What is meant by "zeenah" (adornments) in the Quranic verse 24:31?

In the Quranic verse 24:31, the term "zeenah" is employed to describe the multifaceted beauty of a woman. It encompasses both her inherent physical attributes and the external enhancements she may choose to adorn herself with. At its core, "zeenah" refers to the totality of factors that contribute to a woman's beauty and desirability

Natural zeenah

Natural zeenah encompasses a woman's inherent physical beauty, including her facial features, hair, and neck. It extends to her upper body, encompassing the delicate collarbone, graceful curves of the chest and breasts, and the allure of the cleavage. Her arms, stomach, back, and legs are also integral parts of this natural beauty, with attributes like a slender waist, rounded hips, and shapely buttocks contributing to her overall aesthetic appeal. Smooth, soft skin, a fair complexion, and even her height and body proportions, with their interplay of curves and angles, all play a role in this concept.

A woman is permitted to unveil her natural beauty solely to her husband, close male relatives who are not considered potential spouses (mahrams), Muslim women, her female male and male slaves, young children, and elderly household servants who have surpassed the age of sexual desire. This restriction serves to protect her modesty and reserve her beauty for those with whom she shares a familial or marital bond.

The apparent zeenah in the verse 24:31 "apparent zeenah" refers to those aspects of a woman's physical appearance that are naturally visible, such as her skin tone, stature, facial features (eyes, nose, mouth), and the shape and appearance of her hands and feet. Conversely, "hidden zeenah" encompasses those feminine attributes that are conventionally considered more private and are typically concealed by clothing. This category often includes the breasts, buttocks, and other areas of the female body deemed sensitive or intimate. The verse encourages women to avoid actions that might inadvertently draw unnecessary attention to these hidden charms. For instance, the phrase "striking of feet" could be interpreted to mean activities like running or jumping, which might cause movement in the breasts and buttocks, potentially attracting unwanted attention from non-mahram men. Another interpretation suggests "striking of feet" could refer to the wearing of anklets or other ornaments that make noise while walking. The idea here is that the sound would draw attention to the woman's presence and potentially her physical attributes.

Places of adornment:

Hair: Hair is often considered a significant aspect of feminine beauty. It can be adorned with various items such as hairpins, clips, crowns (in appropriate settings like weddings), flowers, and headbands.

Face:

Eyes: These can be accentuated with kohl (surma), mascara, eyeliner, and, in contemporary times, contact lenses (for vision correction or cosmetic purposes).
Nose: Nose rings, studs, and other nose jewelry are common forms of adornment in many cultures.

Neck: The neck is a common site for adornment, frequently embellished with necklaces of varying lengths, styles, and materials. These can range from delicate chains to elaborate statement pieces, often featuring pendants, gemstones, or other decorative elements.

Chest and breasts: The chest and breast area may be adorned with jewelry such as necklaces, and bras can also be considered a form of adornment.

Ankles: Anklets, also known as ankle chains or ankle bracelets, are decorative ornaments worn around the ankle.

Feet: Shoes, while primarily functional, also serve as a significant form of adornment for the feet. They come in an astonishing variety of styles, colors, materials, and designs, from practical sandals and sneakers to elegant heels and boots.

Calves: The calves can be adorned with stockings, which come in a variety of styles, colors, and textures. These can range from sheer nylons to opaque tights, patterned stockings, or even textured knit socks that extend to the calf.

These adornments are for the eyes of those we trust most within our family and household: our female relatives, our Mahram male relatives, male slaves who resided within the home (in historical times), older male servants who are like family, and young boys before they come of age.

Clothes and footwear

Clothing that accentuates a woman's figure and attractiveness, such as bras, tight-fitting shirts, pants, jeans, skirts, leggings/yoga pants, revealing or see-through garments, midriff-baring tops, nightgowns, stockings, and long socks, is considered "zeenah" (adornment). These items should not be worn in the presence of non-mahram men or non-Muslim women. Similarly, high heels, due to their effect on posture and gait, are also considered zeenah and subject to the same restrictions.

High heels are also considered a form of adornment (zeenah) because they can change a woman's walk, potentially drawing attention to her physical form. Therefore, Muslim women are advised not to wear high heels in the presence of men who are not close relatives (non-mahram males) or in front of non-Muslim women.

Jewellery

Jewelry worn by women, such as bangles, bracelets, rings, nose rings, earrings, necklaces, anklets, and belly chains, is considered part of their adornment (zeenah). Necklaces adorn the neck, chest, and breast area, while belly chains (kamarband) are worn around the waist.

Make-up

A woman's adornment (zeenah) also encompasses various cosmetic practices such as applying surma to enhance the eyes, using henna to decorate the hands and feet, shaping the eyebrows, applying nail polish to the fingernails, using facial makeup, and adding hair extensions.