God
proclaims in the Surah Noor of the Holy Quran:
“And say to the believing
women that they lower their gaze and guard their modesty, so that they should
not display their beauty and ornament except that appear there of (must
ordinarily appear) that they should draw their veils over their bosoms and not
display their beauty except to their husbands.”
(Nur: 31)
(Nur: 31)
A similar injunction regarding Purdah is contained in Surah Al-Ahzab of the Holy Quran:
“O Prophet! Tell thy wives
and daughters, and the believing women, that they draw upon them their head
coverings a little. In this way, it is more probable that they will be
recognized (as gentle women) and not be annoyed (molested).”
(Al-Ahzab: 59)
(Al-Ahzab: 59)
It is an
admitted fact that the eyes are the messengers who bring the message to the
minds of the onlookers. It is the full view of the fair sex’s face and curves
of the body that arouse the feelings of love and stir the emotions in one’s
heart. Islam, therefore, enjoins believing men and women to keep their eyes
down. They are forbidden to cast evil and critical glances mat fair sex. But
when women walk about without their veils, displaying their beauty and costly
costumes, men are naturally attracted. The unhealthy conditions prevailing
nowadays in our society have created many problems.
Islam has prohibited the free mixing up of the sexes for the reason that a woman unconsciously submit to the flattery and advance of a man. She is overpowered by sentiments and emotions rather easily. It is a familiar fact that in America and Western countries there is much moral degeneration and chaos. The free mixing up of young boys and girls in colleges, clubs, ball-rooms and hostels provide vast opportunities of petting, necking and scandalous behaviour. They indulge fearlessly and unhesitatingly in wicked practices. The fee intermingling of the sexes has dragged women into the quagmire of pleasure, sensuality and luxury. By the segregation of the two sexes and keeping them apart through the observance of seclusion (purdah). Islam has minimised the chances of moral lapse and hateful deeds to a great extent. In this way the honour of a woman is saved. She cannot be humiliated and molested. When veiled, her beauty and ugliness invites no criticism from the wicked-minded persons.
Apart from view point of morality. Women, who do not wear veil, have to worry a lot for their make-up and costly fashionable dresses. On the other hand, a veiled lady may wear simple and uncontentious dress and go about her business without any fear of curious remarks and uncalled for criticism. She needs not get crazy after preposterous fashions and gaudy dresses. In fact, a veil is a blessing for a virtuous woman. It is travesty of the truth that purdah-observing women are consigned to the four-walls. On the contrary the are at liberty to go out for shopping, attending marriages of their relatives and seeing their kith and kin. The young girls can attend their schools and colleges and other institutions. The veil in no way hinders them from decent pursuit, educational activities and smile recreations.
In the West, women are renouncing the role of woman and have to pay heavily for it as it lead them finally to the negation of life itself. They are thus losing their grace and charm, sweetness and modest trait. Allama Iqbal denounces the attitude of Western women in the following verse.
Islam has prohibited the free mixing up of the sexes for the reason that a woman unconsciously submit to the flattery and advance of a man. She is overpowered by sentiments and emotions rather easily. It is a familiar fact that in America and Western countries there is much moral degeneration and chaos. The free mixing up of young boys and girls in colleges, clubs, ball-rooms and hostels provide vast opportunities of petting, necking and scandalous behaviour. They indulge fearlessly and unhesitatingly in wicked practices. The fee intermingling of the sexes has dragged women into the quagmire of pleasure, sensuality and luxury. By the segregation of the two sexes and keeping them apart through the observance of seclusion (purdah). Islam has minimised the chances of moral lapse and hateful deeds to a great extent. In this way the honour of a woman is saved. She cannot be humiliated and molested. When veiled, her beauty and ugliness invites no criticism from the wicked-minded persons.
Apart from view point of morality. Women, who do not wear veil, have to worry a lot for their make-up and costly fashionable dresses. On the other hand, a veiled lady may wear simple and uncontentious dress and go about her business without any fear of curious remarks and uncalled for criticism. She needs not get crazy after preposterous fashions and gaudy dresses. In fact, a veil is a blessing for a virtuous woman. It is travesty of the truth that purdah-observing women are consigned to the four-walls. On the contrary the are at liberty to go out for shopping, attending marriages of their relatives and seeing their kith and kin. The young girls can attend their schools and colleges and other institutions. The veil in no way hinders them from decent pursuit, educational activities and smile recreations.
In the West, women are renouncing the role of woman and have to pay heavily for it as it lead them finally to the negation of life itself. They are thus losing their grace and charm, sweetness and modest trait. Allama Iqbal denounces the attitude of Western women in the following verse.
Jis ilm ki taateer se zan
hoti hai nazan,
Kehte hn us ilm ko arbaab-e-nazar maut.
(The knowledge that make woman unwoman, the wise people call it a death)
Kehte hn us ilm ko arbaab-e-nazar maut.
(The knowledge that make woman unwoman, the wise people call it a death)
And again
Ruswa kia is daur ko jalwat
ki hawas ne,
Roshan hai nigah, ‘aaina’ dil hai mukadar.
(The greed of display in society has degraded the present generation, the glance is bright but the mirror of mind is dirty).
Roshan hai nigah, ‘aaina’ dil hai mukadar.
(The greed of display in society has degraded the present generation, the glance is bright but the mirror of mind is dirty).
The purdah-observing Muslim ladies are safe, resected and honoured in their homes. They are free from the burden and responsibility of earning their livelihood by adopting arduous profession and competing with men. They do not attend clubs, ball-rooms and cocktail parties. Home provides them with all the comforts and they lead respectable life. They are free from the contamination of evil communication and the unchaste and immoral needs.
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