HER ROLE AND HER HONOR
Evidence from the Holy Quran: Believers,
men and women, are protectors, one of another:
then enjoin what is right and forbid what is
evil.(Surah at-Tawba:71) Quran:
And say to the believing women that then should
lower their gaze and guard their modesty, and
not display their ornaments except to their
husbands or their fathers, or the fathers of
their husbands of their sons, or the sons of
their husbands or their brothers or their
brother's sons, or their sister's sons or their
women or those whom their right hands possess,
or the male servants not having need (of women),
or the children who have not attained knowledge
of what is hidden of women; and let them not
strike their feet so that what they hide of
their ornaments may be known... (Surah
an-Noor:31)
The
role of a Muslim lady is quite unique in the
fact that Islam has already prescribed here role
and responsibility to Almighty God, her husband,
her children, other family members, her
community, and society, as well as herself.
Every aspect of her life from birth to death,
has been outlined and placed in perfect order by
Creator Himself. As Almighty God cares for and
tends to the needs of all creatures, great and
small, why would He not address the needs of His
superior creation, which is human kind?
Outwardly, it would be extremely difficult not
to recognize a Muslim lady, if she is indeed
adhering to the commands of Almighty God. Her
dress itself, to her submission to God and her
acceptance of Al-Islam as her way of life. Her
modest dress, as well as behavior, manifests her
attempt at following the orders of Allah stated
in Holy Quran and the traditions of the Holy
Last Messenger Muhammad ibn Abdullah (s.a.s.).
For when she goes forth, her attire tells all
that she is Muslim, and she wears her attire as
a cloak of honor and dignity, for all to see,
recognize, and respect.
The
relationship of the Muslim lady towards her
husband and family members has also been
explained in the Holy Quran. She is a loving
wife, mother, responsible homemaker, devoted
daughter, caring sister, reliable friend
neighbor. She is an educator, nurse,
facilitator, and councilor. It is her
responsibility to see that her family's needs
are attended to, if not by her husband, then
just as capable. Towards her husband, a Muslim
lady is friend, lover, advisor confidante,
help-mate, and supervisor of his home. She is
this way, because she her husband will obey the
command from Almighty God to love, maintain, and
protect her at all cost. Men are
protectors and maintainers of women because
Allah has given the one more strength than the
other, and because they support them from their
means. (Surah an-Nissaa:34). Because
she has been given the assurance that she will
be maintained, a Muslim lady does not have to go
out to work; rather she can stay home and care
for her family, which is her main
responsibility. However, if she chooses to work,
in the home or out, she may do so and is she
chooses to aid her family financially, she may
also do so, obtaining thereby Allahs blessings.
Yet if she chooses not to aid financially, Allah
has stated in the Holy Quran to women what they
earn and to men what they earn. Since it is not
the responsibility of a woman to maintain her
family she does not have to do so, nor give any
money to her family. And stay quietly in
your houses, and make not a dazzling display of
yourselves like that of the former times of
ignorance. (Surah Ahzab:33). O
Prophet! Tell thy wives and daughters and
believing women that they should cast their
outer garments over their persons (when abroad).
(Surah Ahzab:59). Islam encourages that Muslim
ladies stay home and tend to their families.
However, it does not mean that ladies cannot go
out for business, for family needs, for society
needs, or just socially visiting family and
friends. If Muslim ladies expected to only stay
in the home, there would not have been rules and
guidelines on how to dress and conduct oneself
outside of the home. According to traditions of
the Holy Last Messenger (s.a.s.), women receive
many blessings for being home, yet she may leave
her home for various reasons, and not incur
Allah's displeasure.
Hadith:
The Prophet (pbuh) said to some women, "Those
of you who stay at home will gain the action
(merit) of the Mujahideen (those who strive in
the path of Allah)." The Holy Prophet (s.a.s.)
said, "If a wife of any of you should ask
permission to go to the mosque, do not stop
her." Muslim ladies may work outside of the
home in jobs that do not her religion. For
example, if she is not required to uncover
herself, remain alone with a man who is not her
relative, serve or associate around alcohol,
pork, or drugs, etc... Muslim ladies are
doctors, lawyers, teachers, business owners,
bankers. They are also politically and socially
involved in communities here and abroad. They
fund-raisers human rights activists, and moral
consciousness raisers. They may function in
these arenas with the permission of their
husbands and the support of their families and
communities. If there is a conflict between
these activities and home life, the Muslim lady
knows and undoubtedly understands that any and
all activities outside the home, but never would
she abandon her family. Family is her first and
foremost obligation. The Holy Prophet (s.a.s.)
has stated that, "A woman is the guardian of
the family of her husband and of his children,
and she will be asked about them (as to what
extent she fulfilled their rights)."
Contrary to misconceptions and lies perpetrated
against Muslims, in Islam, the Muslim lady is
not an object of scorn, nor reduced to one with
no moral rights or social obligations. She is
not property to any man, nor subservient to
anyone. Islam has not taken away any rights,
rather it has increased and enhanced her rights
and obligations to the Creator and herself.
Almighty God answers the prayers of both men and
women. She observes prayers, fasting, performing
pilgrimage, religious holidays, Islamic
injunctions, modest dress and behavior similar
to her male counterpart. Her good deeds are
rewarded by Almighty God and her bad deeds may
punished or forgiven by Almighty God, just like
the Muslim male. As stated in Holy Quran, women
have rights similar to the rights of men. Many
verses of Holy Quran speak about believing men
and women, patient men and women, pious and
women, men and women of virtue, righteous men
and women, and their rewards with Allah
(Almighty God). In the religion of Islam, the
Muslim lady has found a perfect way of life. To
achieve that perfection, she must live up to the
guidelines prescribed by Almighty God in letter
and spirit. She recognizes her obligations and
strives to fulfill them according to Islam. She
acknowledges that the Supremacy, Sovereignty,
Final Authority, and the only Ruler is Almighty
Allah. The Holy Quran is the book follows, for
in it the essentials of the Islamic system are
beautifully laid out for her and each and every
Muslim. She has no doubt in its authenticity.
She is sure of it and she is sure of herself an
her role in this society. She is a Muslim lady,
with much deserved honor and dignity. And she is
proud and honored to be amongst the God-fearing,
God loving creation of the Almighty. |
