Paradise Under Your Feet — Page 122
122 As young adults, children will very quickly pick up on their parents ’ attitude to the system of the Jama ’ at, so parents should not criticize or find fault with officeholders. Maintaining Modesty Although modesty should be practiced from childhood, there are different stages in life where a higher level of modesty is required. By high school level, your children should understand the principles of modesty and be practicing them; girls observing at least minimum Purdah and boys being aware of the meaning of ‘ restrain your eyes ’. As they reach college, practice of Purdah should help to establish their Muslim identity. In fact, c ollege is an excellent time for girls to establish a strong practice in observance of Purdah. Encourage your daughter to present herself in her Hijab and coat so that her practice is clearly stated at the start in her interview and her ID photo confirms it. Many difficult situations , e. g. parties, boyfriends, alcohol etc. , which can lead to potential mishaps , will be avoided in this way. Ahmadi Muslim girls can have a real advantage through th is noble practice. Allah Almighty addresses both men and women separately in the Holy Qur ’ an on the subject of Purdah. He also explains its benefits for individuals and for society as a whole and the disadvantages of not observing it. The fact that Allah A lmighty addresses women directly is in itself a great honor. Hazrat Khalifatul-Masih V (aba) said, “ Purdah is an Islamic injunction and a distinctive mark of an Ahmadi Muslim woman. It bestows honor to an Ahmadi woman. ” 7. 5 Ahmadi Muslim girls should be proud of the fact that they have been given an identity and character, which allows them to be recognized for who they are and not merely for their outward appearance or physical attributes. Assure your daughter that observing Purdah will