The Garment of Righteousness
Elaborating on Allah’s commandment of 
Huzoor Anwar(aba) said in one of his Friday Sermons:
“Allah the Almighty, at one point in the Holy Qurān has drawn attention towards the term 
(the garment of righteousness):
‘O children of Adam! We have indeed sent down to you raiment to cover your shame, and to be an elegant dress; but the raiment of righteousness—that is the best. That is one of the Signs of Allah that they may remember.’ (Surah Al-A’raf, 7:27)
Again, it has been mentioned here what I have said before that Allah has blessed you with garments. Its purpose is to cover your nudity and to serve as an embellishment. This is the apparent purpose which Allah has mentioned. Allah has provided human beings with clothing to differentiate them from other creatures, and thus to beautify them and to conceal their nakedness. However, along with that (He) declared at the same time that the true attire is the attire of the righteousness.
Here I wish to clarify another thing that there is a difference in the embellishment standard of the attire of a believer and that of a non-believer. Indeed, decent people have a distinctive standard when it comes to the beauty of their garments. These days, in the fashionable and materialistic classes of the West and the East, rather every level of western society, attire which is revealing and exposes one’s body is considered beautiful. For men, the measure of being well dressed is being fully clothed. However, the same men want a woman to not be fully covered. Mostly, women also want the same. The women who have no fear of God are devoid of the Garment of Righteousness and their men support them. A class of men wishes that women should be dressed up in the latest trends. In fact, they like the same for their own wives so that they may be considered stylish and fashionable in society, whether their clothes cover-up or not. However, a believing man or woman, who are God fearing, will always wish to wear the garment which will provide them the means of seeking the pleasure of God and that is possible only when they seek for the garment of righteousness by minutely paying attention to their physical appearance as well.”
Huzoor Anwar(aba) further stated:
“Thus, it is the garment of righteousness which sets the standard for the physical garment and for covering up each other’s weaknesses. And that is not possible to achieve unless we bow down to Allah the Almighty. Since Satan is always on the lookout for an opportunity to strip people of their raiment of righteousness (Taqwa).
Allah the Almighty, in the verse next to the verse that I have recited earlier says:
‘O children of Adam! let not Satan seduce you, even as he turned your parents out of the garden, stripping them of their raiment that he might show them their shame. Truly he sees you, he and his tribe, from where you see them not. Surely, We have made Satan’s friends for those who believe not’ (7:28).
Thus, I have spoken about clothing that is physically revealing. A believer can never wear clothes which, rather than being an embellishment, reveal one’s body. Sometimes, reports are received from here as well as from Pakistan that some Ahmadi girls also follow others blindly, and not only do they abandon Purda, but also wear inappropriate clothes. And this behaviour can solely be of those who are unequipped with the garment of righteousness.
Thus, I say to every Ahmadi man and woman, as Allah the Almighty has said, that the finest raiment is the raiment of Taqwa, try putting it on so that God’s attribute of Sattar (the One Who veils sin) keeps us covered forever and [save us] from Satan who is attempting to remove our Purda and make humans naked. [Allah has said] that one who is not a Mo‘min, does not have faith, Satan is his friend.
If we have faith and we have accepted the Imam of the age, then we will have to make a special effort to protect ourselves from Satan and we will have to cover ourselves always with the covering of Taqwa. May Allah enable us to do so.
As I mentioned earlier, after taking the Bai‘at of the Promised Messiah(as), a great responsibility falls on our shoulders in that we try our utmost to bring about a change in ourselves and not be drifted with the tide of the time. Rather, our bond with Allah the Almighty should get stronger day by day. May we always comprehend the true essence of the garment of righteousness. At one point, the Promised Messiah(as) says:
‘It is possible that a man may have committed minor or major sins in his past (meaning any person may commit big or small sins). However, when he establishes a true bond with Allah the Almighty, Allah forgives all his shortcomings completely and never makes him feel ashamed in this world, nor in the hereafter. This is a great graciousness of Allah the Almighty that once He ignores and forgives someone, He never mentions it again and covers ones shortcomings. Despite such graciousness and blessings, if one chooses to live a life of hypocrisy, then one is very unfortunate and punishable.’” (Malfuzat Vol. 3, p. 596—New Edition published Rabwah)
He further said: “Pertaining to this, Allah the Almighty states in Surah Al-Nisa:
‘If you keep away from the grievous sins which are forbidden to you, We will remove from you your minor evils and admit you to a place of great honour’ (4:32).
It is mentioned here, to keep away from major sins. That does not mean that one should search and try to find out the list of those major sins which may be avoided. Rather, a true believer is the one who avoids all kinds of sin, since Allah covers up all types of sins. Therefore, one must not presume that one should avoid major sins and there is no harm in committing minor sins.
When Allah commands to safeguard oneself from grievous wrongs, this refers to avoiding all sorts of sin, because the Holy Quran does not have a list of grievous and trivial sins; there is no specification there. According to Allah the Almighty, everything which He has forbidden, and has required a believer strictly not to do, is a sin if committed. Therefore, it is a major sin for a person, who is finding it difficult to abandon a minor or major wrong action which Allah the Almighty has forbidden. When you manage to overcome a difficult task and gain control over it, the minor evils which are easier to eschew will automatically be shunned.
Some commentators of the Holy Quran have opined that the extreme of any sin is termed as Kabeera or a ‘grievous sin’. Thus, if you shun a sin before it reaches its extreme, God, Who until now has concealed your flaws, will cover your faults. You will be rewarded by Allah the Almighty if you, being grateful to Him, turn towards virtuosity. Then those faults will not be exposed. As the Promised Messiah(as) has said, He does not even mention those former sins, whether major or minor.
At another site in the Holy Quran, Allah the Almighty expounded that by associating some major sins with some other sins, any sin can escalate to a major sin, as it is stated in Surah Al-Shura:
‘And who eschew the more grievous sins and indecencies, and, when they are wrathful, they forgive’ (42:38).
Meaning, in regard to believers, their sign is that they shun major sins and indecent ways and anger as well. Here, two, rather, three vices have been mentioned together.
It is noteworthy here that the Holy Prophet(sa) has said: Haya (modesty) is also a part of faith. This should be something to reflect upon and also of great concern for those people who chase after fashion and materialism and have adopted such immodest clothing that they are nude and they have eschewed Haya altogether. Whereas, Allah the Almighty wishes to cover up and forgive; as I have read an excerpt of the Promised Messiah(as) that He runs towards His servant if the servant walks to Him. If the man still fails to derive benefit from Him, then it is really unfortunate.” (Friday Sermon April 3, 2009, at Baitul Futuh, London, Al-Fazl International, April 24, 2009)
Similarly, at the occasion of the ladies address at Jalsa Salana UK, Huzoor Anwar(aba) explained in relation to 
(the garment of righteousness—Taqwa) that the real beauty does not emerge from clothes and jewelry; rather, it is 
(the garment of righteousness) which can provide real beauty for both men and women. Pertaining to this Huzoor Anwar(aba) said:
“Clothes and apparent beauty mean nothing. The real beauty is the one which is bestowed upon by Allah the Almighty. Women are very particular about their beauty and adornment, but there are many [women] who are unaware of their real adornment. Adornment cannot be attained by applying makeup or by wearing clothes and ornaments. The real adornment is what Allah the Almighty has told us about. They remain unaware of the adornment which can enhance their beauty and embellishment manifold. That cannot be achieved by being free or by being lost in the absurdities of society or by discarding the Hijab or by keeping the scarves off the heads. Neither is it achievable by presenting material desires to their husbands. For men too, there is an adornment. Men cannot achieve that adornment by marrying a fashionable woman. Rather, it is achieved by adopting the righteousness or Taqwa of Allah the Almighty. Some of our women too, being influenced by Western society, express such feelings as perhaps this is real beauty.
It should always be remembered that beauty lies in wearing the garment of righteousness. And the garment of righteousness is available for those men and women who make the utmost efforts to fulfil the pledges and trusts of their faith with all their abilities and capabilities.” (Address at Ladies session Jalsa Salana Uk July 23, 2011, published Al-Fazl International, May 4, 2012)
Huzoor Anwar(aba) explained the commandment of the Holy Qurān pertaining to 
(the garment of righteousness) by beginning his Friday Sermon with the recitation of verse 27 of Surah Al-A’raf and referencing it to described the purpose of clothing. He said: “In this (Surah Al-A’raf, 7:27), Allah the Almighty has given the guidance to give precedence to Taqwa over everything else. Allah has given the example of clothing here that clothing has two qualities. Firstly, it covers up your weaknesses and secondly, it is like an adornment.
Covering up weaknesses includes physical defects and weaknesses. Some people wear a dress which conceals some of their defects. It also protects humans from the effects of extreme weather. Moreover, beautiful and nice-looking clothes enhance the personality of a person.
However, nowadays in these countries, especially here and in general all over Europe, they have made fashion so absurd and useless, especially women’s clothing, that revealing one’s body through this fashion is considered a source of beauty. Especially in the summer, it becomes a nude dress almost entirely. Therefore, Allah the Almighty has stated two purposes of clothing and instructed to fulfill them. By declaring the garment of righteousness as the best, [He] drew our attention to a physical dress which serves only two purposes. However, by abandoning the garment of righteousness you have failed to fulfill even those purposes. Thus, the worldly clothes must be conditional to this garment [of righteousness] which is pleasing to Allah the Almighty, and the best of garments near Allah is the garment of righteousness.” (Friday Sermon October 10, 2008 at Mubarak Mosque Paris, France, Al-Fazl International, October 31, 2008)
Huzoor Anwar(aba) recited verse 27 of Surah Al-A’raf at the beginning of one of his sermons and then presented its commentary, shedding light on the beauty of a garment:
“Here the word 
“reesh” has been used. It means the feathers of birds which make them look beautiful by covering them up. The same bird which looks so beautiful covered up with feathers appears extremely ugly if its feathers are plucked off or the feathers fall off due to some disease.
It (Reesh) also means clothing and beautiful clothing. Unfortunately, these days beautiful clothing is being defined as the clothes which are revealing or nude, and men are more at fault in this since they have let them [women] free in the matter, and women too have forgotten their Haya and honour. Some of our Muslim ladies, and occasionally Ahmadi women too, get influenced by this [notion]. When Purda and Hijab are taken off, the next step is to wear revealing clothing. Thus, every woman must uphold her honour.
Only yesterday a newly converted Ahmadi asked me that the society we live in has many vices including nude clothing. So how can we save our daughters from the negative impact of society?
I responded that children should be made aware of their personal honour from an early age; make them realise who they are and what God expects from them. Furthermore, from the age of five or six years, and not at a later age, they should be made aware of clothing. [Tell them] that society may have any type of clothing, but your clothes must be distinct, since you are an Ahmadi, and secondly, because Allah the Almighty is pleased with the clothes which covers up nudity. Strengthen their inner pious nature so that they have to do everything for the sake of Allah the Almighty. In this way, gradually, until they grow older, this notion will solidify and take root in their minds.
Likewise, another meaning of Reesh is ‘wealth’ and the resources to lead our lives. One must remember that Taqwa is essential for this too. Wrong means should not be adopted to get the facilities of life, and money should not be earned by fraudulent ways; unlawful business should be abstained from and one must stay clear of defrauding the government of their taxes. If you steal money in these ways, perhaps you may construct beautiful homes temporarily, but you will be distanced from the path of righteousness (Taqwa). Therefore, Allah the Almighty says to cover up your weaknesses, and for your adornment, it is essential to utilize the permissible means which have been provided for you. And always remember that the garment of Taqwa is the real thing. If you remain focused on it, then your physical clothing, mannerism and adornment will also be practiced according to the commandments of Allah the Almighty. The way your father Adamas tried to cover him up when Satan seduced him must be remembered by the children of Adamas. They will be saved from the extreme absurdities of the world if they persistently have the fear of Allah and Taqwa and continue to make efforts to safeguard it with Astaghfar, prayers and repentance.
The Promised Messiah(as) says:
‘Allah the Almighty has termed Taqwa as a raiment in the Holy Qurān. Therefore, 
is a word from the Holy Qurān. It points out that spiritual beauty and spiritual adornment sprinxg from Taqwa. And Taqwa means that as far as it is possible, a person should take care of the minutest aspects of his duties and pledges towards Allah and His creation.’ (Addendum Baraheen-e-Ahmadiyya Part 5, Ruhani Khazain Vol. 21, p. 210)
It means, to find out the deepest and finest meanings and then make an effort to act upon them.” (Friday Sermon October 10, 2008 at Mubarak Mosque Paris, France, Al-Fazl International, October 31, 2008)
Similarly, Hazrat Khalifatul Masih V(aba) drew the attention of Ahmadi women to 
(the garment of righteousness) and said:
“The subject of discussion is the beauty of a woman and 
(the garment of righteousness). The real beauty actually lies in the garment of Taqwa. It means that all your practices are due to having the fear of Allah the Almighty and due to acting upon His commandments and not prioritizing your own temptations. Thus, if every Ahmadi woman lives her life with such mindset and she strives more for the garment of Taqwa instead of physical clothing, then this attire of righteousness will conceal your trivial spiritual and moral weaknesses and surely Allah will glance at you with an eye of forgiveness.
Due to fear of Allah the Almighty and the efforts to adopt an attire of Taqwa, Allah the Almighty enables them to shun their weaknesses and [He] will continue to do so and also enables them to progress in their faith. The attention you pay to cover yourself up in 
(the garment of righteousness) will also help provide you opportunities to bow down before Allah the Almighty. And Allah the Almighty accepts the prayers of those who bow down before Him with good intentions and He does not waste their prayers. This enables us to do further pious actions. He extends wings of forgiveness towards those who bow down before Him. And when a person is under the wings of forgiveness of Allah the Almighty, then he only treads the paths which Allah the Almighty wills.” (Address Ladies session Jalsa Salana UK July 30, 2005, Al-Fazl International, May 11, 2007)
At the occasion of Majlis-e-Shura, Lajna Ima’illah Pakistan, Hazrat Khalifatul Masih V(aba), advised Ahmadi girls in a special message by saying:
“The purpose of the advent of the Promised Messiah(as) is to establish his Jama‘at on Islamic teachings and set up an ideal society. Our girls should stand out among others. Their conversation should be wise and clean.
The way they walk, their dress, actions and poise should reflect the Islamic injunctions. Develop in them a habit of covering their heads and wearing full and appropriate clothes from the age of 10-11 years. Those who have reached the age of Purda should take care of their Purda. At home give frequent pious guidance and present your own exemplary model before girls younger than yourself, as this will ensure that the future generations continue to observe Islamic teachings. Many times, through my speeches at Lajna Ijtima‘at and Jalsas, I have drawn attention towards pious training of girls and the importance of Purda. Listen to that advice of mine repeatedly and direct your girls as well to listen, so that worldly adulterations cannot drift you away from the Islamic teachings.” (Message for Majlis-e-Shura Lajna Ima’illah Pakistan 2009, Al-Fazl International, January 22, 2010)
Inferiority complex augments the trend of unveiling and there is a risk of losing faith if one is not acting upon the teachings of Islam. In this regard, Huzoor Anwar(aba) cautioned Ahmadi members in one of his Friday Sermons and said:
“Apparently, an evil seems quite trivial in the beginning or a person may contemplate that such a minor evil can cause no harm to him or to society. But when it escalates on a larger scale, or numerous people get involved in it, or they ignore it or do not consider it evil anymore due to societal pressure, or because of an inferiority complex keep quiet against it, lest it spoils their image in society and do not take any action in this regard; so many such things occur in this society in the name of freedom. And the governments also accept such things; nonetheless, they are evils.
For instance, in this society Purda is viewed as a social ill because it is considered as an infringement upon a women’s rights. There is a lot which is said against Purda and in their view there is nothing wrong with saying so. They proclaim that Shari’a law was not required in this regard. [Under these circumstances] some girls slacken in observing Purda because of an inferiority complex about what others will say, or because their friends will disapprove, or because students or teachers in their schools or colleges might mock them. Satan tells them that it is a trivial matter and it is not like you will lose your honour simply because you abandon this Islamic injunction; remove your Dupattas, scarves and Niqabs to save yourself from the comments of society; nothing will happen; you are still doing everything else according to the teachings of Islam.
But at that moment, the girl or woman who abandons Purda does not realize that this is a commandment mentioned in the Holy Quran. Haya of a woman is reflected in her modest dress. The honour of a woman is maintained by avoiding unnecessary interactions with men. By the grace of Allah the Almighty, there are such Ahmadi girls in this society who give convincing responses to men who raise objections on Purda; they respond by saying that it is our business and we are doing what we like; why are you infringing upon our freedom by forcing us to discard our Purda? We have an absolute right to adopt our clothing according to our own choice. But there are also some girls who—despite being Ahmadi—claim that it is very difficult to observe Purda or to wear a scarf in this society; we feel ashamed. Parents should actually instill such values in their girls from early childhood that they should only be ashamed when the teachings of Islam are not observed, not when they obey the commandments of Allah the Almighty.” (Friday Sermon May 20, 2016, at Nasir Mosque, Gutenberg, Sweden, Al-Fazl International, June 10, 2016)
Later, in another Friday Sermon, Huzoor Anwar(aba) spoke on the same subject, saying:
“Modest clothing and Purda are significant in safeguarding our faith. If the developed countries are annihilating modesty in the name of advancement and freedom, they are doing so because they have drifted away from religion, whereas an Ahmadi girl who has accepted the Promised Messiah(as) has pledged to keep her faith above all worldly affairs. An Ahmadi child who has accepted the Promised Messiah(as), as well as an Ahmadi person, man or woman, who have accepted him, have pledged to hold their faith above all materialistic things; and this can only come about by acting in accordance to Islamic teachings.” (Friday Sermon, delivered January 13, 2017 at Baitul Futuh Mosque, London, Al-Fazl International, February 3, 2017)
Addressing Ahmadi women in particular, Huzoor Anwar(aba) advised them to follow the commandments of Allah the Exalted in order to preserve their own faith and that of their progeny. Offering his earnest guidance, he said:
“An Ahmadi lady who has pledged allegiance to the Promised Messiah(as) so that she can safeguard herself from the indecencies of the world and leave the world while Allah is pleased with her, will have to be extremely cautious. She will have to be mindful of her attire, her Purda, her actions, and her conversation as well. A girl wrote to me, from Pakistan, asking what is wrong if I wear a long shirt with jeans. The effect on people is evident, is it not? So, I say that there is no harm in wearing a long shirt with jeans. There is nothing wrong about it, provided all conditions of Purda are fulfilled.
But I am afraid, after a while, this long shirt might become a short shirt and then a blouse. This is what I said to that girl as well. So, whatever is done for fashion’s sake, or for following others, it encourages the pursuit of following the latest trends. And then more issues arise and are felt when the time comes. Therefore, one should always try to avoid paths where there is a danger of Satan’s enticements. You and your children have to excel in faith; therefore, choose the paths that lead you ever more towards God Almighty. Try to become devotees and worshippers of Allah and mould yourself according to His injunctions.” (Address to Ladies, Jalsa Salana Switzerland, September 4, 2004, Al-Fazl International, January 7, 2005)
Similarly, in a Friday Sermon, Huzoor Anwar(aba) advised Ahmadi ladies about recognizing real piety, saying:
“Sometimes, we notice that there is a lady who does not adhere to modesty in her clothing. She does not observe Purda when heading out. In spite of being an Ahmadi Muslim, she goes out and about bare headed, without a Hijab, scarf or shawl (Chador). Her dress is tight fitting and reveals her figure, but if called for financial sacrifice or asked to donate to charity, she is very generous. She detests lying and does not tolerate falsification in her presence. So, for such a woman, great virtue will not be increasing in financial sacrifice or despising falsehood. Instead, for her, greater piety would be to act upon this injunction of the Holy Quran which commands you to keep your dress modest and to observe Purda.
She is ignoring this directive considering it to be of little value, but later on this approach can shove her towards grave misdeeds. However, the standard of every vice and virtue is based on the state of each individual. Actions of different people, in diverse situations, define their piety or impiety for them.” (Friday Sermon, delivered December 13, 2013 at Baitul Futuh Mosque, London, Al-Fazl International, January 3, 2014)
At the occasion of Jalsa Salana UK, while addressing Ahmadi women and girls in particular, Huzoor Anwar(aba) focused their attention on fulfilling all aspects of observing veiling (Purda) and said:
“Hazrat Musleh Mau‘ud(ra), after explaining various circumstances, remarked that the current custom of wearing Burqa (outer coat) in Arabs and Turks is quite nice. But like I have said, such a coat should have loose-fitting. With the grace of Almighty Allah, the majority of women in Jama‘at Ahmadiyya dislike certain coats and if they see others wearing them, they write to me, and many of them have mended their ways after being counselled only once. But I worry when some girls in schools and colleges remove their coats because they feel shy and awkward. They should always remember that there is no need to suffer from any type of complex. The implementation of Allah’s commandments only brings blessings. Even in Third world countries of Africa that are extremely underdeveloped, as people are becoming educated and trained and entering into the fold of Ahmadiyyat, they are also adopting modest clothing and moving towards observing Purda.
And in families where there was a custom of wearing a Burqa, if their girls discard it and start wearing jeans and a blouse, then it would be extremely worrisome. We claim that we are here to morally train the world. So, it is quite upsetting to witness some of our own people not conforming to the Islamic traditions and directives... May Allah the Almighty always enable us to tread the path of righteousness, in its very essence. And may we never be the ones who exploit religion for the sake of fulfilling personal desires. Always remember that an Ahmadi woman and an Ahmadi girl hold a high status. Allah and His Prophet(sa) have taught you ways to hold firm to righteousness. In this day and age, the Promised Messiah(as) has elaborated on these ways for us. Tread on these paths and adhere to these commandments without having a complex of any type. Tell the world openly that none other than Islam has protected women’s rights and established women’s honour in the society. O those who are indulged in the extravagance of the world! If you wish to create a peace-loving society, then embrace the teachings of Islam. You (Ahmadi members) should be imparting this lesson to them rather than being taken in by their remarks and developing complexes. Tell them that now if they wish to establish their dignity, they should accept Islam. If they want to make their homes like paradise, then they should follow us.” (Address to Ladies, Jalsa Salana United Kingdom, July 31, 2004, Al-Fazl International, April 24, 2015)
Huzoor Anwar(aba) spoke about various trends in coats (Burqas) of Muslim women in the east and west, in light of the remarks of Hazrat Musleh Mau‘ud(ra). He said:
“Nowadays many odd styles have emerged in Burqas. Some people only close the buttons up to their waist and let the rest stay open in a strange manner that reveals the beauty of the clothes they are wearing underneath. Angled style of Burqas reveals clothes worn underneath the coat. Objections were raised on Burqas in Hazrat Musleh Mau‘ud’s(ra) time as well. He commented then that some Burqas stand out, revealing clothes from the front and people also object that some other Burqas are tight fitted at the back. The issue was the same even then. He said that he was receiving objections from people remarking that some Burqas are open from the front while others are inappropriate from the back. He guided Lajna to design their own Burqas which are modest, as they themselves know in which style there is Purda and also for their own comfort and ease.” (Extract from Address to Ladies, Anwar-ul-Uloom Vol. 12, p. 560-561)
“Similarly, even today, the requirement is that such Burqas be worn which serve the purpose of Purda and do not create any hindrance in working with ease. If you will be exposing the trimmings of your clothes from underneath open coats, then do not expect that men will not stare. Men’s eyes will definitely make a complete appraisal from top to bottom, creating issues for some couples, in some households, among married people and between husbands and wives. Therefore, I wish to guide you to assess yourself and instead of racing toward the world, join the race towards religion.
Work toward the betterment of your future and that of your progeny. Create a heaven in this world as well as in the hereafter.
This can only be achieved when Allah Almighty is placed above all.” (Address to Ladies, Jalsa Salana United Kingdom, July 29, 2017 at Alton, Al-Fazl International, October 20, 2017)
At the occasion of Jalsa Salana Germany, addressing the Ahmadi women, Huzoor Anwar(aba) referred to modest attire in the light of a Hadith, saying: “Always keep this saying of the Holy Prophet(sa) in your mind that Haya (modesty) is a part of faith.” (Bukhari, Kitabul Iman Chapter Umoorul Iman Hadith no. 9)
“The attire of an Ahmadi woman must be modest. She must always uphold her honour. I have noticed this over here, in other countries and even in Pakistan, that in the name of Burqa, above-knee or, at the most, knee-high coats are being worn. If this is not addressed at this time, they will be shortened further, eventually ending Purda altogether. I instructed on Jalsa UK as well that veiling from Burqas should be such that it does not expose a woman’s physique from the front and back and does not even reveal the embellishments of her clothing. Both sides should be covered and to achieve this end, women can ponder over a design of their choice. The Department of Trade and Handicraft can also play their part in designing. Purda (veiling) and Haya (modesty) are what is most important and this must be upheld. It should not be that there is fashion starting. Odd styles of Burqas have begun to appear as I mentioned. One wonders whether these are Burqas or a fashion show. Ahmadi women should abstain from this.
I have come to hear that in Pakistan non-Ahmadi women have started doing better veiling than our Ahmadi women and girls. This is shameful for us. In fact, it has come to a point that some do not uphold Haya (modesty) even in their dress. Purda aside, they must at least be mindful of Haya in their attire. Every Ahmadi woman should pay attention to it. When you make a pledge of keeping your faith above all worldly objects, then you will have to strive to fulfill this pledge, without caring for the society.” (Address to Ladies, Jalsa Salana, August 26, 2017 at Colsurvay, Germany, Al-Fazl International, November 17, 2017)
In one of his Friday Sermons, Huzoor Anwar(aba) advised in regard to modest clothing and included guidance relating to swimming attire. Huzoor Anwar(aba) said:
“In Switzerland, a girl filed a lawsuit and claimed that she feels embarrassed swimming alongside boys, as her school strictly enforces mixed swimming; she ought to be given permission to swim separately with only girls. The human rights organization, who claims to be the flag bearers of human rights, remarked that it is fine if you wish to swim separately. It is your personal right, but it is not such a big issue that the decision be made in your favour. Even human rights organizations start making excuses when it comes to the teachings of Islam and the modesty of women.
Hence, in such circumstances, Ahmadis should be more cautious than ever before. If swimming is mandatory for young boys and girls in schools in some countries, then they can swim in a full swimming dress, i.e they should swim wearing proper swimming attire which is called Burkini nowadays. This will make them realize that they need to put on modest clothing. Parents should also make their children understand that swimming ought to be separate for boys and girls and must also make efforts in this regard.”
Huzoor Anwar(aba) further stated:
“So, this is the teaching of Islam for men that they have been restricted in every way. Then, women have been instructed that in spite of these precautions, you have to be mindful of your veiling. In these countries where there is no modesty, how can it be implied that there is no need for Purda. Lack of Purda or Hijab and friendships are creating many complications. We must try our level best to avoid them. This also clarifies that if women are not permitted to swim alongside men, then even men are not allowed to swim where women are swimming.
However, these restrictions are not meant for women only; these are for men as well. Men have been instructed to lower their gaze when facing women so as to uphold a woman’s honour. Hence, every injunction of Islam is full of wisdom and eliminates all possibilities of evil.” (Friday Sermon, delivered January 13, 2017 at Baitul Futuh Mosque, London, Al-Fazl International, February 3, 2017)
Huzoor Anwar(aba) offered guidance while responding to a question about girls swimming in a meeting with the National Majlis ‘Amila Lajna. He said:
“There is no harm in women swimming at specific times, allocated for women exclusively, while wearing such swimming suits which completely cover the body.” (Meeting Majlis ‘Amila Lajna Ireland September 18, 2010, Al-Fazl International, October 22, 2010)
In one of his detailed addresses, Huzoor Anwar(aba) brought the attention of Ahmadi women living in all cultures, especially in western societies, to pay attention to fundamental aspects of modesty in clothing. He said:
“There are those whose objective is to impress the world and be fashionable, so they pay less attention to this fundamental purpose. Thus, in overlooking the fundamental objective of covering one’s nakedness, you will find all kinds of awkward and revealing apparels in Europe. And then, advertisements and videos of these exposing apparels can be viewed on television and seen in newspapers, etc. However, those who have some dignity left in them, wear clothes for the purpose of covering their nakedness and then a little bit of fashion [for them] is just fine. But as I said, covering of nudity is and must be the sole aim of clothes for an Ahmadi woman. This is a woman’s nature that she wishes to stand out from others, in her surroundings, no matter what class or mindset she belongs to.
In an Ahmadi society, this expression of standing out is done in a unique manner. With the exception of one or two instances where modesty is not considered to be beauty, generally an Ahmadi woman and an Ahmadi girl do give consideration to the modesty of their attire. Whereas in the west as I mentioned, society is totally void of the concept of modesty. Therefore, the dresses of these nations are either for protection from severe weather or for the sake of fashion. May Allah Almighty grant them wisdom and that the fear of God is instilled in their hearts.
Anyhow, when talking about women, we mean women in an Ahmadi society. But living in this society, there is danger of an Ahmadi girl or two being affected by it. I was saying that there is a risk of Ahmadis being influenced by this society. In general, Allah the Almighty has safeguarded Ahmadis so far. There might be one or two examples otherwise. My concern is growing because I can see the first steps being taken in this direction. The significance of Purda has diminished immediately after becoming a part of this society.
Purda is not given the due importance that Islam has decreed. I have mentioned it earlier as well that an Ahmadi woman must herself be mindful of veiling. She should inevitably have this sense within herself that she ought to observe Purda rather than having to be reminded of it. An Ahmadi woman should be so determined regarding the standard of her veiling that she becomes a symbol in herself and the standards of Purda should be identical everywhere. It should not be that veiling is observed and Hijab is worn only when attending Jalsas and Jama‘at meetings or when coming to the mosques while they appear entirely different when roaming in the market. An Ahmadi woman has to observe Purda only because it is a commandment of Almighty Allah and at the same time, she has to safeguard herself from the ill intentions of the society.
Therefore, stay firm on your values and do not have double standards. Well-educated girls who have been raised here certainly have the virtue of truthfulness and honesty in them. They ought to maintain their standard of honesty, in any case. Youth over here have this quality that they disapprove of double standards. Thus, they must sustain this value in themselves and should not have double standards in regard to this (Purda) either. They should adopt an attire which is the attire of Haya (modesty). Secondly, those girls who have reached the age of Purda should especially be careful about their dress and try to wear a coat and Hijab and observe veiling. Everywhere Allah the Almighty has given the instruction of Purda from strangers. Nowhere has it been written that the relaxation of Purda is permissible in the event of friends of husbands or friends of brothers visiting your homes, or that disregarding Purda is permissible when going to the market or for an outing. The attire must be modest in any case and those who have attained the age of Purda should wear an attire which does not allow anyone to point a finger at an Ahmadi woman, saying so and so does not adhere to Purda. If there is compulsion at the workplace, even then, completely modest clothes should be put on and Hijab must be worn. Just as it is important to observe Purda at a Jama‘at function, similarly it is as significant in everyday life.” (Address to Ladies, Jalsa Salana United Kingdom, July 30, 2005, Al-Fazl International, May 11, 2007)
At an occasion, addressing Ahmadi women in light of modest and Purda-observing Muslim women from Islamic history, Huzoor Anwar(aba) presented prudent guidance to Ahmadi women in living their lives with the veil. He advised them saying:
“Purda most certainly does not mean oppressing a woman. Besides, at the time of the Holy Prophet(sa) women used to participate in battles by giving water to the thirsty and were involved in other activities as well. Furthermore, clarification and elaboration on the character of the Holy Prophet(sa) and several injunctions of Islam were made known to us through Hazrat Aishah(ra). It is said that half of the faith has been taught by Hazrat Aishah(ra). Therefore, open mindedness, being educated and seeking knowledge is also important for girls. In fact, it is a must. It is essential, not only for yourselves, but also later on for these children and for the future generations who will be raised and brought up by you and who will be serving the Jama‘at in the future.
Even if one has to work, under obligation or do a job somewhere, there is no harm in it. But work, jobs, professions or seeking education should not be used as an excuse to forsake Purda. As I said earlier, there are hardly any locals like Danish, Swedish or Norwegians here. I have not met any yet. Even if there are any, they are few. There are Pakistani ladies who study as well as work and observe Purda. So, those who present Purda as a hindrance in work or study are making lame excuses. If there is a hindrance because of it, try to get rid of it with honest efforts. If you let them know at your workplace, no one compels you to remove your Hijab, your scarf or your Burqa. And then honest efforts are also blessed by Allah.” (Address to Ladies, Jalsa Salana Sweden, September 17, 2005, Al-Fazl International, May 15, 2015)
On the occasion of Jalsa Salana at Hadiqatul Mahdi, UK, Huzoor Anwar(aba) advised women to give special attention to Purda and said:
“Furthermore, women tend to be more enthusiastic about going around and seeing things. Therefore, they must take more precaution. They should neither roam in their own area [i.e. Jalsa Gah area] nor outside it. But, if they wish to see the area and go around, as it is very large and new for them, sure, they are permitted to do so, but only after the Jalsa proceeding has finished, not while it is still on. Remember, however, that even when you do go around to see the area, you must be mindful of your Purda. Non-Ahmadi women who have come with Ahmadi woman do not observe Purda, but Ahmadi women should nonetheless observe it.
I have observed guests. If the hosts inform the guests of our traditions, they certainly show regard. I have often noticed that female guests come to our events having covered themselves with a shawl, scarf or Dupatta. So this is also a very great quality in them. They only need to be explained about it. In any case, as I have stated, Ahmadi women must be in Purda when they go about. And if for some reason they are not able to observe it, then such ladies should also not apply any makeup. Nonetheless, their heads must be covered, since this is purely a religious environment and we must try, as far as possible, to abide by all those commandments which our faith demands from us.” (Friday Sermon, delivered July 28, 2006 at Hadiqatul Mahdi, Al-Fazl International, August 18, 2006)