FROM THE EDITORIAL DIRECTOR

This verse stresses the aspect of commonness between man and woman, that is, both are a source of comfort to one another. The word ‘comfort’ relates to all the activities of life, meaning thereby that God has created men and women in such a way that they assist one another in all matters of life, in order to traverse life’s journey peacefully and successfully. There is another verse in the Quran which tells us that men and women have equal status in God’s eye. None is superior to the other. I will not let the deeds of any doer among you go to waste, be he male or female. You are members, one of another. (3: 195) Abdullah Yusuf Ali, the well-known commentator on the Quran, remarks in his commentary on this verse: “In Islam the equal status of the sexes is not only recognized but insisted on. If sex distinction, which is a distinction in nature, does not count in spiritual matters, artificial distinctions, such as rank, wealth, position, race, colour, birth, etc., would count even less.” Thus it will be the very same virtues in thought, word and deed which will be prerequisites for both sexes to enter Paradise. If the qualities of piety, humility, honesty, patience and compassion are demanded of men, they are in like measure demanded of women as well. There is a Hadith which also explains that “women are the other half of men.” That is, they are equal halves of one another. The Quran says that men are in charge of, that is, ‘maintainers’ of women (4: 34). This does not mean that men have a distinctive status over women. Being maintainers of women has never been intended as a form of discriminatory treatment. It rather concerns the practical management of the home, for which the man is held responsible. However, this does not mean that a woman will never be allowed to shoulder these responsibilities. If she finds that she can bear this burden, no objection will be raised from any quarter. Hijab in Islam Now the question arises as to the concept of veil in Islam. Nasiruddin al-Albani, a famous scholar, has written a book titled Hijab al-Mar’ah al Muslimah fil Kitab was Sunnah. The author has discussed the subject in the light of the Quran and Hadith. He says that whenever a woman steps out of her home it is incumbent upon her to cover herself completely