Moreover...

Moreover, the verse is applied to both girls and boys, and the word /'allaoina/ (those) that is a masculine pronoun is not against generality of the concept of the verse, because in many cases this word is used for all people, as we read in the verse that obligates all Muslims to fast, in which the word /'allaoina/ is used to address all Muslims. (Sura Al-Baqarah, No.

2, verse 83) It is necessary to mention that the verse is about children who can discern and comprehend sexual issues and genital organs, etc, because the matter of taking permission itself indicates that they at least understand what taking permission means. Using the phrase 'Thalatha 'aurat' (Three times of privacy) is another evidence for this meaning, too. Whether this verse covers male slaves only or it covers female slaves, too, there are various narrations.

The verse apparently involves all, that is, it refers to both groups, so the narrations that are in harmony with the appearance of the verse can be preferred. In the end of the verse, the Qur'an says: "... It is no sin for you or for them (if) after those (three times), some of you go round attendant upon the others.

Thus does Allah make clear the revelations for you; and Allah is All-Knowing, All-Wise." The Qur'anic word /tawwafun/ is originally derived from the word /tawaf/, meaning walking about or around something, and since it is used in the form of exaggeration, it means frequency of this matter. With regard to the Qur'anic phrase /ba'dukum 'ala ba'din/ (some of you ...

upon others) that has come after it, the concept of the sentence is that you are allowed to do each other favour and to go and to come in other than these three times. As Fazil Mighdad says in Kanz-ul-'Irfan, this sentence indicates that there is no need for taking permission in other times, because if they want to come and go frequently and they have to take permission, every time it will become a difficult job (Kanz-ul-'Irfan, Vol. 2, P.

225).[^1] [^1] If we look one more time to this Sura from the beginning, we find that the policy of prevention from indecency is behind its verses.