The Purpose and Objective of Purda.

Submitted by Mohammed Gilani on

The purpose of the laws that deal with separation between men and women is to protect a woman’s chastity and to establish a society wherein all doors leading to immorality and indecency are closed off right from its roots.

The ideal for a Muslimah is to remain indoors and to emerge from the home only for neccessity, and when she comes out of the home due to neceesity, the dressing should not be luring or attractive in any way whatsoever.

Not dressing according to the principles of Hijab in public is an open violation of the commandments of Allah Ta'ala.

The first degree of true Hijab for women is to remain in the home and conceal themselves and their beauty from the fitnah that is present outside. 

The second degree is women concealing themselves by means of the Jilbab when they have a need to leave their home. The Jilbab is a piece of clothing large enough to cover the entire body from head to toe.

The third degree deals with the covering of the face. All four Mazaahib agree that it is impermissible for women to expose their faces in front of non-mahram men.

Some woman have a sincere intention to cover properly but due to external influence tend to don themselves with fancy and colourful cloaks, scarves etc. thereby totally defeating the very essence and purpose of Purdah and Hijaab.

If your headscarf looks good it is not part of the Islamic Hijab. If this aspect of Hijab draws attention and beautifies then you have contradicted the very essence and purpose of Hijab. 

The purpose and aim of the dress of Hijab is to turn eyes away, not attract them.

Hijab is meant to reduce attention, not invite it.

Nabī (Sallallahu alayhi wasallam) has mentioned, “A woman is an object of concealment (i.e. hijāb is necessary for women) because when she emerges, then Shaytān stares at her. (Tirmidhī)

This means that those men who are evil-natured and who stare at women are all Shayātīn. Since there is no shortage of such Shayātīn in the streets and in the market places, therefore women should not emerge from their homes without a severe need, so much so that she should not even go to the Masjid for Salāh. 

Nabī (Sallallahu alayhi wasallam) had mentioned, i.e. “Women should emerge with grimy clothing. (Abū Dāwūd) 

Hadrat ʿUmar (Radiyallahu anhu) states, “Do not give women beautiful clothing, they will remain sitting in their houses.”

The reason for saying this is that women are not inclined to emerge in a shabby condition. (Ihyā ul ʿUlūm vol.2 p. 48)

At times, women are forced to emerge from their homes due to either basic needs, or sharʿī necessities (e.g. hajj etc.). It is then compulsory for her to keep in mind the Qur’ānic teachings and the guidance of Nabī (Sallallahu alayhi wasallam) like lowering the gaze, emerging with the niqāb (face-covering), not adorning oneself, emerging with soiled garments and a simple loose fitting burqah, not applying perfume, make-up etc, travelling on a journey with one’s husband or a mahram, not walking in the middle of the street; and not standing in places where she will be exposed to all and sundry.