Veil Full

May 30
2009

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An honest question to those Muslims who belive full veil-Niqab/Burqa- is obligatory for women?

In my studies of Islamic texts, I have found something that confuses me and I hope someone can explain. If Allah expects and commands for women to be mostly invisible in public life, via complete veiling, then why does he command men (I know women are supposed to also, but that's not really relavant to my question) to lower their gaze? Why would men need to lower their gaze if there is nothing to gaze lustily or longingly at, besides a woman enveloped in flowing cloth, where you cannot see her face or even the shape of her body? If the woman is already hidden completely from view, then why is there a need for a man to lower his gaze?

I appreciate any insight you can give me, thanks!

Men and women are ordered to lower their gaze.

Men would normally have nothing to gaze at, as you stated, right... but still there are things that cannot be hidden.

They eyes are allowed to appear from the niqab because a woman needs that to see with. And thus a necessity to appear.

There is beauty in the eyes. So men should lower their gaze. Plus there is the wind effect. No matter how loose the garment or what material the wind usually allows something to show. A
Again lowering the gaze prevents this.

Still when women cover you can tell, okay this one has a thin shape and this one is a bigger lady.
This is a tall women and this is a shorter one. These things cannot be hidden.

Lower the gaze. You might also have come across in your studies, that one glance is permissible or doesn't count against you. But the double take or looking twice will. So again you see lowering the gaze plays into play.

Lowering the gaze reflect on one's modesty and morals also. If one keeps what he sees limited to only what is permissible for him then he is taking the first steps of protecting his heart and keeping himself pure.

One beautiful thing in Islam is it has all the answers. Moreover, it has the prevention, treatment, and cure to the issues that we face in society and in our families to strengthen these bonds and keeping ourselves as pure as we can.