My friend, late Haji Yusuf Husayn Sheriff of Arusha (Tanzania) had asked me to deliver a lecture on the subject of Hijab (Purdah) at the 8th annual seminar of the Golden Crescent Group, which was to be held at Lushoto on the 22nd and 23rd October 1977. At that time I was busy making arrangements for our hajj journey and wanted to be excused. But on his insistence I had to agree. The result is the Part One of this booklet, which contains the lecture and the questions and answers which followed. Just 3 months later, Haji Yusuf suddenly expired at Mombasa (Kenya). We belong to Allah and to Him is our return.

This part's Swahili translation (by Shaykh Dhikiri O. M. Kondo, Editor, Sauti Ya Bilal) was published by the Bilal Muslim mission of Tanzania long ago. But the original remained pending because I wanted to make it more comprehensive. Once postponed, it remained forgotten until recently when the situation in the society in Africa and elsewhere demanded its publication.

Now I have added the Part Two, which contains further details. And as they say in Arabic, everything is pledged to its time, the booklet is now published - after 14 years. I dedicate the thawab of writing this booklet to late Haji Yusuf H. Sheriff. May Allah give him a high place near the 14 Ma'sumin (as).

It is being published on the initiative of Haji Kurbanali Khaki, of Dar es Salaam, who has also borne the expenses of its printing. May Allah subhanahu wa Ta'ala give him its reward and bestow on him prosperity and success in both worlds. Amen.