Ya Ali Madad
Pardah, as now known, itself did not exist till
long after the Prophet's death and is no part
of Islam. [K.K. Aziz p. 211]
-- Aga Khan III
Can someone please clearify this for me, what did the Imam mean by this and what is the proof of his statement? Verses from the Quran refer to the covering of the body (al-Ahzab 59) (al-Nur 31) but i am still not sure what the Imam ment? Is there any readings regarding this subject, that the women did not cover themselves at the time of the Prophet (SAW), that it did not exist until long after his death and that is it not a part of Islam. I wish to know more clearly, thank you.
Ya Ali Madad.
Question..
Ya Ali Madad,
I think it would be more meaningful for future reference if you wrote "Question about Purdah" rather than "Question..". We could end up with several topics with "Question..".
Also there have been several threads on this issue in the past. To reference any subject, type the word "purdah" for example after clicking the 'search' link at the top of the page. You will see several threads which discuss this issue. In particular the thread: "Current Issues -> Hejab" may answer your question.
I think it would be more meaningful for future reference if you wrote "Question about Purdah" rather than "Question..". We could end up with several topics with "Question..".
Also there have been several threads on this issue in the past. To reference any subject, type the word "purdah" for example after clicking the 'search' link at the top of the page. You will see several threads which discuss this issue. In particular the thread: "Current Issues -> Hejab" may answer your question.
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davlat_dida
- Posts: 30
- Joined: Sun Mar 18, 2007 12:13 pm
Kmaherali, my apologies. I have searched all these other threads, but have not found the precise answer I am looking for. Perhaps you can provide me with it?kmaherali wrote:Ya Ali Madad,
I think it would be more meaningful for future reference if you wrote "Question about Purdah" rather than "Question..". We could end up with several topics with "Question..".
Also there have been several threads on this issue in the past. To reference any subject, type the word "purdah" for example after clicking the 'search' link at the top of the page. You will see several threads which discuss this issue. In particular the thread: "Current Issues -> Hejab" may answer your question.
The following description from the Cyril Glasse's "The Concise Encyclopaedia of Islam" illuminates the issue.
Veil (Ar. hijab, "cover", "drape", "partition"; khi-mar, "veil covering the head and face"; litham, "veil covering lower face up to the eves"). The covering ot the face by women is usually referred to by the general term hijab in the present day; it is called purdah in the Indo-Persian countries, and Iran has furnished the use of the word chador lor the tent-like black cloak and veil worn bv manv women in the Middle Hast. The Koran advises the Prophet's wives to go veiled (33:59).
Koran 24:31 speaks of covering women's "adornments" from strangers outside the family. In traditional Arab societies, even up into the present day, women at home dressed in surprising contrast to their covered appearance in the street. This latter verse of the Koran is the institution of a new public modesty rather than veiling the face; when the pre-Islamic Arabs went to battle, Arab uomen seeing the men off to war would bare their breasts to encourage them to fight; or they would do so at the battle itself, as in the case of the Meccan women led by Hind at the Battle of Llhud.
This changed with Islam, but the general use ot the veil to cover the face did not appear until 'Abbasid times. Nor was it entirely unknown in Europe, for the veil permitted women the freedom of anonymity. None of the legal systems actually prescribe that women must wear a veil, although they do prescribe covering the body in public, to the neck, the ankles, and below the elbow. In many Muslim societies, for example in traditional South East Asia, or in Bedouin lands a face veil for women is either rare or non-existent; paradoxically, modern fundamentalism is introducing it. In others, the veil may be used at one time and Euro-pean dress another. While modesty is a religious prescription, the wearing of a veil is not a religious requirement of Islam, but a matter of cultural milieu.
Veil (Ar. hijab, "cover", "drape", "partition"; khi-mar, "veil covering the head and face"; litham, "veil covering lower face up to the eves"). The covering ot the face by women is usually referred to by the general term hijab in the present day; it is called purdah in the Indo-Persian countries, and Iran has furnished the use of the word chador lor the tent-like black cloak and veil worn bv manv women in the Middle Hast. The Koran advises the Prophet's wives to go veiled (33:59).
Koran 24:31 speaks of covering women's "adornments" from strangers outside the family. In traditional Arab societies, even up into the present day, women at home dressed in surprising contrast to their covered appearance in the street. This latter verse of the Koran is the institution of a new public modesty rather than veiling the face; when the pre-Islamic Arabs went to battle, Arab uomen seeing the men off to war would bare their breasts to encourage them to fight; or they would do so at the battle itself, as in the case of the Meccan women led by Hind at the Battle of Llhud.
This changed with Islam, but the general use ot the veil to cover the face did not appear until 'Abbasid times. Nor was it entirely unknown in Europe, for the veil permitted women the freedom of anonymity. None of the legal systems actually prescribe that women must wear a veil, although they do prescribe covering the body in public, to the neck, the ankles, and below the elbow. In many Muslim societies, for example in traditional South East Asia, or in Bedouin lands a face veil for women is either rare or non-existent; paradoxically, modern fundamentalism is introducing it. In others, the veil may be used at one time and Euro-pean dress another. While modesty is a religious prescription, the wearing of a veil is not a religious requirement of Islam, but a matter of cultural milieu.
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star_munir
- Posts: 1670
- Joined: Tue Apr 22, 2003 12:55 am
- Contact:
Ya Ali Madad,
I want to say that this topic is discussed many times in this forum and its useless to discuss same thing again and again in different topics.
So I request that before starting new topic one should search to make sure the topic is already discussed or not. Then if there is some questions, confusion, or more points and views to add, then it should be added on those rather then on new topics.
As for topic of Hijab. This topic is discussed under many topics like
Hejab (Current Issues Section)
Ismailis not considered muslims? (Current Issue Section)
Hijab a poem (Inspiration section)
Burkha (Current Issues Section)
I want to say that this topic is discussed many times in this forum and its useless to discuss same thing again and again in different topics.
So I request that before starting new topic one should search to make sure the topic is already discussed or not. Then if there is some questions, confusion, or more points and views to add, then it should be added on those rather then on new topics.
As for topic of Hijab. This topic is discussed under many topics like
Hejab (Current Issues Section)
Ismailis not considered muslims? (Current Issue Section)
Hijab a poem (Inspiration section)
Burkha (Current Issues Section)