Flowers for the Women Wearing Veils - Volume II — Page 49
49 that polygamy insults them. They feel that the devastation , which has been brought upon women in e ast Punjab is only because of the observance of purdah. Western societies also despise Muslim s because Muslim women observe purdah. However, when they meet Hindus, the wives of the Hindus openly mingl e with them ; they speak to them and so they leave with a favorable impression [of the Hindus] because speaking with the women is more attractive to them. Sometimes, people inclined to Western values incite against purdah on the pretense of intellectual and political development of women , in order to fulfil l their own carnal desires. Others present the public with the request of meeting the demands of women in the hope s of being regarded as ‘ scholars. ’ Whereas all these things are preventing women from accept ing Ahmadiyyat , they are also hampering our t abligh to men. Men are also fighting against Ahmadiyyat in the name of women’s issues. Some of them w ish to take advantage of the company of women; others may have no desire to take advantage of women’s company , but under the influence of their wives, sisters, and daughters - those of them who go to colleges and applaud western culture - are forced t o move away from Ahmadiyyat. Hence, a man either due to personal inclinations or in order to honor the wishes of his family , becomes inclined towards western culture and dislikes anyone who goes against hi m. If we bring light to women’s issues, then it gets in the way of women turning towards the truth. They listen to all the arguments and reply , “Of course, you are a man, so you only w ish to deprive us of becoming more civiliz ed. P urdah covers only our faces, the veil causes us pain , second marriages trouble only us , and you are left to reap pleasure upon pleasure. I f you d id not do so, the n how w ould y ou enjoy your life?” Then, there are s ome women who say that the pen lies in the man’s hand. They may write whatever they wish. They are afraid to say that this is the teaching of our religion; [instead] they say that the man writes whatever he wishes in the name of religion. As though these matters are not related to r eligion and men have only written it in the name of religion to fulfil l their own desires. There is only one solution to this.