Hijab — Page 15
15 teachings, then it follows that the progress of Islam Ahmadiyyat is inextricably linked with these teachings, even if you consider them insignificant. Secondly, the teachings of the last law-bearing Book which were revealed upon the Holy Prophet sa can never become obsolete. People who have such thoughts should try to reform themselves and do Istighfar (seek forgiveness of Allah). ” (Friday Sermon, January 30, 2004, Baitul Futuh, London, Al-Fazl International, April 9, 2004) The Commandment of Ghadd-e-Basar (Lowering the Gaze) for Both Men and Women The commandment of lowering the gaze (ghadd-e-basar) is equally applicable to men and women. Thus, Huzoor Anwar atba says: “First, it is the men who are commanded to practice restraining their gaze; they should restrain their eyes from gawking at anything prohibited and they should not unnecessarily stare at women who are non-Mahram (forbidden) for them. Whenever one walks about with eyes wide open and unrestrained, the eyes will necessarily follow [others] out of curiosity. This is why the Holy Qurān commands that one should walk with a lowered gaze. To save oneself from such ills, the Promised Messiah as has instructed that one should walk with partially open eyes, neither widely open nor so closed as to stumble. They should be open only to an extent that they do not show any curiosity [to others] and if you happen to catch someone’s eye, do not go on staring. I will explain this a little later with a Hadīth as to how one should look, but before that, I present a quote of Allama Tabari who has stated: ‘the meaning of Ghadd-e-Basar is to restrain your eyes from seeing anything prohibited by Allah the Almighty’(Tafsirul Tabari, Vol, 18, pp. 116- 117).