Flowers for the Women Wearing Veils - Volume II — Page 40
40 period of Islam, women took to the battlefields while fully observing purdah. They gave dars [ lectures ] on the teachings of the Holy Qur’an. For example , Rabia Basri r h used to teach the Holy Qur’an to peopl e. Thus , the objection s which now arise that p urdah is an obstacle to performing these activities, is wrong. Nowadays, clubs compel men to bring along their wives without purdah. This is in the sense that when a man goes to the club and sees other men’s wive s, who are not doing purdah , s uch men begin to question his right to come to the club. They say he gaze s upon our wives, who wear no purdah , but he does not bring his own wife. This compels him to either stop going to the club or to bring along his own wife. Those women who join these clubs and societies also try to coax other women out of purdah to avoid being criticized [for not observing purdah ]. Purdah S hould b e O bserved A ccording t o the Sunnah While discussing this matter with those people who oppose purdah , we must keep in mind our common values , and speak to them accordingly. For example, one common value between us is that they believe in the Holy Prophet Muhammad sa and so do we. We should tell t hem we should also act upon the teachings and traditions of the Holy Prophet Muhammad sa regarding the issue of purdah. If they refuse to talk about purdah , then we should bring t he conversation around to the topic of the truth of the Holy Prophet Muhammad ’s sa prophethood. It seems that they do not have absolute faith in him sa , otherwise if they had complete faith in the Holy Prophet Muhammad sa , they would certainly follow his traditions of purdah. I once asked a person if he ever gave in and did what his naïve child asked of him. He replied, “Yes, several times. ” I asked, “W hy do you listen to him? ” He said, “To please him. ” I said to him , “W hen you can do something to please a naïve child , then how could you object to doing something to please the Holy Prophet Muhammad sa. ” Ha z rat Khalifat - ul - Masih II ra continued to say : “ I t is very strange that wh ile men are still a live, why are women made to go out for protest s against political matters ? ”