Purdah and the Woman

Fatima,

I totally agree with the concept of dressing modestly.  I am not muslim, but I still dress very modestly by western standards.  I do not wear low cut tops or hip hugger jeans.  In the summer you might see my elbows, but never my knees.  Too many girls this short skirts and skimpy tops are freedom and they are not.  I guess what I'm getting at is this is not a Hijab/Niqab question.  The Hijab is a beautiful protection and expression of faith and obedience to a Muslim woman.  For those that chose the burqah, and I stress "Chose" the burqah.  Well, that is wonderful if that's what they want. 

My concern is the practice of being locked away in your home.  My friend was very upset to be chastised so meanly because she intended to have a job and a life outside of her home.  A woman should never spend too much time with a man she's not married to, but that is no excuse for locking her up.  A woman is smart enough to know right from wrong, locking her up is compelling obedience.

I've always been taught intentions are everything.  If you intend to sin, but don't.  Your just as guilty as if you did.  If you don't intend to sin and accidently sin, then it can be forgiven.  So, if a woman is truly the wanton evil creature described in the article I read on this topic, then locking her up is not going to change those intentions. 

A person convinced against their will is of the same opinion still.

The man she wishes to marry doesn't want her to stay home.  Its another friend who told her not to marry him because he doesn't believe in Purdah, nor does she.

The situation just peeked my curiosity about the subject.  My friend is very happy and the muslim man she is marrying seems to be a good muslim and a good man.  He's very encouraging towards her finishing her degree and actually using it. 

I just don't understand, there just doesn't seem to be any basis for it.  Khadijah owned her own business.  Aisha was out enough to have passed on little insights into the Prophet as a man and husband.  These were not women locked away from the world.  So, if the Prophet allowed his wives to be out, how could any man justify absolute seclusion of his wife from the world?

As Salamu Alaikum

Good topic. Insha Allah I will address this topic from a different angle.

Allah Subhanahu wa Ta'ala tells us in the Glorious Qur'an:

"Men are Qawwamun (protectors and maintainers) of women, because Allah has made one of them to excel the other and because they spend (to support them) from their means�. Surah An-Nisa' 4:34 (part)

We are given specific roles to play, according to Allah's Wisdom and Knowledge.

Men are responsible for the welfare of the family- food, clothes, shelter. Women are responsible for the household. Both duties compliment each other.

Islam places emphasis on seeking knowledge for both male and female. Why would women need education if they are going to be locked behind doors. A mother realizes that her responsibility in bringing up the children and forming their characters is greater than that of the father, because children are closer to their mothers and spend more time with her. (from birth to when they join pre-school) Her own education and knowledge about the environment and other social issues, play a great role in shaping the characters of her children.

She already has a full time job thus there is no need for any women to work, outside the home. However if circumstances are such that a woman needs to work there is no harm. We need qualified women in various professions e.g. like a doctors, teachers etc. But these women need to be super women because they work at a career, then their homes and also need to take care of their children and not forgetting the husband, fulfilling his needs as well. Masha Allah many women have succeeded in accomplishing all these duties.

Those of us who believe that Hijab/Purdah, is an obligation, will not find any problems wearing them to work. I know of doctors, lawyers, teachers and others who work comfortably wearing even a Niqab (face veil). If they do face problems, these soon fade away without them having to compromise on their dressing. Wearing Hijab/Purdah did not prevent them from fulfilling their duties. On the other hand those of us who believe that Hijab/Purdah is not an obligation and feel as long as they are dressed modestly it is okay; Insha Allah that is their choice.

If both the man and the woman do not wish for the woman to wear Hijab/Purdah, as in this case that Angela mentions, I don't see any problem because both want the same thing. Both don't believe that Hijab/Purdah is an obligation.

The friend, obviously is giving good advice because she believes that Hijab is an obligation.

No Muslim who really understands the teaching of Islam will "lock his wife" at home. But it is better for the women to remain indoors if there is no immediate/urgent need for her to go out.

Let me give you an example:

The Prophet (Sallallahu 'Alayhi wa Sallam) said:

"If the wife of any of you asks for permission to go to the Masjid, do not stop her." (Al-Bukhari)

And a second Hadith:

"Do not prevent women from attending the Masjid; even though their houses are better for them." (Abu Dawud)

Salah is the second pillar of Islam. If women need to ask their husbands' permission to go to the Masjid then this means that Islam has excused women from offering their obligatory prayer in congregation. It is even better for them to pray at home. If women don't need to leave their homes to fulfill an obligation, i.e. Salah, then is there a need for them to work when the financial responsibility is an obligation on their husbands and not them; not only on their husbands, but their fathers or guardians if they are unmarried. If she does chose to work, I feel she should chose a profession like being a doctor so that she can treat only women and/or children or teacher � teaching young children or girls; two examples; choosing professions which will minimize working with men or along side men.

Anyway this is my opinion on a general level. Like I mentioned earlier, every person's situation is different and they need to make the right choices to stay within the boundaries set by the Shariah.

Wa Alaikum Salam

Hi Angela

I am educated and I cannot have children, stay at home and Alhamdulillah (Praise be to Allah) am still sane.