The literal meaning of the Arabic word ‘Aurat’ is something concealed and hidden. The Islamic Shariah requires all believing women to cover their whole body by a veil and the protect their honor and chastity. Islam enjoins Muslim women to feel themselves at ease while remaining within the four walls of their homes. But in case they have to go out for some necessity, they must fully cover their bodies by a veil. A woman who goes out veiled in the true Islamic sense is no doubt Paradise for her sons, a divine blessing for her husband and brother and a source of satisfaction for her father.

On the other hand, a woman who moves about unveiled, would prove to be a curse for all her close relatives. Allah’s Messenger (SAW) is reported to have said,

"A shameless and immodest woman who moves about unveiled, would cause divine torment for her father, brother, husband and son as these had been responsible for her (conduct) in the world."

Prior to the Injunctions About Veil

Prior to the revelation of injunctions regarding veil, the wives of Allah’s Messenger (SAW) and the Companions, as well as their daughters used to go out of their houses bare-faced, on some necessary errands or on call of nature. Umar (RA) disliked this practice. It was something intolerable for him that the wives and daughters of Muslims should move about bare-faced and the Jews and Christians of Makkah gazed at them and misbehaved with them. Therefore, he (RA) suggested to Allah’s Messenger (SAW) that the Muslim women should go out veiled. However, Allah’s Messenger (SAW) would not issue any directive unless there was a divine injunction.

Umar (RA) was quite upset on this account and keenly awaited divine injunction about veil. One day, Umar (RA) came across Mother of the Believers, Sauda (RA) and said to her, "I have recognized you!" In fact, he was taunting her for being unveiled and hoped that she would report to Prophet Muhammad (SAW) of his remarks and his this might prompt injunction from Allah (SWT) about veiling. Umar (RA) is reported to have adopted such attitude on at least two occasion.

Descent of Injunctions on ‘Veiling’

Some suggestions of Umar (RA) seemed to draw so much approbation by Allah (SWT) that while Umar (RA) gave his proposals on earth, Allah (SWT) sent down verses of the Quran accordingly. Umar’s (RA) longing for veiling of women was so much like by the divinity that the follow verses of the Quran were revealed. Allah (SWT) says:

"O Prophet! Tell your wives and your daughters and the women of the believers to draw their cloaks (veils) all over their bodies (i.e. screen themselves completely except the eyes or one eye to see the way. That will be better, that they should be known (as free respectable women) so as not to be annoyed and Allah is Ever Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful." (Surah Al-Ahzab 33:59)

Again, Allah (SWT) says in Surah Nur:

"Tell the believing men to lower their gaze and protect their private parts (from illegal sexual acts, etc.). That is purer for them. Verily, Allah is All-Aware of what they do." (Surah An-Nur 24:30)

"And tell the believing women to lower their gaze (from looking at forbidden things), and protect their private parts (from illegal sexual acts, etc.) and not to show off their adornment except only that which is apparent (like palms of hands or one eye or both eyes for necessity to see the way, or outer dress like veil, gloves, head-cover, apron, etc.), and to draw their veils all over Juyubihinna (i.e. Their bodies, faces, necks and bosoms, etc.) and not to reveal their adornment except to their husbands, their fathers, their husbands’ fathers, their sons, their husband’s sons, their brothers or their brother’s sons, or their sister’s sons, or their (Muslim) women (i.e. their sister in Islam), or the (female) slaves whom their right hands possess, or old male servants who lack vigor, or small children who have no sense of the shame of sex. And let them not stamp their feet so as to reveal what they hide of their adornment. And all of you beg Allah to forgive you all, O believers, that you may be successful." (Surah An-Nur 29:31)

It is important to note that a married woman is no allowed to go bare-faced even before the brother of her husband because under the Islamic law, she can be married with him. Therefore, a woman must veil herself in the presence of her husband’s brothers, as the good of a married Muslim woman lies in the same.

During the age of Ignorance, the womenfolk, including gentlewomen and slave-girls used to move about unveiled and the wicked men used to chase and misbehave with them. Accordingly, Allah (SWT) ordained the Muslim ladies to veil themselves by covering themselves with some outer garment or in any other manner which could show that they are believing and honorable ladies or girls who conceal their beauty and charms through veiling in accordance with Allah’s (SWT) injunctions. In other words, those women who do not obey the divine injunctions regarding veiling, are not believers in the sight of Allah (SWT) and the Quran.

When the verses concerning veiling descended, the wives of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (SAW) and women relatives of the Companions prepared their veils during the night by cutting down their bed sheets etc. And when they all went out so veiled next morning, the unbelievers were stunned on this change.

History tells us that when the Muslim army conquered Baitul Maqdis, and the Muslims advanced to take charge of the city, the Zionists played a satanic trick.

They ordered their beautiful young girls to make up themselves in the best possible fashion and then made them line up the route of the victorious troops to welcome them.

Unfortunately, the same evil practice is repeated in the Islamic Republic of Pakistan as such, and when some foreign head of state or dignitary arrives in Pakistan, then school and college girls are lined up in the same manner to greet him.

However, when the Muslim soldiers entered the city, Caliph Umar (RA) who was himself commanding the Muslim army, ordered his soldiers to pass through the city with eyes down as if birds were perched on their head and would fly away if they raised their eyes even slightly. The troops followed the Caliph’s order in letter and spirit, leaving the Zionists at a loss, wondering whether the Muslims were human beings or stones.

Arguments against veiling - their analysis

Piety and Chastity Should Lie at Heart and in the Eyes

A major argument being advanced by certain men and women these days is that piety and chastity should lie at heart and in the eyes, therefore, veiling of face is of no significance.

I would like to ask these people whether the wives of the Holy Prophet (SAW) and the Companions (RU) were devoid of modesty and shame at heart and in eyes (God forbid)? Are the present day women more chaste than the Mothers of the Believers, and for that reason, they have greater confidence in themselves and don’t feel the necessity to veiling themselves?

Veiling During Hajj

Another argument put forth is that if veiling is obligatory for women, why do they go bare-faced during Hajj?

Here it may be clarified that even during Hajj, the women are NOT exempt from the obligations of veiling. It is in fact a wrong notion that the women on pilgrimage have the concession to move about bare-faced. The correct position in this regard is that Allah’s Messenger (SAW) prohibited women from pulling down a special type of face-cover as was customary among Arab women who used to tie a cloth on their face and forehead. However, pulling head cover down to the chin in not prohibited. The fact remains that even during Hajj, veiling is obligatory for women as in normal life.

In Fathul Bari, chapter Hajj, a tradition reported on the authority of Aisha (RA) says:

"A woman in a state of Ihram (during Hajj and Umrah) should stretch her head - cloth over to her face to hide it."

Bare-Faced A Symbol Of Ignorance Or Progress?

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.