Flowers for the Women Wearing Veils - Volume I — Page 236
! ! 236 scarf] , but rather is the name of a scarf which women wear on their heads while working. Thus , it do es no t mean that part of a dupatta should be stretched over your chest , for a khim ā r does not have a side. I t is short. T his means that you should lower the scarf from the head , so that i t covers the chest. This suggests that a person approaching from the front should not be able to see your face. T o an extent , t he question of p u rdah is also related to the mixing of men and women. Regarding this, it can be ascertained from the Holy Qur’ān and Hadith that keeping the rules of p u rdah in mind, a woma n can wor k alongside men in all kinds of matters. She can learn from men, listen to their lectures, give lectures, she can sit separate ly from men during gatherings, sermons , and lectures. When needed , she can exp ress her opinion and present argument s. Additionally, it is neces sary to consult women in matters which pertain to them. In times of need , a woman can sit with a man. A s the Holy Prophet Muhammad sa said , “If a person is riding an animal and sees a woman, he should let the woman sit behind him. ” According to the customs in our country, if a person act ed in such a way , the e ntire nation might boycott him. H owever, the laws of Shariah were conferred to us thirteen hundred years ago and no one can change them. In accordance with th is statement of the Holy Prophet Muhammad sa , I give this decree, that if a ladie s ’ carriage [in India, the men and women sit in separate compartments] is in danger, the men should let the women sit with the m in the gents’ carriage. O r a woman should go alone and sit in the gents’ carriage if she feels her dignity is better safeguarded in the presence of noble men rather th a n in sitting alone in a carriage by herself. A t this time , I have dictated as many examples as possible which readily come to mind. Should you need to inquire further more, please do so. Mirza Mahmud Ahmad, Qadian ( Misbah , 1 April 1928)