What is meant by the term "al-Qa'idat min al-Nisa'" (the old women) and what are their characteristics?
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The questioner : What is meant by the term "al-Qa'idat min al-Nisa'" (the old women), i.e., what are the characteristics of the old women? We ask for your guidance on this.
The Shaykh : Praise be to Allah, Lord of the worlds, and may peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad, and upon his family and his Companions, and those who follow them in excellence until the Day of Judgment:
By "al-Qa'idat" (the old women) are meant the elderly women who have ceased moving about due to their lack of strength and vitality, and[An-Nur 24:60] means those who have despaired that anyone would propose to them because of their advanced age. These old women are not at fault if they remove their outer garments, provided they do not display adornment. This means they may wear the going-out clothes that it is customary for women to wear when going out, on the condition that they do not display adornment, i.e., that they do not reveal beauty that would lead to temptation.
Accordingly, if such a woman goes to the market wearing her house clothes, which are not clothes of adornment, there is no blame on her for doing so. However, she should not go out so that people do not imitate her and so that a young woman does not think that this ruling applies to both her and the old women. Whatever leads to harm should not be done, even if it is permissible, in order to block the means to harm.
This verse is clear evidence that any woman other than the old women is at fault if she removes the garment she is accustomed to wearing when going to the market.
It is also evidence for the obligation of covering the face, because covering the face is among the greatest forms of displaying adornment. Indeed, revealing the face is more tempting than a beautiful garment, and even more tempting than a strong-smelling perfume. A man’s attachment to a woman who has uncovered her face is stronger than his attachment to a woman wearing beautiful clothes if he does not see her face.
On this occasion, I would like to offer advice to our daughters and sisters to fear Allah the Exalted in themselves and not to go to the market displaying adornment, and not to go to the market with a scent whose fragrance is apparent, i.e., with a perfume scent that is apparent and smelled by men.
And they should not uncover their faces, because the face is the greatest adornment that brings about temptation. Satan flows through the son of Adam like blood, and he causes a woman to progress from little to much and from small to large. Let women remain with their custom and with what Allah has instilled in them of modesty, and let them not be deceived by those who have perished, for Allah the Exalted says in His Book:[Al-An'am 6:116] We ask Allah for success and protection from the causes of evil and trial.
The questioner : O Allah, amen. May Allah bless you.
The Shaykh : Praise be to Allah, Lord of the worlds, and may peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad, and upon his family and his Companions, and those who follow them in excellence until the Day of Judgment:
By "al-Qa'idat" (the old women) are meant the elderly women who have ceased moving about due to their lack of strength and vitality, and
who have no desire for marriage
اللَّاتِي لا يَرْجُونَ نِكَاحًاAccordingly, if such a woman goes to the market wearing her house clothes, which are not clothes of adornment, there is no blame on her for doing so. However, she should not go out so that people do not imitate her and so that a young woman does not think that this ruling applies to both her and the old women. Whatever leads to harm should not be done, even if it is permissible, in order to block the means to harm.
This verse is clear evidence that any woman other than the old women is at fault if she removes the garment she is accustomed to wearing when going to the market.
It is also evidence for the obligation of covering the face, because covering the face is among the greatest forms of displaying adornment. Indeed, revealing the face is more tempting than a beautiful garment, and even more tempting than a strong-smelling perfume. A man’s attachment to a woman who has uncovered her face is stronger than his attachment to a woman wearing beautiful clothes if he does not see her face.
On this occasion, I would like to offer advice to our daughters and sisters to fear Allah the Exalted in themselves and not to go to the market displaying adornment, and not to go to the market with a scent whose fragrance is apparent, i.e., with a perfume scent that is apparent and smelled by men.
And they should not uncover their faces, because the face is the greatest adornment that brings about temptation. Satan flows through the son of Adam like blood, and he causes a woman to progress from little to much and from small to large. Let women remain with their custom and with what Allah has instilled in them of modesty, and let them not be deceived by those who have perished, for Allah the Exalted says in His Book:
And if you obey most of those upon the earth, they will mislead you from the way of Allah. They follow not except assumption
وَإِنْ تُطِعْ أَكْثَرَ مَنْ فِي الأَرْضِ يُضِلُّوكَ عَنْ سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ إِنْ يَتَّبِعُونَ إِلَّا الظَّنَّThe questioner : O Allah, amen. May Allah bless you.