Believing women

أعوذ بالله من الشيطان الرجيم
Assalamoalaekum السلام عليكم

Following is the Ayah that stopped me today to think again. I will try to share my reflection on it. If it is of any benefit then all praise to Allah. I sincerely ask Allah to guide us, forgive us and have mercy on us. Ameen

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Surah An-Noor, Verse 31:
وَقُل لِّلْمُؤْمِنَاتِ يَغْضُضْنَ مِنْ أَبْصَارِهِنَّ وَيَحْفَظْنَ فُرُوجَهُنَّ وَلَا يُبْدِينَ زِينَتَهُنَّ إِلَّا مَا ظَهَرَ مِنْهَا وَلْيَضْرِبْنَ بِخُمُرِهِنَّ عَلَىٰ جُيُوبِهِنَّ وَلَا يُبْدِينَ زِينَتَهُنَّ إِلَّا لِبُعُولَتِهِنَّ أَوْ آبَائِهِنَّ أَوْ آبَاءِ بُعُولَتِهِنَّ أَوْ أَبْنَائِهِنَّ أَوْ أَبْنَاءِ بُعُولَتِهِنَّ أَوْ إِخْوَانِهِنَّ أَوْ بَنِي إِخْوَانِهِنَّ أَوْ بَنِي أَخَوَاتِهِنَّ أَوْ نِسَائِهِنَّ أَوْ مَا مَلَكَتْ أَيْمَانُهُنَّ أَوِ التَّابِعِينَ غَيْرِ أُولِي الْإِرْبَةِ مِنَ الرِّجَالِ أَوِ الطِّفْلِ الَّذِينَ لَمْ يَظْهَرُوا عَلَىٰ عَوْرَاتِ النِّسَاءِ وَلَا يَضْرِبْنَ بِأَرْجُلِهِنَّ لِيُعْلَمَ مَا يُخْفِينَ مِن زِينَتِهِنَّ وَتُوبُوا إِلَى اللَّهِ جَمِيعًا أَيُّهَ الْمُؤْمِنُونَ لَعَلَّكُمْ تُفْلِحُونَ

And say to the believing women that they cast down their looks and guard their private parts and do not display their ornaments except what appears thereof, and let them wear their head-coverings over their bosoms, and not display their ornaments except to their husbands or their fathers, or the fathers of their husbands, or their sons, or the sons of their husbands, or their brothers, or their brothers' sons, or their sisters' sons, or their women, or those whom their right hands possess, or the male servants not having need (of women), or the children who have not attained knowledge of what is hidden of women; and let them not strike their feet so that what they hide of their ornaments may be known; and turn to Allah all of you, O believers! so that you may be successful.

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I am not sure if I will be able to express what I feel about this ayah but I will try inshaAllah.

This was the first ayah of Quran that I was introduced to SubhanAllah. As usually happens in our societies that people who know little bit islam just call people to improve their outer appearance. So I was called in this way too by believing women. First I got offended. Then I tried to read the translation of this ayah. First reading gave me the idea, it is very difficult for me to follow this command although I thought I am already a believing woman. It was Almost next to impossible to accept that it is one of the commands given to believing women. Some negative feelings started to appear about those believing women but nothing changed in me. Change started to appear inside me when first heard the complete recitation of Quran along with translation from beginning to end. But still I found it next to impossible to change myself even a bit outwardly. I thought I can become  believing woman just by being good morally. I believe changing outward appearance take a lot of courage and we cannot have that courage without having a habit to recite and ponder on Quran in sequential order from beginning to end on daily basis and by constant duaa. Even when you decide to change outward appearance and eventually you change it , it will still be a struggle. Sometimes it is our own nafs, sometimes close family members and sometimes friends. I was made to hear that iman/believe/faith is in the heart  and it has nothing to do with ouward appearance. I dont agree. No doubt belief is in the heart but it is displayed outwardly no matter how much you hide it. I also agree that outward apperance cannot tell about the inside belief correctly. Only Allah knows about intentions and our belief. It is in my experience that whenever we pick and choose from Quran, it is hard to follow. I have seen people completely covered islamically and yet not good with family. And I have seen those who are extremely good inside family but not ready to cover completely. May Allah give us the courage to accept Quran completely and may Allah give us the courage to implement Quran completely improving both our inside and outside.

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