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The purpose of
the veil
The purpose of
the veil can be derived from the following verses of the
Quran:
33:32
Do not be soft in your speech (in a way that may excite men to
feel an eager desire for you or lust after you), lest in whose
heart is malice (and is devoid of soundness and rectitude)
should be excited to feel a desire for you or lust after you.
33:33
Do not show or display (fineries or ornaments or) beauties of
your form (or countenance) that may excite a man’s lust
Two key
terms used in 33:32 and 33:33 underscore the whole purpose of
veil. The first key term used in 33:32 is “takhdaAAna
bialqawli"تَخْضَعْنَ
ِبِالْقَوْل
, which means to speak
in a way that may excite a man to feel an eager desire or lust
after you. The key term used in 33:33 is “tabarrajna tabarruja”
تَبَرَّجْنَ
تَبَرُّجَ
, which means to show
or display (fineries or ornaments or) beauties of your form
(or countenance) that may excite a man’s lust. This explains
the entire purpose of veil which is to take upon such a
disposition and attire that may not excite men to feel an
eager desire or lust for women and vice versa.
The
details of the veil for women
are given in the following verses:
24/31
And say to the believing women that they cast down their looks
and guard their chastity and do not display their ornaments
except what appears thereof, and let them spread their
head-coverings over their bosoms, and not display their
ornaments except to their husbands or their fathers, or the
fathers of their husbands, or their sons, or the sons of their
husbands, or their brothers, or their brothers' sons, or their
sisters' sons, or their women, or those whom their right hands
possess, or the male servants not having any desire or need
(of women), or the children who have not attained knowledge of
what is hidden of women; and let them not strike their feet so
that what they hide of their ornaments may be known; and turn
to Allah all of you, O believers! So that you may be
successful.
One of the key
phrases in the above verse is,
“walyadribna
bikhumurihinna AAala juyoobihinna”,
وَلْيَضْرِبْنَ بِخُمُرِهِنَّ
عَلَى جُيُوبِهِنَّ
which means
Women should put
their KHUMUR on their JUYOOB
The word KHUMUR
is the plural of KHIMAAR which is a noun. The root of the word
is KH-M-R which means, to cover, conceal or hide, or veil.
According to the
following dictionaries, the word KHIMAAR is used for a
particular type of veil that is used to cover head:
-
Taj-el-Uroos
-
Al-Mufradaat fi Gharib-ul-Quran
-
Lisaan-ul-Arab
-
Lughat-ul-Quran by G.A. Parvez
-
The Dictionary of Quran by Abdul Manan
-
Lane’s Arabic English Lexicon
There are many
different words for veils in Arabic. HIJAAB and NASEEF both
mean veil in general sense. Moreover, RIDA, IZAAR, MIQNA’A,
MILHAFA, all are different kinds of things used to cover the
body or wrap on the body. But Allah has used specifically
KHIMAAR here and has not said:
Women should put
their HIJAAB on their JUYOOB
Women should put
their NASEEF on their JUYOOB
Women should put
their RIDA on their JUYOOB
But Allah has
specifically used the word KHUMUR and said
Women should put
their KHUMUR on their JUYOOB.
This means that
women should spread the veil, with which they cover their
heads, on their bosoms [instead of letting the KHIMAAR fall on
the back of their shoulders].
The covering of
the face
has nowhere been enjoined upon women in the Quran. Quran says
to men, whichever among women you like you could marry
them (4:3). Beauty is one of the aspect of women that affects
the liking or disliking of a man. This also has been alluded
to in the Quran (33:52). It is stated about the Nabi (PBUH)
that he could not marry again, nor could he bring any more
wives to replace the present ones no matter how much their
beauty appeals to him (33:52).
Another point to
consider is that if concealing the face had been necessary,
then why were men directed to keep the eyes downcast? It may
be argued, that when it is directed that 'Zeenat' be
concealed, then as the face is the more prominent place of
beauty, it should be hidden first. However, the Quran itself
enjoins: Cover your adornments except those parts which remain
open inevitably (24:30), and it then describes method of
covering which does not include the face but bosoms.
Having said
that, it cannot be over emphasized that there must never be
the slightest gesture, which can arouse any wrong expectations
in the mind of the opposite party, because Allah always knows
about the dishonest glances and intentions (40:19). The aim of
all restrictions and regulations is the making of character.
Lewdness or immorality does not only refer to wrong doings
concerning sexual intercourse, but the thought or desire of
wanting to do so also comes under it, because it basically
affects character.
33/59 O Prophet! say to your wives and your daughters and the
women of the believers that they let down upon them their
over-garments; this will be more proper, that they may be
known, and thus they will not be given trouble; and Allah is
Forgiving, Merciful.
“Jalbab”
is a loose outer garment/cloth that is worn over one's clothes
when going out. “Khimar” and “Jalbab” are mentioned in the
Quran to be used for the purpose of veil. However, the cut and
style of these can be adapted to the social mode as long as it
serves fully the purpose of the veil as elucidated in the
Quran.
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