His saying, exalted and glorified is He: "And when the children among you reach puberty, they should ask permission as those before them asked permission. Thus Allah makes clear to you His verses, and Allah is Knowing and Wise." "And the elderly women who no longer expect marriage, there is no blame upon them for putting off their outer garments without displaying adornment. But to be chaste is better for them, and Allah is Hearing and Knowing." The meaning is that the children were commanded to seek permission during the three mentioned times, and they were permitted to do so at other times. Then Allah, exalted and glorified is He, commanded in this verse that they - when they reach puberty - should be like men in seeking permission at all times. This is a clarification from Allah, exalted and glorified is He. "The elderly women" refers to those women who have aged and have ceased to bear children. One of them is called an elderly woman. Rabi'ah said: Here it refers to one who is despised due to her old age. Others said: A woman may cease to bear children while still enjoying herself. Since it is common that women of this age have no desire from men, it was permitted for them what was not permitted for others. The burden of maintaining modesty was lifted from them, as the reason for maintaining modesty is no longer applicable to them. Ibn Mas'ud read: "that they may put off their garments," and this is the reading of Ubayy. It was also narrated from Ibn Mas'ud: "from their outer garments." The Arabs say: "a woman who puts off her garment" for one who has aged and has put off her headscarf. Then it was exempted for them in putting off their garments, provided that they do not intend by it to display themselves and reveal adornment. For indeed, there may be an elderly woman who shows a desire to reveal her beauty, and such a thing is among the most disgraceful and farthest from the truth. Displaying oneself is the desire to show and reveal. Among it is: "towering fortresses." The origin of that is the towers of the sky and the walls. What is permitted for this category is the jilbab, which is above the headscarf and the outer garment, as stated by Ibn Mas'ud, Ibn Jubair, and others. Then Allah, exalted and glorified is He, mentioned that the modesty of all of them and their abstaining from putting off their garments and adhering to what the youth adhere to in terms of covering is better for them and good. Ibn Mas'ud read: "and they should be chaste" without the 'sīn.' Then Allah, exalted and glorified is He, mentioned that He is Hearing of what every speaker says, Knowing of the intention of everyone in their words. In these two attributes, there is a warning and a caution. And Allah is the one who guides to what is right by His mercy.