written by sister Melinda Sakeena
As a Muslim Woman
The first Muslim to say "La Illaha Il Allah Muhammaddan Rasoolullah" was a woman, the wife of Prophet Muhammad, pbuh, Khadija, may she be in the highest stations of Jennah. The first martyr to Islam was also a woman, Somaya, may she be in the highest stations of Jennah. Most of what we know about Islam comes from the teachings of Ayisha, may she be in the highest stations of Jennah. As Muslims, we are taught that "Paradise is at your mother's feet." Your mother could close the doors of Jennah to you if you are disrespectful or cruel to her, and we know that you should prefer the company of your mother three times over even your father. So, I want to know, where does all of this misogynistic, anti-Women rhetoric come from?
I'm starting to believe that too much Greco-Roman ideology about Pandora's box has entered the psyche of the men in our Ummah. Is it not enough that women are practically sold to the highest bidder in mainstream society? We are the mothers of your children and your mothers too, so I am wondering why the disrespect?
I do not want to go into heavy detail about how men, Muslim and not, try to place women in an inferior social and spiritual position. But, I have had brothers tell me that women cannot be teachers. That the place of a woman is only in the home. That it is the woman's duty to take care of the household and cook and clean for him. However, there are plenty of hadeeths that exhibit how our Holy Prophet, pbuh, used to sow his own clothes and cook and clean after himself. So, I am asking our brothers, do you think that you are somehow better than our Holy Prophet, pbuh, that you do not have to take care of your own things?
This is a reminder to the brothers that either way you flip it, your destiny is and will always be at the feet of a woman. Your nourishment comes from the hands of a woman. Your children are born from the womb of a woman. Your pleasure comes as well from a woman, so enough with blaming women with your susceptibilities to sin or holding them responsible for why you don't want to grow out your beard or why you have chosen to be a doctor instead of an Imam.
Speaking for myself and sisters who value the deen, I will say that we care more about your iman and your practicing of Islam than we do about how fat your pockets are or how smooth your facial cheeks are. Women who are following the deen of Islam love Allah more than they love their husbands, so take a lesson from the mothers of Islam and be a little pious. Be grateful that Allah ta'ala has blessed you with mothers, wives, and sisters, and remember that if you would not allow a brother to treat your mother or sister in a certain manner, there is no reason why you should be treating your wife that way. In other words, if you would not allow a man to curse at your mother or beat her, then do not have the audacity to do that to your wife, and remember that "those who are best amongst you, are kindest to their wives." Men are the protectors of women, not their owners. And most of all, remember that we are responsible for the weight of our own sins, not that of others, so do not blame your wife or anyone else for your misdoings. It is your responsibility and yours alone.
Verily, Allah is aware of all that we do. And no Muslim is above any other Muslim except in piety and good deeds.
Peace & Blessings,
Your sister in Islam,
Melinda Sakeena
As a Muslim Woman
The first Muslim to say "La Illaha Il Allah Muhammaddan Rasoolullah" was a woman, the wife of Prophet Muhammad, pbuh, Khadija, may she be in the highest stations of Jennah. The first martyr to Islam was also a woman, Somaya, may she be in the highest stations of Jennah. Most of what we know about Islam comes from the teachings of Ayisha, may she be in the highest stations of Jennah. As Muslims, we are taught that "Paradise is at your mother's feet." Your mother could close the doors of Jennah to you if you are disrespectful or cruel to her, and we know that you should prefer the company of your mother three times over even your father. So, I want to know, where does all of this misogynistic, anti-Women rhetoric come from?
I'm starting to believe that too much Greco-Roman ideology about Pandora's box has entered the psyche of the men in our Ummah. Is it not enough that women are practically sold to the highest bidder in mainstream society? We are the mothers of your children and your mothers too, so I am wondering why the disrespect?
I do not want to go into heavy detail about how men, Muslim and not, try to place women in an inferior social and spiritual position. But, I have had brothers tell me that women cannot be teachers. That the place of a woman is only in the home. That it is the woman's duty to take care of the household and cook and clean for him. However, there are plenty of hadeeths that exhibit how our Holy Prophet, pbuh, used to sow his own clothes and cook and clean after himself. So, I am asking our brothers, do you think that you are somehow better than our Holy Prophet, pbuh, that you do not have to take care of your own things?
This is a reminder to the brothers that either way you flip it, your destiny is and will always be at the feet of a woman. Your nourishment comes from the hands of a woman. Your children are born from the womb of a woman. Your pleasure comes as well from a woman, so enough with blaming women with your susceptibilities to sin or holding them responsible for why you don't want to grow out your beard or why you have chosen to be a doctor instead of an Imam.
Speaking for myself and sisters who value the deen, I will say that we care more about your iman and your practicing of Islam than we do about how fat your pockets are or how smooth your facial cheeks are. Women who are following the deen of Islam love Allah more than they love their husbands, so take a lesson from the mothers of Islam and be a little pious. Be grateful that Allah ta'ala has blessed you with mothers, wives, and sisters, and remember that if you would not allow a brother to treat your mother or sister in a certain manner, there is no reason why you should be treating your wife that way. In other words, if you would not allow a man to curse at your mother or beat her, then do not have the audacity to do that to your wife, and remember that "those who are best amongst you, are kindest to their wives." Men are the protectors of women, not their owners. And most of all, remember that we are responsible for the weight of our own sins, not that of others, so do not blame your wife or anyone else for your misdoings. It is your responsibility and yours alone.
Verily, Allah is aware of all that we do. And no Muslim is above any other Muslim except in piety and good deeds.
Peace & Blessings,
Your sister in Islam,
Melinda Sakeena
