Al-Sitteer can be translated as the one who conceals something. It is not mentioned in the Quran, but the name appears in the hadith (narration) of the Prophet (peace be upon him):

The Prophet PBUH was travelling and came by some Bedouins, one man had tied his garment only around his private area and was doing ghusl in public – so the prophet SAW said:“Verily, Allah the All-Mighty and Majestic is Forbearing, Modest and Concealing (Sitteer); and He loves modesty and concealment. Therefore, when any of you bathe, let him conceal himself (i.e. from the sight of people).”

This teaches us to embody this quality by preserving our modesty as has been instructed to us by Allah SWT and his messenger. Al-Sitteer also means the one who conceals our sins, Allah conceals and hides our multitudes of sins, and this should be a lesson to us to not publicise our sins, and hide the sins of those around us: Whosoever covers (the sins of) a Muslim, Allah covers (his sins) on the Day of Judgment.

 Al-Sitteer has another meaning too: the one who prevents and keeps something away. `Aisha radiallahu ‘anha says in an authentic hadith:‘A lady approached me along with her two daughters asking (for charity), but she found nothing with me except a date. I gave it to her and she divided it between her two daughters, not eating anything herself. Then, she stood up and left. When the Prophet SAW came in, I informed him of what happened. He said, “Whoever is entrusted with these daughters and treats them with benevolence, they will act as a shield (sitr) for him from Hell-Fire.’

Thus, whoever raises two daughters (and in some narrations, it is sufficient to raise one daughter), and takes care of her, teaches her the mannerisms of Islam, ensures that she wears hijab, and chooses for her a believing husband; it is enough for him or her to enter Paradise. Therefore, sitr also means to keep something away from something else, and raising a righteous daughter keeps one away from Hellfire.