and women who are mindful of their chastity, and all men and women who
remember God unceasingly: for all of them has God readied forgiveness
of sins and a mighty reward"
(Surah 33: verse 35).
This verse offers women somuch; it offers them paradise on the basis
of their own actions. It demands of them good character, tells both
men AND women to be active; and instills in them the sense of
individual responsibility.
So, Islam offers to women, as it offers to men - paradise as a reward,
it offers a complete picture which considers both this world and the
hereafter - built solidly upon the foundation of a believe in The
Creator. A relationship with one's Creator brings untold peace - for
men andfor women.
Islam allows women to know themselves as they are. Thus in Islam women
are equal to men, but they are not the same. Men and women are equal
before God - they are the protecting friends of one another, they are
garmentsof one another, hiding one another's faults; but they are not
the same. In Islam -imitation is not liberation.
Women are not men - an obvious statement, but onewhich is often
overlooked. Islam offers a balance - which can be seen if one looks to
nature - black and white, up and down, day and night etc. etc. Two
halves to form a whole. Balance is absolutely vital. But, after the
industrial revolution women and men are becoming more and more alike.
Men have become cogs in the system.Women have also been pulled into
the consumerism of an industrialized society and have been forced into
the work place, but still receiveno help at home - a recent study
showed that 9 out of10 men were not 'New Men' and did not help out at
home (The Times, Nov. 1995).
Western society has ignored the balance and told women that for them
to have status they must achieve what men achieve. Western society has
created a new image for women based on the male - and this is very
objectionable. Rather than highlighting her individual strengths, she
is told to compete according to malecriteria in order to have value.
But she is not given any help to cope with her additional
responsibilities."Work, have a career to achieve status - but we
willnot provide crhche facilities, or time off during school
holidays." We are now facing a situation where, as the President of
Bosnia, Alija Ali Izebegovic, said:
"Modern civilization has disgraced motherhood... It has preferred the
calling of a salesgirl, model, teacher of other people's children,
secretary, cleaning woman and so on to that of mother. It has
proclaimed motherhood to be slavery and promised to free women from
it." (Islam Between East and West p.144-145)
So, we have put down the feminine and are saying: 'masculine criteria
is the best, indeed only thing to judge by, feminine criteria is
second class - useless'.
But in Islam both are equal,but they are different. So inIslam we do
not have the situation where: -the logical is perceived as better than
the lateral; the firm is perceived as better than the tender; the
analytical is perceived as better than the intuitive. InIslam women do
not say:"I'm only a housewife" - Where did this ONLY come from? - It
came from taking the masculine criteria as best. Why is being in the
rat-race superior to being a mother? Because we see the masculine as
superior to the feminine. Where is the spirit of the Malcolm X (Malik
El Shabazz) quote:
"If you educate a man you educate one person; if you educate a woman
you educate and liberate a nation".
Women in Islam of course have a role beyond that of motherhood - one
does not spend 25 years preparing for and another 25 years recovering
from motherhood - but the point is do not demean motherhood; and do
not demean and belittle the feminine. Islam offers to women pride in
the feminine. The equal but different roles of men and women in Islam
have to beunderstood, and in understanding - individualscan be
themselves, and thus find a balance and true happiness.
And this peace and securityallows and gives room for the development
of a woman's potential based on her own strengths.
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