'O Prophet, tell your wives, daughters and the believing women…'

[mtgondal]

'O Prophet, tell your wives, daughters and the believing women…'


By Muhammad Faisal


Allah Almighty says, "O ye who believe! Enter into Islam wholeheartedly and follow not the footsteps of evil one, for he is to you an avowed enemy." (2:208)

Our practice should not end implementing the pillars of Islam only but after them our responsibility is augmented. We must know all the teachings of the Holy Qur'aan and Sunnah with appropriate implementation of all for the sake of Allah's happiness and to have good status in the heaven.

Amongst all of them what people do not understand is the importance of hijab (Purdah). The question of hijab for Muslim women has been a controversy for centuries.

The word "Hijab" comes from the Arabic word "Hijaba" meaning "to hide from view or conceal". In the present time, the context of hijab is the modest covering of a Muslim woman. The question now is what is the extent of the covering?

Some people consider that covering the face is required in front of a non-Mehram (a person with whom marriage can take place in any part of life), while some have the opinion that it is not required. Others have the idea that it depends on the situation.

Some of them think that not observing hijab does not matter much but they must know that this is the command of Allah and should be followed. Allah Almighty explained each and every aspect of life and in order to achieve success on the Day of Judgment, one must follow each and every order of Allah Almighty.

We all know that the creator, inventor or we can say manufacturer, of any machine and equipment is the best and righteous person who can describe the precautionary steps and give the manual to follow and use that machine to avoid any damage. And if we show any negligence in following those steps then we can cause any damage to that thing. Allah Almighty put forward all those obligations for the benefit of mankind but we hardly believe and rely.

Allah Almighty says, "Say to the believing men that they should lower their gaze and guard their modesty: that will make for greater purity for them: And Allah is well acquainted with all that they do."

"And say to the believing women that they should lower their gaze and guard their modesty; that they should not display their beauty and ornaments except what (must ordinarily) appear thereof, that they should draw their veils over their bosoms and do not display their beauty except to their husbands, fathers, husband's fathers, sons, husbands' sons, brothers, brothers' sons, sisters' sons, their women, the slaves whom their right hands possess, male servants free of physical needs, or small children who have no sense of the shame of sex, and that they should not strike their feet in order to draw attention to their hidden ornaments. And O ye believers! Turn ye all together towards Allah, that ye may attain Bliss." (Surah Noor: 30-31)

Some of the people say that being conscious about gaze is enough but I will ask a question. Is it possible to avoid the second gaze when something is so much attractive? Not possible, isn't it? So, how can one say that he can be conscious about his gaze without observing hijab? Allah Almighty has forbidden even the second sight but still we will find many sitting in groups never ending gossips and saying that we should be conscious about our gaze. Strange!! But from the preceding verse, it is well understood what Allah Almighty wants from us. He not only defined from whom we should observe hijab but also described what should be the attitude of women to hide their beauty.

Now how one can say that hijab of gaze is enough although Allah Almighty has clearly defined the proper meaning of it. He further commands: "O Prophet! Tell thy wives and daughters, and the believing women, that they should cast their outer garments over their persons (when abroad): that is most convenient, that they should be known (as such) and not molested. And Allah is Oft-forgiving, Most Merciful." (Surah Ahzab: 59)

In the above verse, it is clearly mentioned what should be the attitude of the Muslim women so that people can recognise them as Muslimah and not tease them. People say that exposure of face dose not matters much but isn't it true that attraction lies in face. It is the face to which one is attracted most and for which there is clearly commanded that face should be covered. So, what is the reason behind so much argument? Argument over this merely shows that one is trying to interrupt in Allah's matters. Someone looking for spouse will definitely ask to look at her face, isn't it? Islam allows it in a predefine way. Now, how can one say that it is not so much important for the complete faith and neglecting this obligation will lead us to the higher rank? For getting high grades distinction we never compromise, and try our best to have maximum knowledge before the exams, but for getting the paradise we do not even bother, rather indulge in other discussions to get some other way out of our own choice.

In addition to them there are other requirements:

1. Women must not dress so as to appear as men. Hadhrat Abdullah bin Abbas (Radhi Allaho anho) narrated: "The Holy Prophet (Sall Allaho alaihe wasallam) cursed the men who appear like women and the women who appear like men." (Bukhari)

2. Women should not dress in a way similar to the unbelievers.

3. The clothing should be modest, not excessively fancy and also not excessively ragged to gain others admiration or sympathy.

Muslim women should observe hijab, because Allah has told them to do so. A Muslim woman who covers her head is making a statement about her identity. A woman who covers herself is concealing her sexuality but allowing her femininity to be brought out.

An Iranian schoolgirl is quoted as saying, "We want to stop men from treating us like sex objects, as they have always done. We want them to ignore our appearance and to be attentive to our personalities and mind. We want them to take us seriously and treat us as equals and not just chase us around for our bodies and physical looks."

We normally find guys staring girls everywhere. What does this attitude shows? It is now habitual for them to stare at them and pass comments. The society is getting worse day by day. Media has imposed pathetic thoughts in one's minds and everyone, especially a medical student knows it is the glamour that induces more sexual desire. Girls find it great when praised but they do not know what the rubbish is going on other's minds.

From the preceding discussion, I now summarise what should be the appearance of a Muslimah. There should be an overall dignified appearance. The clothing should not attract men's attention to the woman. It should not be shiny and flashy so that everyone notices the dress and the woman. Following requirements should be considered:

1: The parts of the body, which must be covered.

2: The second requirement is looseness. The clothing must be loose enough so as not to describe the shape of the woman's body.

3: Thickness is the third requirement. The clothing must be thick enough so as not to show the colour of the skin it covers or the shape of the body.

Hafsah, daughter of Abdur Rahman, once came before Hadhrat Aisha (Radhi Allaho anha) wearing a thin shawl over her head and shoulders. Aisha (RA) tore it up and put a thick shawl over her. The Messenger of Allah (Sall Allaho alaihe wasallam) said, "Allah has cursed those women who wear clothes yet still remain naked."

Caliph Umar (Radhi Allaho anho) once said, "Do not clothe your women in clothes that are tight-fitting and reveal the shape of the body."

Prophet Muhammad (SAW) said, "In later generations of his Ummah there will be women who will be dressed but naked and on top of their heads (what looks like) camel humps. Curse them for they are truly cursed." (Muslim)

Hadhrat Asma (Radhi Allaho anha), the sister of Hadhrat Aisha (Radhi Allaho anha) and daughter of Hadhrat Abu Bakr (Radhi Allaho anho), came before the Holy Prophet in a thin dress that showed her body. The Holy Prophet turned his eyes away and said, "O Asma! When a woman reaches puberty, it is not lawful that any part of her body be seen, except this and this," and then he pointed to his face and the palms of his hands.

The abovementioned traditions make it explicitly clear that the dress of Muslim women must cover the whole body. She must not expose her body to anybody except her husband, and must not wear a dress that shows the curves of her body.

Since, modern times are particularly full of fitnah (mischiefs), therefore, some scholars of recent times are of the opinion that women should go as far as to cover their faces even in front of their nearest relatives, because even the face may attract sexual glances from men, and beyond any shadow of doubt this is what Allah has ordered us to do to cover ourselves completely in front of non-Mehrams.

Hadhrat Aisha (RA) reported that once she appeared dressed up in nice clothes in front of her nephew, Abdullah bin Tufail. The Holy Prophet (Sall Allaho alaihe wasallam) did not approve of it. I said, 'O Apostle of Allah, he is my nephew.' The Holy Prophet said, "When a woman reaches puberty, it is not lawful for her to uncover any part of her body except the face and this, and then he put his hand on the wrist joint as to leave only a little space between the place he gripped and the palm."

It is clear from the above Hadith that Hadhrat Muhammad (Sall Allaho alaihe wasallam) forbade Hadhrat Aisha (Radhi Allaho anha) even in front of her nephew (Mehram) and gave her the permission of only face and hands (up to the wrists). This limit is called "Sater", which one Muslimah covers in front of Mehrams. Now, one can easily understand what should be the extent of covering in front of a non-Mehram and what is the main difference in Sater and Purdah. Isn't it covering of the face?

Remember this that when women came to Holy Prophet (Sall Allaho alaihe wasallam) for taking oath, they were always in Purdah (hijab), as he asked them to be in that. The wives of Prophet Muhammad (Sall Allaho alaihe wasallam), who are the mothers of all believers, the paragon of purity, were commanded for the same. The law was implemented by them. So, those people who consider themselves innocent, so much so that they are not in need for that, can they be more innocent than the Holy Prophet (Sall Allaho alaihe wasallam)? Or the women who think the same, can they be more innocent than the wives of the Holy Prophet? We stand nowhere, and still we hardly believe.


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