Page 315 - Bigotry: The Dark Danger
P. 315

Adnan Oktar
                                        (Harun Yahya)




                 covering does indeed appear in Surat al-Ahzab and why
                 the proponents of the head-covering choose to ignore it:




                                 Surat al-Ahzab Verse 59





                        O Prophet! Tell your wives and daughters

                     and the women of the believers to draw their
                     outer garments (jilbab) closely round them-

                     selves. This makes it more likely that they

                     will be recognized [as free righteous women]
                     and not be harmed. God is Ever-Forgiving,

                     Most Merciful. (Qur'an, 33:59)





                 The meaning of the Arabic word in the verse, "jilbab," is a sheet
             or garment that covers the body from top to bottom. This verse
             from Surat al-Ahzab is therefore very clearly describing a garment
             that covers the head and the entire body. There is one reason cited
             for the wearing of such a garment, and that is for Muslim women to
             be recognized as free and chaste.

                 This means that some environments are not suitable for women

             to be able to move round in or dress freely. The structure of a soci-
             ety and the moral level of the people within it may sometimes lag
             behind that of the civilization. Some communities condemn women
             who walk around not completely covered and may even go so far
             as to inflict verbal or physical abuse on them. Under normal condi-
             tions, Muslim women will not go to such places unless they have no





                                              313
   310   311   312   313   314   315   316   317   318   319   320