Remembrance 1 from Chapter 224

Imam Abū al-Ḥasan al-Wāḥidī, one of our [Shāfi‘ī] colleagues, says in his book al-Basīṭ: “A woman is to be instructed, when addressing strangers, to speak in a severe tone, because that is less likely to create desire for the doubtful. She should do the same if she addresses someone who is unlawful to her because of being an in-law. Do you not see that Allah gave this advice to the Mothers of the Believers, who are eternally unlawful [to anyone but the Prophet ]? Allah says: “Wives of the Prophet, you are not like any [other] women. If you fear Allah, be not too complaisant of speech, lest one in whose heart is disease should be moved by desire; but speak words (that are) respectable.” ^[1].

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