Re: Wearing Of Hijab Not Required By Quran: Egyptian Scholar
Assalamualaikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatahu,
I have compiled extracts from the writings of eminent personages for the benefit of the peoples who seek the truth, also please reply if you want to know exactly who wrote these words and where I got these extracts from, JazakAllah:
*"THE VEIL
*
Today the veil is under attack, but the critics do not know
that the Islamic veil does not mean imprisonment; rather
it is a barrier which seeks to restrict the free mixing of
men and women. The veil will protect them from stumbling.
Wisdom behind the System of Veil
A fair-minded person will appreciate that the free mixing
of men and women and their going about together would
expose them to the risk of succumbing to the flare of
their emotions. It has been observed that some people see
no harm in a man and woman being alone together behind
closed doors. This is considered civilized behaviour.
To avoid such untoward situations from arising, the Law-
Giver of Islam has forbidden all such acts as might prove
to be a temptation for anyone.
In a situation of this kind where a man and a woman,
whom the law does not allow to meet thus, happen to
meet privately, Satan becomes the third member of this
party. Imagine the harm that is being done in Europe in
consequence of such reckless freedom. In certain parts of
Europe a life of shameless promiscuity is being led
which is the end product of such thinking. If you want to
save a trust, you have to stand guard over it. But if you
are not watchful, then remember that despite the people
being ostensibly nice, the trust will definitely be violated.
Islamic teaching in this behalf safeguards social life
against unlawful indulgence by keeping men and women
apart. Free mixing leads to the kind of destruction of
family life and frequent suicides that have become common
in Europe. That some women, who otherwise belong
to noble families adopt the ways of prostitutes, is
the direct result of the prevailing freedom.
The Islamic system of the veil does not at all require
women to be shut up as in a prison. What the Holy
Qur’an directs is that women should avoid displaying
their beauty and should not look at strange men. Those
women who have to go out in order to fulfil their responsibilities
may do so, but they must guard their glances.
However much the Aryas may dislike the Muslims and
be averse to Islamic teachings, I would earnestly request
them not to do away with the veil completely, as the resulting
evils will make themselves felt sooner or later.
Any intelligent person will appreciate that a large portion
of humanity is governed by natural desires and, under the
sway of the baser self, pays no heed to Divine chastisement.
At the sight of young and beautiful women most
men can’t help but stare. Women too do not hesitate to
stare at strangers. Such unrestricted freedom will result in
the kind of situation prevalent in Europe today. When
people become truly purified and shed their baser appetites,
and get rid of the Satanic spirit and when they have
the fear of God in their eyes, and when they become fully
conscious of the majesty of God, and they bring about a
transformation and adorn the robes of Taqwa, only then
will they have the right to do what they like; for then
they will be like pawns in God’s hands and, in a manner
of speaking, they will cease to be males, their eyes will
become oblivious to the sight of women and to such evil
thoughts. But dear ones, may God direct your hearts,
time is not right for this. If you usher in freedom today,
you will sow a poisonous seed in your culture. These are
difficult times. Even if it was not needed before, the veil
is essential now, because this is the last era of mankind,
and the earth is full of vice, debauchery and drunkenness.
Hearts are filled with atheism and are devoid of respect
for Divine commandments. Tongues are so loquacious
and lectures are loaded with logic and philosophy, but
the hearts are empty of spirituality. At such a time it
would be a folly to expose your helpless sheep to the
mercy of wolves.
Many people urge the adoption of permissiveness like
that prevalent in Europe, but this would be most unwise.
Such unbridled freedom of sexes is the root of all
immorality. Look at the moral situation in countries that
have adopted this freedom. If freedom of sexes has
helped increase their chastity and virtue, we will readily
confess that we were mistaken. But it is crystal clear that
when men and women are young, and have the licence to
mix freely, their relationship will be most dangerous. It is
but human to exchange glances and be overwhelmed by
lustful desires. As there is intemperance and vice, despite
the observance of the veil, it may be imagined what the
situation will be like in case of unrestricted freedom.
Look at men, how unbridled their behaviour is! They
have neither fear of God nor faith in the hereafter. They
only worship mundane pleasures. It is necessary
therefore, that before granting such freedom as is being
advocated, the moral condition of men should be
improved and rectified. After men have developed
enough self-temperance to restrain control their passions,
you may consider whether the veil is necessary or not. To
insist upon unrestricted freedom in the present
circumstances would be like putting sheep at the mercy
of lions.
What ails our people that they do not reflect upon the
consequences of things? Let them at least take counsel
with their consciences whether the condition of men is so
much improved that women may go about among them
unveiled. The Holy Qur’an, which lays down appropriate
directions consistent with the natural desires and weaknesses
of men, adopts an excellent position in this regard:
‘Tell the believing men to restrain their looks and to
guard their private parts. This is the act through which
they will attain purification….’(24:30)
The Islamic injunction that men and women should both
restrain themselves in certain ways, aims at safeguarding
them against slipping and stumbling; for, in the early
stages human beings are inclined towards vice, and, at
the slightest provocation, fall upon it as a starving person
falls on delicious food. It is every one’s duty to safeguard
himself.
*Remedies for Unchastity
*
God Almighty has not only set forth excellent teaching
for acquiring chastity, but has also furnished man with
five remedies to safeguard himself against unchastity.
These are to restrain one’s eyes from gazing at women
who are outside the prohibited degrees; to avoid listening
to their voices, to refrain from hearing stories about
them, to avoid occasions which might furnish incitement
to vice and to control oneself during celibacy through
fasting, etc.
We can confidently claim that this excellent teaching
with all its devices that is set forth in the Holy Qur’an is
peculiar to Islam. However, one point should be kept in
mind: since the natural condition of man, which is the
source of his appetites, and from which he cannot depart
without a complete change in himself, is such that his
passions are bound to be roused when they are confronted
with the occasion and opportunity for indulging
in such vice, God Almighty has, therefore, not instructed
us that we may freely look at women outside the prohibited
category, and we may contemplate their beauty and
observe all their movements in dance, etc., but that we
should do so with pure looks. Nor have we been instructed
to listen to the singing of these women and to
lend ear to the tales of their beauty, but with pure intent.
Instead we have been positively prohibited from looking
at their beauty, whether with pure intent or otherwise, or
listening to their musical voices or relating descriptions
of their beauty, whether with pure intent or otherwise.
We have been directed to eschew all this as we eschew
carrion, lest we stumble due to our unlawful glances.
As God Almighty desires that our eyes and hearts and all
our limbs and our susceptibilities should remain pure, He
has furnished us with this excellent teaching. There can
be no doubt that lack of restraint causes missteps. If we
place soft bread before a hungry dog, it will be vain to
hope that the dog will pay no attention to it. Thus God
Almighty desired that human faculties should not be
provided with any occasion for secret functioning and
should not be confronted with anything that might incite
dangerous tendencies.
This indeed is the philosophy that underlies the Islamic
injunctions regarding the veil, and this is what the
Shariah demands. The Book of God does not aim at
keeping women in captivity like prisoners. This is the
thinking of the ignorant who are not aware of the Islamic
ideals. The purpose of these regulations is to restrain men
and women from letting their eyes rove freely and from
displaying their beauty and charm, for this is to the benefit
of both men and women. Remember, in Arabic
*Ghadd-e-Basar *means to restrain oneself from casting
even a cursory glance at the wrong place, while at the
same time seeing things which are permissible.
It does not behove a pious person, who desires to keep
his heart pure, that he should lift his eyes in an unbridled
manner like a beast. It is necessary for such a person to
cultivate the habit of *Ghadd-e-Basar *in his social life.
This is a blessed habit through which a person’s natural
impulses are transferred into a high moral condition
without adversely affecting his social needs. This is the
quality which, in Islam, is called *Ihsan *or chastity.
Extreme Attitudes about the Veil
People have adopted extreme attitudes in respect of the
veil. Europe has gone to one extreme in abolishing it altogether
and now some naturalists too wish to follow
suit, whereas it is patent that this licentiousness has flung
open the gates of vice in Europe. On the other hand,
some Muslims go to the other extreme and do not let
their women step out of their homes at all, even though it
is often necessary for them to travel or to go out on account
of some other need. We believe that both these
types are in error."
From Essence of Islam Vol.III
"HIJAB (THE VEIL)
The teachings of Islam concerning hijab (the veil) and segregation of the sexes is probably the most confusing and difficult to accept for Western society. This is because of the widespread and erroneous notion that observing hijab is a heavy restriction imposed on Muslim women. In fact, the very opposite is true. You will find that hijab is a means of protecting women, and providing them with freedom from many social ills. The word "purdah" is also used to describe the concept and the practice of hijab.
Islam provides guidance not only for individuals, but also lays down rules for the good of all society. In this case, the institution of hijab/purdah guards the moral condition of society. Muslim women not only have responsibilities as wife, mother and daughter, they also share with men the responsibility of upholding the moral standard of society. The Holy Qur'an has laid down that one of the methods that men and women are to use to achieve that goal is hijab. It says:
*"Say to the believing men that they restrain their eyes and guard their private parts. That is purer for them. Surely, Allah is well aware of what they do." (24:31) *
And
*"Say to the believing women that they restrain their looks and guard their private parts, and that they display not their beauty or their embellishment except that which is apparent thereof, and that they draw their head coverings over their bosoms....." (24:32) *
The verse goes on to list close relatives from whom observing hijab/purdah is not necessary.
From these verses it is made clear that both men and women are to conduct themselves with modesty and propriety at all times, and especially when in each other's presence. This teaching is based on the fact that Islam recognizes that "prevention is the better part of a cure." So segregation of the sexes is prescribed so that situations which cannot be controlled afterwards, are not allowed to develop in the first place. In this way, erosion of moral values can be prevented, and society is safeguarded from problems such as adultery, teenage pregnancies and sexually transmitted diseases.
The Holy Qur'an requires that Muslim women dress modestly, cover their heads and wear an outer garment to conceal their beauty from strangers. However, you must understand that this physical covering is the only first step to developing hijab. The true and full observance of hijab/purdah is achieved when "veiling" extends to a man or woman's mind and heart. This means that one should veil or shield his/her mind and heart from impure and immoral thoughts when in contact with the opposite sex. One's thoughts, words and actions should reflect a sisterly love and respect towards fellow beings. This behavior leads to one's own moral upliftment, and also creates an atmosphere where men and women, instead of resenting and degrading each other, treat each other with respect and understanding.
Another verse of the Holy Qur'an states:
*"O Prophet! tell thy wives and thy daughters, and the women of the believers, that they should pull down upon them of their outer cloaks from their heads over their faces. That is more likely that they may thus be recognized and not molested. And Allah is Most Forgiving, Merciful." (33:60) *
A woman who is following the rules of hijab in her dress and actions is not likely to be treated in a disrespectful way by men. Thus hijab/purdah provides Muslim women with freedom from some of the problems that women in Western society are facing today. In Islam woman is not regarded as a "sex object," nor is she exploited or harassed in this demeaning manner. As you are probably aware, various feminist movements are trying to deal with these issues today, sometimes with little success.
Islam has undoubtedly given woman dignity and honor through hijab/purdah, and has provided a protection for her so that she can pursue her activities more freely. This gives Muslim women peace of mind. You may have noticed that most Muslim women who follow the practice of hijab/purdah appear to be more relaxed and at ease with themselves. This is because Islam has reduced the importance of physical appearance as a mark of self-esteem. A Muslim woman is free to develop in herself other talents, and does not have to rely on her physical beauty to achieve what she wants. At the same time when a woman practices hijab/purdah in the true manner, she fulfills her responsibility to society and gains satisfaction in the knowledge that she is able to gain nearness to Allah.
(For more information on wearing hijab/purdah, please see Chapter 4)."
*From Pathway to *Paradise Ch. 2
