Flowers for the Women Wearing Veils - Volume I — Page 249
! ! 249 [consuming] it. Thus , in imitating Europe , people have become blind. In order to safeguard ourselves and others as well, we should make others realize that our culture is neither defective nor feeble. The flaw is that it has not been properly practiced. Consider the [following] notion. A color only appears beautiful up to a certain degree. For example , the color blue or black is only used to a certain extent when painting a picture, so that the view of the sky is shown. However, if the bottle of blue or black paint is poured over it, then it would not create beauty ; rather it would create ugliness. Similarly, clouds are painted white in a picture, but if someone brushes the whole paper with white paint , th en it would be ignorance. Thus , we have created defects by misusing our culture which in itself is not defective. Take the example of p u rdah for women. If anyone adopted freedom s to the extent that the Holy Prophet Muhammad sa himself gave to women, there would be an uproar against him. The Prophet Muhammad sa s tated that if a man is riding and a woman is walking, he should ask her to ride behind him. Now adays, if someone acted in such a manner , there w ould be a great outcry despite the fact that the Holy Prophet sa declared this as an act of charity and a man ’s responsibility. In short, incorrect practice s have created defects and t hey should be reformed. Women should be given however much freedom Islam has granted to them. F or example, they should go out, take part in work, attend meetings , but they should do so in the manner which Islam has instructed , and which has been practiced. Here progress has taken place to the extent that while observing p u rdah women now deliver lectures. Muslim women who do not observe p u rdah and have not yet developed the courage to do so. Thus, women should be given freedom to the degree that Islam has bestowed on them , and that is the best and most advantageous freedom for them. They should not step beyond that. I like the new style of burqa , for women can walk more freely in it. However, some have started to use it improperly, making it into a coat which reveals the figure. H ence , it becomes unlawful. Why has the Shariah prescribed wearing the Jilbab [an outer garment] ? Why not a shirt on its own ? The reason is so that the figure of the body is not displayed. Loose clothing should be worn. D ue to its improper use ,