Allah ordered Prophet Mohammads (peace be upon him) wives, daughters, and the believing women to cover themselves. How can one say that the Muslim woman is not obliged to cover themselves and that it was only specific to the Prophet (sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) wives? When, Allah says:
يا أيها النبي قل لأزواجك وبناتك ونساء المؤمنين يدنين عليهن من جلابيبهن
"O Prophet! Tell your wives and your daughters - and [all] believing women - that they [outside the home] carefully wrap their outer garments." [33:59]
Then an ignorant person comes and says that the believing women are not obliged to wear the Jilbâb. Does a wise person say this? Only a malicious person and one who follows his desires speaks that way.
She should not wear the ‘Abâ’ah to beautify herself. She should wear it to hide her body and the beauty of her clothing. She should put it on top of her head and let it cover down to the feet. She should not wear it to beautify herself. She should wear it to cover her beauty.
As regards the French abaya and other than that, they are prohibited and not permissable if they beautify her and do not cover the beauty.
‘Abâ’ah should not be placed on the shoulders. Who says that she should wear it on his shoulders? ‘Abâ’ah is just like Jilbâb: it is placed on the head and covers down to the feet. The purpose is that her head, neck and the rest of the body is covered.
[‘Allama Sâlih bin Fawzan al-Fawzaan; Tammul’ât FI Akhir Surat IL-Ahzab, p. 416-417; Madjmû’atu Rasâ’il Da’wiyyah wa Manhadjiyyah]