Basicofislam
sister
:salam2:
Islam preceded all the exsting systems in introducing women's rights
more than fourteen centuries ago. Women were believed to be evil or
creatures without souls in so many societies in the world. Women in
Islam did not have to fight an endless battle with men to get their
rights, nor did they have to give up their femininity, honor, and virtue
to get some material rights, as is the case in many non-Islamic
societies, and as happened in Europe after the Industrial Revolution. A
whole package of new rights was given at once to women by their creator
without their having to strive to get them. At the same time their
duties were introduced too, as well as the rights and duties of men.
Islam gave those rights to women without making them look to men as if
they were their sole enemies on earth. It also made men respect such
rights, and abide by such rules, with full consent and happiness, since
they were issued by Allah, not by a feminist organization that forced
men to recognize them. Abiding by them is considered part of their
worshipping Allah, and as the Prophet (s.a.w.) said: {The best among you
are the best to their wives, and I am the best among you to my wives.}
(At-Tirmizi and Ibn Majah). He also told the Muslim men to always be
kind and fair to women in his last speech before he died.
Allah (s.w.t.) said: {{Lo! men who surrender unto Allah, and women
who surrender, and men who believe and women who believe, and men
who obey and women who obey, and men who speak the truth and women
who speak the truth, and men who preserve (in righteousness) and
women who preserve, and men who are humble and women who are humble,
and men who give alms and women who give alms, and men who fast and
women who fast, and men who guard their modesty and women who guard
(their modesty), and men who remember Allah much and women who
remember - Allah has prepared for them forgiveness and a vast
reward.}} [Al-Qur'an: Al-Ahzab (33:35)].
Islam prohibited the infanticide of baby girls, and hence gave them the
right to live. It also stopped the habit of selling them and inheriting
them that was practiced before Islam. It stopped abusing them and using
them for entertaining men, and prohibited exploiting them. It gave them
the right of ownership and inheritance which they never had before.
Islam made them full human beings with rights and duties. They are
responsible for their deeds in this life just like men, and will be
judged in the hereafter based on what they did.
Islam made women keep their last names, which means that they don't
become part of the man's property after marriage. They kept their
identities unlike the European women who were named after their
husbands. Islam protected them from being cheated on by their husbands
by prohibiting adultery. It also protected them from being attacked by
ordering the rapists to be killed, and the slanderers to be whipped.
Islam made it safe for any woman to walk and go around without being
harassed.
Islam equates between men and women concerning judgment by Allah in the
Hereafter; hence, each is responsible for his/her own deeds.
Nevertheless, Islam made some differences between her duties and his in
this life based on the biological differences.
For example, women should not pray or fast during menstruation periods,
and during the childbed period, which is the first forty days after
childbirth or until the blood stops, whichever comes first. They are not
supposed to make up for the prayers they do not pray because of these
excuses, but they should make up for the fasting (Muslims in general
make up for the prayers and fasting they miss).
Praying the Friday prayer in the Mosques is a must for men (unless they
are travelling, sick,...etc) while it is optional for women, and men
cannot prevent them from going to the Mosque. The prayer of the woman is
better at her home, but the Prophet (s.a.w.) also told the men not to
prohibit women from praying in the Mosque.
Women are also excused from going to Hajj if they cannot find a husband,
a Mahram, or a trustworthy group of Muslim women (according to Imam
Shafi`i) to go to Hajj with. A Mahram is a man that a woman can never
marry. It is also appropriate to mention here that women are not allowed
to travel over one day without a Mahram or a husband. Many Muslim
scholars, however, allowed her to go with a trustworthy group of Muslims
or if the environment is Islamically safe like a long flight from the
U.S.A. to the Middle East, for example, if he gives her a ride to the
airport, and her relatives pick her up at the other end. The word
``trustworthy'' applies to the group and the environment, and one should
not misinterpret it and say that he can travel alone with another woman,
since she or he is a trustworthy person.
Joining the army is a must for men when there is a need but not for
women, unless the status of the Islamic State is threatened where they
may have to take more responsibilities in helping defending the state.
Concerning education, the Prophet (s.a.w.) said: {Seeking knowledge is a
must for every Muslim.} (Ibn Majah), and the Qur'an addresses all
Muslims (males and females) to think, learn, and seek knowledge. What is
required from Muslims to do in this life implies requiring them to know
it too. So learning becomes a must for both men and women to be able to
abide by the laws of Islam. How else can the children be raised on an
educational basis without educated mothers? Education is not only for
jobs and titles, nor is it solely measured by degrees.
Islam does not prohibit women from working, nor does it say in detail
what work men or women should do. Islam puts general guidelines for
that. It is the environment of the job that makes it allowed or
prohibited for men or women. These guidelines are strongly affected by
the laws of decency introduced by Islam as a protection for Muslims from
unlawful relationships.
Muslim men and women are told to lower their gaze and not look at what
could tempt them from people they are not married to. Muslim men and
women are also ordered to wear decent clothes when going out in public
or when with other people. These clothes must not be tight or
transparent, and must cover all the parts of the body that are supposed
to be covered. Islam also prohibited any man to be in a complete privacy
with a woman he can get married to, now or in the future, and prohibited
him from touching her. Islam also prohibited the loose and open forms of
socialization between men and women.
Men have the leadership in the house, because Allah has made them
different from women, and because of their financial responsibilities,
as the Qur'an states.
Allah (s.w.t.) said: {{Men are in charge of women, because Allah has
made the one of them to excel to the other, and because they spend
of their property (for the support of women). So good women are the
obedient, guarding in secret that which Allah has guarded.}}
[Al-Qur'an: An-Nisa' (4:34)].
It is understood that women who did not grow up in an Islamic
environment, and the ones who do not understand Islam may not like
giving men the leadership in the house, but Muslim women are happy and
comfortable with it, and they understand its importance and benefits for
them, since Allah knows best what is good for them. It comes down to
what people live for in this life.
Men also have to work and make a living to support the family on one
side, and to support the Islamic State on the other hand. Men should
help in the house too if they can and if there is a need, and Islam does
not say that they shouldn't do anything at home. They have duties in
leading their families to a good perspective of life from the Islamic
point of view. Their responsibility covers their wives and children
here. So their duties are not limited to working outside only.
Men, however, cannot help bearing babies or breast-feeding them. This
fact cannot be changed. They also cannot provide the same comfort to the
babies as can the mothers. This is also a natural phenomenon in all
humans and animals alike. Men also cannot provide the required patience
for nursing the babies, and cannot be so attached to them as the
mothers. This fact is observed in all societies as well, and it is
because of the physiological and biological differences, and not because
of some inherited habits caused by continuous male domination, as the
feminists claim.
Women, on the other hand, should fulfill the two main duties that men
cannot do which are being mothers and being wives. Islam gave those two
duties a great attention. It is sad when you ask a man these days about
what his wife does to hear him say ``nothing''. Being a good mother is
the greatest and hardest job anybody can do.
Raising children is a great mission in this life and should hold a place
of high priority. Spending on one's family to cover their essential
needs is more rewarding than spending in any other cause.
The Prophet (s.a.w.) said: {When the human being dies, his/her deeds
will come to an end except three kinds: Sadaqah Jariah (continuous
charity), beneficial knowledge, and a good child that will pray for
him/her.} (Muslim).
The Prophet (s.a.w.) also said: {A dinar (currency unit from gold)
you spend in the sake of Allah, a dinar you spend to free a slave, a
dinar you donate to the poor, and a dinar you spend on your family,
the most rewarding among them is the dinar that you spend on your
family.} (Muslim).
The Prophet (s.a.w.) also said: {The best dinar a man spends is a
dinar he spends on his family, a dinar he spends on his animal, and
a dinar he spends on his companions in the sake of Allah.} (Muslim).
Whoever offers or loses three or two children in the sake of Allah, they
will protect him/her from the Hell fire, as the Prophet (s.a.w.) told
us.
The Prophet (s.a.w.) said: {When three children die for a Muslim the
Hell fire will not touch him except for fulfilling the oath.}
(Muslim). The oath fulfillment refers to the Qur'anic verse that
declares that every human being will touch the Hell fire.
Allah (s.w.t.) said: {{There is not one of you but shall approach it
(Hell). That is a fixed ordinance from Allah. Then We shall rescue
those who kept from evil, and leave the evildoers crouching in it.}}
[Al-Qur'an: Maryam (19:71-72)].
Abu Sa`id Al-Khudri narrated: {A woman from Al-Ansar came to the
Messenger of Allah (s.a.w.) and said: ``The men have got all your
speeches, so, make a day for us on which we come to you to teach us
from what Allah taught you.'' He said: ``Meet on such and such
day''. They met, and he came to them and taught them from what Allah
taught him, and then said: ``Every woman among you offers (in the
sake of Allah) three children they will be protection for her from
the Hell fire.'' A woman asked: ``How about two?''. The Messenger of
Allah (s.a.w.) said: ``And two''.} (Al-Bukhari and Muslim).
Raising children, especially girls, is very important in Islam. It is a
good way to seek more rewards in the hereafter. Many people tend to
discriminate between their sons and daughters, and tend to favor the
boys. The Prophet (s.a.w.) emphasized the reward of raising daughters
and showed that it is a protection from the Hell fire.
Imam Al-Bukhari narrated these four Hadiths in his book Al-Adab
Al-Mufrad (not to be confused with his famous book of Hadith called
Sahih Al-Bukhari):
The Prophet (s.a.w.) said: {Whoever had three daughters and was
patient on raising them, and clothed them from his substance, they
would be a protection for him from the Hell fire.}
The Prophet (s.a.w.) also said: {Any Muslim has two daughters, and
be a good companion to them, will enter Heaven because of them.}
Jabir Ibn `Abdillah narrated: {The Messenger of Allah (s.a.w.)
``Whoever has three daughters that he provides a dwelling for,
supports, and has mercy on, Heaven is his guaranteed reward.'' A man
asked: ``How about two?''. The Messenger of Allah (s.a.w.) said:
``And two''.}
The Prophet (s.a.w.) said: {Whoever has three daughters or three
sisters and supports them will enter Heaven.}
Islam, however, did not restrict women to the two main jobs of being
wives and mothers. Any other job is an option for them unless there is a
need for women in some jobs in the Islamic State, in which case, the
state can require enough number of women to do these jobs if men cannot
do them. The rules that guide that are the laws of decency mentioned
before which apply to men and women as well. However, the leader of the
Islamic State and the judges have to be men in Islam.
Working at home, however, is always better for women, unless there is a
need for them to work outside.
Allah (s.w.t.) said to the wives of the Prophet (s.a.w.): {{O you
wives of the Prophet! You are not like any other women. If you keep
your duty (to Allah), then be not soft of speech, lest he in whose
heart is a disease aspire (to you), but utter customary speech.
And stay in your houses, and bedizen not yourselves with
the bedizenment of the Time of Ignorance. Be regular in
prayer, and pay the poor-due, and obey Allah and His
messenger. Allah wants to remove uncleanness far from
you, O Folk of the Household, and cleanse you with a
thorough cleansing.
And bear in mind that which is recited in your houses of
the revelations of Allah and wisdom. Lo! Allah is
Subtile, Aware.}} [Al-Qur'an: Al-Ahzab (33:32-34)].
Although these verses of the Qur'an were addressing the wives of the
Prophet (s.a.w.), the rest of the Muslim women would please Allah more
if they took after the best ideals of the Muslim women - the wives of
the Prophet (s.a.w.).
We should remember that we are talking about general rules that are for
everybody, not for some special men or women. It is true that a woman
can do a better job than a man in many cases, and at the same time a man
can take care of and raise children better than women in other cases.
Those women, however, are sacrificing their other two main duties
mentioned above, and those men are sacrificing their main duties for the
state too.
In Islam, if something were applied to all people, it should not hurt or
endanger people in general. For example, celibacy in Christianity, if
applied by all people, would mean the end of the Christians in two
generations. In Islam, if all women sacrificed their being mothers and
wives for their careers, there would be a terrible new generation that
would be raised in the streets instead. This would cause more problems
as seen in many parts of the world as a result of forcing women to
struggle to live. This phenomenon accompanied the Industrial Revolution
in Europe when women were like any property men had.
Special examples of female hard workers or females who outperform men do
not negate what Islam has taught, since Islam did not state that all men
can do certain jobs better than all women. It stated that it is best for
the society to be like this. If you can find few women that are better
than most men in working outside the house, you can also find a lot more
men who are better than most women in that same field.
Now, since Muslim women realize that this is a good mission in this life
that takes them to Heaven (which is the main goal of every male and
female Muslim), they prefer raising their children to working for a
company. Many Muslim women choose to quit their jobs after they have
children, since that is their priority. This cannot be understood by an
non-Muslim woman who knows very little about the goals of the Muslim
woman.
The non-Muslim women are not blamed when they decide to raise only two
children, one child, or no children at all, and when they kick them out
of the house at the age of eighteen years, or make them pay the rent for
example. There is no good reason that these non-Muslim women would go
through all the struggling in bearing children and raising them when
that is not their mission in this life. According to their belief, that
does not help them get anywhere in Heaven, in which most of them don't
believe in to start with. There is no good reason for doing that when
most children do not treat parents nicely when they are old. The
children usually send their parents to the elderly houses to die there
slowly. These non-Muslim women make their decisions according to their
priorities and their beliefs, and so do the Muslim women.
In Islam, the children are ordered to be nice and kind to their parents
in this life even if they were not Muslims, in which case, they should
not obey them in disobeying Allah.
Allah (s.w.t.) said: {{Your Lord has decreed that you worship none
save Him, and (that you show) kindness to parents. If one of them or
both of them attain to old age with you, say not fie unto them, nor
repulse them, but speak unto them a gracious word.
And lower unto them the wing of submission through mercy, and say:
My Lord! Have mercy on them both as they did care for me when I was
little!}} [Al-Qur'an: Al-Isra' (17:23-24)].
Allah (s.w.t.) also said: {{And We have enjoined upon the human
being concerning his parents -- His mother bears him in weakness
upon weakness and his weaning is in two years -- Give thanks unto Me
and unto your parents. Unto Me is the journeying.
But if they strive with you to make you ascribe unto Me as partner
that of which you have no knowledge, then do not obey them. Consort
with them in the world kindly, and follow the path of him who
repents unto Me. Then unto Me will be your return, and I shall tell
you what you used to do.}} [Al-Qur'an: Luqman (31:14-15)].
Islam preceded all the exsting systems in introducing women's rights
more than fourteen centuries ago. Women were believed to be evil or
creatures without souls in so many societies in the world. Women in
Islam did not have to fight an endless battle with men to get their
rights, nor did they have to give up their femininity, honor, and virtue
to get some material rights, as is the case in many non-Islamic
societies, and as happened in Europe after the Industrial Revolution. A
whole package of new rights was given at once to women by their creator
without their having to strive to get them. At the same time their
duties were introduced too, as well as the rights and duties of men.
Islam gave those rights to women without making them look to men as if
they were their sole enemies on earth. It also made men respect such
rights, and abide by such rules, with full consent and happiness, since
they were issued by Allah, not by a feminist organization that forced
men to recognize them. Abiding by them is considered part of their
worshipping Allah, and as the Prophet (s.a.w.) said: {The best among you
are the best to their wives, and I am the best among you to my wives.}
(At-Tirmizi and Ibn Majah). He also told the Muslim men to always be
kind and fair to women in his last speech before he died.
Allah (s.w.t.) said: {{Lo! men who surrender unto Allah, and women
who surrender, and men who believe and women who believe, and men
who obey and women who obey, and men who speak the truth and women
who speak the truth, and men who preserve (in righteousness) and
women who preserve, and men who are humble and women who are humble,
and men who give alms and women who give alms, and men who fast and
women who fast, and men who guard their modesty and women who guard
(their modesty), and men who remember Allah much and women who
remember - Allah has prepared for them forgiveness and a vast
reward.}} [Al-Qur'an: Al-Ahzab (33:35)].
Islam prohibited the infanticide of baby girls, and hence gave them the
right to live. It also stopped the habit of selling them and inheriting
them that was practiced before Islam. It stopped abusing them and using
them for entertaining men, and prohibited exploiting them. It gave them
the right of ownership and inheritance which they never had before.
Islam made them full human beings with rights and duties. They are
responsible for their deeds in this life just like men, and will be
judged in the hereafter based on what they did.
Islam made women keep their last names, which means that they don't
become part of the man's property after marriage. They kept their
identities unlike the European women who were named after their
husbands. Islam protected them from being cheated on by their husbands
by prohibiting adultery. It also protected them from being attacked by
ordering the rapists to be killed, and the slanderers to be whipped.
Islam made it safe for any woman to walk and go around without being
harassed.
Islam equates between men and women concerning judgment by Allah in the
Hereafter; hence, each is responsible for his/her own deeds.
Nevertheless, Islam made some differences between her duties and his in
this life based on the biological differences.
For example, women should not pray or fast during menstruation periods,
and during the childbed period, which is the first forty days after
childbirth or until the blood stops, whichever comes first. They are not
supposed to make up for the prayers they do not pray because of these
excuses, but they should make up for the fasting (Muslims in general
make up for the prayers and fasting they miss).
Praying the Friday prayer in the Mosques is a must for men (unless they
are travelling, sick,...etc) while it is optional for women, and men
cannot prevent them from going to the Mosque. The prayer of the woman is
better at her home, but the Prophet (s.a.w.) also told the men not to
prohibit women from praying in the Mosque.
Women are also excused from going to Hajj if they cannot find a husband,
a Mahram, or a trustworthy group of Muslim women (according to Imam
Shafi`i) to go to Hajj with. A Mahram is a man that a woman can never
marry. It is also appropriate to mention here that women are not allowed
to travel over one day without a Mahram or a husband. Many Muslim
scholars, however, allowed her to go with a trustworthy group of Muslims
or if the environment is Islamically safe like a long flight from the
U.S.A. to the Middle East, for example, if he gives her a ride to the
airport, and her relatives pick her up at the other end. The word
``trustworthy'' applies to the group and the environment, and one should
not misinterpret it and say that he can travel alone with another woman,
since she or he is a trustworthy person.
Joining the army is a must for men when there is a need but not for
women, unless the status of the Islamic State is threatened where they
may have to take more responsibilities in helping defending the state.
Concerning education, the Prophet (s.a.w.) said: {Seeking knowledge is a
must for every Muslim.} (Ibn Majah), and the Qur'an addresses all
Muslims (males and females) to think, learn, and seek knowledge. What is
required from Muslims to do in this life implies requiring them to know
it too. So learning becomes a must for both men and women to be able to
abide by the laws of Islam. How else can the children be raised on an
educational basis without educated mothers? Education is not only for
jobs and titles, nor is it solely measured by degrees.
Islam does not prohibit women from working, nor does it say in detail
what work men or women should do. Islam puts general guidelines for
that. It is the environment of the job that makes it allowed or
prohibited for men or women. These guidelines are strongly affected by
the laws of decency introduced by Islam as a protection for Muslims from
unlawful relationships.
Muslim men and women are told to lower their gaze and not look at what
could tempt them from people they are not married to. Muslim men and
women are also ordered to wear decent clothes when going out in public
or when with other people. These clothes must not be tight or
transparent, and must cover all the parts of the body that are supposed
to be covered. Islam also prohibited any man to be in a complete privacy
with a woman he can get married to, now or in the future, and prohibited
him from touching her. Islam also prohibited the loose and open forms of
socialization between men and women.
Men have the leadership in the house, because Allah has made them
different from women, and because of their financial responsibilities,
as the Qur'an states.
Allah (s.w.t.) said: {{Men are in charge of women, because Allah has
made the one of them to excel to the other, and because they spend
of their property (for the support of women). So good women are the
obedient, guarding in secret that which Allah has guarded.}}
[Al-Qur'an: An-Nisa' (4:34)].
It is understood that women who did not grow up in an Islamic
environment, and the ones who do not understand Islam may not like
giving men the leadership in the house, but Muslim women are happy and
comfortable with it, and they understand its importance and benefits for
them, since Allah knows best what is good for them. It comes down to
what people live for in this life.
Men also have to work and make a living to support the family on one
side, and to support the Islamic State on the other hand. Men should
help in the house too if they can and if there is a need, and Islam does
not say that they shouldn't do anything at home. They have duties in
leading their families to a good perspective of life from the Islamic
point of view. Their responsibility covers their wives and children
here. So their duties are not limited to working outside only.
Men, however, cannot help bearing babies or breast-feeding them. This
fact cannot be changed. They also cannot provide the same comfort to the
babies as can the mothers. This is also a natural phenomenon in all
humans and animals alike. Men also cannot provide the required patience
for nursing the babies, and cannot be so attached to them as the
mothers. This fact is observed in all societies as well, and it is
because of the physiological and biological differences, and not because
of some inherited habits caused by continuous male domination, as the
feminists claim.
Women, on the other hand, should fulfill the two main duties that men
cannot do which are being mothers and being wives. Islam gave those two
duties a great attention. It is sad when you ask a man these days about
what his wife does to hear him say ``nothing''. Being a good mother is
the greatest and hardest job anybody can do.
Raising children is a great mission in this life and should hold a place
of high priority. Spending on one's family to cover their essential
needs is more rewarding than spending in any other cause.
The Prophet (s.a.w.) said: {When the human being dies, his/her deeds
will come to an end except three kinds: Sadaqah Jariah (continuous
charity), beneficial knowledge, and a good child that will pray for
him/her.} (Muslim).
The Prophet (s.a.w.) also said: {A dinar (currency unit from gold)
you spend in the sake of Allah, a dinar you spend to free a slave, a
dinar you donate to the poor, and a dinar you spend on your family,
the most rewarding among them is the dinar that you spend on your
family.} (Muslim).
The Prophet (s.a.w.) also said: {The best dinar a man spends is a
dinar he spends on his family, a dinar he spends on his animal, and
a dinar he spends on his companions in the sake of Allah.} (Muslim).
Whoever offers or loses three or two children in the sake of Allah, they
will protect him/her from the Hell fire, as the Prophet (s.a.w.) told
us.
The Prophet (s.a.w.) said: {When three children die for a Muslim the
Hell fire will not touch him except for fulfilling the oath.}
(Muslim). The oath fulfillment refers to the Qur'anic verse that
declares that every human being will touch the Hell fire.
Allah (s.w.t.) said: {{There is not one of you but shall approach it
(Hell). That is a fixed ordinance from Allah. Then We shall rescue
those who kept from evil, and leave the evildoers crouching in it.}}
[Al-Qur'an: Maryam (19:71-72)].
Abu Sa`id Al-Khudri narrated: {A woman from Al-Ansar came to the
Messenger of Allah (s.a.w.) and said: ``The men have got all your
speeches, so, make a day for us on which we come to you to teach us
from what Allah taught you.'' He said: ``Meet on such and such
day''. They met, and he came to them and taught them from what Allah
taught him, and then said: ``Every woman among you offers (in the
sake of Allah) three children they will be protection for her from
the Hell fire.'' A woman asked: ``How about two?''. The Messenger of
Allah (s.a.w.) said: ``And two''.} (Al-Bukhari and Muslim).
Raising children, especially girls, is very important in Islam. It is a
good way to seek more rewards in the hereafter. Many people tend to
discriminate between their sons and daughters, and tend to favor the
boys. The Prophet (s.a.w.) emphasized the reward of raising daughters
and showed that it is a protection from the Hell fire.
Imam Al-Bukhari narrated these four Hadiths in his book Al-Adab
Al-Mufrad (not to be confused with his famous book of Hadith called
Sahih Al-Bukhari):
The Prophet (s.a.w.) said: {Whoever had three daughters and was
patient on raising them, and clothed them from his substance, they
would be a protection for him from the Hell fire.}
The Prophet (s.a.w.) also said: {Any Muslim has two daughters, and
be a good companion to them, will enter Heaven because of them.}
Jabir Ibn `Abdillah narrated: {The Messenger of Allah (s.a.w.)
``Whoever has three daughters that he provides a dwelling for,
supports, and has mercy on, Heaven is his guaranteed reward.'' A man
asked: ``How about two?''. The Messenger of Allah (s.a.w.) said:
``And two''.}
The Prophet (s.a.w.) said: {Whoever has three daughters or three
sisters and supports them will enter Heaven.}
Islam, however, did not restrict women to the two main jobs of being
wives and mothers. Any other job is an option for them unless there is a
need for women in some jobs in the Islamic State, in which case, the
state can require enough number of women to do these jobs if men cannot
do them. The rules that guide that are the laws of decency mentioned
before which apply to men and women as well. However, the leader of the
Islamic State and the judges have to be men in Islam.
Working at home, however, is always better for women, unless there is a
need for them to work outside.
Allah (s.w.t.) said to the wives of the Prophet (s.a.w.): {{O you
wives of the Prophet! You are not like any other women. If you keep
your duty (to Allah), then be not soft of speech, lest he in whose
heart is a disease aspire (to you), but utter customary speech.
And stay in your houses, and bedizen not yourselves with
the bedizenment of the Time of Ignorance. Be regular in
prayer, and pay the poor-due, and obey Allah and His
messenger. Allah wants to remove uncleanness far from
you, O Folk of the Household, and cleanse you with a
thorough cleansing.
And bear in mind that which is recited in your houses of
the revelations of Allah and wisdom. Lo! Allah is
Subtile, Aware.}} [Al-Qur'an: Al-Ahzab (33:32-34)].
Although these verses of the Qur'an were addressing the wives of the
Prophet (s.a.w.), the rest of the Muslim women would please Allah more
if they took after the best ideals of the Muslim women - the wives of
the Prophet (s.a.w.).
We should remember that we are talking about general rules that are for
everybody, not for some special men or women. It is true that a woman
can do a better job than a man in many cases, and at the same time a man
can take care of and raise children better than women in other cases.
Those women, however, are sacrificing their other two main duties
mentioned above, and those men are sacrificing their main duties for the
state too.
In Islam, if something were applied to all people, it should not hurt or
endanger people in general. For example, celibacy in Christianity, if
applied by all people, would mean the end of the Christians in two
generations. In Islam, if all women sacrificed their being mothers and
wives for their careers, there would be a terrible new generation that
would be raised in the streets instead. This would cause more problems
as seen in many parts of the world as a result of forcing women to
struggle to live. This phenomenon accompanied the Industrial Revolution
in Europe when women were like any property men had.
Special examples of female hard workers or females who outperform men do
not negate what Islam has taught, since Islam did not state that all men
can do certain jobs better than all women. It stated that it is best for
the society to be like this. If you can find few women that are better
than most men in working outside the house, you can also find a lot more
men who are better than most women in that same field.
Now, since Muslim women realize that this is a good mission in this life
that takes them to Heaven (which is the main goal of every male and
female Muslim), they prefer raising their children to working for a
company. Many Muslim women choose to quit their jobs after they have
children, since that is their priority. This cannot be understood by an
non-Muslim woman who knows very little about the goals of the Muslim
woman.
The non-Muslim women are not blamed when they decide to raise only two
children, one child, or no children at all, and when they kick them out
of the house at the age of eighteen years, or make them pay the rent for
example. There is no good reason that these non-Muslim women would go
through all the struggling in bearing children and raising them when
that is not their mission in this life. According to their belief, that
does not help them get anywhere in Heaven, in which most of them don't
believe in to start with. There is no good reason for doing that when
most children do not treat parents nicely when they are old. The
children usually send their parents to the elderly houses to die there
slowly. These non-Muslim women make their decisions according to their
priorities and their beliefs, and so do the Muslim women.
In Islam, the children are ordered to be nice and kind to their parents
in this life even if they were not Muslims, in which case, they should
not obey them in disobeying Allah.
Allah (s.w.t.) said: {{Your Lord has decreed that you worship none
save Him, and (that you show) kindness to parents. If one of them or
both of them attain to old age with you, say not fie unto them, nor
repulse them, but speak unto them a gracious word.
And lower unto them the wing of submission through mercy, and say:
My Lord! Have mercy on them both as they did care for me when I was
little!}} [Al-Qur'an: Al-Isra' (17:23-24)].
Allah (s.w.t.) also said: {{And We have enjoined upon the human
being concerning his parents -- His mother bears him in weakness
upon weakness and his weaning is in two years -- Give thanks unto Me
and unto your parents. Unto Me is the journeying.
But if they strive with you to make you ascribe unto Me as partner
that of which you have no knowledge, then do not obey them. Consort
with them in the world kindly, and follow the path of him who
repents unto Me. Then unto Me will be your return, and I shall tell
you what you used to do.}} [Al-Qur'an: Luqman (31:14-15)].
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