THE BLIND AND THE BELIEVING

Reading Time: 7 minutes

وَعَنْ أُمِّ سَلَمَةَ: أَنَّهَا كَانَتْ عِنْدَ رَسُولِ الله صلى الله عليه وسلم وَمَيْمُونَةُ إِذْ أقبل ابْن مَكْتُومٍ فَدَخَلَ عَلَيْهِ فَقَالَ رَسُولُ الله صلى الله عليه وسلم: احْتَجِبَا مِنْهُ فَقُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ الله أَلَيْسَ هُوَ أَعْمى لَا يُبْصِرُنَا؟ فَقَالَ رَسُولُ الله صلى الله عليه وسلم: أَفَعَمْيَاوَانِ أَنْتُمَا؟ أَلَسْتُمَا تُبْصِرَانِه؟

This is an extremely important Hadeeth that addresses a subtle but crucial aspect of modesty. It brings the lesson of Pardah (Hijaab) from the theoretical to the practical, and it contains a powerful correction from Nabi (Sallallahu alaihi wasallam) that women of Imaan must internalize deeply.

Let us explore this Hadeeth in detail, unpacking its layers of wisdom for the believing woman.

The Text of the Hadeeth

Narrated by Umm Salamah (Radhiyallahu ‘anha): She and Maimunah (Radhiyallahu ‘anha) were with the Messenger of Allah (Sallallahu alaihi wasallam) when Ibn Umm Maktoom (Radhiyallahu ‘anhu) approached and entered upon him. The Messenger of Allah (Sallallahu alaihi wasallam) said: “Screen yourselves (conceal yourselves) from him.”

Umm Salamah said: “Yaa Rasulallah, is he not blind and cannot see us?”

Rasulullah (Sallallahu alaihi wasallam) replied: “Are you two also blind? Do you not see him?”

(Narrated by Ahmad, Tirmithi, Abu Dawud)

The Context and Its Immediate Lesson

The scene is set in the noble household of Nabi (Sallallahu alaihi wasallam). Two of his wives—Umm Salamah and Maimunah (Radhiyallahu ‘anhuma)—are present. A Sahaabi, Abdullah ibn Umm Maktoom (Radhiyallahu ‘anhu), arrives. He was a blind man, a fact well known to everyone.

Rasulullah (Sallallahu alaihi wasallam), despite Ibn Umm Maktoom’s blindness, instructs the two wives to screen themselves—to conceal their appearance from him.

Umm Salamah (Radhiyallahu anha), seeking clarity, asks a question based on logical reasoning: “Yaa Rasulallah, is he not blind and cannot see us?”

Rasulullah’s (Sallallahu alaihi wasallam) reply is swift, piercing, and foundational to the Islamic understanding of modesty: “Are you two also blind? Do you not see him?”

The Deep Wisdom: Why Does a Woman Cover from a Blind Man?

This Hadeeth seems to challenge our intuitive understanding. If the man cannot see the woman, why must the woman cover? The Prophet’s (Sallallahu alaihi wasallam) answer unlocks a world of wisdom.

1. Modesty Is About the Woman’s Action and Heart

The first and most profound lesson is that modesty is not merely about being seen. It is about the woman’s own state of being and her relationship with Allah.

• Rasulullah (Sallallahu alaihi wasallam) did not say: “Cover because he will see you.” He said: “Screen yourselves.” The command was directed at the women. It was about their action, not about his perception.
• This teaches us that Pardah is first and foremost an act of obedience to Allah. A woman covers because Allah commanded her to, not merely because a man is looking. Her faith demands it of her. Her modesty demands it of her. Even when no one is watching her, she maintains her Pardah because she is standing before Allah.

2. The Mutual Reality of Sight

The Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wasallam) corrected Umm Salamah (Radhiyallahu anha) with a powerful rhetorical question: “Are you two also blind? Do you not see him?”

• The lesson is: Pardah is not only for the one who sees. It is also for the one who is seen. The woman who is uncovered in front of a non-Mahram is herself looking at him without the barrier of modesty. Even if he cannot see her, she can see him, and her seeing him is itself a breach of the modesty that is required.
• This establishes that the gaze is a two-way street. A woman’s lowered gaze is not dependent on whether a man can see her. She lowers her gaze from him because she is commanded to guard her own eyes. Whether he can return her gaze or not is irrelevant.

3. The Invisible Witnesses

There is another layer to this teaching: the presence of the Angels. Rasulullah (Sallallahu alaihi wasallam) taught that angels are present with every person, recording deeds. When a woman appears uncovered before a non-Mahram, even a blind one, she is still seen by the Angels, and her state is recorded.

• The Angels witness her obedience or her disobedience. Nabi (Sallallahu alaihi wasallam) was training the believing women to have a consciousness that transcends the physical. They must be modest not just before the eyes of men, but before Allah and His Angels.

4. The Principle of Preventing Pathways to Sin

Islamic law operates on a principle called “Sadduth-Tharaa’i” —blocking the pathways to sin. Even if Ibn Umm Maktoom (Radhiyallahu anhu) could not see the women, he was still a man, and the women were still women. The intimacy of being uncloaked or in a casual appearance with a non-Mahram man—even a blind one—creates a level of familiarity that is inappropriate.

• Rasulullah (Sallallahu alaihi wasallam) was teaching that the boundary must be maintained at all times. It is not about the specific circumstances; it is about the principle. Once the boundary is relaxed in one situation, it becomes easier to relax it in others.
• Today, we see the bitter fruits of this relaxation. Women uncover in front of men because “he is like a brother” or “he doesn’t look at me that way” or “we work together and it’s normal.” But Rasulullah (Sallallahu alaihi wasallam) taught: Do not look for exceptions. Maintain the principle.

The Psychological and Spiritual Benefits of This Teaching

1. It Builds Inner Modesty

This Hadeeth teaches a woman to be modest from the inside out. Her modesty is not dependent on the external situation. She is modest because modesty is woven into her character.

• She does not need to wait for a man to look to cover. She covers because that is who she is.
• She does not uncover just because no one is watching her. She remains covered, even if men are not looking at her,  because Allah is watching.

This inner modesty is a shield that protects her in all situations—online, in her home, in her heart.

2. It Prevents Hypocrisy

If a woman only covers when men are looking at her and uncovers when she thinks they are not looking at her, she is acting with a sense of hypocrisy. Rasulullah (Sallallahu alaihi wasallam) taught her to be consistent. Her modesty is constant because her faith is constant.

3. It Protects the Dignity of the Blind Man

There is also a beautiful lesson in the treatment of the blind Sahaabi. Ibn Umm Maktum (Radhiyallahu anhu) was a beloved companion. By instructing the women to screen themselves, Rasulullah (Sallallahu alaihi wasallam) was preserving the purity of the interaction. Even a blind man is a man, and the boundaries of respect and distance must be maintained. This protects both the women and the man from any form of inappropriate familiarity.

A Direct Application for Today’s Muslim Women

This Hadeeth speaks directly to the modern Muslim woman who may feel that her modesty is conditional. Let us apply its lessons to common situations:

1. The Marketplace

• “I go out buying essentials. I can’t be fully covered all the time.”
• The lesson of this Hadeeth is: The boundaries are non-negotiable. Whether the men look at you or not, your modesty is your own. You must maintain your Hijaab and your lowered gaze. The marketplace is not an exception zone.

2. Online Presence

• “I post photos without Hijaab. Only my female friends see them.”
• The lesson: Even if you think only women are seeing your photos, the internet is a public space. Non-Mahram men can see them. But more than that, your modesty is your identity. Do not compromise it for the sake of online validation. Besides, taking and posting photos are unequivocally haraam.

3. The Mixed Gathering

• “My male cousin is like a brother. I don’t need to cover in front of him.”
• The lesson: A cousin is not a Mahram. The Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wasallam) taught modesty even with a blind man who was a noble companion. Maintain your boundaries with all non-Mahram men.

4. The “It Doesn’t Matter” Attitude

• “No one is looking at me anyway. I’m not beautiful or young.”
• The lesson: Modesty is not about whether you are being looked at, or how you look. It is about obeying Allah. Rasulullah (Sallallahu alaihi wasallam) did not say, “Cover because he will see your beauty.” He said, “Screen yourselves,” as a command of Imaan.

The Beauty of Rasulullah’s Correction (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam)

Notice the tenderness with which Rasulullah (Sallallahu alaihi wasallam) corrected Umm Salamah (Radhiyallahu anha). He did not scold her harshly. He asked a question that made her think: “Are you two also blind? Do you not see him?”

• He was teaching her that the responsibility of modesty rests on the woman’s own actions, not on the man’s ability to see.
• He was elevating her understanding of her own dignity. She is not a passive object whose modesty depends on the gaze of others. She is an active agent whose modesty is her own choice and her own virtue.

Nabi (Sallallahu alaihi wasallam) was not harsh. He was firm, clear, and wise. He corrected with love, because he wanted the best for his wives and for the women of his Ummah.

The Legacy of This Hadeeth for Every Muslim Woman

This Hadeeth is a treasure for the Muslim woman. It teaches her:

1. Her modesty is her own responsibility.It does not depend on whether someone is looking at her.
2. She is always in the presence of Allah.Even if no human sees her, Allah sees her. The Angels record her.
3. Boundaries are sacred.She does not relax her modesty for anyone, regardless of the circumstances.
4. She is a guardian of her own gaze.Even if she is not seen, she must guard what she sees.

A Final Reflection

Respected Muslimah, your Nabi (Sallallahu alaihi wasallam) was teaching you something profound in this Hadeeth. He was teaching you that your modesty is your crown, and it is not to be removed just because someone cannot see you. It is yours to wear, always, because you wear it for Allah.

• When you are at home with your husband, you can be free.
• When you are with your Mahram, you can be comfortable.
• But when any non-Mahram is present—even one who is not looking at you—you must maintain your dignity and your Pardah.

This is not a burden. This is a privilege. This is what sets you apart as a believing woman (Mu’minah). This is what protects your heart, your home, and your honour.

“Are you two also blind? Do you not see him?”

The Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wasallam) asked this question not to shame, but to awaken. He wanted you to see the full picture—to see that modesty is deeper than the physical eye. It is a matter of the heart, the gaze, and the soul.

May Allah Ta’ala make us among those who internalize this teaching and live by it. May He grant us the modesty of Umm Salamah and Maimunah (Radhiyallahu ‘anhuma), and may He reunite us with them in Jannah. Ameen.

(Khairun Nisa)