Unfortunately! Even in the present era, we see unveiling similar to that of the former era of ignorance. Undoubtedly, observing veil is as important today as it was then.

How long was the pre-Islamic era of ignorance?

The renowned commentator, Ḥakīm-ul-Ummat, Muftī Aḥmad Yār Khān عَـلَيْهِ رَحْـمَةُ الْـمَنَّان has stated: If only today’s Muslim women took heed from this blessed verse. These women are not greater than the mothers of believers رَضِیَ الـلّٰـهُ تَعَالٰی عَـنْهُنَّ.

The author of Rūḥ-ul-Bayān states: The period from Sayyidunā Ādam عَـلٰى نَبِـيِّنَا وَعَـلَيْهِ الصَّلٰوةُ وَالسَّلَام to the storm of Sayyidunā Nūḥ عَـلٰى نَبِـيِّنَا وَعَـلَيْهِ الصَّلٰوةُ وَالسَّلَام is the first age of ignorance, which was 1272 years long, and the period from Sayyidunā ‘Īsā عَـلٰى نَبِـيِّنَا وَعَـلَيْهِ الصَّلٰوةُ وَالسَّلَام to our Beloved Prophet Muhammad صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم is the later age of ignorance, which was about 600 years long.’ وَاللّٰهُ وَرَسُوۡلُهٗ اَعۡلَم (Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ and His Prophet    صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم know it best.)

(Nūr-ul-‘Irfān pp. 673; Rūḥ-ul-Bayān vol. 7, pp. 170)

The harm of unveiling

Question: What is the harm of unveiling?

Answer: The unveiling of a woman invites the wrath of Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ and causes social chaos. One may find the answer to this question in the commentary of this part of Sūraĥ An-Nūr, verse 31 part 18:

وَ  لَا   یَضۡرِ بۡنَ   بِاَرۡ جُلِہِنَّ   لِیُعۡلَمَ    مَا   یُخۡفِیۡنَ   مِنۡ    زِ یۡنَتِہِنَّ  ؕ

And they must not stamp their feet on the ground in order that their hidden adornment be known.

[Kanz-ul-Īmān (Translation of Quran)] (Part 18, Sūraĥ An-Nūr, verse 31)