saallaammm
The pagan Arabs in pre-Islamic period insisted that people from places other than Makkah could
only do their tawaf around Ka’aba either naked or wearing clothes made in Makkah only. When Muslims
stopped that practice and did their tawaf wearing ordinary clothes, those pagans ridiculed them. This twisted
logic finds echoes in every ignorant society, as we see in the contemporary ignorant societies. Those pagan
Arabs received their notions concerning their nakedness or the condition for clothes from their false lords who
fooled them and manipulated their ignorance to ensure that their supremacy in Arabia remained unchallenged.
Later societies followed the same pattern and received their notions from their priests and chiefs. The same
applies to the non-believers of today who cannot challenge the conceits that the false lords are keen to
establish. The fashion houses and designers are the lords who present the designs which is blindly followed by
the men and women in the societies of today. Those lords have only to come up with their fashions and they are
slavishly observed by the multitude throughout the world. Whether this year’s fashion or the cosmetics in vogue
are suitable to a particular person or not, it must still be adopted, or they would be subjected to the ridicule of
others who have no say in their own affairs. The verses quoted remind of Allah’s grace when Allah puts this
question: “Who has forbidden the adornment Allah has produced for His servants, …” At the same time Allah
forbids indecencies, be they open or secret. In following the fashions blindly, when indecency creeps, we are
guilty of following a forbidden practice. The question of dress and fashion is not separate from Allah’s law and
the way of life He laid down for mankind. Hence, it is linked in this Surah to the question of faith. There are
indeed several aspects linking it to faith and the divine law. It has a direct relationship with the question of
Lordship and the authority which has the power to issue legislation in these matters that have a profound
influence on morals, the economy and other aspects of life. Fashion and dress have direct bearing on
enhancing the human qualities in man and giving prominence over carnal qualities. Ignorance distorts
concepts, values and tastes, making nakedness, which is an animal quality, an aspect of progress and
advancement, while considering propriety backward and old-fashioned. There can be no clearer distortion of
human nature. We find some people advocating ignorance and protesting: What has religion got to do with
fashion, cosmetics or how women dress? This is only the twisted logic that is characteristic of ignorance
everywhere and in all generations. This question, which often appears to be only a side issue, has such a great
importance in the Islamic view. Since it relates to the question of faith and to promoting sound human nature
and preserving proper human value, the surah concludes its discussion with a very strong and inspiring
comment that is normally used with major issues of faith. These comments remind human beings that their term
on earth is limited, and that when it draws to a close, they cannot delay or hasten it at all. This is a basic
concept of faith which serves here as a reminder so that dormant hearts wake up and realize that they must not
let themselves be deluded by the apparently unending life.
Jaawan
Till next timeK_I_S_S