Veiling of women is generally considered a sign of backwardness while women’s bare-facedness is taken as a symbol of advancement. On the other hand, it is a historic fact that prior to the advent of Islam, bare facedness of women was the sign of ignorance. In that era, men and women did not bother much moving about stark naked. The same is happening in the West now a days. This only indicates that bare-facedness of women is a return to the era of ignorance and not a token of advancement.
The women fold these days are keen for progress and they love modern ways of life. How can they accept the obligation of veiling that prohibits their unhindered and free mixing up with men. Islam teaches modesty and segregation of women from men. It does not permit free movement of women outside her house. Therefore, there is no room for such advancement in this religion. An advanced and modern lady needs hours for make-up before she feels herself fit for moving around in the company of men. She must dress herself up well and use best perfumes to be able to attract people. She has also to carry with herself necessary kit for overcoming the make-up losses from time to time. It is her utmost desire to beautify her face that is the central point of others’ attention.
But Allah’s Messenger (SAW) says:
“Bare-faced, shameless women, while moving about in the streets, serves as ropes of Satan, and with their help, Satan ties up men and pulls them towards itself.”
According to a Tradition recorded by Tirmidhi, Allah’s Messenger (SAW) said:
“A woman who moves about flirtatious amidst strangers would not see any light during the darkness of the Day of Judgment.”
The Holy Prophet Muhammad (SAW) said:
“The women who look naked even after putting on clothes are cursed by Allah.”
Another tradition of Allah’s Messenger (SAW) says,
“The women who appear to be naked even while putting on costumes, who roam about bare-faced in the bazaars to attract others, who themselves get close to other, and who tie up their hair above their heads looking like the hump of a camel, not to speak of entering Paradise, they won’t even find it’s smell.”
The Prophet (SAW) also said,
“A woman who moves about in the midst of men after perfuming her body, is a characterless woman.” (Muslim)
Allah (SWT) says,
“Verily, those who like that (the crime of) illegal sexual intercourse would be propagated among those who believe, they will have a painful torment in this world and in the Hereafter. And Allah knows and you know not.” (Surah An-Nur 39:19)
And the Holy Prophet (SAW) said,
“The eyes too commit adultery. Their adultery is gazing (at women and obscene actions).”
Unfortunately, these days, we find more women in our bazaars than men. It is, therefore, difficult for men to lower their eyes in the streets. Although the men folk are sinful on this account, the women moving about in streets are greater sinners because it is their free, bare-faced movement that is the actual cause of the sinning of men.
Allah (SWT) enjoins the believing women in the Quran,
“You should stick to your homes.”
This verse however does not mean that the Muslim women are not to go outside the house as and when necessary. But they are to go out veiled properly and in accordance with the conditions laid down by the Shariah.
The Holy Prophet (SAW) is reported to have said,
“He who casts an evil eye on the beauty of a stranger (not related) woman, on the day of Judgment, melted glass will be poured into his eyes.” (Fathul Qadeer)
A question validly arises here. Are not the women fold responsible for such horrifying punishment to the men? Nowadays, young girls and women go to schools and colleges and also the bazaars. They go there frequently and certainly not for some noble cause. They are aware of the presence of youngsters who roam about in the streets and roads, in search of their prey. With this in view, noble girls and women do not go out of their homes and whenever they HAVE to move out of for some NECESSITY, they go fully veiled.
Strangely enough, it is a common sight in the bazaars that while the aged mother is fully veiled herself, young daughter accompanying her go bare-faced and unveiled. Because of this, not only they daughter would be sinful, but her parents would be greater sinners.
Allah’s Messenger (SAW) is reported to have said,
“Whoso brings up his two daughters in accordance with Islam and imparts them Islamic teachings, on the Day of Judgment, he and I would be close to each other like two fingers of my hand.”
Unfortunately, most of the parents these days don’t bother for imparting Islamic education to their children. Quite natural, then that the young boys and girls today don’t know the names of the wives of the Holy Prophet (SAW) and the companions although they have on their finger tips the names of film stars and players. This should give us an idea of our true relationship with Islam and our concern for the Islamic way of life. And yet we claim to be Muslims.
I believe that the Muslim women of the present era can do great service to Islam if she stays back at her h home and brings up her children on true Islamic lines. They can bring up their wards as generals, politicians, scientists, etc. Instead of competing with the menfolk and walking shoulder to shoulder with them, the women should strive to bring up their boys as Ibn Abbas, Ibn Masud (RU) and other Companions of the Prophet (SAW).
This indeed would be a great service to the country and the nation. During the period of Caliph Umar (RA) the Muslim women did not stand shoulder to shoulder with the menfolk, yet they helped their men conquer a vast area spread over 2.2 million square miles simply because while staying at home, they brought up their young ones imbibing in their minds the true faith in Allah’ (SWT) monotheism, and the Prophet (SAW) and instilling in them spirit of sacrifice and obedience to Allah’s Messenger (SAW). No wonder then Allah’s (SWT) enemies - the Britishers were forced to acknowledge that if Umar (RA) had lived some more years there would not have been any other in the world today except Islam.
In short, the Quranic injunctions regarding veiling of the women are crystal clear. According to the teachings of the Quran and the Sunnah, only chaste women observant of the obligation to veil, are true Believers. They are the protectors of their chastity and honor and strictly follow other Islamic injunctions. The women who lack these qualities, are not true Believers.