Modesty
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- Category: Modesty
The eyes are like an ocean, every moment carrying various tides of feelings and sentiments; such discreet and inaudible expressions that it is impossible for the limbs to translate each flicker into words and actions. In fact, the eyes are a treasure chest for the secrets hidden within the being of a woman. It is these very eyes that have been a means of attraction, allurement and temptation for centuries. But few indeed are those who have possessed eyes holding the beauty of modesty as do the eyes of the Muslim Woman.
As many fall into the abyss of unrestrained glances, the Muslim Woman’s eyes hold the unique trait of piety, since she derives strength upon strength from knowing that her Lord watches her from above the heavens. Her connection with her Lord helps her greatly in shielding off the attacks of the accursed whisperer, for when he approaches her she easily rushes towards her Lord's refuge and seeks help in His Power and Might - be that anytime and anywhere.
Her love for her Creator gushes through her being, since He is the One who safeguarded and trained her against the evil that the eyes can incur, as she recited the Words of her Creator “…And tell the believing women to lower their gaze…”[1] Fully trying to entrench these words into her being, her eyes comply and she takes care in only beautifying her eyes within the serenity of her home and the protectiveness of her veil. An old lady was once asked,
‘What matter have you learnt to be the most important for a woman in her life?” She replied,
“Never to allow a non-mahram’s[2] eyes to meet with hers.”
A Muslim Woman should take this advice and be far above complacency in this matter; for an ajnabi (stranger) to look towards her adorned eyes is an affront to her modesty, the same modesty that the Prophet (peace be upon him) described when he said: "Modesty results in good only and nothing else"[3] and “…modesty is a branch of faith.”[4] Indeed, treachery to her faith is not the Muslimah’s way therefore she preserves her eyes solely for her spouse, after which her lowered and adorned modest gaze looks up towards and is revealed for her beloved, the one whom Allah calls her garment:
“…they are your Libaas and you are their Libaas...”[5]
Seeking Paradise, she begins a journey to expend all her efforts to be able to dive into his eyes – right into his heart. Whilst other women may beautify themselves when leaving the house, she beautifies herself within the realm of her home - her Jannah in this temporal world. Once Bakrah bint ‘Uqbah came to the scholars of the scholars, the leader of the righteous women: ‘A’ishah (may Allah be pleased with her), and asked her about henna. ‘A’ishah said, “It comes from a good tree and pure water.” She asked her about removing body hair, and she said,
“If you have a husband, and you could remove your eyes and replace them with something better, then do it.”[6]
Altho
ugh using ‘extra volume mascara’ or ‘eye lash curlers’ may do the job to some extent, the righteous Muslimah - who loves to absorb the words of the Prophet (peace be upon him) into her heart, just as a sponge absorbs water - follows a cheaper and easier supplement or alternative. It is a specific type of kohl[7] referred to as ithmid made from black stone. Our Beloved Prophet (peace be upon him) said,
“The best of your kohl is ithmid, for it makes the vision clear and makes the hair grow.”[8]
Therefore the ithmid kohl is not only beautifying for the eyes but a great asset and a powerful means by which to strengthen the vision as explained by the truthful, Muhammad (peace be upon him). In fact there was a woman by the name of Zarqa’ al-Yamaamah who could see as far as the distance of three days, when she was killed they found that all the veins in her eyes bore traces of the kohl ithmid[9]. And as for the Prophet’s (peace be upon him) words “…and makes the hair grow” the scholars explain that the Prophet (peace be upon him) was referring to the hair growth of the eyelashes[10].
Imaam Ibn al-Qayyim (may Allaah have mercy on him) said,
'Kohl protects the health of the eyes and gives strength and clarity of vision, and cleanses the eye of bad substances. In addition to that some types of kohl also serve as an adornment and if it is applied before going to bed this is even better. And ithmid is more efficacious than other types of kohl.'[11]
May Allah bestow upon the Muslim Women of today modesty unparalleled in the annals of history and make them the most beautiful in the eyes of their respective husbands.
May Sisters worldwide be blessed with obedience to the commands of Allah and His Beloved Messenger and may Allah’s choicest peace and blessings be upon the leader of the Arabs and the Ajmaa’[12], Ameen.
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2. “And tell the believing women to lower their gaze (from looking at forbidden things), and protect their private parts (from illegal sexual acts) and not to show off their adornment except only that which is apparent (like both eyes for necessity to see the way, or outer palms of hands or one eye or dress like veil, gloves, head cover, apron), and to draw their veils all over Juyoobihinna (i.e. their bodies, faces, necks and bosoms) and not to reveal their adornment except to their husbands, or their fathers, or their husband’s fathers, or their sons, or their husband’s sons, or their brothers or their brother’s sons, or their sister’s sons, or their (Muslim) women (i.e. their sisters in Islam), or the (female) slaves whom their right hands possess, or old male servants who lack vigour, or small children who have no sense of feminine sex. And let them not stamp their feet so as to reveal what they hide of their adornment. And all of you beg Allaah to forgive you all, O believers, that you may be successful.” [al-Noor 24:31]
3. Bukhari and Muslim
4. Bukhari and Muslim
5. Qur’aan, Suratul Baqarah 2: 187.
6. Ibn al-Jawzi, Ahkam al-Nisa', 343. Note: this does not include the removal of hair from the eyebrows, since the Prophet [saws] has cursed both the one who plucks and gets her hair plucked. It has been said that this is a weak narration.
7. Kohl is also referred to as surma, kajal, antimony and collyrium. The first two terms are used in Asian countries to refer to antimony.
8. Sunan al-Nasaa’i (5113) and Sunan Abi Dawood (3837)
9. Majmoo’ al-Fataawa, vol. 17; Chapter on medical treatment and visiting the sick
10. Shamâ´il al-Muhammadiyyah (Description of Muhammad) by Imâm Abû ‘Isâ at-Tirmidhî 1/50
11. Zaad al-Ma’aad, 4/281
12. The plural of Ajami which means non-Arab.
- Details
- Category: Modesty
They ask: why do you segregate
The veil you obligate
Separate seating you allocate
Suppressed, denied, imprisoned and over you they dominate
Your rights they want to abate
In society we will make you achieve and accelerate
Segregation is oppressive and thus we must abrogate
Sit with us and wine and dine
You'll come to see that life is so fine
I reply and sigh
You don't know history and thus you ask me why
Although you call it 'sexual apartheid' to defy and deny
With your preconceived ideas, segregation in Islaam you belie
For me it is an honour, a privilege, a dignity which I apply
You have misunderstood the reasons and wisdoms
Come; sit with me awhile, so you may not remain so hostile
We, by segregating, are hidden from the filthy eyes
History bears witness that in the hearts of many men the devils fly
Women are abused and raped, over dark memories they cry
Yet so many continue to mix with men so as to wine and dine
Making sure they look fine
It’s about reality, so look at it sedately:
Segregation is not always a vice
Islaam shows its side - so nice
Dirty, evil men want to cling to you like lice
You know, so many of them are dirty, just like rats and mice
Our men keep us like petals
Keeping us away from the fierce wind that blows
Because within man’s blood satan flows
We are the diamonds, pearls and jewels
Not shown to just anyone as many men are such fools
So many look at women as merely sexual tools
I segregate and protect myself,
As women are more valuable than any wealth
Making sure to protect the beauty God has bestowed
Thanking him with obedience and words aloud
Thus I am not oppressed and the one undressed
How many women are raped - suffering from distress?
Their answer is Islaam, the path from which many, sadly, digress
Many women have been cheated on and used
But it’s strange, towards me you look bemused
Come join our caravan
And feel cherished and protected
You'll come to see that we are not outdated
Following the injunctions of the Lord, most High
The Creator of all that exists and everything you can list
This message should not be missed
The Paradise we want, to live within its midst
The Creator knows us best
Although for Muslim women, you see it as a test
Wake up and realise lest
On the Day of Reckoning you are from those people who didn’t win the test
I end with these words
Maybe angering the herds
That this is liberation
Freeing oneself from the shackles of oppression
Look at it from the light of truth and not detestation...
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