The High Court Division’s recent suo motu order directing the government to ensure that no woman is forced to wear burqa at the educational institutions and offices, and the subsequent circular of the Ministry of Education with a similar directive have brought forth yet again the religious dogmatism which often tends to violate the human rights of the women.
Instructions in the Holy Qur’an are that women should dress, move and look in a modest way. On the other hand, it has also been made mandatory in the Holy Book for men to conduct themselves in relation to women in a modest and gentle way, and not to look at or think of women in a lustful way.
Verse 30 in Surah An-Nur in the Holy Qur’an says: “Say to the believing men that they should lower their gaze and guard their modesty; that will make for greater purity for them; and Allah is well acquainted with all that they do.”
Reasons for purdah seem very innocuous and pious. In fact, women in all religions and communities follow certain dress code for the purpose of modesty. Controversies and debates, however, are on the degrees and forms of covering the body and face to ensure acceptable modesty.
The issue actually boils down to interpretation of the Qur’anic verses on purdah. Of course, that interpretation is to be preferred which would ensure modesty as well as her dignity in a manner that smoothens rather than complicates her living, learning and working in the society. However, this has not been always the case.
Two verses have been especially dedicated to purdah in the Holy Qur’an. One says: “And say to the believing women that they should lower their gaze and guard their modesty; that they should not display their beauty and ornaments except what (must ordinarily) appear thereof; that they should draw their veils over their bosoms and not display their beauty except to their husbands, their fathers, their husbands’ fathers, their sons,
their brothers and brothers’ sons, or their sisters’ sons” … (Surah An-Nur, Verse 31).The second one is: “O Prophet! Tell thy wives and daughters, and the believing women, that they should cast their outer garments over their persons (when abroad); that is most convenient, that they should be known (as such) and not molested. And Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful” … (Surah Al-Ahzab, Verse 59).
