06-27-2009, 06:26 PM
Bismillah
And here is the English translation of the second file, translated by a Muslim as well.
========================================================
Women's Islamic dress code: a Divine legislation and symbol of chastity and bashfulness
During Ibrahim's salla Allah a`lyhee wa sallam era, women's covering as a dress code was known among Hebrews. It remained a known practice during eras of all of their prophets till after the inception of Christianity. Many scriptures of the OT and NT referred to face coverage. Romans enacted laws prohibiting women to appear in roads with their adornments, this took place 200 BC. They even endorsed the "Obia Code" which prohibited them against overly adorning themselves while staying home.
Women's coverage is not a purely religious symbol because a symbol is something that serves nothing but expressing religious affiliation such as wearing cross or Yamaka, these items do nothing but pronounce the identity. Unlike Muslim women's dress code, it has a definite job and noble wisdom. This job and wisdom are concealment, modest appearance, purity and chastity. Nazarenes portray Virgin Mary wearing a head cover..nuns also observe the same dress code!! Why nobody argued that Jewish and Nazarene's women coverage is a symbol of religious fanaticism and sectarian discrimination and not the cross or Yamaka?!
Women dress code came as enforcement to belief rational and spiritual conviction. It was not stipulated by virtue of oppressive regimes, unlike commanding women to desert her coverage making it into an obligatory law which is nothing but symbol of fanaticism and extremism. Under the circumstances that Muslim women are fully satisfied with their dress code, why would others interfere in their freedom and choice of wearing what they like?
Women dress code per se is not an issue. It was ordained and enforced at the time of the Messenger salla Allah a`lyee wa sallam. The code sustained for thirteen consecutive centuries. Opponents of women dress code who fabricated falsehood accusations against it never said that women were oppressed during the time of the Messenger salla Allah a`lyee wa sallam. It was not man who imposed it over women so she would react by filing a lawsuit to get rid of the man imposed oppression such as the case between men and women in Europe. But rather the One Who Ordained the dress code to the Muslim woman was her Lord and Creator.
The highest percentage of immorality, libertinism, and damage of chastity, marital betrayal, and confusion of lineage came hand in hand with women showing immodest appearance and thinly dressed up. This percentage grows up in parallel with women's increase of this trend and leaving behind virtues. A sane person receives women exaggerated attitude in concealing herself including face and hand, leave alone rest of body, as an evidence of chastity and self maintenance. On the other hand, a sane person looking at women immodestly dressed up, and revealing her adornment to the public classifies her as shameless and cheap.
Islam teaches to protect five main items: religion, self, mind, offspring and money. Accordingly, whatever protects these five fundamentals is good and whatever damages all or part of them is harm. It is no doubt that women dress code contributes to protecting the five fundamentals contrary to immodesty that corrupts them. A Muslimah who observes the dress code during these time-where temptations and vice become widely spread, sex trade, immorality and turning women into trade-certainly gains the respect of rational people. However, those who adopt promiscuous and physical desires have a difference stance towards her. Yet, she practices patience in face of all this only for Allah's Sake. Only a true believer who is steadfast on the principles of her faith and belief is capable of this.
Matter of fact as it is widely proven; women's coverage does not prevent her from carrying out any of her duties and legitimate work. It does not stop her from obtaining and learning knowledge and information. But rather those who are capable of doing all of that while concurrently observing the dress code and avoiding inadequate mixing between male and female was capable of making a notable progress in terms of exams. They also gained much respect and appreciation of teachers as well as students.
The reason behind adopting Muslim women dress code that entails coverage is to promote chastity and protection against illegitimate sexual relations. In this context, women are not allowed to display their adornments except before other women and non marriageable male members of her family. On the other hand, ordaining this type of dress code over women is a catalyst to protect men chastity who might look at her and not only preserving women against outsider looks. The Islamic system introduced this as an integral part of a detailed divine legislation regarding chastity, its relation with A`wrah (parts of the body that are not supposed to be exposed to others) concealment, and avoiding temptation that might lead to committing what Allah Made unlawful. Allah ordained to maintain chastity, prohibited Zina (sex outside of the wed lock), and endorsed marriage. Thus, to lay down a complete legislation, it was necessary to command deterring factors. Allah Commanded women to observe the dress code involving coverage, prohibited situations where a man and woman (who are not married but could be marriageable) be alone without a third party, lowering the gaze and enacted relevant Hudud (punishments).
Muslim women spend most of their times among household members, other women or non marriageable male members of her family, thus, she does not actually need to be mostly wearing her covering garments. She only needs to put it on in the presence of strange males. Unlike when she is among other women, Mahrams (father, brothers, uncles, sons, grandparents and grandchildren). With all of those males, she will only need to wear her regular modest clothing without covering the head..etc. According to Islamic flexible and observant teachings, there is no limitation in terms of clothing between husband and wife when they are alone. These teachings were set in a way that brings good, happiness to humanity and protect them against evil using an accurate and comprehensive legislation as indicted in Allah Saying:
" This day, I have perfected your religion for you, completed My Favour upon you, and have chosen for you Islam as your religion.".
Heijab_eng.doc