ভূমিকা
Islamic Dress, a Social Necessity
Among the Islamic teachings to which Lady Fatima Zahra gave special
attention, was protecting women's honor and beauty through
observing the Islamic way of dress. Fatima realized that crimes, social
disasters, and humiliations were majorly due to unveiling, debasement,
dissoluteness and mixture of the sexes. These social crimes are now
called freedom and civilization by various publications that are
scattered throughout Muslim and non-Muslim countries. It shouldn't be forgotten that less than one-tenth of such crimes and
debasements, used to occur to Muslim women when they observed
the Islamic covering and exalted themselves from exhibiting their
bodies to men. That day when they used to bestow themselves in the
garments of honor and modesty, when they truly believed in that which
is forbidden and permitted. But as time passed, they exhibited their
privacy to thousands of men from all walks of life and with many
different faiths; Muslim women lost their honor and dignity... and
reached the point of disgrace where they stand today!! The following are two reports, which explicitly present the Messenger's
admiration of Fatima's stands regarding women:
A. Abu Nu'aym reports in Hilyat al-Awliya v.2. p.40, that Anas Ibn Malik
said: "The Messenger of Allah (S) asked: `What is best for women?'
We did not know how to answer the Prophet, so Ali (A) asked Fatima
Fatima answered: `It is best for them not to see men and not to let
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Ali returned to Allah's Messenger and conveyed Fatima's answer to
him. When the Prophet had heard the answer, he said: `Surely she
has spoken the truth, for she is part of me.'
B. Ibn al-Maghazili mentions in his book Manaqib that Ali Ibn al-
Hussain Ibn Ali (A) said: "Once a blind man asked for permission to
enter Fatima's house, but she kept a veil between them. The
Messenger of Allah noticed her actions and asked:
`Why did you keep a veil between you when he can not see you?'
Fatima (A) answered: `Messenger of Allah, it is true that he cannot see
me, but I can see him and he can smell my fragrance.'
At this, the Prophet (S) said: 'I bear witness that you are part of me.'
In addition to these narrations, many prayers and supplications have
been reported on Lady Fatima's account; among them is the famous
supplication for the relief of fever and headaches. This supplication is
mentioned below as an example of Fatima's prayers.
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