1:35 PM | Author: Assalam Polban
PURDAH and The Status of Woman in ISLAM
by: Sayyid Abul A’la Maududi

Introduction by AI-Ash’ari

The modern world has gradually moved away from the way of nature towards perverse
directions that are inevitably leading to the destruction of the human race itself. The socalled moral concepts, which the Western world had adopted a century and a half ago, have already resulted in the disruption of family life, and produced licentiousness and sexual anarchy to the extent hitherto unknown in history. The nudist trends in the West, manifesting themselves in the “bikini” and the “birthday suit”, should surprise nobody as they are the natural out-come of the so-called movements launched for the rights and emancipation of woman. In this connection, the following reports are revealing:
(Delray Beach, Florida, May 10, 1964): “The shapely brunette wore a veil and high
heeled shoes – but nothing else - and her 23-year-old groom wore only a Florida sun-tan when they were married today in what was described as the largest nudist wedding ever held... Nude reporters watched the ceremony. The best man, an octogenarian, carried the ring in his hand since he had no pockets. The only one wearing clothes was a local lawyer, who performed the ceremony in the sunshine watched by some 200 nude guests.” (Router)

(Hamburg, May 25, 1964): “At last count, there were at least 84 public baths, parks and private terrains throughout West Germany reserved for nudist use. The practice is by no means limited to Germany however, but is widespread throughout all of Northern Europe.” (DPA)

This is then the culmination of the drive that was initiated with the object of emancipating woman and liberating man. “In a world that has seen human beings clothing themselves since the dawn of time the practice of nudism often takes on a humorous aspect.” More than that it suggests the virtual return of man to animality, to wild life wholly bereft of shame and decency.

The Quran, which is the panacea for every moral and spiritual disease has the anti-dote to the above-mentioned moral degradation. It asserts that the urge to clothe oneself and conceal one’s private parts is innate within man. It is with this view of the Quran vis-a-vis modern-day nudism, licentiousness and free intermingling of the sexes that this book is presented.

This is the English rendering of Maulana Abul A’la Maududi’s famous work “Purdah”, which was originally published in book form in 1939. It has since run through thirteen reprints and has deeply influenced vast sections of the public in the Indo-Pakistan sub-continent. This book, more than any other, has in recent year helped people to understand clearly the nature of the correct relationship between man and woman in the social life, and appreciate the great design that God wills to fulfill through them on the earth.

First of all, it proves by reason and argument that the moral concepts underlying the social system prevalent in the West are not only unnatural and irrational but is also laden with fatal portents for man and his civilization.

Secondly, it draws one’s attention to the laws of nature and establishes that family life and legitimate procreation alone can serve the will of God.

Thirdly, it prove on the basis of scientific observation that man is inherently incapable of devising a perfect social system for himself on account of his short-sightedness and limited faculties. He has always stood in need of Divine Guidance, which alone can help him to solve rationally and permanently the problems of his life.

Lastly, it sets forth the social system of Islam which is indeed the way of nature as it is based on Divine Guidance, and gives a note of warning that man cannot live on the earth by fighting against nature but by living in complete harmony with it.

As for the great style of the Maulana Abul A’la Maududi, I sincerely feel that no translation can claim to reproduce the effect of the original Urdu. That is why I have again and again felt and wished that some better hand attempted the translation of “Purdah” into English. The present attempt, however humble, has been made in all sincerity and faithfulness to the original.

In conclusion, I must express my gratitude due to late Chawdhury Muhammad Akhar Sahib for making useful suggestions in general and for the English translation of the verses of the Quran and Tradition of the Holy Prophet in particular.

Download:  PURDAH and The Status of Woman in ISLAM


1:25 PM | Author: Assalam Polban
Twenty Most Common Questions
Dr. Zakir Naik

In order to convey the message of Islam, dialogue and debate become
inevitable. The Glorious Qur’an says:
“Invite (all) to the way of thy Lord, with wisdom and beautiful
preaching, and argue with them in ways that are best and most
gracious!”
[Al-Qur’an 16:125]

In conveying the message of Islam to a non-Muslim, it is usually not sufficient to
highlight only the positive nature of Islam. Most non-Muslims are not convinced
about the truth of Islam because there are a few questions about Islam at the
back of their minds that remain unanswered.

They may agree with your contentions about the positive nature of Islam. But,
in the same breath, they will say - “Ah! But you are the same Muslims who
marry more than one woman. You are the same people who subjugate women
by keeping them behind the veil. You are fundamentalists, etc.”
I personally prefer asking the non-Muslims upfront, with their limited
knowledge, whether right or wrong, from whichever source it may be, what they
feel is wrong in Islam. I encourage them to be very frank and open and convince
them that I can take criticism about Islam.

In the past few years of my Da’wah experience, I have realized that there are
barely twenty most common questions that a common non-Muslim has
regarding Islam. Whenever you ask a non-Muslim, “what do you feel is wrong in
Islam?”, he poses five or six questions, and these questions invariably fall
among the twenty most common questions.

Misconceptions of non-Muslims who have studied Islam

There are many non-Muslims who have studied Islam. Most of them have only
read books on Islam written by biased critics of Islam. These non-Muslims have
an additional set of twenty common misconceptions about Islam. For instance,
they claim to have found contradictions in the Qur’an, they contend that the
Qur’an is unscientific, etc. There is another set of additional replies clearing
these twenty misconceptions among non-Muslims who have studied Islam from
distorted sources. I have also given the replies to twenty additional less
common questions among the non-Muslims in my public talks and book on
“Answers to Common Questions about Islam by Non-Muslims who have some
knowledge about Islam”.



10:24 AM | Author: Assalam Polban

Islamic Animation