The Holy Quran with Five Volume Commentary (Vol 4) — Page 356
CH. 24 AN-NÜR apparent thereof, and that they cast their head-coverings over their bosoms, and that they disclose not their beauty. . . (24:32 i. e. the verse under comment. ) (iii) O wives of the Prophet, you are not like any other women if you are righteous. So be not soft in speech, lest he in whose heart is a disease should feel tempted; and speak a decent speech. And stay in your houses with dignity and do not show off yourselves like the showing off of the former days of ignorance (33:33-34). (iv) O ye who believe, let those whom your right hands possess, and those of you who have not attained to puberty, ask permission of you three times before coming into your presence: before the morning Prayer, and when you take off clothes at noon in summer and after the night Prayer (24:59). PT. 18 (ii) Muslim men and women are to restrain their eyes when they happen to face each other. (iii) The third commandment though apparently applying to the wives of the Prophet, includes, as is the practice of the Quran, other Muslim women also. The words "And stay in your houses" imply that whereas women may go out when necessary, the principal and primary sphere of their activities is inside the house. (iv) At three stated hours, even children are not allowed to enter the private apartments of their parents nor are domestic servants or female slaves allowed to enter the sleeping room of their masters. The first commandment applies to women when they go out. Then they are to use an outer garment which should cover their whole body including the face. The second The following inferences commandment relates to "purdah" clearly deducible from the verses primarily inside the four walls of the quoted above: house when near male relatives (i) When they go out, Muslim frequently come and go. In that case women are to wear an outer and are wrapping garment which should cover their heads and bosoms in such a manner that the garment should come down from the head to the bosom covering the whole body including the face. This is the significance of the Quranic words (33:60). The outer garment is intended to make known the fact that while a Muslim woman goes about her business she may be spared the mental anguish of being stared at by persons of questionable character. men and women are only to restrain their looks and as an additional precaution women are to take care that their ai. e. beauty of person, dress and ornaments, is not displayed. They are not required to use (outer garment) because that would be very irksome and even impracticable in view of the free and frequent visits of near blood relations such as cousins, brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law, etc. The context shows that this commandment relates to "purdah" inside the four walls of the house, because all the persons 2270