"Then one of the two women approached him (Musa, peace be upon him) with shy steps and said, ‘My father invites you, so that he may reward you for watering our flocks.’" — Surah Al-Qasas, Verse 25. Remarkably, in this verse, Allah Subhanahu wa Ta'ala describes the woman’s approach with the phrase "with shy steps." One of the distinguishing features of the Quran is that not a single word or letter within it is superfluous or unnecessary. Consider this—from the dawn of creation up to that moment in history, countless events had unfolded. Civilizations had risen and fallen, and entire communities had been wiped out. Like the ebb and flow of waves, time had witnessed innumerable occurrences. Yet, the Quran does not present all of them to us. There were magnificent civilizations that have since turned to dust, lost to the annals of time. There were valiant heroes who once galloped on horses, their speed stirring the skies and earth into a whirlwind of dust. Yet, their names are nowhere to be found today. Their tales of power, pride, and arrogance have been forgotten by the world. And yet, behold—the Quran has preserved for us the story of a young woman who approached a man with modest, shy steps. While the world has forgotten great civilizations and the heroic deeds of mighty warriors have faded into oblivion, the Quran has immortalized the simple, shy demeanor of a woman. Every day, somewhere in the world, someone reads about her and learns of her story. Think about it—how the Quran has elevated a moment of shyness, a gesture of modesty, to an eternal memory, preserved with unparalleled honor. So, to our sisters who have embraced Allah’s commandment of modesty, who have guarded themselves from the gaze and interaction of unrelated men, who speak to men only when absolutely necessary and even then, within the boundaries set by the Shariah, protecting their dignity—this is glad tidings for you. Your attire, your conduct, your modesty—Allah has chosen these for you. You are the successors of those women who refrained from going to the well because men were present. You follow in the footsteps of that woman who, even when approaching Musa (peace be upon him) to convey a necessary message, did not forget to uphold her modesty. No matter how much society may label you as dwellers of darkness, we know that you have found the true light. Congratulations to you! Your modesty is not a sign of weakness but a reflection of strength, a connection to a legacy that the Quran itself has honored for all time. You are the bearers of a light that transcends the fleeting judgments of this world. Rejoice, for you are walking in the footsteps of those who understood the value of dignity and the power of restraint. ✍️ Arif Azad (Hafizahullah)