Hijab — Page 14
14 thereof, and that they draw their head-coverings over their bosoms, and that they display not their beauty or their embellishment save to their husbands, or to their fathers, or the fathers of their husbands, or their sons, or the sons of their husbands, or their brothers, or the sons of their brothers, or the sons of their sisters, or women who are their companions, or those that their right hands possess, or such of male attendants as have no desire for women, or young children who have not yet attained knowledge of the hidden parts of women. And that they strike not their feet so that what they hide of their ornaments may become known. And turn ye to Allah all together, O believers, so that you may prosper” (Surah Al-Nur, 24:31-32). From the verses I have recited today, everyone must have understood the subject I want to address. I have briefly discussed this subject previously on two or three different occasions, but I feel that it needs further elucidation. From many of the letters I receive, I have gathered that there are still a considerable number of people who do not understand the importance of the commandment of Purda. Some people question: is Purda the only important commandment for the progress of Islam Ahmadiyyat? Is the advancement of Islam merely dependent on the observance of Purda? Others start asserting that these are backward and outdated teachings which should not be practiced; we should be modernized according to this age. Although the number of such people in our Jamā‘at is very negligible, the fear that such people will drift away with the tides of the present age, nonetheless, produces anxiety in the heart. However small the number of such people is, it cannot be considered insignificant. One response I have for such people is that when Allah has indeed given us commandments on what to do and what not to do by including them in the most perfect and complete Book, and through the Holy Prophet sa verifying that they are true Islamic