I refer to the letters by Helmy Haja Mydin , Ushiv and Hamdan Ibrahim regarding the issue of 'aurat' as well as the letter by Zainol Abideen .

The Holy Quran has stated, 'Invite them to the way of your Lord with intelligence and good examples, and speak to them in the best way' (or the same meaning accorded).

The problem with Zainol Abideen is that his exhortations seem intermingled with emotional anger and this has subsequently sparked off emotionally-charged criticism.

I welcome his letter as well as confirming the verses thereafter referred to, but his 'maqasid ud-da'wah' (methodology of da'wah) has led people away from the da'wah he originally planned for.

I quote, 'Go around stark naked, reduce yourselves to nothing more than sex objects ... to be molested as you please'. This is not in accordance with good da'wah. Especially in a open forum such as this.

No person shall ever dispute the textual commands of the 'aurat' as enshrined in Surah An-Nur:31. If I may add the, 'tafsir' for the above 'ayat' is prescribed for by Ibnu Jarier and Ibnu Kathir. Another 'hadith' from Abu Dawud and many others explain it in detail.

In summary, the 'aurat' of a majority aged women are the hands up to the wrists as well as the face.

Muslim women, no matter who they are, do not have the right to reinterpret this command from the Almighty. And any conflicting excerpts taken from any book, whether 'muktabar' or otherwise, from a well known Ulama or not, is automatically abrogated due to its inconsistency with the Holy Qur'an, which is the ultimate point of reference until the end of time".

Thus, Muslim women who go beyond more this parameter, regardless of whether they are adorning the tudung or not, commit one of the many forms of sin. The constant portrayal of the 'aurat' will lead to their sins accumulating and Allah the Almighty shall give verdict, based upon his mercy in the hereafter, whether to admit this servant to Jannah or the fiery depths of Hell for refusing to obey a command from the Supreme Creator.

Logically speaking, based on the above, a Muslim lady will not get to Paradise if she does not adorn and embrace the commands in Surah An-Nur:31.

However, I find the comments made by my brothers in Islam particularly disturbing. Hamdan Ibrahim said: 'In the early days, both my late grandmother and mother did not wear the tudung but the great thing about this was that both of them were pious women who did not miss their prayers and had the fear of Allah swt embedded in their hearts'.

The weird thing for me is that they were scared of Allah to the extent that they do not miss their prayers but they were not scared enough of Allah to cover their 'aurat'. This is not 'piety' or having fear of Allah 'imbedded in their hearts'. One must conform to basic Qur'anic commands in order for one to be labelled as pious.

The danger of brother Hamdan's message is that Muslim women are allowed to show their 'aurat' (without the tudung in this sense) but plead piety and closeness to Allah. This can lead other people astray and I pray that brother Hamdan does not repeat this phrase in the future.

Another similarly dangerous statement posted by brother Ushiv is herein quoted: 'The writer was absolutely right when he pointed out that wearing a tudung doesn't indicate anything regarding a person's godliness. Wearing a tudung or not wearing a tudung, wearing a turban or not wearing a turban, has got nothing to do with one's piety.

'Most people who wear these things do it to show the world that they are God-fearing and pious. But any kind of compulsion in religion, any religion, is not the way to uphold the principles of that religion.'

I believe that brother Ushiv tries to impress upon us his logic regarding the 'aurat' in Islam. However, I beg to differ. Wearing a tudung (and fulfilling 'aurat' requirements) does indicate godliness and fear of the Creator.

And covering one's 'aurat' is in fact a way to be closer to Allah but if worn merely to be praised as being pious then that is not. Furthermore, strict adherence to the basic tenets and principles of Islam is the way to uphold the Islamic religion.

How could a person be a Muslim if he does not conform to the Syari'ah? Is Islam to be readily interpreted by people without a single reference to any Qur'anic or Hadith sources? If that is in the affirmative, then Islam can be a very popular religion indeed!

A person can claim to be a Muslim but then interprets Qur'anic verses according to what he or she believes to be the truth.

The 'ayat', 'There is no compulsion in religion' is meant for those who seek to embrace Islam only. If you are a Muslim, then you are required to follow the commands of Allah and his Syari'ah.

To all Muslims alike, if you love Islam, then embrace it fully - do not interpret it to your liking. If you disagree with the wearing of the tudung or in any way disagree that it be associated with Islam, then you will have taken on the role of Allah and the Prophet and put in something which is not supposed to be there.

The Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) mentioned in a hadith: 'Whosoever carries out an act for which there is no permissibility for it then it is rejected'. If a Muslim women wishes to wear a tudung, so be it and this allows her a better shot to get to Paradise.

If she refuses, then it is her call but it will lead her closer to Hell. For those who regard themselves as a responsible father/husband/son/brother, which choice would you choose? 'Tepuk dada tanya selera'.

And Allah has also prescribed how men should behave with women. It is not just a one-way command for women only. Referring to looking at women in the preceding Surah An-Nur:30 Allah has said: 'Tell the pious men to lower their gaze, and tell the pious women to lower their gaze'.

In a 'hadith' narrated by Muslim, Jarier bin Abdullah was told to look away from a woman, and in another 'hadith' narrated by Ahmad, it states: 'If a Muslim unintentionally saw a woman, then he looks away, Allah shall make for him a worship that he feels sweetness in his heart'.

I submit that the above are regarding lustful stares. Thus, the males are at fault for sexual crimes against women for failing to lower their gaze. No matter how it happens, men are wholly responsible for sexual crimes for no matter how sexy the lady is, men are required to look away and to distance themselves.

Obviously, it does not help to evade lustful stares if in the first place attention is called by women themselves wearing eye-catching dresses, isn't it? Pre-emptive strikes should be the order of the day for the ladies, I guess!

Men who have lustful desires against women do not look at whether a lady is covering her 'aurat' or not. All they know is that once they have set their sights on a lady, they want to please their inner desires rather than follow what the Prophet has ordered and to stand down (no pun intended).

Men should be more responsible and behave righteously rather than like beasts who have no faculty to think responsibly.

As a final note, may Allah bestow his blessings and 'rahmat' to all of you who have enlivened the spirit of 'musyawwarah' - albeit in cyberspace - to seek the truth and Allah's forgiveness.

Jazakallah. May Allah reward you.