Flowers for the Women Wearing Veils - Volume I — Page 234
! ! 234 The Holy Qur’ān has mentioned one rule regarding p u rda h and that rule is that p u rda h is necessary for women : ِﻣ ۡﻨ َﻬ ﺎ َﻇ َﻬ َﺮ َﻣ ﺎ ِا َّﻻ “ …except that which is apparent thereof. . . ” (Holy Qur’ān , Ch. 24: V. 32 ) There are only two characteristics which are apparent thereof , height and one’s body. However logically speaking, it is obvious that depending on a woman’s work or the needs of her time, that which is apparent thereof is not included in p u rdah. Therefore, in accordance with this rule, a doctor checks the puls e of a woman, since illness compels that it be made apparent. If there is skin disease on her face, the docto r will need to examine the face. I f there is an internal disease, he will examine the tongue. Haz rat A’isha h ra relates that during one battle, we used to fetch water and our shanks were ex posed. At that time , the baring of shanks did not go against the Holy Qur’ān and was actually in accordance with this Qur’ān ic teaching. As they were an essential part of battle, it was necessary for women to work and as a result of running, their shanks were inevitably exposed. At that time, it was custom ary to wrap a mantle around the lower body , instead of wearing pajamas. In accordance with the same rule, if a household’s activities are such that women are required to work outside in farms or fields, then it is absolutely necessary that their eyes and surrounding areas be e xposed. Therefore, according to : َﻇ َﻬ ﺮ َﻣ ﺎ ِا َّﻻ [“… except that which is apparent …”] (Holy Qur’ān , Ch. 24: V. 32 ) it is completely acceptable for them to leave the area from the forehead to the mouth uncovered , and according to the injunction of p u rdah , they cannot perform their duties without doing so. T herefore, it is permissible for women to expose th ose areas of the face deemed necessary to carry out the duties of their daily life or when necessitated by a hardship, provided that the hardship is genuine. Indeed, exposing that area [of the face] would be in line with the directive of p u rdah. However, if a woman’s work does not compel her to go out and work in the open fields, covering her face is included in p u rdah , as is clearly stated in the Hadith.