Sayyida Asma bint Abi Bakr (may Allah be pleased with her) says that since the Muslims were needy, they used to tie a (small) striped sheet as a lower garment, which would reach about halfway down their shins. Therefore, the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Any woman who believes in Allah and the Last Day should not raise her head (from prostration) until we men have raised our heads." (The reason for this command was that) the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) disliked that the gaze of women might fall upon the private parts of men due to their lower garments being short.