OCCASION OF REVELATION

      ALI-IBN-IBRAHIM GHOMI, has in his commentary that:- ``The believing women used to go to the Mosque, to perform their prayers behind our prophet. During the night prayer, when they returned home, some of the pleasure-seeking youngsters with dissolute character and conduct waited for them in their way, and molested them. The verse revealed to instruct the believing women not to be showy, and to put on their cover perfectly, that they might be easily distinguished from the slave-girls, and maid-servants, who wore no tuckers on those days.''

      On the other hand, there were also the hypocrites, and gossip-mongers in Medina, who often spread rumours; particularly when the prophet was on an expedition, that the Messenger of God has been taken captive, or has been slayed and etc. Thus they put false anxiety in circulation, to render the crowed hopeless.

STRICT WARNING, TO GOSSIP-MONGERS AND HYPOCRITES

      Following the prohibition of bothering the prophet and the believers, now an example of such botherations concerning the believing women, has been underlined and stressed on. It begins with advising the believer's women, and the prophet's wives and daughters, not to make a way of excuse, and create not opportunities for debauchers and rascals, so as to dare to bother you. Perfect coverage and lowering of your tuckers may be helpful, to make them know you, and distinguish you from the slave-girls, and maid-servants, who usually were weak in morality and virtue.

      The Arabic, ``JILBÄB'' translated to, ``tucker'', is an outer cover which is bigger than a shawl, and smaller than a garment, for covering the neck and bosom.

      Here comes a general commandment from Allah to Moslem women, whoever or whenever they be. They are wanted to cover themselves, and to lower their tuckers to conceal their neck and bosoms.

      Almost all the commentators have understood that the face and wrists are exempted from the covering.

      The object of this commandment is not to restrict the liberty of women, but to protect their dignity and honour, from molestation of the gloaters who gaze to them with lust and ardent desire.

      A respectful public dress has always been a badge of personality and honour for both sexes. Even this matter can be traced back to the earliest civilizations.

      Then reference is made to the crafty and evil conducts of the rascals, and roguish young fellows, saying:-

      ``If the hypocrites and those in whose hearts is a sickness, and the Gossip-Mongers in Medina, do not desist; We shall raise you up against them and....''

      This verse implies that three groups in Medina were baffling in order to frustrate Islam and Moslems:-

      1ِThe hypocrites who were the false pretenders of Islam and virtue, who were doing their best to prevent the young Islamic society from attaining a purpose.

      2ِThe second group were the rascals, and the mean trickish fellows, who had some sort of a disease in their hearts. They were lustfuls who chased up the women and bothered them in their way home.

      Here, those in whose hearts is a disease can be the ones who lustfully chase and disturb innocent women, or those who spread scandals and malicious gossips.

      3ِAnd the third group of them were the gossip-mongers who spread rumours in the town to stir the crowd. Almost all of these were among the Jews.

      Finally Qurän threatens them all that if they desist not, God will arise His Messenger against them to punish them all, so that they would have to escape out of the vicinity of the town, wherein too, they would not be safe and secure. All of the above three groups are cursed by God and by the truthful people, and wherever they go, their end is to be seized and slayed, by the natural law of God, which is the reaction of their own actions. Such a natural law is Allah's won't, and methodical way, which will never be changed.