The commandments of Hijaab

IN THE NAME OF ALLAH – THE SOURCE OF MERCY – THE MOST MERCIFUL

THE COMMANDMENTS OF HIJAAB ARE OF GREAT IMPORTANCE. THOUGH IT IS TRUE THAT THEY ARE IN FACT SOMEWHAT DIFFICULT TO FOLLOW. BUT ONE THING IS TRUE BEYOND DOUBT, AND THAT IS WHOSOEVER SUCCEEDS IN FOLLOWING THESE COMMANDMENTS WILL HAVE LESS DIFFICULTY IN OBEYING OTHER COMMANDMENTS OF ALLAH SUB'HAANA'HU WA TA'AALAA. THIS IS THE MOST BITTER PILL TO SWALLOW, IN TERMS OF OBEDIENCE, BUT IT IS MOST BENEFICIAL IN THAT IT MAKES IT QUICK AND EASY FOR A MUSLIM TO BE CLOSE TO ALLAH.

TODAY, OUR STANDARDS OF PIETY HAVE BECOME LIMITED TO RECITING ENDLESS INCANTATIONS AND ROSARIES, PRAYING EXTRA SALAAT, RECITING THE BOOKS OF PRAYERS, FASTING WHEN POSSIBLE, GIVING ALMS AND CHARITY AND OBEYING THOSE COMMANDS WHICH MAY BE FOLLOWED WITH EASE. BUT WE READILY IGNORE AND REJECT ALL THOSE RULES AND PROHIBITIONS WHICH INTERFERE IN ANY WAY WITH OUR LIFESTYLE, NAFS AND DESIRES.

WE PROFESS DEEP LOVE FOR ALLAH, BUT DO NOT REFRAIN FROM DISOBEYING HIM, EVEN THOUGH IT IS OBLIGATORY ON US TO REFRAIN FROM ALL THAT HE HAS DECLARED HARAAM. THE FOUNDATION OF PIETY IS BUILT ON SEEKING ALLAH'S FORGIVENESS FOR ALL OUR DISOBEDIENCE AND REBELLIOUSNESS AGAINST HIM. PROPHET MUHAMMED SALLALLAHU ALAYHI WASALLAM HAS SAID, "REFRAIN FROM SINNING AND YOU WILL BECOME THE MOST PIOUS OF WORSHIPPERS." 

THE SIN OF REFUSING TO OBSERVE HIJAAB IS MORE SEVERE THAN OTHER SINS, WHICH IS WHY IT IS CRITICAL TO IMMEDIATELY DESIST FROM IT AND TO SINCERELY RESOLVE NOT TO REPEAT IT. THE REASONS FOR THIS ARE AS FOLLOWS: 

1. IT IS A SIN WHICH IS COMMITTED IN THE OPEN FOR ALL TO SEE. THE ONE COMMITTING THIS SIN, WITHOUT SAYING A WORD, IS OPENLY DECLARING TO EVERYONE THAT SHE / HE HAS NO REGARD FOR ALLAH'S COMMANDS, AND THAT SHE / HE HAS REVOLTED AGAINST ALLAH SUB'HAANA'HU WA TA'AALAA. OUR PROPHET SALLALLAHU ALAYHI WASALLAM HAS SAID: 

   

2. "ALL OF MY UMMAH IS WORTHY OF FORGIVENESS, EXCEPT THOSE WHO HAVE OPENLY SINNED" THIS IS TRUE NOT ONLY FOR RELIGION, BUT EVEN UNDER THE LAWS OF ANY GOVERNMENT OF THIS WORLD, THOSE WHO OPENLY BETRAY THEIR GOVERNMENTS ARE NOT FORGIVEN, AND WHAT IS THE PUNISHMENT FOR BETRAYAL, BUT DEATH? 

   

3. THE SINFUL CONSEQUENCES OF REFUSING TO OBSERVE HIJAAB ARE NOT LIMITED ONLY TO THE ONE COMMITTING THIS SIN; SINCE IT ENCOURAGES AND SPREADS LEWD AND SHAMEFUL BEHAVIOUR, IT ULTIMATELY AFFECTS THE ENTIRE SOCIETY WHICH THUS GETS CAUGHT IN ALLAH'S PUNISHMENT IN THIS WORLD AND IN THE HEREAFTER. IT IS COMMONLY OBSERVED THAT SUCH A SIN ALSO PAVES THE WAY FOR ALL KINDS OF OTHER MISCHIEFS, EVEN MURDER.

4. THOSE WOMEN WHO DO NOT OBSERVE PURDAH SHOULD ASK THEMSELVES WHY ARE THEY DOING SO. IS IT THE TEMPORARY PLEASURES AND FULFILMENT OF DESIRES WHICH IS KEEPING THEM FROM IT? THEY SHOULD REALISE THAT LIFE IN THIS WORLD IS SHORT WHILE LIFE IN THE HEREAFTER IS FOREVER. THEY SHOULD ALSO REALISE THAT BY NOT OBSERVING HIJAAB THEY ARE EMBITTERING THEIR LIVES HERE AS WELL AS CONDEMNING THEMSELVES TO THE PUNISHMENT OF HELLFIRE IN THE HEREAFTER. WE ARE NOT ABLE TO BEAR, EVEN FOR A SECOND, THE HEAT OF A BURNING COAL PLACED ON THE PALM OF OUR HAND. AND YET WE NEVER THINK, HOW WILL WE BE ABLE TO BEAR THE SEVERE TORMENT AND FIRES OF HELL? IF

WE WORRY THAT OUR FATHER OR HUSBAND OR OTHER RELATIVES WILL NOT APPROVE AND WILL BE DISPLEASED WITH OUR FOLLOWING ALLAH'S COMMANDS, THEN WE SHOULD ALSO THINK WHETHER THIS WILL BE AN ACCEPTABLE EXCUSE TO PRESENT TO ALLAH SUB'HAANA'HU WA TA'AALAA ON THE DAY OF JUDGEMENT. WILL HE FORGIVE US IF WE SAY THAT WE DID NOT FOLLOW HIS ORDERS BECAUSE WE FEARED DISPLEASING OUR FAMILY AND

FRIENDS. EVEN THOUGH IT IS ALLAH'S ABSOLUTE AND UNALTERABLE LAW THAT 'OBEYING ANYONE WHILE DISOBEYING ALLAH SUB'HAANA'HU WA TA'AALAA IS FORBIDDEN'. 

THAT IS, IF SOMEONE ASKS US TO DISOBEY ALLAH, WE ARE FORBIDDEN TO OBEY HIM. WE SHOULD SIMPLY CAST THIS PERSON ASIDE. WE SHOULD CONSIDER WHETHER THIS PERSON WHOM WE ARE PLEASING BY DISOBEYING ALLAH SUB'HAANA'HU WA TA'AALAA WILL BE WILLING TO RECEIVE AND BEAR THE PUNISHMENT IN OUR PLACE ON THE DAY OF JUDGEMENT? ALLAH SUB'HAANA'HU WA TA'AALAA CLEARLY STATES IN THE NOBLE QUR'AN: 

THEN WOULD THOSE WHO ARE FOLLOWED CLEAR THEMSELVES OF THOSE WHO FOLLOW (THEM); THEY WOULD SEE THE PENALTY AND ALL RELATIONS BETWEEN THEM WOULD BE CUT OFF AND THOSE WHO FOLLOWED WOULD SAY: "IF ONLY WE HAD ONE MORE CHANCE WE WOULD CLEAR OURSELVES OF THEM AS THEY HAVE CLEARED THEMSELVES OF US. "THUS WILL ALLAH SHOW THEM (THE FRUITS OF) THEIR DEED AS (NOTHING BUT) REGRETS NOR WILL THERE BE A WAY FOR THEM OUT OF THE FIRE”. (2:166,167) 

PONDER ON THIS VERSE, AND IT BECOMES CLEAR THAT ON THE DAY OF JUDGEMENT, THOSE PEOPLE WHO DISREGARDED THE COMMANDS OF ALLAH AND DISOBEYED HIM TO FOLLOW AND PLEASE OTHERS, WILL BE ENEMIES UNTO EACH OTHER AND ALL RELATIONS BETWEEN THEM WILL BE SEVERED. ON THAT DAY, THE YOUNG WILL BLAME THEIR ELDERS FOR NOT LETTING THEM OBEY ALLAH AND OBSERVE HIJAAB, WHILE THE ELDERS WILL SAY THAT THEY HAD NO CONTROL OVER THEM, THEY ONLY ASKED THEM TO DISOBEY, BUT DID NOT FORCE THEM. THEN, HOW FRUSTRATED AND HELPLESS WILL THOSE FEEL WHO HAD DISOBEYED ALLAH TO PLEASE OTHERS AROUND THEM. 

HIJAAB IS NOT APARTHEID OF LATE, THERE HAS BEEN GOING ON A SOMEWHAT SHARP PUBLIC DEBATE CONCERNING HIJAAB, THAT IS THE CURTAIN OR THE VEIL THAT SERVES TO SCREEN MUSLIM WOMEN FROM THE SIGHT OF MALE STRANGERS. "SECLUSION" AND "SEGREGATION" ARE ALSO THE TERMS BEING USED IN THE SAME CONTEXT. HIJAAB HAS BEEN

DUBBED AS DISCRIMINATION PRACTISED IN THE MUSLIM COMMUNITY AGAINST THEIR WOMEN-FOLK. SOME CRITICS HAVE GONE AS FAR AS APPLYING THE OBNOXIOUS TERM APARTHEID TO THE INSTITUTION OF HIJAAB IN ISLAAM. THIS IS A FALSE ALLEGATION MADE WITH THE ULTERIOR MOTIVE OF CREATING A RIFT IN THE MUSLIM FAMILY AND SOCIETY AND TO MISREPRESENT ISLAAM AS AN AGENT OF REPRESSION OF WOMEN. 

TO PUT THE RECORD STRAIGHT, IT NEEDS TO BE POINTED OUT THAT APARTHEID IN FACT REFERS TO THE POLICY OF RIGID RACIAL SEGREGATION ENFORCED AGAINST ALL COLOURED PEOPLE IRRESPECTIVE OF THEIR SEX OR CREED. THIS NOTORIOUS TERM RECEIVED WIDE PUBLICITY ON ACCOUNT OF THE ILL DOING OF ALIEN AUTHORITIES IN SOUTH AFRICA WHERE THINGS WENT TO THE EXTENT OF CONFINING UNIVERSITY EDUCATION TO WHITE PEOPLE ALONE AND TO HAVE SEGREGATED CONGREGATIONS OF THE WHITE AND THE COLOURED IN THE CHURCH TOO. THERE CAN BE NO SUCH APARTHEID IN ISLAM. ISLAM HAS GIVEN AND PRACTISED THE CONCEPT OF ALL HUMAN BEINGS BELONGING TO A SINGLE NATION. AL QUR'AN MAJEED SAYS AGAIN AND AGAIN THAT MANKIND IS DESIGNED TO BE ONE NATION:

“MANKIND WAS ONE SINGLE NATION”... 2:213 "MANKIND WAS BUT ONE NATION, BUT DIFFERED (LATER). " 10:19 "WE MADE YOU INTO NATIONS AND TRIBES, THAT YOU MAY KNOW EACH OTHER (NOT THAT YOU MAY DESPISE EACH OTHER)... " 49:13

IN THESE CIRCUMSTANCES, HOW CAN THERE BE APARTHEID DIRECTED BY ISLAM AGAINST ANY HUMAN BEING, LET ALONE MUSLIM WOMEN, WHEN IT HAS GIVEN THE CONCEPT OF UNITY OF THE WHOLE MANKIND, IRRESPECTIVE OF SEX, COLOUR, BIRTH, OR GEOGRAPHICAL PREFERENCES. 

SUPERIORITY RELATES TO FAITH AND RIGHTEOUSNESS. HOLY PROPHET MUHAMMAD SALLALLAHU ALAYHI WASALLAM MADE THIS POSITION ABUNDANTLY AND CATEGORICALLY CLEAR, THROUGH PRECEPT AS WELL AS EXAMPLE. IN HIS FAREWELL SERMON DELIVERED IN THE WAKE OF HIS LAST PILGRIMAGE, HE SAID: "YOU ALL HAVE ONE GOD, AND ONE FATHER AADAM, AND AADAM WAS MADE OF CLAY. THERE IS NO PREFERENCE FOR THE ARAB OVER A NON ARAB, OR FOR A NON ARAB OVER A ARAB, OR FOR THE REDS OVER THE BLACKS, OR THE BLACKS OVER THE REDS, BUT THAT BASED ON PIETY. IN THE SIGHT OF ALLAH, THE NOBLER IS HE WHO FEARS HIM MORE." 

ISLAM HAS NO DOUBT LAID DOWN CERTAIN NORMS OF DRESS AND SOCIAL BEHAVIOUR FOR MEN AND WOMEN BOTH. ISLAAM GIVES THE WOMEN A REALLY HONOURABLE PLACE IN SOCIETY AS THE MOTHER, THE WIFE, THE SISTER, OR THE DAUGHTER. THE WOMAN WHO ENJOYS SUCH NOBLE STATUS, HAS TO BE CHASTE. HOLY PROPHET MUHAMMAD SALLALLAHU ALAYHI WASALLAM IS REPORTED TO HAVE SAID: "THE WORLD, THE WHOLE OF IT, IS A COMMODITY, AND THE BEST OF THE COMMODITIES OF THE WORLD IS A VIRTUOUS WIFE." MUSLIM 

TO PROTECT HER VIRTUE AND TO SAFEGUARD HER CHASTITY FROM LUSTFUL EYES AND COVETOUS HANDS, ISLAM HAS PROVIDED HIJAAB WHICH SETS NORMS OF DRESS, SOCIAL GET-TOGETHER, PARTICIPATION IN REFORMATIVE MOVEMENTS, AND GOING OUT OF THE FOUR WALLS OF ONE'S HOUSE IN THE HOUR OF NEED. THIS PROTECTION IS BY NO MEANS INTENDED TO BE A CONFINEMENT OR DURESS. WITHIN THE SET LIMITS, A WOMAN CAN EDUCATE HERSELF AND ACQUIRE QUALIFICATIONS IN ORDER TO ADOPT A PROFESSION TO EARN A LIVING, IF REQUIRED OR TO SERVE HUMANITY. IT IS A MYTH CONCERNING MUSLIM WOMEN THAT THEY CAN LIVE ONLY AS AN IDLE PART OF SOCIETY. THIS IS FAR FROM BEING TRUE. IN ADDITION TO HOUSE-KEEPING, BRINGING UP CHILDREN, CONTRIBUTING HER SHARE TO MANAGE THE AFFAIRS OF THE HOUSE AS A WHOLE, THERE IS NO BAR ON WOMEN TO PURSUE OTHER VIRTUOUS ACTIVITIES AS WELL. ALL THAT IS NEEDED IS THAT LIBERTY DOES NOT BECOME A LICENCE OR AN ACT OF LIBERTINE. 

ISLAMIC LAW IS NOT MEANT TO TAKE PLEASURE IN PUNISHMENT. ITS AIM IS TO PROMOTE, PROTECT, AND PRESERVE THE VALUES INHERENT IN THE ISLAMIC WAY OF LIFE. THE WOMAN IS AT PAR WITH MAN IN THE PURSUIT OF GOODNESS AND THE SHUNNING OF EVIL. THE RIGHTS OF BOTH ARE BALANCED, COMPATIBLE WITH THE RESPECTIVE PECULIARITIES OF EACH SEX AND ITS ATTENDANT DUTIES. HOLY PROPHET MUHAMMED SALLALLAHU ALAYHI WASALLAM HAS ELUCIDATED THE POSITION IN CLEAR-CUT WORDS: "FEAR ALLAH WHERE WOMEN ARE CONCERNED FOR YOU HAVE TAKEN THEM AS WIVES ON THE SURETY OF ALLAH, AND HAVE MADE THEIR PERSON LAWFUL UNTO YOURSELVES BY WORDS OF ALLAH. YOU HAVE RIGHTS TO CLAIM OF THEM, AND THEY HAVE RIGHTS TO CLAIM OF YOU." 

IT IS A MISCONCEIVED NOTION THAT HIJAAB IN ISLAAM IS DESIGNED TO KEEP THE WOMEN IN BONDAGE OF MAN. ON THE CONTRARY ISLAM EMANCIPATED WOMEN FROM MAN'S BONDAGE AND SOCIAL DEGRADATION. SHE HAS A DEFINED POSITION UNDER THE ISLAMIC LAW OF INHERITANCE WHICH SHE WAS DENIED BEFORE ISLAM. SHE CAN OWN PROPERTY. SHE CAN HAVE A SAY IN MOULDING THE SOCIETY IN ACCORD WITH THE NORMS OF ISLAM. SHE CAN RISE WITH DUE MODESTY TO PROTECT THESE NORMS AND THERE RIGHTS IF THEIR BE ANY SIGN OF NEGLECT OR ABUSE IN THIS BEHALF. HIJAAB DOES NOT STAND IN HER WAY IN THESE RESPECTS SO LONG AS ISLAMIC PROPRIETIES ARE PROPERLY HONOURED. 

THE VEIL 

MY OWN PERSONAL OPINION IS THAT THE ESTEEM OF A LADY IS UNQUESTIONABLY RAISED BY THE PROPER WEARING OF AN ISLAMIC VEIL. DECENCY IS OBSERVED, MODESTY IS PROMOTED, IDENTITY (INSTEAD OF BEING OBLITERATED AS INCORRECTLY BELIEVED BY WESTERN SOCIETY) IS, IN FACT, ENHANCED AND WELL PROMOTED BY THE REMOVAL OF INSULTINGLY DISTRACTING FACTORS. THE PRIMORDIAL APPEAL TO SEXUALITY IS REMOVED ALLOWING A WOMAN TO AT LAST COMPETE ONE-FOR-ONE IN WHAT WAS ONCE 'A MAN'S WORLD.' THE ALL CONCEALING BLACK ORTHODOX ISLAMIC VEIL IS FAR MORE EFFECTIVE IN RAISING A WOMAN'S STATUS AMONG MEN IN THE WORK PLACE. MORE THAN ANY BUSINESS SUIT THE VEIL, BY VIRTUE OF ITS AUSTERITY, COMPLETELY REMOVES THE SEXUAL ELEMENT. IT IN NO WAY DECREASES THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE WEARER. RATHER IT FORCES THOSE INTERACTING IN A BUSINESS FASHION WITH THE VEILED PERSON TO CONCENTRATE ENTIRELY ON THE BUSINESS BEING PRESENTED. THE WOMAN, THEREBY, BECOMES FAR MORE POWERFUL WITH HER MALE COMPATRIOTS. NOTHING IS TAKEN AWAY FROM HER PERSONALITY. IN FACT, HER BEAUTY AND AURA OF ALLURE ARE NO LONGER A HINDRANCE IN HER BUSINESS ACTIVITIES. SHE IS ABLE TO PRESENT HERSELF, HER SKILLS AND IDEAS FULLY FOR WHAT THEY ARE WITHOUT BEING DIMINISHED INTO SOME SORT OF A DESIRABLE SEX OBJECT IN THE PROCESS. NO ONE LISTENING TO HER PRESENT HER VIEWS WILL IN ANY WAY BECOME DISTRACTED BY ANYTHING ABOUT HER. 

INSTEAD OF BEING A SHAMEFUL HINDRANCE, THIS VEIL IS A COMPLEMENT TO EXACTLY THAT WHICH THE WESTERN WOMAN FEELS THREATENED SHE IS LOSING. THE VEIL BY HIDING, ACCENTUATES THE REALITY OF FEMININE ALLURE, BUT INSTEAD OF EXPLOITING IT, IT PUTS IT IN ITS PROPER PLACE. IS THE WESTERN WOMAN AFRAID OF LOSING HER INFLUENCE BY THOSE VERY SEXUAL QUALITIES BY WHICH SHE FEELS INSULTED WHEN THEY ARE NOTICED BY HER MALE CO-WORKERS? WHY NOT TRY THE VEIL APPROACH? I THINK WOMEN WOULD FIND THAT INSTEAD OF TAKING AWAY, IT RESTORES THEIR SENSE OF DIGNITY AND ALLOWS THEM TO HIGHLIGHT THOSE VERY QUALITIES WHICH THEY CLAIM, MEN ARE IGNORING DUE TO THEIR BASE ANIMALISTIC INSTINCTUAL DRIVES; INTELLECT, RESOURCEFULNESS, CREATIVITY AND DIRECT POWER. IN A RECENT EMPLOYMENT SURVEY IT WAS REPORTED THAT PHYSICAL ATTRACTIVENESS HAS A GREAT DEAL TO DO WITH THE HIRE ABILITY, OR PROMOT ABILITY, OF A FEMALE IN THE WESTERN WORK FORCE. NOT ONLY IS THIS UNFAIR, THE PRACTICE IS OUTRIGHT INSULTING TO EVERYONE INVOLVED. IT IS PURE AND SIMPLE EXPLOITATION OF EVERY WOMAN'S PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS. THE VEIL WOULD DO AWAY WITH THIS SORT OF DISCRIMINATION.

NEVER AGAIN WOULD A WOMAN BE SUBJECTED TO THE INDIGNITY OF BEING GAUGED ACCORDING TO HER PHYSICAL ATTRIBUTES. THE PRACTICE IS BARBARIC AND PREPOSTEROUS, AGAIN POINTING OUT THE POWER EMPLOYERS HAVE OVER WOMEN DUE TO SOMETHING OTHER THAN THEIR PROFESSIONAL QUALITIES. BY REMOVING THIS ELEMENT TO GAUGE, A WOMAN RETAINS HER DISTINCTION BY VIRTUE OF HER EDUCATION, SKILLS, AND TALENTS ALONE. NOT ONLY WOULD THE VEIL SAVE THE WEARER COSTLY EXPENSES ON OFFICE APPAREL, WHICH NOT ONLY MUST BE IN FIRST-CLASS CONDITION, BUT MUST BE KEPT UP ROTATED BY SEASON, AND REPLENISHED REGULARLY, THE WOMAN CAN NOW USE THIS CAPITAL TO ENHANCE HER APPEARANCE FOR HER PERSONAL ENJOYMENT IN A WAY WHICH MAY APPEAL TO HER FAR MORE: SHE CAN NOW AFFORD THOSE ITEMS OF AFTER WORK / LEISURE / SPECIAL WEAR SHE COULD NOT, PREVIOUSLY, BECAUSE OF THE NECESSITY OF MAINTAINING AN EXTENSIVE BUSINESS WARDROBE. 

BESIDES, WHO WOULD SHE SHED HER VEIL FOR? WHO BUT HER HUSBAND, OF COURSE. WHAT BETTER WAY TO APPEAL TO HIM BY PERMITTING HIM, AND HIM ALONE, THE PRIVILEGE OF HER UNVEILED SELF. IN A TIFF, SHE CAN RESORT TO DENYING REMOVING THE VEIL FORCING THE GENTLEMAN TO CONFRONT HER ON TERRITORY MORE EQUAL INTELLECTUALLY AND FAR MORE BENEFICIAL TO HERSELF: A BUSINESS ONLY IDENTITY. HE IS AT THIS POINT DENIED THE PRIVILEGE OF ADDRESSING HER IN ANY BUT THE FORMAL VOICE. OF COURSE, VIOLENCE CAN ALWAYS BE RESORTED TO (A MALE OPTION TO FRUSTRATION SINCE THE BEGINNING OF TIME). BUT THEN WHO LOSES DIGNITY, THE ONE TRANSGRESSED AGAINST, OR THE ONE FORCED BY LACK OF CONTROL INTO A PATHETIC STATE OF HELPLESSNESS BEFORE POTENCY EXUDED BY THE DIGNIFIED FIGURE? THE VEIL WILL AFFORD A WOMAN A LEVEL OF DOMINION AND HONOURABLE SANCTUARY HERETOFORE UNKNOWN IN THE CIVILISED WORLD. 

A WOMAN IS A THING OF MANY TALENTS, SOME OBVIOUS, SOME OBSCURE. THE VEIL WOULD GIVE A WOMAN A SENSE OF DIGNITY BY NOT ALLOWING MEN TO EXPLOIT HER (AS A SEXUAL OBJECT), WHILE ALLOWING HER TO RETAIN EVERY OUNCE OF HER TALENTS AND STRENGTHS AND TO USE THOSE TALENTS AND STRENGTHS TO THEIR FULLEST EXTENT WITHOUT ANY EFFECT BEING DIVERTED DUE TO UNNECESSARY DISTRACTION. A WOMAN REFUSING TO WEAR A VEIL INVOLUNTARILY ADMITS TO USING HER SEXUALITY TO ADVANTAGE, DEGRADES HERSELF BY THIS ADMISSION, AND ALLOWS MEN TO CONTINUE TO MANIPULATE HER BY ALLOWING THEM TO REGARD HER IN A LESS THAN OBJECTIVE FASHION. SHE GIVES THEM POWER OVER HERSELF BY ALLOWING THEM TO JUDGE HER BY VISUAL QUALITIES DELIBERATELY SUBMITTING HERSELF TO THIS LOW FORM OF EXPLOITATION. THIS KIND OF WOMAN REFUSES TO PART WITH HER VISUAL ADVANTAGE PERHAPS DUE TO AN UNFORTUNATE LACK OF CONFIDENCE IN HER INNER RESOURCES, OR PERHAPS AN AILING SENSE OF SELF-ESTEEM. NEITHER REASON SPEAKS WELL FOR THE FLAGRANT INDISCRETION OF AN UNVEILED LADY, NEITHER REASON IS ONE TO TAKE PRIDE IN.