Conditions for Proper Women’s Islamic Dress

(Originally part of a post I wrote for Learn-Islam.net, slightly edited) 

In sūrah an-Nūr (ch.24, v.31 of the Qur’an), Allah (exalted is He) says,

«And tell the believing women to lower their sights; to preserve their genitals; to not display their adornment—except what is visible from it; to draw their khimârs over their bosoms; to not display their adornment except to their spouses or their fathers, or their spouses’ fathers or their sons or their spouses’ sons, or their brothers, or their brothers’ sons, or their sisters’ sons, or their women, or what their right hands possess (i.e., slaves or captives), or their servants from the men [who are] not possessors of desire, or the children who have not become cognisant of women’s private parts; and to not strike their feet in order that what they hide of their adornment be known. And repent to Allah collectively, O believers, in hopes that you may be successful.»

Legal Retribution (al-Qisâs) in Islam

My buddy Kamil Ahmad, currently a student at the Islamic University of Madinah, has posted up a nice article regarding legal retribution in Islam on his blog. Here’s a small quote from the article:

This past week a number of executions were carried out here in Madeenah, the City of the Prophet (SAW). I had the opportunity of witnessing a number of them. On Wednesday, the 2nd of May 2007, corresponding to the 15th of Rabee’ II 1428 A.H. at 10:00 AM four individuals were beheaded by sword for the crime of murder before my own eyes.

The issue of Al-Hudood, or the legislated punishments of Allah that we find in our Sharee’ah, has always been something accepted by Muslims throughout the centuries. It is only in recent times that this issue has become an area of debate amongst Muslims.

For those interested in reading the whole thing, you can read it here.