What is a woman? And When is she most loved by Allah ?
The companion Salman-e-Farsi who was watching all this decided to quietly slip away from the back door of the Mosque where was the house of the daughter of the Prophet (SAWA). Salman asks Lady Fatima (SA) the same question that was asked by her father (SAWA). Having taken the reply from her (SA) he returns to the mosque. When he sits on his seat again the Prophet (SAWA) asks him the question again and he replies:
�Oh! Prophet of Allah (SAWA) I have just brought the answer from your daughter Fatima (SA) and she has said that �a woman is her hijab� � In other words, a second name for WOMAN is Hijab. The Prophet(SAWA) was happy with this answer and said it to be the best one. Now he (SAWA) asked his companions:
�Oh! My companions now tell me when a woman is the closest to Allah?� Someone replied �When she is praying� another said �When she is fasting� and yet others mentioned performing Hajj, giving alms and zakat, being obedient to husband and parents. Everyone gives an answer only to find it to be rejected. Once again Salman-e-Farsi slips out the back door to get the answer from the Chief of the Women of Paradise (SA). On Salmans return he gives the answer that �My master, I have once again asked your daughter for advice and she (SA) has told me that; �A woman is closest to her Creator (Allah) when she is in the inner most part of the house, that is, where the eyes of the na-mehrams cannot reach her��. Once again, the Prophet (SAWA) was pleased with the answer given and said it to be the best one.
This is not to say that a woman should lock herself up inside the house but it goes to show the importance of hijab and taking care to keep oneself and ones beauty away from the eyes of those who are na-mehrams.
