them two women restraining their flock. He said, "What ails you?" The
two said, "We cannot give our flock to drink unless the shepherds
return from the water, and our father is a very old man." So he
watered their flock for them. Then he returned aside into the shade
and said, "My Lord! I am needy of whatever good Thou send down for
me." ( Surah 28: Verse 22-24)
The HolyQurannarrates numerous events including stories of the nations
of past. It gives the accounts of Allah's Prophets and Messengers and
also mentions both groups of men, those who disbelieved and denied the
Prophets and those who believed and obeyed Allah's Message.
TheQuranrelates all these events in context to the purpose of its
revelation, that is, to invite mankind towards Allah, to define the
path of worship and obedience, and to warn about the way leading to
Divine Wrath.
Historic events are mentioned only as examples for mankind to draw
conclusions and to learn desired lessons. For that reason, it narrates
the conditions of various nations at the time when Prophets were sent
to them. It recounts the hardships endured by Prophets during their
efforts to steer their nations from darkness to the Light, and also
highlights the difference between the fate of the rejecters of Faith
and of the believers. TheQuranrecounts all this to enable the reader
to reflect and decide the best course for himself. Although theQuranic
narration of history is the most perfect and the absolute truth, yet
the mere narration of history has never been the subject ofQuran. Thus
it does not tell the whole story at one place, but refers to its
different events at appropriate places, so as to highlight the desired
lessons.
The holy verses mention the tyranny of Pharaoh, the events of Prophet
Musa'sflight to Madyan and his meeting with Prophet Shoaib. In
addition to the grand sacrifices and steadfastness of ProphetMusaand
the piety and greatness of Prophet Sho'aib-as, these verses mention an
extraordinary event which is full of tremendous wisdom and lessons for
human civilisation. As ProphetMusa-asapproached Madyan, he came upon a
well on the outskirts of the city where people brought their cattle to
drink. A large crowd of herdsmen with their cattle had gathered at the
well. Amongst these herdsmen, he found two young girls holding their
flock to one side. He was genuinely surprised to find these young
girls there and inquired about their odd presence in an all-male
business.
conditions and norms
They replied that they had also brought their flock for water and were
waiting for the others to leave the site before they could take their
turn. They added that their father was old and could not do this job
himself. In this small sentence,Allahhas laid down theconditions and
normsfor women to participate in various spheres of human activity
outside the four walls of their homes.
A woman ispermitted to step outof her house if there isnone else to
workoutside. Those women who have a man such as father, brother,
husband or son to work for them, are not required to go out of their
homes. But, if the male member(s) of the family are sick or old or
can't work for some reason, then women are permitted to go out and
work - under compulsion.
They must not starve to death within their homes, nor should they beg
or steal, but should adopt a respectable means to earn their living.
However, such women should not mix freely with the working men and
must always keep their proper distance. Thispoint has been
highlightedin the referred verses. The two young girls had come out of
their home under compulsion, but they waited aside for the male
shepherds to leave the site before they took their turn.
Here, two conditions have been laid down when women may come out of
their homes to work;
*.first, when there is no male member of the family to undertake this
obligation,
*.second, when they don't have any source of livelihood, and are
required to earn their bread by themselves.
Current Situation
Our society is infested with strange customs which have actually
beenborrowedfrom the Hindus andinjectedinto this Muslim culture. The
notion that women are inferior or worthless is amythof Hindu cult,
which assigns no significance to them - whatsoever. When the husband
dies, the wife must be cremated with him; otherwise, she would have to
spend her remaining life as an untouchable and detested creature. Even
her near ones won't speak to her and she would be sentenced to
solitary confinement, living a dog's life, performing menial jobs.
We have imported this concept from Hinduism. We too, highlight her
weaknesses emphatically and present her as a worthless and loathsome
member of the human race - thisattitude is certainly wrong.
Message of Islam
Islam is the message oflove for all of humanity; a woman is as good a
member of the human family as is a man. Islam has assigned different
responsibilities and duties to both, keeping in view theirphysical,
mental and psychological potentialsand capacities. Both shall appear
before the same Lord, at the same place and account for their deeds.A
disbelieving man shall be sentenced to the same hell as a disbelieving
woman, and a blessed woman would undoubtedly enjoy the same Divine
Bliss in Paradise asa man would.
As human beings, both follow the same pattern in life. They are born
alike, exist alike, taste the same death, would be raised in the same
manner and would likewise face the consequences of their deeds. They
have been created with different physical, mental and psychological
capabilities. Their requirements and responsibilities, therefore, are
also different. However, both of them are of equal importance as
members of the human race.
A Misconception
On the plea that there has not been a female Prophet, some consider
women as inferior. However, the advocates of this argument tend to
forget that, althoughAllahcreated a Prophet without father, there is
no evidence of amotherlessProphet in the entire human race. Except for
the first human being and a Prophet, whomAllahcreated without a father
or a mother, there is no other instance of a Prophet being born
without a mother.
Without exception, everyProphet was born and brought upin the warm,
loving lap of his mother. If she was such a detestable creature,
thenwhywas every Prophet and Messenger born and brought up in her lap?
Yes, she is not a Prophet but isn't shethe mother of a Prophet? Isn't
she hisloving daughter? Doesn't she share his life ashis wife?
In Paradise, the residence of the holy Prophet will be located at the
most blessed and sublime station. There would be no other house or
person in the vicinity, except his holy wives who will also be
livingwithhim in his house. So how is a woman bad or inferior? In
fact, we have borrowed thisfalse notionfrom the Hindus of the Indian
subcontinent.
Duties and Responsibilites
The natural division of duties and responsibilities of men and women
can be illustrated by the following example.
Suppose a person wants to grow a beautiful orchard, for which he
requires two workers. The first should be physically strong to
undertake hard work such as tilling the earth, planting trees, digging
water channels, etc. He should be strong enough to protect the garden
and work outside at his own.
The second worker, required to look after the plants, may not be as
strong, but should be more caring and loving than the first one. This
worker, by natural instinct, must understand and care for the
requirements and needs of each budding plant and blossoming flower.
This worker's love should so distribute the food and nourishment that
plants should neither die of shortage nor of excess.
The relatively frail body of the second worker must possess a strong
but sensitive and tender heart, because the job is not to protect the
garden but nurture the plants fondly and tenderly.
In my opinion, this task is more delicate and subtle.Allahhas
entrusted thisdelicate and sensitive
responsibilityofraisingandeducatingthe human race to a woman, whilst
the job of aman is to earn and protectit; this is the natural division
of their responsibilities. Both are equally responsible, and I think
the job of a woman is more important.
Continued to Part 2...
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