Salam! I pray that you are well. Last night, i picked up a small booklet titled ‘The Position of Women in Islam’ and out of curiosity, i decided to read it. It was only about 16 pages long but Subhanallah the detail and information that it contained inspired me to write an article on the same issue. Speaking as a feminist, i believe that woman rule! In the last 50 years or so, women have outshined themselves and earned their place in society. In this article, I shall be discussing the importance of being a Muslimah from an Islamic point of view as well from a cultural point of view.
I’d first like to make it clear to those who may think otherwise that in the sight of Allah (swt), a woman is completely equal to a man. It says in the Qur’an:
“...So their Lord accepted their prayers, (saying): I will not suffer to be lost the work of any of you whether male or female. You proceed one from another...” (3:195)
A woman’s responsibilities are no different from mans. Performing the five daily prayers, fasting in Ramadan, and giving Zakat are religiously obligated upon both genders but a woman has, to a certain extent, more advantages and privileges over man. She is able to perform her daily prayers in a place of worship or she is given the option of praying from the comfort of her own home. This clearly reflects the mercy of Allah swt as it shows his consideration for the woman who may be nursing her child or may be caught in some other difficulty that may prevent her from attending the mosque. A woman is excused from performing her daily prayers and fasting during her menstruation period and she is also excused from praying and fasting for up to forty days due to child birth.
However, the social and cultural aspect differs from the Islamic perspective. In Asian culture, a mother sees her son as being her pride and glory and most of the time, the daughter seems to take second place. Every child is seen as being sacred but Allah swt especially asks daughters to be treated with dignity, respect and honour. Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) said:
“Whoever has a daughter and he does not bury her alive, does not insult her, and does not favour his son over her, God will enter him paradise” (Ibn Hanbul No 1957)
Many of you know that marriage completes half our deen and that marriage is a blessing in itself. However, speaking from a cultural point of view, many elders see males as being more superior as and of more importance than to women. The woman is the one that is meant to stay at home and clean the house, do the cooking as well as the laundry whereas the man is the one goes out to work. I’m sorry to say but that is just sexist. However, from an Islamic point of view, women are given the same working rights as men, just as long her role as a mother or wife isn’t neglected. Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) said:
“Seeking knowledge is compulsory for every Muslim” (Al-Bayhaqi)
I don’t know why, but many Asians see women as being a push over and that is just a ‘disgrace to the human race’. I mean, why shouldn’t women be given the same opportunities as men? We may not be as physically as strong as them but we are unique in our own way and men are just, excuse me for saying this, but ‘stuck up pigs!’. They come home expecting their hot meal to be all laid out on the table and they then throw off their shoes and stink up the whole house with their big fat Shrek like feet! And do you hear them asking you about your day? No! Because they are too busy going on about how many miles they drove and then complaining about how taxes have gone up. I mean, does it look as if we care?!
What men fail to remember is that the woman is the one who has to carry their child for 9 months and then have to grow the labour process whilst they are standing there asking you if you are ok! I mean, does she look ok???!!!!!! The woman is the one who makes sure that their three course meal is ready for them when you return from work and the woman is the one who has to wash their stinky socks!
I was in town the other day in Primark with a few of my aunties and i overheard a guy saying ‘You know, i can get any girl i want’ Thank God i was making my way towards the lift because if i wasn’t, i would have gone over to him and gave him a piece of my mind and said to him ‘Excuse me Brother but can i just correct you on what you have just said. In actual fact, a woman has the right to choose her marriage partner and luckily for your future wife, she would also have the right to divorce!’ Astaghurullah!
I have reached the end of this article and i have just found out from a friend of mine that her step dad read certain parts of my last article and by the sounds of it, enjoyed it so Alhumdilillah! To conclude i would just like to say that women are just... incredible. I don’t know about you, but i am proud to call myself a Muslimah and next time, if you ever hear someone discriminating women, then you know what you got to do. Until next time, stay safe and remember me in your duas.
Asalamu Alaikum Wa Rahmatullahi Wa Barakatuhu.
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