My previous understanding has always puzzled me. By thinking Muslims in Madina have become somewhat more comfortable and less susceptible to harassment by the non-believers or at least unlike the suffering they endured in Makkah. So why should the Muslim women blend in? Re-visiting the verse sheds some more light on the matter.
For God is saying let them be known as Muslim women , for that should serve as a reason for protection from harm. So how would their identity as Muslim women serve as a deterrent for those whom have ill intentions?
The answer can be deduced from the next verse and from out historical accounts. That protection is provided through the pact (Madina charter) the Muslims have signed with all the inhabitants of Madina at the time. Therefore, by law of the pact all members of the communities that signed the pact are protected by it. This provides the cover for the Muslim women which the Ayah or verse suggests. It is also worth reading the subsequent Ayah(60) to further solidify the meaning previously mentioned. According to "Dar-us-salam.com" , the translation of Ayah 60 is as follows:
60. If the hypocrites, and those in whose hearts is a disease (evil desire for adultery, etc.), and those who spread false news among the people in Al'Madinah, cease not, We shall certainly let you overpower them, then they will not be able to stay in it as your neighbours but a little while
From the Arabic text the word "feeha - فيها" and English "in it" highlighted in red above , refers to the Madina. In verse 60 God tells his prophet to warn those who wish to harm the believer women if they do not cease their harassment, of the consequences. They shall not stay in the Medina after that for long for not adhering to the agreement signed with the prophet and the believers.
This is my opinion and God knows best.
This is my opinion and God knows best.
3 comments:
So, by your rationale, only non-muslims are subject to harm(covering up protects them from harm). From whom, then if not muslims? Who would harass everyone else but muslims?
Your post seems to state that muslims will harass women not dressed up extensively. That is not the will of Allah, I believe.
It doesn't seem islamic to harass people. And if only muslim women are protected, it does not seem to be other religions harming their own.
This is a very strange interpretation, but I respect it, though I won't accept it.
Salam
Salam,
First of all I would like to thank you for keeping it civil and willing to debate and discuss.
Now to reply to your inquiries, first of all you are making the assumption that I am implying through my logic that non-muslims SHOULD be harmed. That does not follow logically from what I am stating. The only conclusion I am making is that by using a Dress Code Muslim women should not be subject to harm.
In fact your criticism may actually apply to the widely accepted interpretation of "a slave woman" versus a free woman argument most tafaseer and scholars make. Without getting into too much detail, you may look that one up yourself. They somehow imply that slave Muslim women should not cover up and thus it is OK if they get harassed.
I am merely putting things into context by using the preceding versus as well as the following ones to explain verse 59. If you read the literal translation you will understand my point of view. The verse literally translates to :
And those whom harass(harm) the male believers and female believers by what the believers have not brought upon themselves (wrongfully) they shall bear the consequences of their actions.
Oh prophet say onto your wives and daughters and the believer women to cover up or cloak themselves with their garments in order for them to be recognized and not harmed (harassed). If the hypocrites and those whom have ill hearts and those who spread rumors (the phrase "those who spread rumors" I am unsure about; therefore used the accepted interpretation of it) do not seize their actions , we shall tilt the balance of power in your favor and they shall not live within the city with you for much longer.
So we can clearly deduce from the literal translation several things:
A- The time of the Surah and versus (during the first few years in Madinah. That can be supported by the name of the Surah and other references namely the battle of Ahzab
B- They were people whom harassed (verbally harmed) both male and female believers.
C- The reason for why the women should cloak is given in the verse itself. (in order for them to be recognized and not harmed)
The only thing which remains unclear (at least for me) is how would a a recognizable Dress code protect the female believers from harassment and harm? The answer I could come up with is the protection of the treaty of Madina. Also known as the Madinah charter. A historically known agreement signed by the prophet piece be upon him and the other inhabitants of the Madina (Jewish clans, the clans of Aws and Khazraj and possibly others too).
Salam
So, for the non-Muslim reading The Clans 34:59, we find that Muslim women are to dress themselves in a way that will avoid hurt. That reads like it was not customary for the Muslim women of those days to wear some type of coverings, until it became necessary to do so to avoid being hurt. They are told they can be forgiven for wearing ‘over-garments’. They would be forgiven for dressing to stand out to avoid ‘hurt’ by the local people engaged in the deprivation of women of the basic humanity the Prophet (PBUH) ensured Muslim women had.
How do you get around that the wearing of this special dress is contrary to the best practices expressed in Holy Koran? Dressing to stand out required special forgiveness in the Prophet’s (PBUH) day. Who forgives for today, and what special circumstance requires this dress? Is it to avoid being hurt by leaders professing Islam?
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