By
Ust Hj Zaharuddin Hj Abd Rahman
http://www.zaharuddin.net/
One day I was giving a talk to a group of professional Muslimah. The topic of a Muslim lady held in custody for dressing indecently in a nightclub was a hot issue back then. Consequently, there was a discussion on woman's right to wear any attire she likes, including indecent outfits. During the talk, I therefore took the chance to ask a few simple questions to the audience:
"Why would a woman wear indecent attire in public? For example short skirts with tight or see-through dresses?"
Some of them started to share their opinions. Nevertheless, as too many were talking at the same time; I could not hear any clear responds. I therefore asked for a representative to share her opinion. A lady stood up and answered confidently:
"To look beautiful of course..." She responded with a bashful smile.
"Perhaps to whom is this beauty being addressed?" I probed further.
"Of course to the males ustaz, and maybe to other women too...." She continued.
"In that case, if a man is attracted to the beauty and would like to touch the "beautiful" parts he saw, would that be allowed then?" I asked to test.
"Certainly not...That is considered as a sexual harassment ustaz" she replied with poise.
"I see. Then, don't women feel that wearing indecent attires and displaying their beauty is also a form of sexual harrasment to the males?" I contested.
"Erm...how would that be the case ustaz?" They asked with a puzzle.
"Just imagine, when a man looks at a woman displaying her thigh for example, he may be sexually aroused. If he could not channel his sexual desires, isn't that a form of harrasment to him? That's why I say, a woman wearing indecent attires in public is a sexual harrasment to the surrounding males...."
The crowd was silent, analyzing what I had just said.
"Just like a hungry cat being lured with fresh fish in front of it. If you don't give the cat the fish, it will be annoyed and may even attack the person enticing it," I added.
"Nonetheless, one has to bear in mind that not all cats will act like described above; only those starving wild cats will. The same goes with males; not all males fail to control their sexual desire when looking at indecently dressed women although there are still many out there who fail to do so." I continued.
"The indecently dressed woman may not be harrased because she was in public and the surrounding does not allow for him to fulfill his desires. Consequently, this wild cat would find other victims to channel his desires. Small innocent children may become his target. In this state of mind, a woman properly covered, a small child or an old lady would not make much difference to the starving wild cat. As long as the timing and the place are right, he will try to get what he has desired for with force." I explained in detail. The audience was nodding, agreeing with me.
In fact, let us think together; do women truly believe that if they are in the presence of the Prophet SAW today, he would be smiling? If not, what is the possibility for them to obtain the syafa'at of the Prophet on the Day of Judgment? It is very true that an indecently dressed woman, due to her appealing appearance, may get man's attention. This pleasure, however, is only temporal and fake. In fact, it would not, in any event, add to any value to the eternal life we will traverse after death, except for a more severe punishment. In reality, the way the righteous Arab women who cover themselves properly today may perhaps serve as an indication to the type of attires being worn by Muslimah during the time of the Prophet, which was, without a doubt, pleasing to the Prophet SAW. Don't women nowadays, love to please the Prophet as well?
