By KASHIF AHMED SHAHZADA
DRESS
CODE
- Why women should
cover parts of their body
Women have been identified in the Quran as an adornment (zeenah) for all Mankind. Made ATTRACTIVE FOR MANKIND, the love of the lusts for WOMEN and sons and hoarded treasures of gold and silver, (3:14).
Since women (Nisa) are termed an adornment or attraction (zeenah), they are required to cover certain parts of their bodies. Note that Women are an adornment for mankind is quite evident all over the world in all societies. The media is one example were she is quite abundantly promoted and made as an attraction in place of men.
Now since women are an open attraction because of her bodily features, she is required to cover some parts of herself in public. But before we see what are the physical ingredients of her dress, let us see what Quran says about the best of dresses (Libaas).
WHAT IS THE BEST DRESS?
O children of Adam! Surely We sent down to you a garment
(LIBASS) that would cover your shame and be a good vesture. And
the garment of TAKWA (Piety) that is the best. That
is from the Ayat (Signs) of Allah that they may take
reminder [7:26].
The above verse says that the
best dress is the garment of takwa or
piety. Before wearing any physical garment we should adorn
ourselves with the garment of takwa as without it we
become prone to Satans planning [7:27].
INGREDIENT OF
WOMENS DRESS IN PUBLIC
About the areas to be
covered by women in public, is mentioned in Sura An Noor 24:31,
Allah informs us through His Messenger, And say to the
Believing Women, to lower their gaze and guard their private
parts. And they should not display their adornment
(zinatahunne) save what is apparent therefrom. And
they should place their covers (khummuruhenne) over
their bosoms.
And they should not display their adornment except to their
husbands or their fathers or the fathers of their husbands or
their sons of their husbands or their brothers or their
brothers sons or sisters sons or their women or those
whom their right hand possess or skillful men under their
authority or small children who are not aware of womens
nakedness.
And they should not strike their feet so as to make known what they hide of their adornment. O Believers turn you all together to Allah so that you may be successful [24:31].
From the above verse the following points can be concluded:
1. Women have two types of
zeenah i.e. beauty and adornment.
a) ma zahar a minha i.e. what is apparent therefrom.
b) ma yukhfaina min zinata hunne that which is hidden
from their adornment(Zennah)
2. She is to cover her whole self publicly except those areas
which are apparent therefrom. (ma zahara minha) these areas are
the exposed areas which if covered will restrict daily work and
have to be uncovered for performing ablution before the Salat
prayer. See Sura 5:6.
3. They are to place their covers, for example a shawl or a
dupatta as worn by Asian women, over their bosoms. (wa
leyazribanne be khummureheene alaa jyuubehenne). In
Sura 33:59 they also ordered to bring over them their over
garments (jalabeeb) while going in public:
[33:59] O Prophet! Say to your wives and your daughters and
the women of the believers that THEY LET DOWN UPON THEM THEIR
OVERGARMENTS, this will be more proper, THAT THEY MAY BE
RECOGNISED, and thus they will not be molested, and Allah is
Forgiving Merciful. In public she is to take
Jilbaab or over garment over herself according to
above verse.
4. They are not to strike their feet so as to display their
hidden adornment (zeenah). Hidden zeenah is the one
which gets displayed by striking feet or walking, as mentioned in
the verse. This zeenah which is displayed by striking
feet is to be covered at all times, and the dress should be loose
enough so as not to reveal the shape and features of the body
which become obvious when the woman strikes her feet
or walks.
5. With her bosoms covered well, and dress loose enough so as not
to reveal her hidden, she is to maintain this type of dress in
public in front of all relations. The only exceptions are:
(1) Husband
(2) Fathers (Includes Grandparents as well)
(3) The Fathers of their Husbands
(4) Their sons
(5) The sons of their husbands
(6) Their brothers
(7) Their brothers sons
(8) Their sisters sons
(9) Their women
(10) Those whom their right hands posses
(11) Skillful men under their authority
(12) Small children who are not aware of womens nakedness.
HOW ARE BELIEVING
WOMEN TO BEHAVE WITH UN RELATED MEN?
In talking with
un-related men or strangers the believing women are informed
about the type of behaviour they should maintain. Allah informs
us the Messenger : O Women of the Prophet! You are not like
any of the (other) women, if you do guard (againstevil) BE NOT
TOO COMPLACENT OF SPEECH lest one in whose heart is a disease
should be moved with desire, but speak in such a way (that is )
just [33:32].
WOMEN TO MAINTAIN A
LINK WITH THEIR HOME AND FAMILY. NOT TO DECORATE THEMSELVES TO MUCH.
[33:33] And make
your homes your bases and DO NOT DISPLAY YOUR DECORATION LIKE THE
DISPLAYING OF DAYS OF IGNORANCE, and establish Salat for
purification, and obey Allah and His Messenger. Allah only
desires to keep away uncleanness from you, O people of the House!
And to purify you a (through) purifying.
MARY AS AN EXAMPLE
Mary the mother of
Jesus is mentioned in the Quran as the women chosen and purified
above all the women of all the worlds [3:42]. And when the
angels said: O Mary! Surely Allah has chosen you and purified you
and exalted you above all the women of the world. She has
also been called an example for the believers in Sura 66:12.
In observing her behaviour mentioned
in the Quran, we see that as she carries the young Jesus with
her, to her people, they recognise her. Now had she been wearing
a veil (Niqab) her people would not have identified her
immediately as she appeared from seclusion. This informs us that
she was not covering her face, that is not wearing a
niqab, as mentioned in the following verse;
[19:27-30] And she came to her people with him, carrying
him (with her). They (having recognised her) said: O Mary! Surely
you have done a strange thing.
O sister of Haroon! Your father was not a bad man, nor was your
mother an unchaste woman. But she pointed to him.
They said: How should we speak to one who was a child in the
cradle? He (Jesus) said: Surely I am a servant of Allah, He has
given me the Book and made me a prophet.
Marys people recognising her indicates that she was not wearing a Niqab to protect her face from being seen. In the Quran there is further evidence which negates the practice of wearing Miqab (Face covers and veils).
After Allah informs the Messenger about Marriage with certain relations He further reminds: [33:52] It is not allowed to you to take women afterwards, nor that you should change them for other wives, THOUGH THEIR BEAUTY BE PLEASING TO YOU, except what your right hand possess and Allah is watchful over all things.
In the above verse it is clearly
mentioned that the Messenger is also in a position to see
Husn i.e. Beauty of women and this clearly
establishes that women not related to the Prophet did not wear
Niqab or veils to cover their faces when they used to
appear in front of the Messenger.
CAN WOMEN TALK TO
MEN TO WHOM THEY ARE NOT RELATED (NOT MARRIED)? AND UNDER WHAT
CIRCUMSTANCES?
In the Quran we have
the example of the Messenger Moses as he himself is holding a
conversion with two women who are not married to him yet. This
conversation is clearly indicating that women who are not related
can talk to men provided it is for important tasks only and not
complacent speech.
[28:23] And when he came to the water of Madyan, he found
on it a group of men watering, and he found besides them TWO
WOMEN keeping back (their flocks).
He said: What is the matter with you: They said: We cannot water
until the shepherds take away (their sheep) from the water, and
our father is a very old man.
So he watered (their sheep) for them, then went back to the shade
and said: My Sustainer I stand in need of whatever good thou
mayest send down to me.
Then one of the two women came to him walking bashfully. She
said: My father invites you that he gives you the reward of your
having watered for us.
So when he came to him and gave him the account, he said: Fear
not, you are secure from the unjust people. Said one of them: O
my father! Employ him, surely the best of those that you can
employ is the strong man, the faithful one.
CAN WOMEN WORK TO
EARN A LIVING?
Although the
responsibility to provide for the family has been laid upon the
man, if required, women can also earn income. (To be kept in mind
that at work he has to follow the injunctions of the Quran for
her social behaviour). The Quran informs us that women can also
earn to make a living, [4:32] Do not covet what Allah has
favoured some with more than He has some others. Men have a share
in what they earn and WOMEN have a share IN WHAT THEY EARN. And
ask Allah for His favours. Surely Allah has knowledge of
everything.
RESPECTING THE
PRIVACY OF OTHERS MEETING PEOPLE WITH PERMISSION.
[24:27] O you who believe! Do not enter houses
other than your own houses UNTIL YOU HAVE ASKED PERMISSION and
saluted their inhabitants, this is better for you, that you may
be mindful.
[24:28] But if you do not find
any one therein, then do not enter them until permission is given
to you, and if it is said to you, Go back, then go back, this is
purer for you and Allah is Cognisant of what you do.
ENTERING HOUSES
WITH PERMISSION SEGREGATION IN SOCIAL GATHERINGS.
[33:53] O you who believe! Do not enter the houses of the
Prophet UNLESS PERMISSION IS GIVEN TO YOU for a meal, not waiting
for its cooking being finished but when you are invited, enter
and when you taken the food, then leave not seeking to listen to
familiar talk, surely this gives the Prophet trouble, but he
embarrassed to ask you to leave, but Allah does not forbear from
the truth And when you ask of them (The Prophets Wives) anything
ASK OF THEM FROM BEHIND A CURTAIN, this is purer for your hearts
and (for) their hearts, and does not behove you that you should
give trouble to the Messenger of Allah, nor that you should marry
his wives after him ever, surely this is grievous in the sight of
Allah.
BELIEVING MEN TO
MAINTAIN PROPER CONDUCT AS WELL.
[24:30] Say to
the believing men that they subdue their eyes and keep chaste,
that is purer for them, surely Allah is aware of what they
do.
The believers guard their chastity, this trait is further clarified in Sura 23, [23:1] Successful indeed are the BELIEVERS, [23:2] Those who are humble in their Salat, [23:3] And who keep aloof from what is vain, [23:4] And who purify themselves, [23:5] AND WHO RESTRAIN THEIR CARNAL DESIRES, [23:6] Except before their spouses or those whom their right hands possess, do they have sexual relations without blame, [23:7] But whoever seeks to go beyond that, these are they exceed the limits.
From the verses the dress code can
be summed up as follows;
Dress should be loose enough so that the obvious parts of the
body are not made apparent when she walks or strikes her feet.
[24:31] an extra covering should be taken over the bosoms.
[24:31]. Only those parts which are apparent therefrom [24:31]
are to be exposed i.e. the areas as mentioned in [5:6].
When talking, speech should not be
too soft [33:32] and women should not bedeck herself too much as
she is already made zeenah an adornment for mankind.
[33:33] & [3:14] One important reason that the Quran gives as
to why believing women should maintain a proper dress code is
given in [33:59]
Zalika adna ayyurafna falla
yuzaina
That (dress code to be maintained) so that
they may be recognised and should not be molested
WHAT ABOUT THE
TRADITION OF HEADCOVERS AND VEILS?
The headcovers are
clearly mentioned not in the Quran but in the BIBLE as
St.Pauls instructions, But every Women who prays or
prophesies with HER HEAD UNCOVERED dishonoured her head, for that
is one and the same as if her head were shaved. For if a women is
not covered let her also be shorn But if it is shameful for women
to be shorn or shaved LET HER BE COVERED. [Bible1
Corinthians 11:5-6]
Also traditional Jewish teachings have the type of
hijab that is famous today among many women i.e. only
the eyes showing. Do note that in the Quran we are also informed
about some unbelievers who cover themselves up with
garments. Can you identify these people?
Behold! They fold up their hearts that they may lie hid from Him! Ah even when they COVER THEMSELVES WITH THEIR GARMENTS He knoweth what they conceal and what they reveal, for He knoweth well the (innermost secrets) of the hearts [11:5]
And whenever I have called them that Thou (Allah) mayest forgive them, they put their fingers in their ears, COVER THEMSELVES UP WITH THEIR GARMENTS, and persist and are puffed up with pride [71:7].
Can you identify who are these
unbelievers who are covering themselves up with garments?