One of the practices aimed at strengthening the home and minimising
promiscuity is that of the seclusion of women. The verses of the Holly Qur'an
on which those who practise it base their custom say:
"0 wives of the Prophet you are not like any other women. If you
would keep your duty, be not soft in speech, lest he whose heart contains malice
may thereby be encouraged. Employ suitable speech. Stay in your houses and do
not dress to display your finery in the way they dressed during the time of
primitive ignorance; and keep up prayer, and give welfare due and obey God and
His Messenger; for God desires only to remove from you abomination (of vanity
since you are) the household (of the Prophet) and to purify you by a perfect
purification" (Qur'an 33:32-33).
Literally these verses are addressed only to the wives of Prophet
Muhammad (PBUH), and some authorities maintain 'that it applies only to them.
Other theologians and legists however interpret it by implication to apply to
all Muslim women, and this opinion is widely accepted in a number of Muslim
countries where women generally stay at home, coming out only for some
over-riding reason.
Some of the people who agree with this may nevertheless take into
account the other verses of the Holly Qur'an exhorting women to cover themselves
when they go out, and urging both men and women to lower their gaze and behave
modestly in the presence of the opposite sex-implying that women could go out
on their legitimate business. They may also consider the necessity of some Muslim
women going out to study and practice certain occupations, such as medicine,
nursing and teaching at all levels, which for Muslim women and girls ought to
be done by fellow women.
One may therefore note that the two opinions exist, and that in practice
one may see various degrees of seclusion or otherwise in different parts of the
Muslim world.
In most parts of the world social functions among Muslims are either
family affairs or celebrations by men and women in separate groups. To a
Westerner accustomed to mixed parties with dancing and drinking this may sound
an unexciting social life. However, the family circle in the Muslim world is generally a
wide one, and
the feeling of brotherhood is so strong and the hospitality of Muslims so warm
and welcoming that alcohol and the presence of the opposite sex are found to be
unnecessary ingredients of the enjoyment.
