Flowers for the Women Wearing Veils - Volume II — Page 233
233 their nation ? The ones who really served their nation were those who set such marvelous examples of obedience to the Holy Prophet sa , that even today, when one reads about them in the pages of history, one’s heart overflows with emotions of profound love. The Command of Purdah Everyone knows that purdah was not a tradition of the Arabs. In fact , the commandment to observe purdah was not revealed in early Islam. At that time, even the wives of the Holy Prophet sa did not observe purdah. However, after the commandment of purdah was revealed , a young man selected a family to which he desired an engagement. The girl’s father said, “I accept your proposal. Yo u are a good person, you are good looking, and you earn your living, so I have no reservations in accept ing your proposal. ” The young man said , “I f you agree , then I would like to see your daughter. How can I marry someone whom I have not seen? ” The father replied , “ I am not willing to show you my daughter. ” At this, the young man went to the Holy Prophet sa and said, “ O Prophet of Allah ! I have intended to marry into such and such family, but I do not know what the girl looks like. I would like to see her once for my satisfaction. ” The Holy Prophet sa said , “Even though the commandment regarding purdah has been revealed, it is regarding women who are strangers to you. The woman with whom a proposal has been accepted and the parents agree, then if the man wishes to see her, it is fine to see her once. Go to her father and tell him on my behalf to let you see his daughter. Had it not been a question of a marriage proposal then observing purdah would apply ; however, if a person has agreed to marry and the girl’s parents are also willing, then looking at her once t o ease one’s mind is permitted. ” The young man went back and relayed the message of the Holy Prophet sa. It appears that the girl’s father was not yet tru ly ingrained with Islam. When the young man said, “I have asked the Holy Prophet ’s sa permission, who said i f your marriage proposal has been accepted , then she is your fiancé, and it is permitted to look upon one’s fiancé before marriage to ease your mind. ” T he girl’s father replied, “ I am not without honor that I w ould let you look upon my daughter. It is up to you whether or not you woul d like to marry her. ” As he was saying this, his daughter