"Verily, all praise is due to Allah. It is due to Him, and to Him alone. We praise Him and we seek His help and forgiveness. We seek refuge in Allah from the evil of our own selves and from the evil of our actions. And whomsoever Allah guides, there is none to misguide him, and whomsoever Allah leads astray none can guide him aright. I testify that there is no god worthy of worship except Allah, alone with no partner, and I testify that Muhammad (SAWS) is His slave and messenger. Indeed the best speech is the book of Allah, and the best guidance is that of Muhammad (SAWS). The worst affairs are the newly invented matters, for every newly invented matter is an innovation, and every innovation is misguidance, and every misguidance is in the Fire."
1. According to the Prophet Muhammad's PBUH sayings: "women are but shaqa'iq ( twin halves or sisters) of men." This saying is a profound statement that directly relates to the issue of human equality between the genders. If the first meaning of the Arabic word shaqa'iq, "twin halves," is adopted, it's means that the male is worth one half (of society), while female is worth the other half. If the second meaning "sisters," is adopted , it implies the same.
2. The Prophet Muhammad PBUH taught kindness, care and respect towards women in general: "I commend you to be good to women." it is significant that such instruction of the Prophet PBUH was among his final instructions and reminders in the farewell pilgrimage address given shortly before his passing away.
3. Modesty and social interaction: the parameters of proper modesty for makes and females (dress and behaviour) are based on revelatory sources ( the Qur'an and prophetic sayings) and, as such, are regarded by believing men and women as divinely-based guidelines with legitimate aims and divine wisdom behind them. They are not make-imposed or socially imposed restrictions. It is interesting to know that even the bible encourages women to cover their head: "if a woman does not cover her head, she should have her hair cut off; and if it is a disgrace for a woman to have her hair cut or shaved off, she should cover her head." (1 Corinthians 11:6).
I want to conclude by saying the status which non-Muslim women reached during the present era was not achieved due to the kindness of men or due to natural progress. It was rather achieved through a long struggle and sacrifice on woman's part and only when society needed her contribution and work, more especially during the two world wars, and due to the escalation of technological change. While in Islam such compassionate and dignified status was decreed, not because it reflects the environment of the seventh century, nor under the threat or pressure of women and their organisations, but rather because of its intrinsic truthfulness. If this indicates anything, it would demonstrate the divine origin of the Qur'an and the truthfulness of the message of Islam, which, unlike human philosophies and ideologies, was far from proceeding from its human environment; a message which established such humane principles that neither grew obsolete during the course of time, nor can become obsolete in the future. After all, this is the message of the All-Wise and All-Knowing God whose wisdom and knowledge are far beyond the ultimate in human thought and progress. This concludes our series of Women and Islam. Inshallah we will take a diversion and do some postes on Ramadhan seeing as it is approaching really fast. Inshallah it will be small guides and tips for gaining the most from your sawm inshallah. Peace and love to all of you.
Assalamu alaikum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuh.
No comments:
Post a Comment