Women throughout the world spend
millions of Dollars on facial beauty. Companies manufacturing 'beauty'
products make a colossal figure in sales. It would be nothing short saying
that the products used on the face far exceed other products. This in itself
proves that humans are particularly possessive of their looks - facial
expression.
People especially women take great pride and time in making up their faces.
Allah Taãla has placed the beauty of man and woman in the face. Perhaps the
busiest part of the body is the face - used extensively in communication.
The face communicates the person's mood and facial expressions and expresses
the character and mannerism. Because so much of identification is assembled
by the face, least to mention the beauty of women, Muslim women are required
to hide away their beauty. The veil forms part of their concealment.
The Noble Qurãn declares: '…… Oh Prophet! Tell your wives and your daughters
and the women of the believers to draw their cloaks (veils) all over their
bodies (i.e. screen themselves completely except the eyes or one eye to see
the way). That will be better, that they should be known (as free
respectable women so as not to be annoyed………(Ahzaab 59) Furthermore, the
Noble Qurãn declares in Sura Nur verse 31, that the believing women 'should
not display their beauty and ornamentation' except to their husbands and
immediate family (Mahrams). Allah Taãla says clearly that a woman's body
should be covered by loose-fitting, non-transparent clothing so that the
shape of her body is not revealed. The Hijaab hides the beauty of the
woman's form. No one can dispute that a woman's primary focus of beauty is
her face. Therefore, if Allah Taãla places so much of emphasis on hiding the
beauty of a woman's body, it's only logical that the centre of greater
attraction - the face - should without a doubt also be covered.
Referring to the wives (Radhiallaahu Ánhinna) of Rasulullah (Sallallaahu
Álayhi Wasallam) warns the men: 'And when you ask (His ladies) for anything
you want,ask them from behind a curtain: that makes for greater purity for
your hearts and theirs.' (Ahzaab 33:53) If Allah Taãla expects the prophet's
wives to be so guarded then surely none of the believing women can claim
greater purity of heart and consequently exemption from the directive to
hide their beauty. Hadhrat Áaisha (Radhiyallaahu Ánha) says, '(during Hajj
in the state of Ihraam) when the male should walk in front of us while in
the company of Rasulullah (Sallallaahu Álayhi Wasallam), then we would drop
our veils from the head over the face.' This Hadith emphatically shows the
manner adopted by the honoured wives of Rasulullah (Sallallaahu Álayhi
Wasallam). They have exemplified an extremely dignified way of life for the
women of the Ummah. |