Allah Subhaanuhuwataaala has granted us a complete religion, this religion is so constructive and full of guidance that no stone has been left unturned when dealing with any circumstance or aspect experienced within human life. Guidance in Belief, Worship, Social etiquettes, Social dealings, Morality, Mannerisms and Courtesy, Trade and Commerce, how to succeed in attaining virtuous qualities and how to refrain from gaining evil traits, etc. There is no issue dealt with by Mankind that our Shariah has not shed light on. There is no problem that cannot be resolved through this guidance. Shariah goes as far as to teach a man how to interact and behave with a woman, and a woman how to interact and behave with a man. Who is Mehram (someone whom one can marry) and who is Ghayr-Mahram (one whom one cannot marry), whom one should veil themselves from, how they should do it and when they should do it, all the teachings are present. There is not one problem where a solution is not present in Shariah.
Allah Subhaanuhuwataaala says:
Today I have perfected for you your religion
When Allah Subhaanuhuwataaala is the One who has perfected our religion, how perfect, complete, significant in value and excellence must it be?
Our perfect Deen sheds light over the issues of Purdah (to conceal, veil and be modest). However, due to our Hinduism and Indo-Pak culture and non-Islamic practices, we are being held back from practicing Purdah correctly.
It is said to the womenfolk:
What is this? you conceal yourself from your husbands brother, your sisters husband, they are family and our household members.
It is said to the menfolk:
What is the meaning that you do purdah from your wife sisters
This is our greatest weakness in social living, slowly with time our confidence in performing segregation is increasing, but this defect in society leaves a negative element on the issue.
Rasullullah Sallallahualayhiwassalam has stated:
O my Sahabah R.A, protect yourselves from entering the womens quarters, and do not approach women who are forbidden upon you.
A Sahabi R.A. questioned:
O Rasullullah Sallallahualayhiwassalam, what do you say in regards to the husbands brother, can he approach his sister-inlaw without purdah?
Rasullullah Sallallahualayhiwassalam said:
The older and younger brothers of the husband are no less then death for a woman.
Hadhrat Muhaditheen have commentated:
One understanding is that a women should exert the greatest effort, more meticulously in care and attention, when performing purdah with the older and younger brother of the husband, as she would be when she is in fear of death. The second understanding is that because the daughter in-law lives in the same household as her brother in-laws, where the atmosphere is more lax, and due to this laxness if any friendly conversation or joking around takes place between them, it will not be seen as suspicious or out of place. It is due to our foolish and baseless customs that we believe that friendliness between a woman and her brother in-laws and a husband with his sister in-laws should exist, and if it doesnt exist we believe that there is a defect in the ties and relationship between them and the in-laws. It is sheer ignorance when there is no concern when a woman sits in comfort in the company of her husbands brothers, and a man sits in company of his wifes sisters, in such ease and comfort they laugh, joke and converse, when they are forbidden upon each other. This is why Rasullullah Sallallahualayhiwassalam stated that the brother in-laws are death for a women, because when such activities take place no suspicion is aroused, hence, this relationship between them increases until it reaches the point of adultery.
Today, many women prefer to be in purdah, but due to the pressures placed upon them, they are obstructed by others who say:
What is this, now you have become so pious and religious?
It is not enough that your heart is pure and clean.
Allah Subhaanuhuwataaala has not created anyones heart from the whole of creation more pure and clean then that of Rasullullah Sallallahualayhiwassalam in the same manner no-one other then Rasullullah Sallallahualayhiwassalam who is highest in rank was granted the most esteem and elite Sahabas R.A. whose hearts were pure and clean, no other Nabi A.S. was granted such a high ranking group of Companions. Hadhrat Aisha Siddiqa R.A. whom due to her purity Allah Subhaanuhuwataaala revealed her purity in the Holy Quran.
Hadhrat Bukhari R.A. has commentated:
Whomever wants to recognise the rank of Hadhrat Aisha R.A. then they will find it in the rank of Rasullullah Sallallahualayhiwassallam.
How can both men and women be so confident in dispelling the laws of purdah/segregation? How can we even come close to comparing our purity of hearts to those of our pious predecessors. When we claim our hearts are clean, in fact whose commandment, and whose purity are we challenging?
Transcribed and written
by Taalibah
From the teachings of
Shaykh Muhammad Saleem Dhorat Saheb