Women Dewomanised |
The world is saturated with propaganda touting the "sustained development and empowerment of women". Leaders from around the world and "human rights" activists have joined the campaign calling for gender equality and the liberation of women. In South Africa 9 August is commemorated as National Women’s Day. This movement is so dynamic in character and so tragic in results that Muslims need to acquaint and equip themselves against this new cultural crusade. |
Streets have become the centre of activities, restaurants and parks have become the places of romantic ventures. Morality has been completely ignored by the protagonists of reform. Robbers enjoy prosperity, gangsters are protected by politicians and judges, homosexuality flourishes, women who opt to rear and educate children are regarded as ignorant and oppressed, whilst nudity and promiscuity are branded as liberation. Morals dwindle, manners deteriorate, corruption increases and vulgarity becomes the order of the day! Is this the civilisation we want to emulate? |
In Islam, the rights and responsibilities of a woman are equal to those of a male but not necessarily identical. Equality and identity are distinct from each other. This distinction is of paramount importance. Equality is desirable, just and fair, identity is not. People are not created identical but they are created equal. In Islam the role of men and women are complimentary and co-operative rather than competitive. The journalist, Dorothy Thomson very aptly states that: "Women put precisely on the same level as man has been de-womanised". |
The empowerment of women is aimed at destroying the traditional family unit as we know it today. It wants to alleviate their responsibilities concerning housework and demands appropriate measures to improve women’s ability to earn income beyond traditional occupations. A woman’s natural duties demands so much time and absorption that opting for a career outside the home would naturally damage her primary role of building human society. The fact is that nature itself has divided human activity into two parts: preservation, procreation and education of the human race, as opposed to security, stability and the acquisition of human needs. The first duty is assigned to women, which is keeping with their physic just as men have been granted a physic in keeping with their natural duties. If the primary processes of life, which are based on biological facts are ignored, time will have its revenge... One cannot assault Nature with impunity. |
Islam neither suggests that women should be excluded from social life nor does it deprive them of the benefits of communal life of the community, it invites their mutual co-operation in all fields of life, but only within the Code of Conduct prescribed for them by the Sharī‘ah. |
The Holy Qur’ān states: |
"The believers, men and women are protectors and friends of each other. They enjoin what is just and forbid what is evil; they observe regular prayers and practice regular charity and obey Allah and His Messenger." (Surah Al-Tawbah, Ayah 79) |
This verse invites the co-operation of Muslims, men and women in all matters, spiritual as well as material and is the basis of the organisational and functional set-up of a Muslim |
society. According to this verse,
men and women are indispensable partners of life and without their active participation
and co-operation, society cannot achieve any real and durable progress. Nabī |
"Immersed as a woman obviously is up to her shoulders in the business of life and its multiplication, let it be said openly and unequivocally that all those who teach her that any other business is her business, and who in the face of the dilemma of modern problems, confuse her with tales about true womanhood… Who beguile her with promises of happiness, contentedness or even comfort, without her primary adaptation to man and the child, are liars both unscrupulous and criminal" (Women: A Vindication by Anthony M. Lawrence) |
"And among His signs is that He has created for you mates from among yourselves, that you may dwell in tranquility with them and He has put mercy and love between your hearts." (Surah Al-Rūm, Ayah 21) |
In this verse of the Qur’ān Allāh Ta‘āla describes the wisdom and purpose of creating women that they are a source of peace and tranquillity for man. Every need a man desires from a woman centres on the achievement of this tranquillity. The peace of mind and tranquillity can only be achieved when both the partners understand each other’s duties, rights and responsibilities and then fulfil these. These mutual rights are of such a nature that no law can truly govern them nor can any system of justice adjudicate over them. It is merely the fear of Allah and the dread of prosecution in the Divine Court of Justice that can truly spur the couple to fulfil their duties to each other.
|
said: "Women are but the other half (shaqiq) of
men." But this does not mean that full participation can only be achieved if men
and women work together, move together in assemblies, and mix together at parties.