Organization: Central Michigan University
Date: Tuesday, 7 Apr 1992 05:04:13 EDT
From: Mahfooz Ahmed Jafry <32JMVQG@CMUVM.CSV.CMICH.EDU>
Newsgroups: soc.culture.pakistan
Subject: Re: 'burqa and muslim women'
 <1992Apr6.141815.9509@sarah.albany.edu>

Salam Alaikum Yasmeen Sahebah:

        I am happy at least you read the book and then started writing otherwis
e many people are writing without reading and proper citation.  First of all I
would like to request u to read the translation of Holy Quran by Abdullah Youse
f Ali or use (if u can) the translation of Tafhimul Quran by Zafar Ishaq Ansari
(published by UK Islamic Foundation).  You seem to be angry with Maudoodi but t
his is not the case.  I am not trying to promote Maudoodi and his philosophy. I
am writing about Quranic teachings and citing Maudoodi and his book otherwise
among Pakistani scholars many wrote in favour of 'paradah', like Amin Ahsan Isl
ahi etc.

        I think there is a need to discuss the issue with you in length so why
we do not start from the very beginning.  Please remember that Quranic teaching
s of paradah came (I think after gazwa Ahhad and before that muslims proved the
ir iman in 2 big battles and many small battles sarya).  On similar ground, ord
rs for liquor came later on.  So why we should not start from Iman first and I
think this is the basic problem.  I wrote earlier and I am writing now also.

        You may know better than me but I would like point out that we are disc
ussing about paradah and arguing it see the iman of Hamzah, Mauooz, Maaz, Umair
, (raa), they sacrifice their lives ?  Is this not fact.  This is a complete mi
gration towards kufr to Islam.  This is the very basic issue and in one of the
hadith Prophet (S) said, the heart become rusted like iron, people asked O'Prop
het what we have to do, he replied, 'Kasratul tilawat Quran and zikrul moot'
(I assume you understand urdu).  Further Holy Quran says take help from salah a
nd sabr.  Of course before paradah, we have to takecare for our salah first.
But you may recall that holy Quran gives latitude to women for salah during the
ir days (no need to go in details), what is the philosophy behind ?

        You may disagree with Maudoodi, this is o.k. but you cannot deny the Al
lah's open order for paradah verses of Ahzab, noor and nisa.  Now let us forget
 Maudoodi and all all hadith cited by him.  Now I am talking about Quran.

    'Wa qarna fi baiutaikunna wala tabbrujna tabbarujutul jahiliatul ula'
                                                            (Ahzab)
'Do not go out yourself exposing as you did in the period of jahilia'
you can see any tafseer, any translation.  What this mean, liberal scholar like
Yousuf Qarzawi even cannot deny about this direct injunction of Holy Quran.
But it does not mean that even when there is need women sit at home, they are a
lowed to work but in Islamic limitation and in an Islamic environment.  This is
 why Holy Quran says (and Prophet Mohammed formed Islamic State) to form Islami
c State (Waj Alni Min Landunka Sultanan Nasira - Sura Bani Isral).  Whether you
had seen any scholar wrote that muslim women cannot work.  They always mention
yes, they can work but not like 'shamai mahfil'.  This is Islamic teachings
which has always been given wrong meanings.

      As per my knowledge the sharia Islami (teachings of Holy Quran and practi
ce of Prophet Mohammed - sources are hadiths ), satar is equally applicable to
men and women both.  Exceptionally men were given a latitude on special circusm
tances from navel to knee otherwise Prophet Mohammed (S) and all his Sahabas us
ed to cover their entire body even in the battle.  (I would like to refer the A
rabic dress which is loose and cover entir body and I do wear sometime). In one
 of hadith Prophet Mohammed (S) said 'cover the area of upto your knees by your
 shit'.  On the basis of this many good mulim do not wear pants.  Pakistani
shalwar Qameez is the best for men and women.  (But this is not mendatory, dres
sing depends on geographical climate but it does not mean that in summer muslim
 women and man go biknies).

        You raised the issue of procreation 'Holy Quran' testifies this, but of
 course this is not the only thing.  In sura Qiyama 'Fama qhalakaa zakara wal u
nsa' and in many places.  The Quranic teachings of zakar and unsa strongly test
itifies the procreation of not women only but also men.  You issued the birth c
ontrol and paradah in one article  but this is two separate issue and my Ph.D.
thesis could be on 'Islam and Family planning'.  This is a challenge to the
west (Inshallah).

         Concerning women's menstrual period, I think Maulana Maudoodi cited so
me medical refrences so this is not his fault.  In daily life, this my own expe
rice that women are weaker than men and weaker in observation too and cannot re
sit or fight like men etc.  One American girl,she was POW (girl from Michigan)
in Iraq and it became big issue in the west ?  What is about hundreds of men PO
W ?  If you logic is right ?  Why such a massive demonstration and inputs for w
omen role as prisoner of war.  I think you got my point that women physically l
agged behind the man.  This is fact.

         When Prophet Mohammed married to Hazrat Khadija she was 40 and might n
ot remained able to give birth to child, so this is not a big issue.  I have 3
volume of sahis bukhari in urdu language which I brought from Pakistan and I th
ink I read most of cited hadithby Maudoodi in that book (But I have to see it a
gain before insisting on u ).

         I think I clarified most of the question raised by you and still I inv
ite you to read the verses of ahzab, nisa and noor.  By the way I asked Arabic
scholars about the validity and authenticity of his book 'paradah' and their
reply remained affirmative.

         Do you want me to cite the exact verse of sura ahzab on jalabeeb 'to c
over faces ' for muslim women.  This is verse is clearly mentioned in Ahzab and
 verses of surah noor supports it.  Holy Quran says 'if some comes to your door
 give the the requested thing from the side (do not come in front)' verse sur
an noor. In early morning I do not have Quran with me in the lab otherwise I ca
n give u the exact verse and # .  There are many supporting verses which provid
e the strenght to each others validity. I wish, if I could write on this issue.
Why Holy Quran says (sura noor) do not talk to the men politely and do not
walk by making noise with your steps.  What these means ?

          Again somebody will write this is segregation, no, if the I
slamic government will come in true spirit I do not think there is any need for
women to go for work.  Inshall we will form an ideal welfare state and give the
 women their due respect like queen not like floor cleaning genitors.  Please
feel free to write or ask any question.  Your brother in Islam. jafry