Parda in Islam

PARDA (VEIL) IN THE LIGHT OF QURAN AND SUNNAH ABSTRACT The cold war began between the religions and the best subject for west is women to create uncertainty between religions. They are continuously hitting Muslim women with the weapon of Human Rights. From last couple of years the big issue is revolving in west and it create many mess is Parda(veil). The say that parda is human rights violation and Parda humiliates the women dignity. But the Noble Quran says Parda (veil) creates respectful environment for women. If we read bible it also taught women the importance of Parda(veil).In Old Testament we read Rebekah also looked up and saw Isaac. She got down from her camel  and asked the servant, â€Å"Who is that man in the field coming to meet us? â€Å"He is my master,† the servant answered. So she took her veil  and covered herself. (Genesis: 24:64-65) In New Testament And every woman who prays or prophesies with her head uncovered dishonors her head–it is just as t hough her head were shaved. If a woman does not cover her head, she should have her hair cut off; and if it is a disgrace for a woman to have her hair cut or shaved off, she should cover her head. 1 Corinthians: 11:5-6) Islam the religion of peace stresses the relationship between body and mind. The ultimate goal of Parda is righteousness of the heart because in covering the body one shields the heart from impurities. Women of Islam wear Parda and loose clothing to fulfill the command of Allah Subhan wa tala. It encourages them to be modest and not to dress in a manner that attracts men. The Parda (veil) can take many forms, The Hijab The Niqaab The Burqa In first hijab, generally refers to covering only head and neck, leaving face uncovered.This covering may have many styles but its main purpose is to cover the hairs properly. In Niqaab is generally understood as clothing that covers the face as well as head, with the eyes showing. The Burqa is a complete and proper form of Parda w hich covers the body of women from head to toe. This form of Parda (veil) is seen in many region of Islamic world. It may have many different styles and according to the cultural and traditional influence. Key Words: Islam, Parda(veil), Quran, Hadith(Sunna) Islam: Islam is not a new religion, but the same truth that Allah revealed through all His prophets to every people.Muslims follow a religion of peace, mercy, and forgiveness, and the majority has nothing to do with the extremely grave events that have come to be associated with their faith. All the prophets sent by Allah brought the same message, i. e. believing in the oneness of Allah and the prophet Mohammad (Sal-Allaho-Alay-hay-Wasal-lam) as his last messenger. We, Muslims, believe in the Bible as the word of God and that it’s not in its exact and right form. We believe that Old Testament, Muslims call it Torat, was revealed to Prophet Moses (Musa) and New Testament, Muslims call it Injeel, was revealed o Prophet Jesus (Isa) peace be upon them. Since they were changed by people Allah sent the last testament, that is, the Holy Quran revealed to Prophet Mohammad (Sal-Allaho-Alay-hay-Wasal-lam) and it’s been 1400 years and not even a vowel of the Quran has been changed. It’s in its exact and perfect form. Christianity is closer to Islam than any other religion. We don’t believe in Jesus Christ (May peace be upon him) as Son of God but believe in him as a mighty messenger of Allah. We believe in his miraculous birth. There is one chapter in the Quran in the name of the mother of Jesus Christ (P.B. U. H) as â€Å"Chapter Mary†. http://www. cometoislam. com/aboutislam. htm Parda (veil): Hijab is the term used by many Muslim women to describe their head cover that may or may not include covering their face except their eyes and sometimes also covering one eye. The Arabic word Hijab can be translated into veil or yashmak. Other meanings for the word Hijab include screen, cover (ing), mantle, curtain, drapes, partition, division, and divider. http://www. pakideas. com/node/161 Socialists oppose both approaches, for us it is the right of every woman to wear or not to wear the veil.The state and the religious right have no right to interfere in the personal lives of individuals. Every woman has the right to choose. Most Muslims think that it is wrong to force women to remove the veil, but for some it is not wrong to force women to wear the veil. Socialists oppose a ban on the veil but they also oppose the forced wearing of the veil. This debate is mainly focused on Muslim communities living in Europe. But very few things have been said about Muslim women of the so-called Islamic countries. ( http://www. socialistworld. net/doc/2554)Quran: The Quran is a complete record of the exact words revealed by Allah through the Angel Gabriel to the Prophet Muhammad (Sal-Allaho-Alay-hay-Wasal-lam). It’s the principal source of every Muslim’s faith and prac tice. It deals with all subjects that concern us as human beings; wisdom, doctrine, worship, and law. But its basic theme is the relationship between Allah and His creatures. At the same time the Quran provides guidelines for a just society, proper human conduct and equitable economic principles. Apart from the Quran, Muslims also refer to the life of the Prophet Muhammad (Sal-Allaho-Alay-hay-Wasal-lam). http://www. cometoislam. om/quran. htm Hadith: Hadeeth means the words, actions, approval or attributes that have been narrated from the Messenger (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him). A hadeeth may either confirm things that are mentioned in the Qur'aan, such as prayer, zakaah, etc. , or it may give details of things that are mentioned in the Qur'aan in general terms, such as the numbers of rak'ahs in each prayer, the thresholds for paying zakaah, the details of Hajj, etc. It may also explain rulings which are not mentioned in the Qur'aan, such as the prohibition on being ma rried to a woman and her (paternal or maternal) aunt at the same time.Allaah revealed the Qur'aan to His Messenger Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) and commanded him to explain it to the people, as He said (interpretation of the meaning): â€Å"And We have also sent down unto you (O Muhammad) the Dhikr [reminder and the advice (i. e. the Qur'aan)], that you may explain clearly to men what is sent down to them, and that they may give thought† [al-Nahl 16:44] http://wiki. answers. com/Q/What_is_Hadees-e-Nabawi PARDA (VEIL) IN THE LIGHT OF QURAN AND SUNNAH â€Å"O Prophet, tell your wives and your daughters and the women of the believers to bring down over themselves [part] of their outer garments.That is more suitable that they will be known and not be abused. And ever is Allah Forgiving and Merciful†. (33:59) In west Muslim women are not allowed to use Hijab (PARDA) because they think that Hijab is a symbol of female segregation. But if we see, in ma ny Muslim societies wearing Hijab (PARDA) is not very common and mostly women refuse it without any solid reason. If we once again read those verses of Quran which are given in the beginning of this article, how great these Qur’anic verses are, along with their implied meanings of lofty and honorable orientations made clear to the nations in this regard.We notice amongst the measures taken in this respect that Allah commands His Prophet (S. A. A. W) to enjoin his wives, the mothers of believers and the daughters. In these verses Allah demands women to use a big piece of cloth which at least covers her body from head to toe. There is a contradiction between the two schools of thought of Islam that is it necessary to cover the face or not? Some say it is necessary to cover the face and the others say it’s not, but I emphasize here that the permissible Hijab should have certain characteristics and conditions through which the Muslim women can be distinguished from others. The best form of Hijab as Allah says in the Quran is the piece of cloth which covers the whole body of woman starting from the head to the toe of her feet. Allah states in Quran, â€Å"Draw their veils all over the bodies (when abroad)†(33:59) Allah also says, â€Å"And to draw their veils over their bosoms† (24:31) And says, â€Å"And stay in your houses, and do not display your selves like That of the former time of ignorance†(33:33) Further Allah addressed the believers to wear Hijab: â€Å"say to the believing women†, as well as in the verses â€Å"and the believing women†.From the point of view of Hadith, it was mentioned that: some women came to see Sayeda Ayesha R. A, they entered Ayesha’s room while they had put on fine dresses. However Ayesha said:, â€Å" if you are believing women then such should not be the suitable dress of the believing women, but if you are not you can enjoy wearing it. Two things can be interpreted from the above incident, one is if someone claimed that she is a believer then she must obey Allah’s order and must wear Hijab and if she is a non- believer then it’s up to her. Then the second thing is what type of Hijab? Allah says in Quran to cover your body with a garment, no special kind or type of Hijab is mentioned but Allah only commands in the Holy Quran to do Hijab, now it’s up to the believers how they cover their bodies, as in our sub-continent most women use â€Å"BURKA† as it is according to the customs that prevail in our society. In verse no 33 of surah AL-AHZAAB Allah orders Muslim women to stay at home if they don’t have any duty outside and also not to show their parts of body, their jewelry and make over as they used to do in the past.Until now I have presented some Quranic and Hadith evidences in which Allah orders believing women to cover their bodies with Hijab (PARDA). ALLAH has clearly commanded women in the Holy Quran but what is t he reason that most women do not feel this obligation upon themselves. In my view its nothing but the strong influence of modernism and colonialism that still dominates our thoughts and actions but if we once again go through the Quran and Hadith I must say that the purpose of Hijab is to ensure that the modesty of a woman is protected and that any obscene and illicit intentions towards the woman are avoided.It is compulsory for Muslim women to wear Hijab or anything that covers the parts that can bring unwanted attention from the opposite sex. We come across many cases in the newspapers that women feel unsafe out in the markets etc. when they are alone, uneasiness is created by the opposite sex, and it is true and a big sin on part of men but if the same woman wears proper Hijab (PARDA) then the results will be different. Because Allah says in Quran do not show those parts of body which attract opposite sex, if women observe these commands then the results for sure would be differe nt because true is Allah and True is also His Prophet.Hijab is a sign of the completion of faith by a woman who wears it for fear of Allah and seeking HIS pleasure but not as a customary and habitual matter. The woman who covers herself will be covered with chastity, modesty and purity and all of these qualities are the integrated part of faith. In conclusion I would say that women in Islam should try seriously to be a nice symbol of representing the beautiful and desirable image of Islam by calling to Islam wherever they go, being the favored role model for their Muslim sisters, raising hereby the word of their lord, religion and the tradition of their beloved Prophet Mohammad S.A. A. W, high over anything and throwing disappointment on the enemy of Islam, and causing their oppressing plan to fail. And a sister who is in the west can use Hijab to present the beautiful Islamic Code. This would lead to the aforementioned benefits as well. In the end I say: praise to Allah, the cheris her and sustainer of the worlds, peace to all who follow guidance, and peace and blessing be upon the most honorable and noblest Prophet Mohammad peace and blessing be upon Him, upon His family and His followers. References (MOHAMMAD UMAR MUBARIK)