Burqa, society and Muslim women

By

Abdul Hannan Siwani Nadvi

Controversies over Parda, or Burqa, or Niqab, or veil are going on across the glob. On Thursday 13, July, 2010, France's Parliament approved a law to ban on full face veil. A similar law was passed in Belgium in April 2010.



A British MP, Mr. Philip Hollobone, said that he would not meet Muslim veiled women. Such as, various schools in India are not allowing veiled students. Many times, school's administration force Muslim veiled students to take off their veils or go back to home.


Actually, Burqa is not so larger issue as it is receiving much attention from every corner of society.


First, we take a look on Holy Book Qura'an and let us see what He says about Burqa or Naqab.


1. Qura’an says “ And tell the believing women to lower their gaze (from looking at forbidden things), and protect their private parts (from Illegal sexual acts) and not to show off their adornment except only that which is apparent like both eyes for necessity to see the way, or outer palms of hands or one eye or dress like veil, gloves, head-cover, apron, etc, and to draw their veils all juyubihinna (i.e their bodies, faces necks and bosoms)and not to reveal their adornment except to their husbands, or their fathers, or their husband’s fathers, or their sons, or their huband’s sons, or their brothers or their brother’s sons, or their Muslim women (i. e their sisters in Islam), or the (female) slaves whom their right hands pssess, or old male servants who lack vigour, or small children who have no sense of feminine sex and let them not stamp their feet so as to reveal what they hide their adornment. And all of you beg Allah to forgive you all, O believers, that you may be successful . (Surah Al-Noor -31)


2. And as for women past child-bearing who do not expect wed-lock, it is no sin on them if they discard their (outer) clothing in such a way as not to show their adornment. But to refrain (i.e. not to discard their outer clothing) is better for them. And Allah is All-Hearer, All-Knower. (Surah Al-Noor -60)


(To be continued)


18-07-2010