Flowers for the Women Wearing Veils - Volume I — Page 240
! ! 240 Egyptian style of burqa is comfortable. It is said that p u rdah is the reason that women are unable to progress, and their health is poor , but this is not true. What does a woman who does not observe p u rdah achieve, which a woman who practices p u rdah does not achieve ? When women used to observe p u rdah in accordance with Islam ic commandments, their health was good , they participated in wars, and defe ated enemies. Y et now unveiled women are not accomplishing anything of the sort. The reality is that health is maintained due to h ope and ambition. If someone does not have ambition, even if you place her on the peak of a mountain, she will only sink lower and lower. [However], i f one has hope and motivation , then even if you enfold her with in a quilt, she will only grow stronger and stronger. Kalilah [ a book of animal fables] narrates the story of a mouse. There was once a man who was complaining to his friend about a mous e who was get ting into his things. The friend suggested that the man place [his things] higher up. To which, the man making the complaint, replied that the mouse still got into his things, because the mouse would just jump even higher. The friend responded, “There must be some reason. I recommend that you dig out the mouse’s hole. ” When he dug out the hole, he found money, and he took it. Later , when the mouse came out, he was half dead and could not even walk properly. The example given is of a mouse , but humans behave v ery similar ly. They are able to f eel resolute and zealous over any ideal. Compared to the veiled women living in Arab countries what can these bare - faced women achieve? The fact is that women in Arabia are free i n their country , therefore they are powerful and strong , even with the commandment of p u rdah. What is needed is to improve up on the current p u rdah. As long as this [oppressive] p u rdah exists, the opponents of p u rdah w ill have the upper hand. This reformation can only be achieved when women are educated and they themselves practice p u rdah in accordance with the Islam ic code. W hile observing p u rdah , t hey should work , the y should keep healthy, and they should inform other women that while maintaining p u rdah , a ll kinds of progress is possible. The words of s uch women can influence other women. It is not as effective when men advise them of this because women reply , “You stay outside the home. H ow would you know the hardships of p u rdah ?”