Social Concerns, - The Status of Muslim Women in Communal Life

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The status of the Muslim woman in Islam is very noble and lofty, and she has a great influence on the life of every Muslim in her community. Indeed, a Muslim woman is the initial teacher who contributes towards building a righteous society, provided that she follows the guidance of the Book of Allaah and the Sunnah )tradition( of His Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, since adherence to the Quran and the Sunnah keeps every Muslim -- male or female – away from being misguided in any way.
The misguidance and deviation of nations are the result of being far away from the path of Allaah The Almighty and from what His prophets and messengers, may Allaah exalt their mention, came with. The Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said:"I am leaving behind two things, you will not go astray as long as you cling to them, the Book of Allaah and my Sunnah."
The Noble Quran mentions the great importance of the role of Muslim women, whether she is a mother, wife, sister or daughter, her rights and duties, and this has been explained in detail in the purified Sunnah.
Her importance lies in the tremendous burden and responsibility that is placed on her shoulders, and the difficulties that she has to shoulder -- responsibilities and difficulties that are sometimes greater than those which a man has to bear. Hence, one of the most important duties is to show gratitude to the mother, be dutiful to her and accompany her in kindness. In this matter, she is to be given precedence over the father. Allaah The Almighty says )what means(:
پœ}And We have enjoined upon man ]care[ for his parents. His mother carried him, ]increasing her[ in weakness upon weakness, and his weaning is in two years. Be grateful to Me and to your parents; to Me is the ]final[ destination.{]Quran 31:14[
پœ}And We have enjoined upon man, to his parents, good treatment. His mother carried him with hardship and gave birth to him with hardship, and his gestation and weaning ]period[ is thirty months.{]Quran 46:15[
A man came to the Messenger of Allaah, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, and said, "‘O Messenger of Allaah! Who among people is the worthiest of my kind companionship?’ He replied:‘Your mother.’The man asked, ‘Then who?’ He replied:‘Your mother.’The man then asked, ‘Then who?’ So the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, replied again:‘Your mother.’The man then asked, ‘Then who?’ He replied:‘Then your father.’" This implies that the mother should be given three times the dutifulness and good treatment that the father is given.
As regards to the wife, her status and her effect in making the soul tranquil and serene has been clearly shown in the noble Quranic verse where Allaah The Almighty says )what means(:}And of His signs is that He created for you from yourselves mates that you may find tranquility in them; and He placed between you affection and mercy.{]Quran 30:21[ Al-Haafith Ibn Katheer, may Allaah have mercy upon him, commented on this verse, saying, "It encourages love, affection, compassion and piety since the man keeps his wife either because he loves her, or because of compassion and pity for her if he has a child from her."
The unique stance that the Prophet's, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, wife Khadeejah, may Allaah be pleased with her, took in supporting him and calming and reassuring the Messenger of Allaah, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, when the angel Jibreel )Gabriel(, may Allaah exalt his mention, first came to him in the cave of Hiraa’.
The Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, returned to Khadeejah, may Allaah be pleased with him, with the first revelation and with his heart trembling, he said to her:"Cover me! Cover me! I fear for myself."Khadeejah, may Allaah be pleased with her, said, “Rejoice. Never! By Allaah! Will Allaah fail you? You maintain kinship ties with your relatives, you help the poor and the destitute, you serve your guests generously and you assist those who have been afflicted with calamities.”
We should also not forget ‘Aa’ishah, may Allaah be pleased with her, and her great contribution as the great Companions used to acquire the knowledge of Hadeeth )narration( from her, and many of the female Companions learnt the various rulings pertaining to women's issues from her.
In the recent past, during the era of Imaam Muhammad bin Su‘ood, may Allaah have mercy upon him, his wife advised him to accept the call of the revivalist Imaam Muhammad bin ‘Abdul-Wahhaab, may Allaah have mercy upon him, when he offered his call to him. His wife's advice had a great impact on him agreeing to renew and disseminate the Da‘wah )Islamic propagation(. Today we see the effect of that in the firm belief of the citizens of the Arabian Peninsula.
There is also no doubt that a house in which there is kindness, gentleness, love and care, along with the correct Islamic upbringing will greatly affect a man. He becomes – Allaah willing – successful in his affairs and in any matter, whether it is seeking knowledge, trading, agriculture, or any other work.

- PUBLISHERNajimudeeN M

Social Concerns, - Islamization of knowledge

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It is necessary to reform methods of thinking and build a genuine clear vision of its different stages. There is no field of science that cannot be regulated by the comprehensive Quranic perspective, which extends over all its core issues: goals, methods, facts and application.
With knowledge being directed towards the consolidation of power, hegemony,, egoism and transforming scientific accomplishments into weapons against mankind, rather than in his favor, giving an Islamic character to knowledge becomes even more important. It abides by the Quranic vision of the universe, life and the adoption of the framework set by Islam to regulate the scientific movement.
The focal points of the Islamization of knowledge:
The Islamization of knowledge is based on the following focal points:
1- To practice knowledge-based activity )discovery, collection, composition and publication( from an Islamic point of view.
2- To contain all various theoretical and applied human activities and sciences so as to be formed within an Islamic framework.
3- To assure that the capability of the Islamic mind, thought and method keeps up with the needs and challenges of the Ummah )Muslim nation(.
The necessities for the Islamization of knowledge:
The need for knowledge to have an Islamic identity emanates from several necessities:
First: The necessity of creed:
It is to surrender to Allaah, the Lord of all that exists, submitting to His Will, Commands and Prohibitions in all affairs of life. To give an Islamic identity to knowledge in the creed requires:
1- To aid the Muslims all over the world to have a better and more correct understanding of Islam. Thus, being more convinced concerning the right of this religion to lead mankind.
2- To enable the Muslims to acquire the necessary material power to develop their civil life so that they may achieve a suitable position in this world. As a result, they will be capable of encountering the challenges imposed upon them by their enemies who desire that they remain underdeveloped and in poverty.
Second: The necessity of humanity:
It is the endeavor to make the conscious believing person, who is able to resist all forms of rogue )and misleading( knowledge.
Third: The civic necessity:
To protect present and future Muslims from getting dissolved in civilizations other than their own. The aim of giving an Islamic character to civilization is to restore the role of this Ummah in rebuilding the world through knowledge based on the guidance of Allaah The Almighty.
Fourth: The scientific necessity:
It is true that scientific activity, in its material aspect, has been established upon personal gains, ambitions, discovery and the pursuit of being distinguished. However, giving an Islamic character to it encourages scientific activity to flourish in discovering facts and established norms of the universe. Thus, the sources of power and energy that the Book of Allaah The Almighty Referred to will be made evident. He The Almighty called upon the Muslims to extract them to provide mankind with good in abundance.
The role of the Muslim in utilizing the Islamic method for scientific means becomes more important in the age of mass communication, space exploration and computer science. Therefore, it is incumbent that the Muslims have a prominent role in the civil scientific renaissance. This role will establish the necessary base to achieve successive authority on earth and face the challenges of time provided that they endeavor on the basis of the Book of Allaah The Almighty and the Sunnah of His Messenger, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam.
This is the difference between the Muslim scientist and those who only seek to gain wealth and position. They make a mockery of their knowledge for the destruction of mankind rather than facilitating the means of life and pursuing happiness for all people.
Principles of the Islamization of knowledge:
The principles of the Islamization of knowledge vary with the different variety of scientific fields. These principles include:
1- To believe in the Oneness of Allaah The Almighty and reflecting this belief upon all aspects of thought and activity.
2- To believe that man is the vicegerent of Allaah The Almighty on earth, and that He The Almighty Has Subjugated all things in it to his service.
3- To believe in Islam's comprehensive nature and ability to lead the world in all disciplines.
4- To believe in the general nature of Islamic facts in all times, places and associated people.
5- To believe in the necessary agreement of the Divine revelation with the mind.
6- To make Muslims mindful of their religion and their role in life.
7- To unify the concepts and methods of Islamic thought.
8- To encompass the Islamic heritage: The Quran, the Sunnah, the tradition of the Companions, May Allaah Be Pleased with them and their followers from the two subsequent generations, May Allaah Have Mercy upon them and the efforts of the scholars, thinkers and reformers of the Ummah.
9- To be up-to-date with the latest achievements of contemporary knowledge.
10- To renew the basic priorities of scientific research.
11- To compose scientific cadres and provide necessary technical, material and human resources.
12- To care for the role of knowledge, libraries and the Arabic translation of sciences that preceded us.
13- To encourage Arabic in the pursuit of scientific knowledge and giving importance to it because it will be the instrument of Arabic and Islamic thinking until it becomes the )universal( language of science.
14- The disciplining of scientific cadres, competent in more than one single foreign language, to be active elements in the effective transmission of )knowledge from( the developed Western civilizations.
15- To increase individual activity in this respect through investigating the intention of serving Islam and the Ummah in the educational process and performance of scientific research.
16- To provide the necessary resources to conduct scientific research and experiments and rewarding scientists in all scientific fields through the distribution of prizes and raising their financial status.
17- To encourage the excellent youth by investing in them and setting up long-term plans for them to be the scientists of the future.

- PUBLISHERNajimudeeN M

Social Concerns, - Curbing the Causes of Immorality in Society

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Islam not only forbids unlawful sexual intercourse, it also forbids all the means that might lead to it, such as:
• Looking at women:If the eye conveys that which Allah The Almighty has made permissible for it to view, then the heart is protected from trials. However, if the eye conveys that which Allah The Almighty has prohibited, such as images of women and pornography, then the heart becomes sick and the person is afflicted with the ailment of gazing at women. For this reason, Allah The Almighty has prohibited looking at women and immediately followed this prohibition by commanding people to protect their private parts; this is in fact a confirmation of the fact that looking at impermissible things is a precursor to fornication and adultery. Allah The Almighty Says )what means(:}"Tell the believing men to lower their gaze )from looking at forbidden things(, and protect their private parts )from illegal sexual acts(. That is purer for them. Verily, Allah is All-Aware of what they do. And tell the believing women to lower their gaze )from looking at forbidden things(, and protect their private parts and not to show off their adornment except that which is apparent )like eyes for necessity to see the way, or outer palms of hands or dress like veil, gloves(."{]Quran, 24: 30-31[
• Intermixing between men and women, and men being in seclusion with women:The reason behind this prohibition is that it could lead to the establishment of illicit relationships between men and women that usually end up with them committing fornication or adultery. The Prophet, sallAllahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said:“Whenever a man is alone with a woman, Satan is the third in their company.”]At-Tirmithi[
This is by no means an accusation of being unable to control one's desires, rather, it is a reference to the natural inclination between them. It is also a warning that this inclination could transgress Allah's limits and result in fornication or adultery due to the prohibited act of being alone and with the influence of Satan.
Some ignorant people object to this Hadeeth )narration( claiming that even if Satan was the third, their conscience would be the fourth! They forget, or pretend to, that the temptation of women can outstrip the effect of the conscience, the mind, one's chastity and even one's religion; and that for every one person who can control himself when alone with a marriageable woman, there are thousands who cannot.
If one analyses the causes behind the widespread incidents of rape in the West, which are in the millions, one will discover that very many of them resulted from men and women being alone together, and this is most common in those countries which are the most open sexually.
Intermixing is a dangerous practice which many people indulge in under the guise of being civilized and up-to-date with the new developments of the century, as well as the claimed equal rights of men and women. This practice has removed bashfulness from the hearts of men and women; it is a way by which Satan corrupts the hearts, incites sexual desires and entices people to commit prohibitions. Indeed, many cases of betrayal and subsequent divorce are due to intermixing between men and women.
• Limiting women in the extent to which they are allowed to leave their homes:Islam has commanded Muslim women to remain in their homes and to cover up in front of unrelated men and clarified that this is perfect chastity, complete virtue and a purification of the hearts. Allah The Almighty Says )what means(:}"And stay in your houses, and do not display yourselves like that of the times of ignorance" )Al-Ahzaab: 33( and: "And when you ask )his wives( for anything you want, ask them from behind a screen, that is purer for your hearts and for their hearts."{]Quran, 33: 53[
Women leaving their home must do so only for necessity and whenever they do go out they must remain within the boundaries set by Islam so that they do not become a target for men who are out to take advantage of them. When a woman goes out for a necessity she must adhere to full Hijaab and reveal nothing of her internal or external adornment. She must not wear short, tight, transparent clothes or something with a split which exposes part of her legs. Decorated garments are also prohibited for women as well as garments with wide sleeves which reveal her arms, or any other type of clothing which is attractive and eye-catching. To emphasize this, the Prophet, sallAllahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, even forbade women who wished to perform the act of worship of congregational prayer from attending the Masjid if they were perfumed, by saying:“Any woman who wears perfume should not attend the ‘Ishaa’ prayer )i.e. must remain at home(.”]Muslim[
The Prophet, sallAllahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, even forbade women from walking in the middle of walkways so that they would not mix with men. Abu Usayd, may Allah be pleased with him, said that he heard the Prophet, sallAllahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, addressing women while he was leaving the mosque and noticed that men and women had mixed, so he said:“Stay back, you )women( do not have the right to control the middle of the way; but use the sides of the road.”]Abu Daawood[ Thereafter, women would walk so close to the walls that their garments would stick to them.
• Forbidding soft talk and tender tones:Immorality is reached through different means; by sight, actions or words. Therefore, Allah The Almighty forbade the believing women from being soft in their speech while talking to men; Allah The Almighty Says )what means(:}"O wives of the Prophet! You are not like any other women. If you keep your duty )to Allah(, then be not soft in speech, lest he in whose heart is a disease )of hypocrisy, or evil desire for adultery( should be moved with desire, but speak in an honourable manner."{]Quran, 33: 32[
Women today slight this issue. In fact, many women intentionally soften their tone whilst talking to men; prolong the conversation and exchange laughter and looks. This is exactly how sinful relationships between men and women are initiated.

- PUBLISHERNajimudeeN M