“My choice of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) to lead the list of the world's most influential persons may surprise some readers and may be questioned by others, but he was the only man in history who was supremely successful on both the religious and secular levels.”
This is the opening line of the historical book ‘The 100, a Ranking of the Most Influential Persons in History’, by Michael H. Hart.
He further says, “It is this unparalleled combination of secular and religious influence which I feel entitles Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) to be considered THE MOST INFLUENTIAL SINGLE FIGURE IN HUMAN HISTORY”
This is not only the opinion of a single writer, almost all scholars of the world consider him as the best leader and model for humanity.
At this juncture, it is my utmost responsibility to give convincing answers, if a woman like Taslima Nasrin dares to write a blasphemous article about such a great personality, using foul words and menial tongue. Telling fabricated lies about the personal life and teachings of the Prophet of Islam is not only condemnable but also counterable.
Dress sense is a very significant part in the processes of human civilization. During the ancient times men used to cover their body through leaves and other handy natural things. But in the process of civilization men discovered cloth to wear as dress. Even a small school-going kid knows this fact.
There has been much discussion regarding the practice of purdah not only in recent times, but also in the past decades. But we are not in such a blind society to believe the comments of those critics who show an artificial pity generated by their ignorance.
Nowadays purdah-clad women have showed their ability in all fields and sectors of the modern society. We can see women doctors, nurses, pilots and army personnel etc. doing their job successfully wearing purdah.
“Don’t you feel breathless? Don’t you feel angry? Don’t you ever feel like throwing- off?” These were the questions posed by the writer Taslima to her mother who used to wear Purdah. But the writer has to understand that a Muslim woman wears purdah only to cover and protect her body and not to close her eyes. No woman was suffocated to death because of purdah!
Regrettably the writer took the extreme step of misinterpreting the verses of glorious Qur’an only to dupe the readers.
No doubt, Islam commands a woman to cover herself completely so that she does not attract any attention. Compared to men, women have some special responsibilities including pregnancy, giving birth etc. A purdah clad Muslim woman also believes that upbringing her children and providing them appropriate knowledge, training and education is her responsibility.
The Qur’anic verses that guided the women to wear purdah are as follows.
“Tell the believing men to reduce [some] of their vision and guard their private parts. That is purer for them. Indeed, Allah is Acquainted with what they do.”
“And tell the believing women to reduce [some] of their vision and guard their private parts and not expose their adornment except that which [necessarily] appears thereof and to wrap [a portion of] their head-covers over their chests and not expose their adornment except to their husbands, their fathers, their husbands' fathers, their sons, their husbands' sons, their brothers, their brothers' sons, their sisters' sons, their women, that which their right hands possess, or those male attendants having no physical desire, or children who are not yet aware of the private aspects of women. And let them not stamp their feet to make known what they conceal of their adornment. And turn to Allah in repentance, all of you, O believers, that you might succeed.”
Surah Al-Noor (30:31)
Taslima quotes another verse from “Surah Al-Hijaab”. But you cannot find a Surah called ‘Al-Hijaab’ in the entire Qur’an! The 33rd Surah is Al-Ahzaab. 59th verse of this Surah goes on:
“O Prophet, tell your wives and your daughters and the women of the believers to bring down over themselves [part] of their outer garments. That is more suitable that they will be known and not be abused. And ever is Allah Forgiving and Merciful.”
Thus Islam suggests women to cover their whole body, except face and hands and nowhere has it ordered them to wear black robes.
Lying about the Messenger of Allah is not a matter taken lightly. Rather, Muslims consider it as an enormous sin. But Taslima in her article never hesitated to fabricate lies about prophet saying that he has written many unpleasant things. I don’t know how come she fabricated such a daring lie, whereas Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) never wrote a single line in his entire lifetime as he was an Ummee (illiterate).
The blasphemous article also contained insulting lines about Aaisha (r), the pious wife of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh). The articles also misinterpreted the 53rd and 54th verses of Surah Al-Ahzaab. The right translations of these two verses are as follows:
“O you who have believed, do not enter the houses of the Prophet except when you are permitted for a meal, without awaiting its readiness. But when you are invited, then enter; and when you have eaten, disperse without seeking to remain for conversation. Indeed, that [behavior] was troubling the Prophet, and he is shy of [dismissing] you. But Allah is not shy of the truth. And when you ask [his wives] for something, ask them from behind a partition. That is purer for your hearts and their hearts. And it is not [conceivable or lawful] for you to harm the Messenger of Allah or to marry his wives after him, ever. Indeed, that would be in the sight of Allah an enormity.”
“Whether you reveal a thing or conceal it, indeed Allah is ever, of all things, Knowing.”
Posing a question, why should Muslim women wear purdah, the writer went on to say that women are suppressed in Islam. She also asked the Muslim men to wear purdah. She has to read the above mentioned Qur’anic verses (Surah Al-Noor ) carefully. Allah has ordered the men to reduce of their vision and guard their private parts even before ordering the women to wear purdah.
Men dominant societies have always encouraged the exposure and exhibition of the female body regarding it as a great art. Public displays of female bodies in magazines like Vogue are considered artistic developments. Careers like modelling, acting, singing and dancing is short cuts for women to become famous and rich. They design clothes for fashion, which accentuate the femininity of the woman and her figure.
Is it not the conspiracy against woman to compel her to wear her dress according to the desire of Men?
Sadly, despite being a woman, Taslima Nasrin too in her article about purdah opined that purdah-clad women are confined to menial jobs such washing and cleaning. She may not know the fact that purdah-clad women can happily accomplish all her natural responsibilities and duties.
But it seems like Taslima has also become a victim of the conspiracy of male dominant society, as she herself encourages women to dress according to the wish of men.
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