The Philosophy of the Teachings of Islam — Page 49
43 capable of being exercised on their proper occasions, under the control of reason. Therefore, as I have written, minors and impotent ones and those who deprive themselves in some way of sexual capacity cannot be given credit for this moral quality, though apparently they would be leading chaste lives. In all such cases their chastity would only be a natural condition. As this vice and its preliminaries can be practised by both men and women, the Holy Book of God sets forth directions for both men and women in this context. It says: قُلْ لِلْمُؤْمِنِينَ يَغُضُّوا مِنْ أَبْصَارِهِمْ وَيَحْفَظُوا فُرُوجَهُمْ ذَلِكَ وط از کی لَهُمْ وَقُل لِّلْمُؤْمِنتِ يَغْضُضْنَ مِنْ أَبْصَارِهِنَّ وَيَحْفَظْنَ فُرُوجَهُنَّ وَلَا يُبْدِينَ زِينَتَهُنَّ إِلَّا مَا ظَهَرَ مِنْهَا وَلْيَضْرِ بْنَ بِخُمُرِهِنَّ عَلَى جُيُوبِهِنَّ وَلَا يَضْرِبْنَ بِأَرْجُلِهِنَّ لِيُعْلَمَ مَا يُخْفِينَ مِنْ زِينَتِهِنَّ وَتُوبُوا إِلَى اللهِ جَمِيعًا أَيُّهَ الْمُؤْمِنُونَ لَعَلَّكُمْ تُفْلِحُونَ 0 52 52. Say to the believing men that they restrain their eyes and guard their private parts. That is purer for them. . . . . And say to the believing women that they restrain their eyes and guard their private parts, and that they disclose not their natural and artificial beauty except that which is apparent thereof, and that they draw their head-coverings over their bosoms,. . . . . . And they strike not their feet so that what they hide of their ornaments may become known. And turn you to Allāh all together, O believers, that you may succeed. (The Holy Quran, an-Nur 24:31-32)