Some veils are torn away once and are gone, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá observes; others the mind weaves again as fast as they are torn. Veiling in the Bahá’í writings moves among those meanings: a garment, a social restriction, an inner barrier. A woman writes that she sits concealed behind the screen of modesty and longs to raise the banner of service; ‘Abdu’l-Bahá answers that the veil has kept Eastern women from education and that chastity, though necessary, must never bar the acquiring of virtues, recalling ‘Á’ishah answering questions in public. Ṭáhirih went forth unveiled like a lioness, and Bahá’u’lláh remembered her at His door. Yet the same voice counsels that covering must suit each country’s conditions, that an Iranian veil in America would draw stones and an unveiled face in Tehran would draw worse, until the Cause is proclaimed. The Qur’án addresses the gaze of believing men before it addresses women’s adornment [1][2], so that modesty is a shared responsibility rather than a dress code for one sex. The road continues into Islamic law and jurisprudence, into the critique of Eastern values, and into culture.
Sometimes the veil is external - once you tear it away it is removed. But sometimes the veil comes from within the human being himself. No matter how many times you tear it down, he weaves it again - it's no use.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Words spoken on 1915-Aug-06 in Haifa -- ABU2347)
02
With a firm heart, a steadfast step and an eloquent tongue arise to spread the Word of God and say: "O God, although I am sitting concealed behind the screen of chastity and am restricted by the veil and exigencies of modesty, my cherished hope is to raise the banner of service and to become a maidservant at Thy Holy Threshold; to ride on a charger and penetrate the army of the ignorant, defeat the mighty regiments and subvert the foundations of error and violation.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, to Shahrukh Sultan wife of Muntasirud-Dawlih -- AB03615)
03
The veil of women prevents education and learning. The religious scholars went to extremes in this matter, even considering it impermissible to hear women's voices. Yet it is established that Aisha, who was the consort of the Prophet, would sit and people would ask her questions which she would answer.
… Chastity is necessary and self-control is very important, but not to the degree that it prevents education and learning, for the Law of God establishes virtues - they should not be prevented from acquiring virtues.
This rigid veiling is unspeakable. Qurratu'l-Ayn tore off her veils and went forth fearlessly. She was like a lioness. Her action caused a great turmoil throughout the land of Persia. So excessive and compulsory is the requirement for veiling in the East that the people in the West have no idea of the excitement and indignation produced by the appearance of an unveiled woman. Qurratu'l-Ayn lost all thought of herself and was unconscious of fear in her attraction to God.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Public address given at Parsons home on 1912-Aug-06 -- ABU0086)
05
Amongst the women of our own time is Qurratu'l-'Ayn, the daughter of a Muhammadan priest. At the time of the appearance of the Bab she showed such tremendous courage and power that all who heard her were astonished. She threw aside her veil despite the immemorial custom of the women of Persia, and although it was considered impolite to speak with men, this heroic woman carried on controversies with the most learned men, and in every meeting she vanquished them. The Persian Government took her prisoner; she was stoned in the streets, anathematized, exiled from town to town, threatened with death, but she never failed in her determination to work for the freedom of her sisters. She bore persecution and suffering with the greatest heroism; even in prison she gained converts. To a Minister in Persia, in whose house she was imprisoned, she said: "You can kill me as soon as you like but you cannot stop the emancipation of women." At last the end of her tragic life came; she was carried into a garden and strangled. She put on, however, her choicest robes as if she were going to join a bridal party. With such magnanimity and courage she gave her life, startling and thrilling all who saw her. She was truly a great heroine. Today in Persia, among the Baha'is, there are women who also show unflinching courage, and who are endowed with great poetic insight. They are most eloquent, and speak before large gatherings of people.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Address to Women's Freedom League, Essex Hall in London, 1913-Jan-02 -- ABU0726)
06
Tahirih sent a request to call upon Us. We were surprised at her message, and were at a loss as to what We should reply. Suddenly We saw her at the door, her face unveiled before Us. How well has Mirza Aqa Jan commented upon that incident. 'The face of Fatimih,' he said, 'must needs be revealed on the Day of Judgment and appear unveiled before the eyes of men. At that moment the voice of the Unseen shall be heard saying: "Turn your eyes away from that which ye have seen.
(Bahá’u’lláh, Words spoken in the house of Aqay-i-Kalim to Nabil-i-A'zam 1, 1306-04-07 [1888-Dec-11], to words to Nabil-i-A'zam -- BHU0003)
07
Now, covering and veiling in every country must be according to what is suitable for that country's conditions, so that it does not cause commotion and upheaval. There is no doubt that in Iran, according to the requirements of the time, the face must be hidden, but in America a light veil suffices. If someone were to observe Iranian-style covering and veiling there, children would chase them in the streets and markets, and might even stone them. Therefore, now in each place one must act according to the requirements of the time so that no alarm and distress arises and no mischief and corruption occurs, until such time as the Cause of God is proclaimed.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, 1910-May-15, to Abdur-Rahim Hafizus-Sihhih -- AB03342)
08
As for the matter of the veil, such important issues must be referred to 'Abdu'l-Baha. There is no more important matter than this in Iran at present. America and Europe have different requirements, and Tehran now has different requirements. All of Iran must follow the Holy Land in such matters, as this accords with wisdom.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, 1919-Jun-04, to Haji Mirza Muhammad Yazdi Alaqihband -- AB06692)
09
Show utmost love and kindness to his respected sister and tell her that regarding the veil, what flowed from the Pen of the Covenant you now see was pure wisdom, and the Yahya'is were making the removal of the veil the greatest means of corruption.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, 1920-Oct-03, to Azizullah Varqa -- AB08760)
10
Particularly regarding the supplicating leaves of those regions, it was observed that the women show more resolve than the men, are seekers of truth, make great effort and striving, and in their manners and conduct show the utmost dignity. Though outwardly unveiled, in reality they possess the highest chastity and purity, except for the base elements among both men and women who are the disgrace of the world and are shameless and immodest. In any case, the pure leaves are very wise and intelligent, full of enthusiasm and fervor, detesting both frivolity and luxury, and keeping clear of self-indulgence and lethargy.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, 1912-Feb-01, to Baha'is of Shiraz -- AB00741)
11
Regarding the matter of absence of veiling between the handmaidens of the Most Merciful, no one has mentioned anything to me about it, but I have heard that sometimes there are discussions about this matter among the friends, though the discussions are brief and they differ in opinion about this matter - just this much.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, to Sharifih Baygum, mother of Sh. Ahmad Nabilzadih -- AB04972)
12
Abdul Baha: No. In the presence of some of the more intimate friends who used to visit her, she would unveil but not in public.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Words to Fugeta, et al, spoken on 1919-Dec-19 -- ABU3488)
13
In this Dispensation the veil is stricter than before. In the Islamic Dispensation, the veil had become such that women could not walk in the streets and bazaars - they were like purchased slaves. Therefore, just so they could engage in work and acquire knowledge, in every Dispensation showing hands and face was permitted. But in these days there is no requirement for such matters, and perhaps someday the Spiritual Assembly will permit something like the Iranian women's head covering that covers all four sides of the face so that no non-related man can see their hair - not like Western women who go out with uncovered heads, with head and neck and half their arms exposed.
They are yet to have a member in the House of Representatives. Also Baha'u'llah hath proclaimed: "O ye men of the House of Justice." Ye need to be calm and composed, so that the work will proceed with wisdom, otherwise there will be such chaos that ye will leave everything and run away. "This newly born babe is traversing in one night the path that needeth a hundred years to tread." In brief, ye should now engage in matters of pure spirituality and not contend with men.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, 1919-Dec-17, to Munirih Ayadi Zadih -- AB00677)