In the name of God, the Merciful, the Beneficent
Tell believing men to lower their gaze and to be mindful of their chastity. This is most conducive to their purity. God is certainly aware of all that they do.
And tell believing women to lower their gaze and to be mindful of their chastity, and not to display their charms except what may ordinarily appear thereof. Let them draw their head-coverings over their bosoms and not display their charms to any but their husbands, or their fathers, or their husbands’ fathers, or their sons, or their husbands’ sons, or their brothers, or their brothers’ son, or their sisters’ sons, or their womenfolk, or those whom they rightfully possess, or such male attendants as are free of physical desire, or children that are as yet unaware of women’s nakedness. Let them not swing their legs in walking so as to draw attention to their hidden charms. Believers, turn to God in repentance, so that you may achieve success. (Light, Al-Noor: 24: 30-31)
As explained over the last two weeks, these two verses outline some of the preventive measures Islam puts in place in order to keep the satisfaction of the sexual desire within the bounds of propriety. Hence it requires both men and women to lower their gaze and to be mindful of their chastity. Women must also not display their charms in public, natural or enhanced through adornment, except for their faces and hands. Such charms may be seen only by husbands and some of a woman’s close relatives to whom she may not be married.
A further instruction is given to women with regard to their public appearance: “Let them draw their head-coverings over their bosoms.” We have a translation problem here because the Qur’anic verse uses the term jayb, which does not mean ‘bosom’. Jayb means the top opening of a dress which is bound to reveal a part of a woman’s bosom. Hence, women are ordered to bring their head coverings down so as to cover this opening, thus covering their heads, necks and chests. In this way, they cover their charms so as not to be displayed before hungry eyes, not even in a sudden encounter between man and woman.
A God-fearing man will always try not to make such a sudden look last long, or repeat it. Yet, it may have a lasting effect if charms and adornments are seen suddenly. Hence, the instruction to keep them covered. What is important to realize here is that God wants to spare people’s hearts this type of test.
Muslim women who received this instruction did not slacken to put it into effect, despite their natural desire to appear beautiful and attractive, because their hearts were resplendent with God’s light. In pre-Islamic ignorant days, women used to go out in public revealing their bosoms, just like women do today in non-Islamic societies. Yet when the order was revealed requiring women to cover their bosoms and reveal only what appears naturally of their own charms, their response was as Aisha describes: “May God bestow His grace on the early Muslim women: when God revealed His order, ‘Let them draw their head-coverings over their bosoms,’ they tore their dresses and used them to cover their heads.” (Related by Al-Bukhari)
Safiyyah bint Shaybah reports: “We were at Aisha’s place when some women spoke about Qurayshi women and their virtues. Aisha said: There is no doubt that Qurayshi women have their virtues, but I have seen none like the Ansar women in their strong belief in God’s book and undoubted faith in divine revelations. When the verse was revealed in Surah Al-Noor stating, ‘Let them draw their head-coverings over their bosoms,’ their men went home and read to them what God has revealed. A man would read this to his wife, daughter, sister and other relatives. Every single woman among them took out her printed dress and wrapped it over her head, in obedience to what God has revealed and confirmation of its application to them. In the morning they were praying behind God’s messenger, wearing their head coverings as though they were carrying crows over their heads.” (Related by Abu Dawood)
Islam has refined the tastes of Islamic society and its sense of beauty. It no longer seeks the lewd and licentious type of beauty. It has a refined human sense of beauty. Modesty shows a clean type of beauty that refines man’s sense. It is the type of beauty worthy of man, because it imparts a sense of purity and chastity.
Today, Islam produces the same effect among women believers, despite the fact that the general taste in society has sunk so low as to encourage revealing physical charms and exposing other parts of the human body. Nevertheless, women believers voluntarily cover themselves as God requires them to do, while other women around them try to attract men by their physical beauty.
Maintaining such modesty in appearance is another preventive measure Islam puts in place to protect both the individual and society. Hence, it is not required in situations where temptation is inconceivable. Thus, close relatives who are barred from inter-marriage are excluded. Normally these are not sexually attracted to such relatives who include their fathers, sons, fathers-in-law, stepsons, brothers and nephews. Also excepted are Muslim women, as the verse makes clear: “or their womenfolk.” Other women are included in this exception, because they may describe Muslim women and their charms to their husbands, brothers and other men. An authentic Hadith quotes the Prophet (peace be upon himn) as saying: “No woman should describe another woman to her husband as though he is seeing her.” (Related by Al-Bukahri and Muslim).
Muslim women, on the other hand, are reliable. Their faith prevents them from describing the physical charms of a Muslim woman to their husbands.
Another exception applies to slaves: “or those whom they rightfully possess.” Some scholars say that this applies to women slaves only, while others include men slaves because a slave does not look up to his mistress in a carnal way. But the first view is more logical because a slave is a man with all the desire a man has, even though in a particular period of time he is placed in a special or unfavorable situation. Also excepted are “such male attendants as are free of physical desire,” who may not be attracted by women for one reason or another, such as being impotent or feeble minded. In this case, a woman’s physical beauty causes no temptation. Similarly excepted are “children that are as yet unaware of women’s nakedness.” These are children who do not yet feel the sexual desire because they are too young. When they are older and become sexually aware and attracted to women, even though they might not have attained their puberty yet, the original rules apply to them.
All these - with the exception of husbands - may see a woman uncovered, except for the area between her waist line and her knees, because the cause that prevents such looks does not apply in their case. A husband, on the other hand, may see his wife without restriction.
