The ‘Orange’ Women

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3 Thul-Hijjah 1440 / 5 August 2019

We were informed of an arranged event which was organized by a Muslim Women’s Forum in which they called Muslim women to hand out oranges on Mandela Day. While this group consists of Muslim women, they have acted against the Laws of Deen, Hijaab and the noble lives of the Sahaabiyaat (Radhiyallahu anhunna) – who are perfect examples for every Muslim sister to follow.

While this ladies’ forum calls Muslim women out of their homes, to dress in orange, to meet at the public park and to drive around town distributing oranges – all in the name of Mandela and under the theme of ‘spreading kindness’, it should be remembered that such activities are totally alien to genuine Islaam! No Sahaabiyah ever arranged for Zam-Zam and Khajoor (dates) to be distributed in the market places, or any such place in Madinah Munawwarah in the name of Badr, Uhud, Khandaq, Tabook or in the name of Rasulullah (Sallallahu alaihi wasallam), Hazrat Abu Bakr (Radhiyallahu anhu), Hazrat Umar (Radhiyallahu anhu), etc. after their demise. Whereas, the latter illustrious personalities are much higher in prestige and status then Mandela!

WEAR ORANGE

This is what their advert displayed. It is Haraam for women to wear bright and attractive outfits in public domains. Such clothing makes them conspicuous to men, which may result in bitter consequences.

The following Hadith Shareef in Abu Dawood mentions clearly the type of clothing Muslim women should don when they emerge from their homes: “But, they should emerge in unattractive garments (should need force them to emerge)” – (Abu Dawood). And orange is a very attractive colour! Thus, the activity of the Muslim Women’s Forum is in stark conflict to the Hadith.

MEET AT THE PARK

While this Women’s Forum arranged their meeting place at a public park, one should understand that this opens many doors of evils for our Muslim women. In our era, almost all public parks are dens of evils, vices, Zina, liquor, drugs and thugs. Then, to intensify the matter, to let Muslim women who will be dressed in orange – a colour which can be also noticed in the night – to a public park without their Mahrams (husbands, brothers, fathers, etc.). This is indeed frightful. The husbands who allowed their wives to participate in this arranged event of the Muslim’s Forum lack in Ghairat (self-respect) regarding their wives by allowing them to roam around town, in parks and be amidst drug-addicts, drunkards and men who pass their time idly in the parks. Remember the famous proverb, ‘An idle mind is the Devil’s workshop.’

Besides calling Muslim women to a public park, a Muslim woman is not allowed to attend any Fardh Salaah in the Masjid, amidst Muslim men. What then can be said about gathering at a public park amidst strange Kuffaar men?

The following Hadith Shareef gives one a clear understanding as to why such activities are impermissible in Islaam. We have included two practical examples and bracketed them with ‘COH’ – Custodians of the Haq.

“The likeness of a woman who is in adornment (like wearing orange clothes – COH) in a place other than her husband’s (like in the park, or in town distributing oranges – COH) is that of the darkness which will prevail on the Day of Qiyaamah. There is no Noor for her”. – (Mishkaat)

JOIN A CAR

There is a Hadith which sounds severe warnings of the La’nat (Curse of Allah Ta’ala) settling upon a woman who is mounted on a saddle. This refers to women driving cars, in our era. Hence, women who drive have lost their Hayaa and allow themselves to become a prey to shamelessness.

The Women’s Forum advertised that women will then jump into a car and head to town to distribute oranges! Indeed, the husbands who allow their wives to go alone in the car to town have no Ghairat as well as no Aql. It is like keeping a precious, exclusive and expensive jewel left unprotected in the street, for any Tom, Jack and Paul to get his hands onto.

Husbands who allow their wives to drive, or let them roam around town, or in the malls, or even let them drive ‘down-the-road’ for some Deeni work, all alone, or with only women, have no real understanding of Hijaab. The Ahaadith have named such men as ‘Dayyooth’ (cuckolds). A cuckold is a husband who doesn’t care who speaks or looks at his wife.

The Hadith mentioned hereunder is sufficient as a warning for men not to allow their womenfolk to be participants at other similar future women’s only events, even if Muslim Women Forums or Ulama arrange them. We saying Ulama, because two years ago this same Women’s Forum arranged a walk for men and women, and a ‘Jamiatul-Ulama’ sanctioned this with their support! Innalillahi wa innaailaihi raaji’oon!

Nabi (Sallallahu alaihi wasallam) said, “There are three (types of people) at whom Allah Azza Wa Jall will not look (with Mercy) on the Day of Qiyaamah. The one who disobeys his parents, the woman who imitates men in her outward appearance and the cuckold (Dayyooth).” (Nasaai)

Women are supposed to be protected by their husbands or Mahrams. They are not allowed to go alone to town driving cars, leave alone distribute oranges dressed in orange!

We wonder what are the ideologies of the Muslim Women’s Forum which arranged this orange distribution in the name of Mandela. It will be interesting to know what their understanding of Hijaab is.

THE QUR’ANIC INSTRUCTION ON HIJAAB

“And (O Women!) remain glued in your homes, and do not make a display of yourselves like the exhibition of Jaahiliyyah.” (Surah Ahzaab, Aayat 33)

“O Nabi! Say to your wives, your daughters and the women of the Believers that they draw over them their Jilbaabs (outer-cloaks). (Surah Ahzaab, Aayat 59)

HIJAAB FROM EVEN THE BLIND

Hazrat Umme Salma (Radhiyallahu anha) narrates: “Hazrat Maymoona and I (Radhiyallahu Anhuma) were seated in the company of Rasulullah (Sallallahu alaihi wasallam) when Hazrat Abdullah Ibn Umme Maktoom (Radhiyallahu anhu) suddenly approached and entered the home.

So, Nabi (Sallallahu alaihi wasallam) instructed (us two): “Adopt Hijaab for him.” (i.e. withdraw from the place and go into seclusion).

Hazrat Umme Salma (Radhiyallahu anha) said: “O Nabi of Allah, isn’t he blind, (which means that) he cannot see us, (i.e. so why should we observe Hijaab)?

Rasulullah (Sallallahu alaihi wasallam) said: “Are both of you also blind? Can you not see him?” (Muslim – Tirmizi – Abu Dawud –Bayhaqi – Nasaai)

Hazrat Ali (Radhiyallahu anhu) reports that once Rasulullah (Sallallahu alaihi wasallam) asked the Sahabah (Radhiyallahu anhum): ‘What is the best thing for a (Muslim) woman?’ They remained silent.

Hazrat Ali (Radhiyallahu anhu) says: ‘When I went home, I asked Fatimah (Radhiyallahu anha) about this.

She said:

‘(The best thing for a woman) is that she sees no man, and no man sees her.’

Hazrat Ali (Radhiyallahu anhu) says: ‘I mentioned that to Rasulullah (Sallallahu alaihi wasallam) who said: ‘Fatimah is but a part of me.’ (Kanzul-Ummaal)

THE DUTY OF A MUSLIM WOMAN

Hazrat Moulana Ashraf Ali Thanwi (Rahmatullahi alaih) said, “The main duty of women is to engage in their domestic affairs. Thus, true and original Hijaab directed by the Shariah is Hijaab Bil Buyoot (Concealment within homes).”