The criteria for Hijab in Islam, can be found in the Qur’an, and the Sahih Hadith.

The criteria for Hijab in Islam, can be found in the Qur’an, and the Sahih Hadith. 

There are six criteria,

Before mentioning those six criteria ,here is a hadith for people neglecting Hijab ..

The Prophet (peace_be_upon_him) said: “Allah does not accept the prayer of a woman who has reached puberty unless she wears a veil.”

Narrated Aisha, (R.A)

[Kitab Al-Salat of Sunan Abu-Dawud. 064; al-Tirmidhi, 377]

Allah does not accept the prayer of a female who has reached the age of puberty except if she is wearing a head covering (khimaar).”

This was recorded by al-Tirmidhi, Ahmad, Abu Dawud and ibn Majah. Sahih aljam’e 2/1280

There are six criteria - 

1st is extent, which is the only difference between a man and a woman. For the man, he has to be covered from the naval to the knee. For the woman, her complete body should be covered – the only part that can be seen, should not be seen, is the face and the hands up to the wrist. If she wishes to cover them, she is most welcome, but it is not compulsory that she should cover it – Otherwise the full body should be covered. The only part that can been seen… not should not be seen, is the wrist, face and the hands, up to the wrist. This is the only criteria which differs, between the man and the woman. 

The second criteria is that, the clothes she wears, should not be so tight, that it reveals the figure. The clothes she wears… 

third point – it should not be so transparent, so that you can see through. 

And the fourth point – she should not wear glamorous clothes, or he should not wear glamorous clothes, which attracts the opposite sex. 

The fifth point is that a person should not wear cloth, which resembles that of the opposite sex – like you find men wearing earnings. If you wear one earring, it signifies something else – if you wear two earrings, it signifies something else. It is prohibited in Islam. 

And the last criteria is, you should not wear clothes which… that resemble of an unbeliever. 

Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):

“And tell the believing women to lower their gaze (from looking at forbidden things), and protect their private parts (from illegal sexual acts) and not to show off their adornment except only that which is apparent (like both eyes for necessity to see the way, or outer palms of hands or one eye or dress like veil, gloves, headcover, apron), and to draw their veils all over Juyoobihinna (i.e. their bodies, faces, necks and bosoms) and not to reveal their adornment except to their husbands, or their fathers, or their husband’s fathers, or their sons, or their husband’s sons, or their brothers or their brother’s sons, or their sister’s sons, or their (Muslim) women (i.e. their sisters in Islam), or the (female) slaves whom their right hands possess, or old male servants who lack vigour, or small children who have no sense of feminine sex. And let them not stamp their feet so as to reveal what they hide of their adornment. And all of you beg Allaah to forgive you all, O believers, that you may be successful”

[al-Noor 24:31]