allah be pleased with her) said,

" May Allah have mercy on the early immigrant women. When the ve rse, {That they should draw their veils over their bosoms} was revealed, they tore their thick outer garments and made veils from them. (Abu Dawood Book 32, Hadith # 4091)

Fatima bint al-Mundhir (may Allah be pleased with her) said,

"We used to veil our faces when we were in Ihraam, while we were accompanied by Asmaa' bint Abi Bakr as-Siddiq." (Muwatta Imaam Malik, Book 20, Hadith # 20.5.16)

'Aa'ishah, Ummul-Mu'mineen (may Allah be pleased with her) said,

"The riders would pass us while we were with the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him). When they became close to us, we would draw our outer cloak from our heads over our faces.  When they passed by, we would uncover our faces." (Recorded by Ahmad, Abu Dawood and Ibn Maajah)

'Aa'ishah (may Allah be pleased with her) narrated a long narration some of which is, '...Rasoolullah (peace be upon him) then said to Sauda bint Zam'a, "Veil (screen) yourself before him," when he saw the child's resemblance to 'Utba,

The boy did not see her again till he met Allah.' (Sahih Al-Bukhari Volume 9, Book 89, Hadith # 293)

Thabait ibn Qays (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated, 'A woman called Umm Khallad came to the Prophet (peace be upon him) while she was veiled. She was searching for her son who had been killed (in the battle). Some of the Companions of the Prophet (peace be upon him) said to her, "You have come here asking for your son while veiling your face?" She said,

"If I am afflicted with the loss of my son, I shall not suffer the loss of my modesty." (Abu Dawood Book 14, Hadith # 2482)