Veiling in Islam

Consequently, qualities that are considered praiseworthy in men—such as courage and generosity—may become undesirable in women when they compromise the trust and fidelity expected of them. By contrast, a husband’s responsibility toward his wife is not primarily defined by loyalty but by protecting her, caring for her, and treating her with respect. In this regard, he is not subject to the same limitation, and he is permitted to marry more than one wife.

Furthermore, Islamic countries cannot simply be compared with European ones. For despite widespread moral permissiveness in Europe, a certain sense of honour has historically been preserved through violent customs such as duels. A man who wished to cast a lustful gaze upon another man’s wife would first have to accept the serious consequences of doing so. Moreover, the temperaments of the people in many European countries have become as cold as their climate. By contrast, Asia, where most Islamic countries are located, is comparatively warm.

It is well known that one’s environment influences human character and moral conduct. In those colder regions, exposing parts of the body that arouse animal passions and lustful desires may not necessarily lead to widespread immorality or excess. In warmer climates, however, such exposure stimulates the selfish desires of people who are more emotionally sensitive and easily affected, resulting in widespread moral corruption, excess, physical depletion, and the weakening of future generations. Instead of satisfying a natural need once a month or once every twenty days, a person may feel compelled to seek its gratification every few days, leading to excess. Since circumstances such as menstruation require him to abstain from marital relations for approximately fifteen days each month, it may happen that, if his nefs gains the upper hand, he becomes inclined toward immoral conduct.

Nor can city dwellers compare themselves to villagers and thereby justify abandoning the veil. Village women and Bedouin women are occupied with earning their livelihood and with physically demanding work that exhausts their strength. As a result, these innocent working women, together with their comparatively coarser physical build and partially uncovered dress, attract far less attention than women in urban settings. Moreover, idle men are scarcely found in villages, and immoral behaviour occurs there far less frequently than it does in cities. For this reason, the conditions of urban life cannot be equated with those of the countryside.