Written transcript of the lecture
The Meshkat-e Noor teachings series🌻🔆🔆🌻
🌼🔆🌼Hijab, the Veiled Jewel🌼🔆🌼
🌹🔅☘️ بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمنِ الرَّحيمِ ☘️🔅🌹
🔅🌹 “The Secret of the Fatimahs,” “The Secrets of Hijab,” “The Wisdom of Observing Hijab before a Blind Man,” “The Mirage of Pleasure,” “The Night of the Martyrdom of Fatimah Maʿsumah” and more: an abridgment with supplementary reflections 1405.06.30 Ali Saʿi (ʿAbdullah Mishkat) 110.141(903) 🌹🔅
🌼🌸☘️🌷🌹🌻 🕋 🤲 🌙 ✳️✅ ❇️ ✨🔆💫🔆
“Maʿsumah, a Bloom of the Fatimiyyah Season”
🌻 Foreword
“In the Name of the One Who Created Hijab”
Boundless praise be to God, who veiled beauty and made the veil a mirror of His own beauty. Endless blessings upon Fatimah (SA), who was a part of the Prophet’s (PBUH) very being, and upon the Fatimahs, the first blossoms of Fatimah’s garden: Maʿsumah (SA), who became another Fatimah, and Zaynab (SA), who became the Fatimah of Karbala.
This text is an abridgment of the secrets of hijab, the wisdom of observing hijab before a blind man, and the mirage of pleasure; it also offers an expansive supplement to the narration of Umm Salamah and narrations with a similar theme.
This collection is neither an article nor a book; rather, it is a journey of understanding into the depths of hijab—from its outward layers to its inward ones, from jurisprudence to mysticism, from psychology to sociology, and from subtle reflections to supplementary insights.
The aim of this collection is not to prove the necessity of hijab—which is self-evident in religion—but to reveal its hidden dimensions: hijab is not a restriction, but an honour; not a chain, but a crown; not a custom, but an act of worship.
Dear reader, I invite you to journey through this garden of knowledge. It offers a drop as a gift from the ocean of hijab’s wisdom and brings the fragrance of a flower from the garden of chastity to your senses.
🌼 Introduction
“Hijab, the Veiled Jewel”
Hijab is a jewel set in the thread of a woman’s being, safeguarding her like a precious gem in the shell of chastity. This jewel is not meant to conceal a woman, but to make her devotion to God manifest.
The narration of Umm Salamah, expanded and supplemented in this collection, opens a gateway to understanding hijab:
وَ عَنْ أُمِّ سَلَمَةَ قَالَتْ کُنْتُ عِنْدَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ص وَ عِنْدَهُ مَيْمُونَةُ- فَأَقْبَلَ ابْنُ أُمِّ مَكْتُومٍ وَ ذَلِكَ بَعْدَ أَنْ أُمِرَ بِالْحِجَابِ فَقَالَ احْتَجِبَا فَقُلْنَا يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ- أَ لَيْسَ أَعْمَى لَا يُبْصِرُنَا قَالَ أَ فَعَمْيَاوَانِ أَنْتُمَا أَ لَسْتُمَا تُبْصِرَانِهِ.
The Prophet (PBUH) said: “Are you two blind as well? Can you not see her?”
This single sentence opens up a world of understanding:
Hijab is a reciprocal obligation: it concerns both men and women.
A man’s blindness does not annul the obligation of hijab.
Hijab is not solely to prevent a man from looking; it also preserves a woman’s chastity and helps her control her own gaze.
It also encompasses subtler forms of interaction: communication is not exclusively visual.
Other senses are more active in the blind.
A woman’s intention and resolve in observing hijab constitute an inner veil.
It demonstrates Islam’s attentiveness to hijab.
Hijab guards against laxity and inattention.
Women and men are sources of vibrations, and vibrations are not limited to the visual.
This collection offers an expansive exploration of this narration, with supplementary reflections informed by other narrations from Fatimah (SA), Imam Jaʿfar al-Sadiq (AS), Imam Ali al-Ridha (AS), and the Commander of the Faithful (AS).
❇️ A Structured Summary
“Guidelines for Hijab in the Mirror of the Narrations”
| No. | Guideline | Source | Explanation |
| 1 | Hijab is a reciprocal obligation | Narration of Umm Salamah | Both men and women are required to control their gaze and their dress. |
| 2 | A man’s blindness does not annul the obligation | Narrations of Umm Salamah, ʿA’ishah, and Hafsah | A woman must observe hijab even if the man is blind. |
| 3 | Hijab preserves a woman’s chastity | Verse 31 of Surah al-Nur | A woman too must control her gaze. |
| 4 | Hijab encompasses subtler forms of interaction | Narration of Fatimah (SA) | A woman’s scent, voice, and vibrations must also be kept in check. |
| 5 | Other senses are more active in the blind | Narration of Fatimah (SA) | Smell, hearing, touch, and the heart’s perception are channels of understanding. |
| 6 | Hijab is an exercise in God-consciousness | Narration of Umm Salamah | Observing hijab before a blind man deepens sincerity. |
| 7 | Hijab is a sign of Islam’s sensitivity | Narrated by Umm Salama | If it matters in the presence of a blind person, it matters even more in the presence of someone who can see. |
| 8 | Hijab prevents carelessness | Narrated by Umm Salama | It prevents us from neglecting the matter of hijab. |
| 9 | The first glance is permitted; the second is forbidden | Narrated by Imam Ali (AS) | An accidental glance is excused, but repeating it is forbidden. |
| 10 | Lowering the gaze brings reward | Narrated by Imam Sadiq (AS) | Refraining from what is forbidden leads to being joined with the houris. |
| 11 | The best thing for women is not to see men, nor men women | Narrated by Fatima (SA) | Women and men should not look at one another (without necessity). |
| 12 | A married woman’s forbidden glance nullifies her deeds | Narrated by the Prophet (PBUH) | A forbidden glance destroys all good deeds. |
| 13 | Hijab preserves a woman’s dignity | Narrated by Fatima (SA) | A woman is a hidden treasure, kept safe by hijab. |
| 14 | Hijab preserves family order | Multiple narrations | Hijab safeguards the boundaries between those who are mahram and those who are not. |
| 15 | Hijab is Islam’s universal message | Verse 31 of Surah al-Nur | This ruling transcends time and place. |
Further principles from the perspective of different layers of knowledge
| Layer | Principle | Explanation |
| Epistemological | Hijab as an existential covering | A symbol of concealing faults and making one’s servitude manifest. |
| Mystical | Hijab as the threshold of union | Through hijab, the spiritual wayfarer passes beyond the clamor and reaches solitude. |
| Psychological | Hijab as sexual self-regulation | Regulating sexual stimuli in society. |
| Sociological | Hijab as social capital | It preserves trust and solidarity. |
| Jurisprudential | Hijab as an absolute requirement | The ruling is absolute, and blindness does not qualify it. |
| Educational | Hijab as a practice of piety | Observing it in private deepens sincerity. |
| Spiritual | Hijab as a filter for vibrations | Reducing unwanted vibrations. |
| Ethical | Hijab as a guardian of dignity | A woman remains a hidden treasure. |
| Social | Hijab as family order | The boundaries between those who are mahram and those who are not are preserved. |
| Universal | Hijab as Islam’s message | A message of chastity, modesty and dignity to the world. |
🌹 Final Words
“Hijab: An Ocean of Wisdom”
Hijab is an ocean, and every drop in it holds an ocean of wisdom.
With a brief sentence, the Prophet (PBUH) opens a gateway of knowledge for us:
“أَ فَعَمْيَاوَانِ أَنْتُمَا?”
Are you two blind as well?
No—you can see, and you must uphold hijab.
Fatima (SA) became Fatima because she lived by the Fatimid example. Ma’suma (SA) became Ma’suma because she followed Fatima’s example. Zaynab (SA) became Zaynab because she was another Fatima.
Hijab is the path to becoming like Fatima: to take on the fragrance of Ma’suma and attain the greatness of Zaynab.
O Lord!
Do not let us be among those who can see but remain heedless.
Make hijab a crown of dignity for us, not a chain of humiliation.
Make us steadfast in upholding the boundaries of modesty.
Illuminate our hearts with the light of modesty.
Turn our eyes away from what is forbidden.
Perfume our tongues with remembrance of You.
Let our steps on the path of Fatimah (SA) remain firm.
Amen, O Lord of the worlds.
❇️The Secret of Fatimah and of the Fatimahs: The Secret of the Infallible Ladies, Peace Be Upon Them
How did Fatimah become Fatimah? How did Maʿsumah become Fatimah Maʿsumah?!
How did they conquer earth and heaven, and the highest realm? How did they win hearts and conquer history?!
Their heavenly radiance and manifestation are still with us, and the world is still beholding the splendour and greatness of their earthly dimensions!
They have immersed the world in their greatness!
Who would not wish to become Fatimid and attain the purity of Maʿsumah?!
The veil on the road to becoming Fatimid, taking on the fragrance of Maʿsumah, and attaining Zaynab’s greatness is the veil itself!
A woman’s hijab means that she is adorned with God’s great sign. A woman who wears hijab is a guardian of the sanctity of God’s sacred precinct.
A woman who wears hijab and is pure is the keeper of the holy city of God!
Fatimah Maʿsumah, peace be upon her, is one of the sweetest fruits in the Fatimid garden, one of the earliest blossoms on the Zahra’i tree!
❇️Hijab: The Address of Fatimah
Hijab, too, has its obligations, recommended practices, and subtle points. Whoever observes hijab in the best possible way will partake of its hidden blessings!
Observing the finer points of hijab means understanding the subtleties of God’s laws and being among the foremost executors of His commands; it means winning the contest in servitude to God!
❇️The Remarkable Secret of Observing Hijab Before a Blind Man
Hijab is prescribed for women not to confine them, but as a sacred test. It is a ladder by which a woman ascends to the highest stations of servitude. For a few brief days in this transient abode, she bears this sweet constraint, and in the everlasting abode she will enjoy its abundant blessings forever!
The beautiful hadith about observing hijab before a blind man reveals particular hidden secrets of hijab.
❇️A Woman’s Hijab Before a Blind Man
وَ عَنْ أُمِّ سَلَمَةَ قَالَتْ كُنْتُ عِنْدَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ص وَ عِنْدَهُ مَيْمُونَةُ- فَأَقْبَلَ ابْنُ أُمِّ مَكْتُومٍ وَ ذَلِكَ بَعْدَ أَنْ أُمِرَ بِالْحِجَابِ فَقَالَ احْتَجِبَا فَقُلْنَا يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ- أَ لَيْسَ أَعْمَى لَا يُبْصِرُنَا قَالَ أَ فَعَمْيَاوَانِ أَنْتُمَا أَ لَسْتُمَا تُبْصِرَانِهِ.[1]
💫 It is narrated from Umm Salamah, who said:
“I was with the Messenger of God (PBUH), and Maymunah was with him too. Suddenly, Ibn Umm Maktum entered—and this was after the command to observe hijab had been given.
The Prophet (PBUH) said, ‘Cover yourselves.’
We said, ‘O Messenger of God! Is he not blind? Can he not see us?’
He said, ‘Are the two of you blind as well? Do you not see him?’”
Illumination:
🔹 1. The context of the narration
This incident took place after the verse on hijab was revealed.
Ibn Umm Maktum was a blind man who came to the Prophet (PBUH).
The Prophet (PBUH) told Umm Salamah and Maymunah to cover themselves.
🔹 2. The women’s question
They asked, “He is blind and cannot see us, so why should we cover ourselves?”
🔹 3. The Prophet’s response
The Prophet (PBUH) said, “Are the two of you blind as well? Do you not see him?”
That is, the ruling on hijab is not limited to a man seeing a woman; it also concerns a woman looking at a man who is not her mahram.
Although the man is blind, the woman can see him, and her looking at a man who is not her mahram must also be accompanied by hijab and covering.
🔹 4. The message of the narration
Hijab is not only meant to protect a woman from a man’s gaze; it also protects her from looking at a man who is not her mahram.
A woman, too, is obliged not to look at a man who is not her mahram and to cover herself.
💎 Illumination and refinement:
Hijab is a ruling that applies to both sides: men and women.
A man’s blindness does not lift the obligation of hijab for a woman.
This narration stresses the need to observe hijab and cover oneself even in the presence of blind people.
It shows that hijab is not only about preventing a man from looking, but also about preserving a woman’s modesty and guarding her gaze.
It also encompasses hidden dimensions!
Human connection is not limited to visual contact!
A person’s outward appearance can leave an impression within others!
Observing hijab is a woman’s banner of devotion, chastity, and modesty; it must always remain aloft!
Blind people cannot see, but their other senses are more acute!
A woman’s intention and resolve in observing hijab form an inner covering, an inner barrier,
which restrains her attraction to a man, even if he is blind!
It is a kind of practice in observing hijab in private, away from the presence of mahrams and one’s husband! It strengthens piety.
It reflects Islam’s attentiveness to hijab: if such care is taken in the presence of a blind man, the concern is all the greater in the presence of sighted men!
Observing hijab is a sacred constraint, a blessed limitation. It serves to protect a woman from those who are not her mahram. A precious treasure remains safeguarded, its value undiminished!
Observing hijab before a blind man prevents possible laxity and inattention to the matter of hijab!
Women and men are sources of vibrations; sight is only one instrument, not the whole array! Hijab prevents a woman’s waves from being absorbed!
A woman’s body vibrates in proportion to how much of it is revealed!
Vibrations are not limited to sight; they also include smell, taste, touch, and the heart!
Men can also absorb a woman’s vibrations through their inner senses!
❇️Every Gaze Is a Two-Way Connection!
💫🔆مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَعْقُوبَ عَنْ عِدَّةٍ مِنْ أَصْحَابِنَا عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ قَالَ: اسْتَأْذَنَ ابْنُ أُمِّ مَكْتُومٍ عَلَى النَّبِيِّ ص- وَ عِنْدَهُ عَائِشَةُ وَ حَفْصَةُ فَقَالَ لَهُمَا قُومَا فَادْخُلَا الْبَيْتَ فَقَالَتَا إِنَّهُ أَعْمَى فَقَالَ إِنْ لَمْ يَرَكُمَا فَإِنَّكُمَا تَرَيَانِهِ. [2]
💫 Muhammad ibn Ya‘qub al-Kulayni relates, through several of his companions, from Ahmad ibn Abi ‘Abd Allah, who said:
“Umm Maktum asked the Prophet (PBUH) for permission to enter, while Aisha and Hafsa were with him.
The Prophet (PBUH) said to them, ‘Get up and go inside the house.’
They said, ‘He is blind.’
He replied, ‘Even if he cannot see you, you can see him.’”
Illumination:
🔹 1. The context of the narration
Umm Maktum, a blind man, asked the Prophet (PBUH) for permission to enter.
Aisha and Hafsa were with the Prophet (PBUH).
He told them to get up and go inside the house.
🔹 2. Their question
They said, “He is blind and cannot see us.”
🔹 3. The Prophet’s (PBUH) reply
He said, “Even if he cannot see you, you can see him.”
In other words, the rules of hijab are not limited to a man looking at a woman; they also concern a woman looking at a man who is not her mahram.
Although the man is blind, the woman can see him, and a woman’s gaze at a man who is not her mahram must also be accompanied by hijab and modest covering.
🔹 4. Comparison with earlier narrations
In the narration about Umm Salama, the Prophet (PBUH) asked the women, “Are you blind?”
In the narration about Fatima (SA), she observed hijab on her own initiative, before the Prophet (PBUH) asked her anything.
The same ruling is reiterated in this narration.
💎 The central message of the narration:
Hijab is a two-way obligation: it applies to both men and women.
A man’s blindness does not relieve a woman of the obligation of hijab.
This narration stresses the need to observe hijab and modest covering even in the presence of blind people.
It shows that hijab is not solely intended to prevent men from looking at women; it also safeguards a woman’s modesty and her gaze.
وَ عَنْ جَعْفَرِ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ ع أَنَّهُ قَالَ: اسْتَأْذَنَ أَعْمَى عَلَى فَاطِمَةَ ع فَحَجَبَتْهُ فَقَالَ لَهَا النَّبِيُّ ع لِمَ تَحْجُبِينَهُ وَ هُوَ لَا يَرَاكِ قَالَتْ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ إِنْ لَمْ يَكُنْ يَرَانِي فَإِنِّي أَرَاهُ وَ هُوَ يَشَمُّ الرِّيحَ فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ أَشْهَدُ أَنَّكِ بَضْعَةٌ مِنِّي.[3]
💫 It is related from Imam al-Sadiq (AS) that he said:
“A blind man asked Fatima (SA) for permission to enter. She covered herself from him.
The Prophet (PBUH) asked her, ‘Why did you cover yourself from him when he cannot see you?’
Fatima (SA) replied, ‘O Messenger of God! Even if he cannot see me, I can see him, and he can smell me.’
The Messenger of God (PBUH) said, ‘I bear witness that you are a part of me.’”
Illumination:
🔹 1. The context of the narration
A blind man asked Lady Fatima (SA) for permission to enter.
Fatima (SA) covered herself from him.
🔹 2. The Prophet’s (PBUH) question
The Prophet (PBUH) asked, “Why did you cover yourself from him when he cannot see you?”
🔹 3. Fatima’s (SA) reply
In her response, Fatima (SA) gave three reasons:
“Even if he cannot see me, I can see him.” In other words, the rules of hijab are not limited to a man looking at a woman.
“He can smell me.” In other words, even a woman’s scent can give rise to temptation.
🔹 4. The Prophet’s (PBUH) affirmation
The Prophet (PBUH) said, “I bear witness that you are a part of me.”
This is the Prophet’s (PBUH) highest affirmation of Fatima’s (SA) modesty and observance of hijab.
🔹 5. Comparison with the narration about Umm Salama
In the narration about Umm Salama, the Prophet (PBUH) asked the women, “Are you blind?” In other words, a woman, too, should not look at a man who is not her mahram.
In this narration, Fatima (SA) observed hijab on her own initiative, before the Prophet (PBUH) asked her anything, and explained her reasons for doing so.
💎 The central message of the narration:
Hijab is not solely intended to prevent men from looking at women; it also safeguards a woman’s modesty and her gaze.
Even a woman’s scent can give rise to temptation and should be taken into account when observing hijab.
Fatima (SA) is the perfect model of modesty and hijab, and the Prophet (PBUH) regards her as “a part of himself.”
This narration also stresses the need to observe hijab in the presence of blind people.
❇️A woman’s eyes should be filled with what is lawful, leaving no room for what is forbidden!
💫🔆مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ عَلِيِّ بْنِ الْحُسَيْنِ فِي عِقَابِ الْأَعْمَالِ بِسَنَدٍ تَقَدَّمَ فِي عِيَادَةِ الْمَرِيضِ قَالَ: قَالَ النَّبِيُّ ص اشْتَدَّ غَضَبُ اللَّهِ عَلَى امْرَأَةٍ ذَاتِ بَعْلٍ مَلَأَتْ عَيْنَهَا مِنْ غَيْرِ زَوْجِهَا أَوْ غَيْرِ ذِي مَحْرَمٍ مِنْهَا فَإِنَّهَا إِنْ فَعَلَتْ ذَلِكَ أَحْبَطَ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ كُلَّ عَمَلٍ عَمِلَتْهُ فَإِنْ أَوْطَأَتْ فِرَاشَهُ غَيْرَهُ كَانَ حَقّاً عَلَى اللَّهِ أَنْ يُحْرِقَهَا بِالنَّارِ بَعْدَ أَنْ يُعَذِّبَهَا فِي قَبْرِهَا. [4]
💫 Muḥammad ibn ʿAlī ibn Ḥusayn (Shaykh Ṣadūq) relates in his book *ʿIqāb al-Aʿmāl*, with a chain of transmission mentioned earlier in the chapter on visiting the sick, that the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said:
“God’s wrath is severe against a married woman who lets her eyes linger on anyone other than her husband or a maḥram.
For if she does so, God, Mighty and Exalted, will blot out all the deeds she has performed.
And if she defiles her husband’s bed with a man who is not her maḥram, it is incumbent upon God to burn her in the Fire after punishing her in the grave.”
💫🔆الْحَسَنُ الطَّبْرِسِيُّ فِي مَكَارِمِ الْأَخْلَاقِ عَنِ النَّبِيِّ ص أَنَّ فَاطِمَةَ قَالَتْ لَهُ فِي حَدِيثٍ خَيْرٌ لِلنِّسَاءِ أَنْ لَا يَرَيْنَ الرِّجَالَ وَ لَا يَرَاهُنَّ الرِّجَالُ فَقَالَ ص فَاطِمَةُ مِنِّي. [5]
💫 Ḥasan Ṭabarsī relates in *Makārim al-Akhlāq* that the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) reported that Lady Fāṭimah (SA) once said to him:
“The best thing for women is neither to see men nor to be seen by them.”
The Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said, “Fāṭimah is part of me.”
Illumination:
🔹 1. The sin of a married woman’s forbidden gaze
A married woman’s gaze at a man who is not her maḥram is a grave sin.
Its consequences:
The destruction of all good deeds.
Severe divine wrath.
🔹 2. The sin of defiling her husband’s bed
If a married woman engages in an illicit relationship with a man who is not her maḥram—defiling her husband’s bed—the consequences are:
Punishment in the grave.
Burning in the Fire after the punishment of the grave.
🔹 3. The best thing for women
Lady Fāṭimah (SA): “The best thing for women is neither to see men nor to be seen by them.”
The Messenger of Allah (PBUH): “Fāṭimah is part of me.”
This is the Prophet’s (PBUH) highest affirmation of Fāṭimah’s (SA) modesty and observance of hijab.
🔹 4. Comparison with earlier narrations
In the narration of Umm Salamah, the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said to the women, “Are you blind?”—meaning that a woman, too, must not look at a man who is not her maḥram.
In the narration about Fāṭimah (SA), she observed hijab of her own accord, even before the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) asked her.
In this narration, the best thing for women is that neither should see the other.
💎 A gentle reminder:
A married woman’s forbidden gaze is a grave sin and can destroy her deeds.
Defiling her husband’s bed brings punishment in the grave and burning in the Fire.
The best thing for women is to avoid both seeing and being seen.
Fāṭimah (SA) is the perfect model of modesty and hijab, and the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) regards her as “a part of himself.”
These narrations emphasise the need for women—especially married women—to observe hijab and modesty.
Fāṭimah is Fāṭimah, and she became Fāṭimah because she followed the way of Fāṭimah, because her devotion was Fāṭimah’s.
Her rising was a stand for modesty, dignity and greatness; and when the time came, when it was necessary, she defended the sanctity of wilāyah, and with her pure, incisive words exposed the cowardly men who made a show of manhood. Her daughter Zaynab was another Fāṭimah, and Maʿṣūmah became Maʿṣūmah because she followed Fāṭimah’s way!
❇️Eyes That Shine in the Contest
💫🔆عَنِ الصَّادِقِ عَنْ أَبِيهِ ع قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص كُلُّ عَيْنٍ بَاكِيَةٌ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ إِلَّا ثَلَاثَةَ أَعْيُنٍ عَيْنٌ بَكَتْ مِنْ خَشْيَةِ اللَّهِ وَ عَيْنٌ غُضَّتْ عَنْ مَحَارِمِ اللَّهِ وَ عَيْنٌ بَاتَتْ سَاهِرَةً فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ.[6]
💫 It is related from Imam Ṣādiq (AS), from his father (AS), that the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said:
“On the Day of Resurrection, all eyes will weep except three:
An eye that has wept out of fear of God;
An eye that has turned away from what God has forbidden;
And an eye that has stayed awake through the night in the way of God.”
Illumination:
🔹 1. All eyes weep on the Day of Resurrection
On the Day of Resurrection, all eyes will weep from the terror and sorrow of that day.
Only three kinds of eyes will be spared and will not weep.
🔹 2. The three eyes that are saved
| Eye | Quality |
| The eye that weeps out of fear of God | It wept in this life out of fear of God. |
| The eye that turns away from what is forbidden | It has refrained from looking at what is unlawful. |
| The eye that stays awake at night in the way of God | It has kept vigil in the way of God (through struggle, worship or service). |
🔹 3. The message of the narration
Weeping out of fear of God is a means of salvation on the Day of Resurrection.
To avert one’s gaze from what is forbidden is a source of felicity.
Keeping vigil at night for God’s sake is a source of salvation.
These are among the finest deeds by which a person may be spared the tears of the Day of Resurrection.
💎 A subtle point:
On the Day of Resurrection, everyone will weep except three groups:
Those who weep out of awe of God.
Those who avert their gaze from what is forbidden.
Those who keep vigil at night for God’s sake.
This report underscores the virtue of weeping out of awe of God, guarding one’s gaze, and keeping vigil at night for God’s sake.
It shows that these three deeds can save a person from weeping on the Day of Resurrection and lead them to Paradise.
❇️Let an ungrateful eye go hungry
💫🔆L, al-Khiṣāl الْأَرْبَعُمِائَةِ قَالَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع لَيْسَ فِي الْبَدَنِ شَيْءٌ أَقَلَ شُكْراً مِنَ الْعَيْنِ فَلَا تُعْطُوهَا سُؤْلَهَا فَتَشْغَلَكُمْ عَنْ ذِكْرِ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ وَ قَالَ ع لَكُمْ أَوَّلُ نَظْرَةٍ إِلَى الْمَرْأَةِ فَلَا تُتْبِعُوهَا بِنَظْرَةٍ أُخْرَى وَ احْذَرُوا الْفِتْنَةَ. [7]
💫 In al-Khiṣāl (The Four Hundred Traditions), it is related that the Commander of the Faithful (AS) said:
“Nothing in the body is less grateful than the eye. So do not give it what it desires, for that will distract you from the remembrance of God, Mighty and Majestic.”
He also said:
“The first glance at a woman is yours; so do not follow it with another glance, and beware of temptation.”
Note:
🔹 1. The eye’s ingratitude
The eye is the least grateful part of the body because:
It is always seeking to see more.
It distracts a person from the remembrance of God.
The remedy: do not satisfy its desires, and guard your gaze.
🔹 2. The ruling on the first and second glance
| Glance | Ruling |
| First glance | Permissible (unintentional and without purpose). |
| Second glance | Forbidden (intentional and repeated). |
Imam Ali (AS): “The first glance is yours; so do not follow it with another glance.”
He also said: “Beware of temptation.”
🔹 3. The report’s message
One must guard the eyes and avoid repeated glances at those one may not look at.
The first glance is permissible, but the second and any that follow are forbidden.
Avoiding temptation is the duty of every believer.
💎 The report’s central message:
The eye is the least grateful part of the body and must be controlled.
The first glance is permissible, but the second and any that follow are forbidden.
This report emphasizes the need to guard one’s gaze and avoid temptation.
It shows that repeatedly looking at those one may not look at distracts a person from the remembrance of God and leads them into temptation.
❇️Do not let your gaze chain you
💫🔆N, ʿUyūn Akhbār al-Riḍā (The Fountains of the Reports about al-Riḍā) بِإِسْنَادِ التَّمِيمِيِّ عَنِ الرِّضَا عَنْ آبَائِهِ ع قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ لَا تُتْبِعِ النَّظْرَةَ النَّظْرَةَ فَلَيْسَ لَكَ إِلَّا أَوَّلُ النَّظْرَةِ. [8]
💫 In ʿUyūn Akhbār al-Riḍā, through the chain of al-Tamīmī, it is related from Imam al-Riḍā (AS), from his forefathers (AS), that the Messenger of God (PBUH) said:
“Do not follow one glance with another, for only the first glance is yours.”
💎 A subtle point:
The eye is the least grateful part of the body and must be controlled.
The first glance is permissible, but the second and any that follow are forbidden.
These reports emphasize the need to guard one’s gaze, avoid temptation, and observe the religious rulings in particular cases.
❇️Averting one’s gaze from what is forbidden makes the lawful gaze sweet
💫🔆وَ عَنِ الصَّادِقِ ع قَالَ: مَنْ نَظَرَ إِلَى امْرَأَةٍ فَرَفَعَ بَصَرَهُ إِلَى السَّمَاءِ أَوْ غَمَّضَ بَصَرَهُ لَمْ يَرْتَدَّ إِلَيْهِ بَصَرَهُ حَتَّى يُزَوِّجَهُ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ مِنَ الْحُورِ الْعِينِ.[9]
It is related from Imam al-Ṣādiq (AS) that he said:
“Whoever looks at a woman to whom he is not related, then raises his eyes to the sky or closes them, will not open his eyes again to sin until God, Mighty and Majestic, gives him a wife from among the houris.”
❇️
💫🔆وَ قَالَ ع أَوَّلُ النَّظْرَةِ لَكَ وَ الثَّانِيَةُ عَلَيْكَ وَ لَا لَكَ وَ الثَّالِثَةُ فِيهَا الْهَلَاك[10]
He also said:
“The first glance is yours (and carries no sin);
the second is against you (and is sinful), and is not yours;
and in the third lies ruin.”
Note:
🔹 1. The reward for averting one’s gaze
If someone happens to look at a woman to whom he is not related (the first glance), then immediately turns his eyes away, God grants him a great reward:
He gives him a wife from among the houris.
This shows the value Islam places on averting one’s gaze.
🔹 2. The ruling on repeated glances
| Glance | Ruling |
| The first glance | is not a sin (it is sudden and unintended). |
| The second glance | is a sin (it is deliberate and repeated). |
| The third glance | leads to ruin and destruction (persistence in sin). |
🔹 3. The difference between the first and second glance
The first glance is unintentional and sudden, and one is not held accountable for it.
The second glance is deliberate and voluntary, and is forbidden.
The third glance is persistence in sin and leads to ruin.
🔹 4. How to make amends for the first glance
If someone glances unintentionally, they should immediately look away or raise their eyes to the sky.
Doing so brings divine reward and companionship with the houris.
💎 The central message of the narration:
Islam makes allowances for unintended glances, but is strict about repeated and deliberate looking.
Lowering one’s gaze brings divine reward and the promise of the houris.
The second and third glances are sinful and lead to ruin.
This narration stresses the need to control one’s gaze and avoid forbidden looks.
❇️The pleasing outward appearance and corrupt inner nature of those who stray
✨🔆الأعراف : 30 فَريقاً هَدى وَ فَريقاً حَقَّ عَلَيْهِمُ الضَّلالَةُ إِنَّهُمُ اتَّخَذُوا الشَّياطينَ أَوْلِياءَ مِنْ دُونِ اللَّهِ وَ يَحْسَبُونَ أَنَّهُمْ مُهْتَدُونَ
🔆He has guided some, while others have been rightly condemned to go astray. They have taken devils as their protectors instead of God, yet imagine that they are rightly guided!
❇️A false dream
✨🔆الكهف : 104 الَّذينَ ضَلَّ سَعْيُهُمْ فِي الْحَياةِ الدُّنْيا وَ هُمْ يَحْسَبُونَ أَنَّهُمْ يُحْسِنُونَ صُنْعاً
🔆Those whose efforts in the life of this world have come to nothing, while they imagine that they are doing good!»
❇️The ugly made to look beautiful
✨🔆آلعمران : 14 زُيِّنَ لِلنَّاسِ حُبُّ الشَّهَواتِ مِنَ النِّساءِ وَ الْبَنينَ وَ الْقَناطيرِ الْمُقَنْطَرَةِ مِنَ الذَّهَبِ وَ الْفِضَّةِ وَ الْخَيْلِ الْمُسَوَّمَةِ وَ الْأَنْعامِ وَ الْحَرْثِ ذلِكَ مَتاعُ الْحَياةِ الدُّنْيا وَ اللَّهُ عِنْدَهُ حُسْنُ الْمَآبِ
🔆The love of worldly desires—women, children, heaps of gold and silver, fine horses, livestock and cultivated land—has been made alluring to people. (These things serve as a means of testing and nurturing them; but) if they become a person’s ultimate aim, they are merely the fleeting possessions of this worldly life. The finest end (and the exalted, everlasting life) lies with God.
❇️A diseased mind deceived by alluring appearances
✨🔆 فاطر : 8 أَ فَمَنْ زُيِّنَ لَهُ سُوءُ عَمَلِهِ فَرَآهُ حَسَناً فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ يُضِلُّ مَنْ يَشاءُ وَ يَهْدي مَنْ يَشاءُ فَلا تَذْهَبْ نَفْسُكَ عَلَيْهِمْ حَسَراتٍ إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَليمٌ بِما يَصْنَعُونَ
🔆Is one whose evil deeds have been made attractive to him, so that he sees them as good and beautiful, like one who sees things as they truly are?! God lets whom He wills go astray and guides whom He wills. So do not let your soul be consumed with grief over them. God knows well what they do!
❇️The mirage of pleasure
✨🔆 النور : 39 وَ الَّذينَ كَفَرُوا أَعْمالُهُمْ كَسَرابٍ بِقيعَةٍ يَحْسَبُهُ الظَّمْآنُ ماءً حَتَّى إِذا جاءَهُ لَمْ يَجِدْهُ شَيْئاً وَ وَجَدَ اللَّهَ عِنْدَهُ فَوَفَّاهُ حِسابَهُ وَ اللَّهُ سَريعُ الْحِسابِ
🔆The deeds of those who disbelieve are like a mirage in a desert: a thirsty person takes it for water from afar, but when he reaches it, he finds nothing. Instead, he finds God there, who settles his account in full; and God is swift in reckoning!
❇️Pure water is the portion of the pure
The mirage of pleasure cannot be tasted; loss is certain!
Those who seek pleasure through sin will not find greater pleasure in it. Rather, their share of lawful pleasure will diminish.
True sweetness and blessing, on the other hand, are found only in lawful pleasures!
Forbidden pleasures bring neither blessing nor good fortune. They may seem to sweeten one’s palate, but their bitterness will last forever!
❇️Do not be deceived by the triumphs of those who sin
✨🔆 آلعمران : 196 لا يَغُرَّنَّكَ تَقَلُّبُ الَّذينَ كَفَرُوا فِي الْبِلادِ
🔆Do not be deceived by the disbelievers’ triumphant movements through the land!
✨🔆 آلعمران : 197 مَتاعٌ قَليلٌ ثُمَّ مَأْواهُمْ جَهَنَّمُ وَ بِئْسَ الْمِهادُ
🔆It is only a paltry enjoyment; then their abode will be Hell—what a wretched dwelling!
✨🔆 النحل : 117 مَتاعٌ قَليلٌ وَ لَهُمْ عَذابٌ أَليمٌ
🔆A brief enjoyment is theirs (in this world), and a painful punishment awaits them!
❇️A veiled woman is the living embodiment and tangible interpreter of the verse on hijab
✨🔆 Al-Nūr: 31 وَ قُلْ لِلْمُؤْمِناتِ يَغْضُضْنَ مِنْ أَبْصارِهِنَّ وَ يَحْفَظْنَ فُرُوجَهُنَّ وَ لا يُبْدينَ زينَتَهُنَّ إِلاَّ ما ظَهَرَ مِنْها وَ لْيَضْرِبْنَ بِخُمُرِهِنَّ عَلى جُيُوبِهِنَّ وَ لا يُبْدينَ زينَتَهُنَّ إِلاَّ لِبُعُولَتِهِنَّ أَوْ آبائِهِنَّ أَوْ Fathers بُعُولَتِهِنَّ أَوْ أَبْنائِهِنَّ أَوْ أَبْناءِ بُعُولَتِهِنَّ أَوْ إِخْوانِهِنَّ أَوْ بَني إِخْوانِهِنَّ أَوْ بَني أَخَواتِهِنَّ أَوْ نِسائِهِنَّ أَوْ ما مَلَكَتْ أَيْمانُهُنَّ أَوِ التَّابِعينَ غَيْرِ أُولِي الْإِرْبَةِ مِنَ الرِّجالِ أَوِ الطِّفْلِ الَّذينَ لَمْ يَظْهَرُوا عَلى عَوْراتِ النِّساءِ وَ لا يَضْرِبْنَ بِأَرْجُلِهِنَّ لِيُعْلَمَ ما يُخْفينَ مِنْ زينَتِهِنَّ وَ تُوبُوا إِلَى اللَّهِ جَميعاً أَيُّهَا الْمُؤْمِنُونَ لَعَلَّكُمْ تُفْلِحُونَ
And tell the believing women to lower their gaze, guard their chastity, and not display their adornment except what ordinarily appears of it; to draw their veils over their chests, and not reveal their adornment except to their husbands, their fathers, their husbands’ fathers, their sons, their stepsons, their brothers, their brothers’ sons, their sisters’ sons, their fellow Muslim women, their female slaves, men who have no desire for women, or children who are not yet aware of women’s nakedness. Let them not stamp their feet as they walk, lest their hidden adornment be revealed (and the sound of the anklets they wear be heard). And turn to God in repentance, all of you, O believers, so that you may prosper!
A loser is one who does not become Fāṭimid, Zaynabī, or Maʿṣūmī!
Men without a sense of honour, who use their own money to make their wives attractive and alluring to unrelated men!
❇️Further Elaboration and Completion of the Narration on Hijab in the Presence of a Blind Man
A reflective elaboration on the narration
۱. Hijab: a duty shared by both sides
In Islam, hijab is not a one-sided obligation imposed on women alone; it is a ruling that concerns both men and women. Men, too, are required to control their gaze and uphold the bounds of chastity. This does not mean, however, that a woman’s obligation is lifted if a man is blind. Hijab concerns not only what a man sees, but also a woman’s own chastity, modesty, and gaze.
۲. A man’s blindness does not remove the obligation of hijab
This narration clearly states that a man’s blindness does not permit a woman to set aside her hijab. The Prophet (PBUH), asking them « أَ فَعَمْيَاوَانِ أَنْتُمَا ؟», reminds them: “You can see, and you can see him; therefore, your hijab is required in his presence.” This emphasis shows that hijab is a divine ruling that does not depend on the circumstances of the other person, but is an inherent and enduring duty for a Muslim woman.
۳. Hijab is not only to prevent men from looking
Hijab is not solely meant to keep men from looking at women; it also protects a woman’s chastity and helps her guard her own gaze. A woman, too, is required to keep her gaze pure and avoid improper looks. Hijab is a means of preserving inner modesty and chastity, not merely an outward barrier.
۴. It also encompasses what is hidden
Hijab is not limited to outward covering; it also encompasses concealed and subtle matters. Human interaction is not confined to sight; it takes place through the other senses as well. A person’s outward appearance can be reflected inwardly and affect others’ spirits and minds. Thus, observing hijab is a banner of a woman’s devotion, chastity, and modesty, and must always remain steadfast.
۵. Blind people and the other senses
Blind people lack sight, but their other senses are more active. Through hearing, smell, touch, and even an inner sense, they can perceive a woman’s presence. Therefore, a woman’s hijab is not only to prevent a man from seeing her; it also limits the impressions and effects her presence may have on him, even if he is blind.
۶. A woman’s intention and resolve in observing hijab
A woman’s intention and resolve in observing hijab form an inner covering and an inner barrier. They restrain her attraction toward men—even those who are blind. This is a kind of practice in observing modesty in private and away from the presence of close male relatives and one’s husband, and it strengthens piety.
۷. An indication of Islam’s concern for hijab
This narration shows how seriously Islam regards hijab. If Islam takes care to uphold hijab in the presence of a blind man, then all the more so in the presence of sighted men. Observing hijab is a blessed constraint that protects a woman from unrelated men. She remains like a hidden treasure, whose worth does not diminish.
۸. Hijab prevents laxity and neglect
Hijab prevents possible laxity and carelessness in observing it. Women and men are sources of vibrations, and sight is only one instrument, not the only one. Hijab prevents the absorption of a woman’s waves. A woman’s body vibrates in proportion to how much of it is exposed, and these vibrations are not limited to sight; they also involve smell, taste, touch, and the heart. Men can also absorb a woman’s vibrations through their inner senses.
۹. Conclusion
Hijab is a divine command that does not depend on the circumstances of the person before you. A man’s blindness does not lift the obligation of hijab for a woman. Hijab preserves a woman’s chastity and modesty and teaches her to guard her own gaze. This narration teaches us that hijab is a blessed safeguard: it protects a woman from those who are not mahram to her and preserves her hidden treasure. Therefore, hijab must always be observed, whatever the circumstances—even in the presence of the blind.
Conclusion
Umm Salama’s narration reveals the profound wisdom of hijab: it is not merely an outward covering, but an inward barrier that protects a woman from unwanted impulses and impure influences. This ruling applies to both parties and encompasses all the senses. A man’s blindness does not remove the obligation, for hijab is a divine command and a lasting duty for a Muslim woman. The narration demonstrates Islam’s concern for hijab and reminds us of the importance of preserving chastity and modesty in every circumstance.
❇️The Secrets and Jewels of Hijab
How many people with sight do we count as blind, while our chastity, modesty, and secrets are plundered!
Take social media, for example!
Whoever holds fast to her hijab is protected from every moral assault and theft!
Hijab means that God cares for us!
We are God’s sacred trust. We must protect what is sacred to Him and be its guardians!
One who loves God does not betray the love of God!
The regulation of روح الشهوه under the guidance of reason brings forth pure and exalted pleasures!
Hijab is a nursery for order, solidarity, and social and global sanctity!
Hijab is not determined by the eyes; it is grounded in people’s being and feelings!
Every outward form has an inner reality! Hijab has an inner reality beneath its outward form! People have inner realities beneath their outward appearances! The innate, inward vision is the truth of perception and feeling!
The treasure of a person of honor must never fall into the hands of those with swinish natures!
The heart of a person of honor must never beat in the breast of one with a demonic or swinish nature!
Hijab is a woman’s declaration and banner of fidelity to her spouse, her letter of loyalty, love, and affection—and the highest sign of her devotion to servitude to God!
Hijab is a nursery and a wondrous school of God’s secrets—a school from whose depths the Most Pure Zahra brought forth the radiant crown of dignity, knowledge, and wisdom, revealing it to the world, so that «وَ عَلَى مَعْرِفَتِهَا دَارَتِ الْقُرُونُ الْأُوَل»
❇️A Lyrical Supplement to the Elaboration of the Narration on Hijab in the Presence of a Blind Man
1. The Epistemic Dimension: Hijab as the Manifestation of “Existential Concealment”
Hijab is not merely a piece of cloth; it is a symbol of the human being’s “existential concealment.” In the mystical view, woman is a manifestation of divine beauty, and beauty, like a jewel, needs to be protected. With the words « أَ فَعَمْيَاوَانِ أَنْتُمَا ؟», the Prophet (PBUH) is, in effect, saying that blindness of the eyes does not absolve one of the responsibility to see with insight. You who possess insight must honour veiled beauty. Hijab is a practice in remaining present before God, even when no human eye can see.
Lyrical note: Hijab is a mirror in which a woman sees her servitude to God, not a man’s gaze.
2. The Mystical Dimension: Hijab as the “Sanctuary of Union”
In the mystical path, hijab is the sanctuary of union. Just as the wayfarer must leave behind the clamour of the self to reach the Beloved, a woman, through hijab, passes beyond the clamour of gazes and arrives at the seclusion of servitude to God. The blind Ibn Umm Maktum represents outward blindness, but the Prophet (PBUH) points to an inward blindness that may afflict those who can see: « أَ فَعَمْيَاوَانِ أَنْتُمَا؟» That is, if his physical eyes do not see, your heart’s eye does, and you must be vigilant.
Lyrical note: Hijab is a veil not meant to hide a woman, but to reveal her devotion to God.
3. The Psychological Dimension: Hijab and “Sexual Self-Regulation”
Modern psychology gives importance to sexual self-regulation. Hijab is a means of regulating sexual stimuli in society. The presence of a woman who observes hijab preserves a man’s psychological calm, even if he is blind, because the other senses—hearing, smell, and touch—can also serve as channels of stimulation. Through this ruling, the Prophet (PBUH) teaches psychological prevention of moral deviation.
Lyrical note: Hijab is a psychological vaccine that protects society from hidden harms.
4. The Sociological Dimension: Hijab and “Social Capital”
Sociologists speak of social capital: trust, solidarity, and shared norms. Hijab is a form of social capital that preserves trust between women and men in public spaces. If hijab depended solely on a man’s gaze, it would cease to apply when he was blind. But because hijab is a social norm, it remains in force. Through this ruling, the Prophet (PBUH) strengthens social order.
Lyrical note: Hijab is an unwritten law that sustains social solidarity at the highest level.
5. The Jurisprudential Dimension: Hijab and the “Presumption of Unrestricted Scope”
Jurists speak of the presumption of unrestricted scope: a ruling is absolute unless there is evidence that restricts it. In this narration, the Prophet (PBUH) upholds the unrestricted scope of the hijab ruling and does not treat the man’s blindness as a qualifying exception. This is a jurisprudential principle: the ruling on hijab does not depend on whether a man is looking; it depends on whether he is non-mahram. A blind man is also non-mahram, so hijab is required.
A lyrical reflection: Veiling is an act of worship whose wisdom may lie beyond the grasp of human reason; to submit to it is an expression of servitude to God.
6. The formative dimension: Veiling as “a practice in God-consciousness”
Religious formation is a practice in God-consciousness. Veiling before a blind man is a more demanding practice, because there is no outward motive—the possibility of being seen. In this situation, a woman observes the veil solely to seek God’s pleasure. Such sincerity deepens her God-consciousness. Through this ruling, the Prophet (PBUH) establishes a school of spiritual formation in which pure devotion is practised even in solitude.
A lyrical reflection: Veiling before a blind man, and in solitude, is like a prayer of love offered in the stillness of night.
7. The spiritual dimension: Veiling and “inner vibrations”
As we have said, women and men are sources of vibration. These vibrations are not confined to sight; they include smell, taste, touch and the heart. Veiling is a filter that diminishes unwanted vibrations. A man’s blindness does not blind his inner vibrations; it may even sharpen them. Through this ruling, the Prophet (PBUH) teaches how to protect a woman’s inner vibrations.
A lyrical reflection: Veiling is a shield for a woman’s energy, reflecting unwanted waves.
8. The ethical dimension: Veiling and “a woman’s dignity”
Veiling safeguards a woman’s dignity. A woman is a hidden treasure, whose worth is preserved by her covering. If veiling were only about preventing a man’s gaze, it would become meaningless when he was blind. But because it safeguards a woman’s dignity, it always has meaning. Through this ruling, the Prophet (PBUH) makes an ethic of dignity part of the fabric of society.
A lyrical reflection: Veiling is the crown of a woman’s dignity, never lifted from her head.
9. The social dimension: Veiling and “family order”
Veiling preserves the order of the family. If it were no longer required before a blind man, the boundaries between those who are mahram and those who are not would become blurred. Through this ruling, the Prophet (PBUH) safeguards the strength of the family. Veiling is an invisible wall that protects the family’s privacy from the onslaught of immodesty.
A lyrical reflection: Veiling is a fortress that saves the family from the storm of moral laxity.
10. The universal dimension: Veiling and “the message of Islam”
Veiling is a universal message of Islam. This ruling transcends time and place and embraces all humanity. Through this report, the Prophet (PBUH) offers a universal model: veiling is not for men alone, but for women and society. This message can be put into practice in every age and every culture.
A lyrical reflection: Veiling is Islam’s ambassador, conveying the message of chastity, modesty and dignity to the world.
11. Concluding summary
The report of Umm Salamah is a treasury of knowledge in which veiling is understood as:
| Dimension | Concept |
| of knowledge | Existential covering |
| Mystical | The sanctuary of union |
| Psychological | Sexual self-regulation |
| Sociological | Social capital |
| Jurisprudential | Entailed by the generality of the ruling |
| Formative | A practice in God-consciousness |
| Spiritual | A filter for vibrations |
| Ethical | A safeguard of dignity |
| Social | Family order |
| Universal | The message of Islam |
Veiling is an ocean, every drop of which holds an ocean of wisdom. A man’s blindness is a wave that does not dry up this sea; rather, it reveals its depths all the more. With a single brief sentence, the Prophet (PBUH) opens a gate of knowledge before us: “ أَ فَعَمْيَاوَانِ أَنْتُمَا?” — Are you two also blind? No, you can see, and you must uphold the veil.
O Lord! Do not make us among those who see yet remain heedless. Make the veil a crown of dignity for us, and keep us steadfast in safeguarding the bounds of modesty. Amen, Lord of all worlds.
❇️A lyrical touch upon the whole text
Introduction
What has come before is a constellation of knowledge: from the mystery of the Fawāṭim to the wisdom of veiling before a blind man; from the mirage of pleasure to the refreshing water of the pure; from the first glance to the third; and from the lyrical elaboration to its conclusion. Now we add a talṭīfah—a gentle yet profound insight—to this entire constellation, not as a separate appendix, but as a drop that reveals the sea.
A lyrical touch: Veiling, “a word in the book of existence”
1. Veiling, a letter among the letters of the Real
Hijab is a letter in the book of existence. Just as letters are not meaningless, and each has a part to play in a word, hijab too has a part to play in the word “humanity.” A woman who wears hijab is a word that sings of servitude. With “أَ فَعَمْيَاوَانِ أَنْتُمَا?”, the Prophet (PBUH) is, in truth, teaching us how to read this word:
💫“Hijab is not a habit, but an act of worship.”
💫“Hijab is an enduring and continual act of worship.”
“Hijab writes the noble word of divine oneness through commitment to chastity and purity.”
✨A gentle insight: Hijab is one of the letters of truth; when rightly expressed, it completes the word of divine oneness.
2. Blind Eyes, Blind Hearts
Ibn Umm Maktum was blind, but his heart could see. The Prophet (PBUH) said to the women, “Are you blind?” In other words, blindness of the eyes is no excuse; blindness of the heart is the calamity. Many who can see are blind at heart and fail to recognize what is sacred. Hijab is a lesson for the heedless who can see, not for those excused by blindness.
✨A gentle insight: Hijab is a lens that brings the eye of the heart into focus, not one that blinds the physical eye.
3. Hijab, “Beautiful Silence”
Hijab is a woman’s beautiful silence. Just as silence can sometimes speak more eloquently than words, hijab, too, speaks louder than a thousand words. Without saying a word, a woman who wears hijab conveys a message of chastity, modesty and dignity to the hearts of those around her. This silence is a cry of devotion.
✨A gentle insight: Hijab is a poem composed in silence and read through the gaze.
4. Hijab, “The Inner Garden”
Hijab is a garden within a woman. Its wall is modesty, and its flowers are chastity. If the wall is breached, the flowers wither. Through this ruling, the Prophet (PBUH) strengthens the wall of the inner garden. A man’s blindness is no reason to breach the wall, for the garden belongs to the woman herself, not to a man’s gaze.
✨A gentle insight: Hijab is the tending of the soul; it protects the flower of chastity from the storm of immodesty.
5. Hijab, “The Mirror of God”
Hijab is a mirror that reflects the attributes of God: ستر (the Concealer), حفیظ (the Guardian), غفور (the Forgiving). A woman who wears hijab embodies divine concealment. Just as God covers faults, a woman, through hijab, veils her beauty so that it is revealed only to those permitted to see it. This veiling is not concealment for its own sake, but a manifestation of devotion.
💫Hijab is a covering that reveals the beauties of devotion and sincere love!
✨A gentle insight: Hijab is a mirror in which you see God’s beauty, if your heart is pure.
6. Hijab, “The Bridge of Reunion”
Hijab is a bridge to reunion. Through hijab, a woman lets go of herself in order to reach God. This letting go is not defeat, but victory. Through this ruling, the Prophet (PBUH) builds the bridge of reunion. A man’s blindness does not break the bridge, for the bridge is meant for crossing, not for being seen.
✨A gentle insight: Hijab is a ladder of ascent; each rung brings you one degree closer to God.
7. Hijab, “A Letter of Love”
Hijab is a letter a woman writes to God through her covering. Modesty is its seal, and chastity its signature. Through this ruling, the Prophet (PBUH) signs the letter of love. A man’s blindness does not leave the letter unsealed, for the letter is addressed to God, not to a man.
💫Hijab is the sacred signature of servitude to God and a supreme mark of sanctity and sincerity!
✨A gentle insight: Hijab is a letter written with the tears of modesty and signed with the fragrance of chastity.
8. Hijab, “The Morning Star”
Hijab is the morning star that shows the way. A woman who wears hijab is a light in the dark night of immodesty. Through this ruling, the Prophet (PBUH) lights the morning star in the sky of the Muslim community. A man’s blindness cannot extinguish the star, for it shines for all.
✨A gentle insight: Hijab is a star shining in the firmament of devotion, showing the way to those who have lost it.
9. Hijab, “A Hidden Treasure”
Hijab is a hidden treasure. A woman is a jewel kept safe within the shell of hijab. Through this ruling, the Prophet (PBUH) protects the treasure from those who would rob it of its chastity. A man’s blindness does not make the treasure worthless, for it belongs to its owner, not to a passer-by.
✨A gentle insight: Hijab is the shell of chastity, concealing a jewel that only those permitted to see it may behold.
✨A gentle insight: Hijab is God’s breath beating in a woman’s breast and drawing her nearer to God.
11. Summary of the gentle insights
| Gentle insight | Meaning |
| A letter of truth | Hijab, the word of divine oneness |
| Blind eyes, blind hearts | A lesson for the heedless who can see |
| Beautiful silence | A cry of devotion |
| The inner garden | The wall of modesty, the flower of chastity |
| The mirror of God | An embodiment of divine concealment |
| The bridge of reunion | Letting go of oneself to reach God |
| The Letter of Love | The Seal of Modesty, the Signature of Chastity |
| The Morning Star | A Lamp for Those Who Have Lost Their Way |
| The Hidden Treasure | The Shell of Chastity, the Protected Pearl |
| The Breath of God | A Manifestation of the All-Merciful and the Most Merciful |
Hijab is a sea in which every drop holds an ocean of wisdom. A man’s blindness is a wave that does not dry this sea; rather, it reveals its depths all the more. With a brief sentence, the Prophet (PBUH) opens a gateway of knowledge before us: «أَ فَعَمْيَاوَانِ أَنْتُمَا؟» — “Are you two blind as well?” No: you can see, and you must observe hijab.
A Gentle Prayer
O God!
Make hijab for us a letter of the letters of Truth,
the beautiful silence of servitude;
keep the garden within us safe,
let the mirror of Your beauty shine in our hearts,
make firm the bridge of union,
seal the letter of love with the seal of modesty,
keep the morning star alight in the sky of the community,
protect the hidden treasure from the hands of thieves,
breathe Your spirit into our breasts,
and do not number us among those who see yet are heedless.
Amen, Lord of the worlds.
❇️A Treasury of the Wisdom of Hijab
🔆 On Fatima and the Fatimas
Fatima became Fatima through “the work of Fatima.”
Ma‘sumah became Ma‘sumah by “becoming Fatimid.”
Zaynab became Zaynab by “being another Fatima.”
Fatima Ma‘sumah is one of the “first fruits” of the tree of Zahra.
Hijab is the path to becoming Fatimid.
Hijab is to take on the fragrance of Ma‘sumah.
Hijab is to attain the greatness of Zaynab.
🔆 On Hijab and Its Wisdom
Hijab is a two-sided injunction: it applies to men and women alike.
A man’s blindness does not nullify the injunction of hijab.
Even in a gathering of men, even if they close their eyes!
Even at close quarters, even if they are outside a man’s field of vision!
Hijab is not solely to prevent men from looking.
It also protects a woman’s chastity and her own gaze.
Hijab encompasses what is hidden, too.
Human connection is not limited to sight.
A person’s outward appearance can be reflected in others’ inner lives.
Observing hijab is a woman’s banner of servitude, chastity, and modesty.
Hijab is a sacred restraint and a blessed limitation.
Hijab keeps a woman safe, like a hidden treasure.
Hijab preserves a woman’s worth.
Hijab prevents laxity and carelessness about its observance.
Hijab is a nursery for social order, solidarity, and sanctity.
Hijab does not depend on the eyes; it depends on people’s being and feelings.
Every outward form has an inward reality; hijab, too, has an inward reality.
Hijab is a declaration, a banner of a woman’s faithfulness to her spouse.
Hijab is a woman’s letter of fidelity, love, and affection.
Hijab is the highest sign of honoring servitude to God.
Hijab is God’s mysterious and distinctive nursery and university.
Hijab means that God has our best interests at heart.
We are God’s trust; we must safeguard what belongs to God.
One who loves God does not betray love for God.
🔆 On Blindness and the Other Senses
Blind people lack sight, but their other senses are more acute.
Blindness of the eyes does not relieve one of the responsibility to see with insight.
How many people with sight there are whom we count as blind!
Blindness of the heart is a calamity; blindness of the eyes is no excuse.
Hijab is a pair of glasses that brings the eye of the heart into focus.
🔆 On Vibrations and Waves
Women and men are sources of vibrations.
Sight is only one means; it is not the only one.
Hijab prevents a woman’s waves from being absorbed.
A woman’s body vibrates in proportion to how much of it is revealed.
Vibrations are not limited to the visual.
They also include those of smell, taste, touch, and the heart.
A woman’s vibrations can also be absorbed through men’s inner senses.
Hijab is a woman’s energy shield, reflecting unwanted waves.
Hijab filters out unwanted vibrations.
🔆 On the Gaze and Restraining It
The eye is the least grateful part of the body.
The first glance is permitted; the second is forbidden; the third brings ruin.
The first glance is inadvertent and unintentional.
The second is deliberate and voluntary, and is forbidden.
The third is persistence in sin, and leads to ruin.
Turning away from what is forbidden brings divine reward.
Turning away from what is forbidden leads to being joined with the houris.
On the Day of Resurrection, all eyes will weep except three.
The eye that weeps out of fear of God is saved.
The eye that turns away from those forbidden to it is saved.
The eye that keeps vigil by night in God’s cause is saved.
A married woman’s forbidden gaze nullifies all her good deeds.
A married woman’s forbidden gaze brings down God’s fierce anger.
The best thing for women is not to see one another.
Men and women should not look at one another.
🔆 On the Mirage of Pleasure and Deception
The mirage of pleasure cannot be tasted.
Loss is certain when pleasure is sought through what is forbidden.
Whoever seeks pleasure through sin will not find greater pleasure in their provision.
Their share and enjoyment of lawful pleasure will diminish.
Only lawful pleasure is wholesome and blessed.
Forbidden pleasures are ill-omened and bring misfortune.
They may seem to sweeten a person’s mouth, but their bitterness will endure forever.
Do not let the revelry of those who sin deceive us.
The triumphant passage of the unbelievers through the cities is deceptive.
The goods of this world are meagre.
A mirage of pleasure cannot quench the thirsty.
🔆 On the layers of meaning in hijab
Hijab is an existential veil.
Hijab is a sanctuary for union.
Hijab is sexual self-regulation.
Hijab is social capital.
Hijab entails universality.
Hijab is a practice in piety.
Hijab filters vibrations.
Hijab safeguards dignity.
Hijab brings order to the family.
Hijab is the message of Islam.
Hijab is a devotional command.
Hijab is servitude to God.
Hijab is a mirror in which a woman sees her devotion to God.
Hijab is a veil that reveals a woman’s devotion to God.
Hijab is a psychological vaccine.
Hijab is an unwritten law.
Hijab is a fortress that saves the family.
Hijab is an ambassador for Islam.
Hijab is the crown of a woman’s dignity.
Hijab is a ladder of ascent.
Hijab is a bridge to union.
Hijab is a love letter.
Hijab is the morning star of the world of women.
Hijab is the covering of a hidden treasure.
Hijab is God’s life-giving breath.
Hijab is a letter from among the letters of Truth.
Hijab is a word from the book of existence.
Hijab is the beautiful silence of beautiful worship and devotion.
Hijab is an inner garden.
Hijab is God’s mirror.
🔆 On a woman’s intention and will
A woman’s intention and will in observing hijab are an inner covering.
A woman’s intention and will in observing hijab are an inner barrier.
They restrain a woman’s attraction to men—even if a man is blind.
Hijab before a blind man is practice in observing it in private.
Hijab before a blind man is a clear sign of a woman’s sincerity in observing hijab when her husband and male relatives are absent.
Hijab before a blind man strengthens piety.
Hijab before a blind man deepens sincerity.
Hijab before a blind man is like a prayer of love offered in the solitude of night.
🔆 On Islam’s concern for hijab
If Islam is concerned about the blind, its concern is all the greater when it comes to those who can see.
Hijab demonstrates Islam’s concern for hijab.
Hijab prevents possible laxity and heedlessness.
Hijab protects a woman from unrelated men.
Hijab keeps a sublime treasure safe.
Its worth does not diminish.
Hijab is a constraint.
Hijab is a blessed restriction.
🔆 On virtual spaces and hidden dangers
There may well be people who can see whom we take to be blind.
Our chastity, modesty and private matters are plundered in virtual spaces.
Whoever holds firmly to hijab will be safe from every form of moral trespass and theft.
A person of honour must not let their treasure fall into the hands of those with swinish natures.
A person of honour must not let their heart beat in the breast of the demonic and the swinish.
🔆 On subtlety and literary touches
Hijab is a letter from among the letters of Truth.
Hijab is a word from the book of existence.
Hijab is beautiful silence.
Hijab is an inner garden.
Hijab is God’s mirror.
Hijab is a bridge to union.
Hijab is a love letter.
Hijab is the morning star.
Hijab is a hidden treasure.
Hijab is God’s breath.
Hijab is an ocean, every drop of which is an ocean of wisdom.
Hijab before a blind man is a wave that does not let the sea fall into heedlessness.
Hijab before a blind man deepens the sea.
Hijab before a blind man proves one’s inner commitment to the law of hijab! It shows willing acceptance of the law of hijab!
🔆 On summary and conclusion
Hijab is a divine command, independent of the circumstances of the person before whom it is observed.
Hijab preserves a woman’s chastity and modesty and helps her control her own gaze.
Hijab is a blessed restriction.
Hijab protects a woman from unrelated men.
Hijab preserves a woman’s hidden treasure.
Hijab must be observed steadfastly at all times and in every circumstance.
Hijab is required even before the blind.
Hijab is reciprocal and encompasses all the senses.
🔆 Supplication
O Lord! Do not let us be among those who can see yet are heedless.
Make hijab for us a crown of dignity, not a chain of humiliation.
Make us steadfast in safeguarding the sanctuary of chastity.
Illuminate our hearts with the light of modesty.
Turn our eyes away from forbidden glances.
Perfume our tongues with Your remembrance.
Make our steps firm on the path of Fatima (SA).
Amen, O Lord of the worlds.
🌟وَ السَّلامُ عَلى مَنِ اتَّبَعَ الْهُدى
✨سُبْحانَ رَبِّكَ رَبِّ الْعِزَّةِ عَمَّا يَصِفُونَ
✨وَ سَلامٌ عَلَى الْمُرْسَلينَ
✨وَ الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ رَبِّ الْعالَمينَ
🔶Ali Saei (Abdollah Meshkat) 110.141(903)
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