ISLAMIC ARTICLE :- ~ Muslim women in married life

Relationships based on worldly values can degenerate into baseness, as
often happens in marriage. When people's love and respect is based on
these values, they can lose these feelings quickly when circumstances
change. This is almost inevitable when love, respect, and loyalty
depend on one's beauty, wealth, health, job, or status, for when these
temporary and superficial characteristics disappear, so will the other
person's love. Someone who follows such criteria will find no reason
to continueto love and honor his or her spouse when the basisfor those
values is lost.
Belief, fear and respect of Allah, and decency of character are what
make love, respect, and loyalty endure. Someone who loves his or her
spouse for their belief and character will, in married life, be
respectful, loyal, and decent. Losing one's youth, health, or beauty
will not affect the love andconsideration among spouses for each
other, and neither will losing one's wealth or social status. They
will not cause trouble or discontent to the other person because of
their firm belief and fear and respect of Allah, whatever the
circumstances. Believers will always be gentle and compassionate, as
well as fair and tolerant, for they will consider this to be a
responsibility entrusted tothem by Allah. Islamic morality has a very
high opinion of women and seeks to prevent them from suffering any
difficulties or hardships. Thus, believing men safeguard the rights of
women and are most considerate toward them.
So close is the marital relationship that the Qur'an says of the
spouses: "They are clothing for you, and you for them" (Surat
al-Baqara: 187). In this verse, Allah reminds people that each spouse
has equal responsibilities. The word "clothing" stands for the
responsibility of guarding and protecting one another and also
suggests that men and women have complementary qualities.
Another verse states the importance of love and compassion in
marriage: "Among His Signs is that He created spouses for you of your
own kind, sothat you might find tranquillity in them. And He has
placed affection and compassion between you. There are certainly Signs
in that forpeople who reflect" (Surat ar-Rum: 21). Believers consider
their spouses to be gifts that Allah has given into their care, and
therefore value one another greatly. They show affection and
compassion when their spouse makes a mistake or falls short in some
way, and know that behaving according to the Qur'an will help them
overcome all difficulties and solve their problems. As a
result,marriage helps both spouses find contentment and peace.
With the phrase "you have been intimate withone another" (Surat
an-Nisa': 21), Allah proclaims the closeness and intimacy of married
life. The secret of this closeness, intimacy, and valuing of each
other is their intention to create an everlasting togetherness that
will extend into the Hereafter. True loyalty and love requires this
attitude. Since their love is neither selfish nor temporary, but
intended to be everlasting,they are completely loyal, close, honest,
and intimatewith one another.
Qur'an's morality forms the basis for a marital relationship based on
togetherness, one in which both parties fear and respect Allah and
follow His morality. In such a relationship, each person's loyalty,
faithfulness, love, sincerity,tolerance, and modesty complement and
support the other person. Such a marriage is stable and long-lasting.
The marriages of people without these qualities, onthe other hand, are
short-lived.
Islam considers marriage to be a comfort for women, for in it she
experiences love, respect, loyalty, and faithfulness in the best
possible way. She is always respected, valued, and honored. The
absence of any pride, superiority complex, and lies enables her to
find peace and contentment.
Being Protective of Women
By proclaiming "We send down in the Qur'an that which is a healing and
a mercy to the believers," (Surat al-Isra': 82) Allah states that
Islamic morality will always directpeople toward the good and that the
Qur'an's verses are a mercy for them. These verses, revealed to create
contentment and justice among people, guarantee the rights of women in
both their social and family lives. And, the verse "We bring you the
truth and the best of explanations" (Surat al-Furqan: 33) makes
clearthe fact that the Qur'an contains all of the knowledge needed to
findthe value, love, and respect that they deserve in every aspect of
their lives.
This is a great mercy, comfort, and gift from Allah for women as well.

ISLAMIC ARTICLE :- ~ Sincerity and Sincere Advice by al-Imaam an-Nawawee

... eness and submissiveness) when doing so. To correctly reciteits
letters. To defend it from the misinterpretations of the people who
make tahreef (corruption and changes) and from the onslaught of those
who attack it. To believe in what is in it. To affirm its rulings.
That you learn its sciences and examples. That you take heed of its
warnings and ponder over its amazing matters. That you act upon those
things that are clear and that you submit to those which are not so
clear. That you seek after those matters which are general and
specific, abrogated and abrogating. To promulgate its sciences and to
call to it. All of this being sincerity to it. As regards sincerity to
Allaah'sMessenger - then it is: to testify to the truth that he was
sent with. To obey himin what he ordered and forbade. To aid and
assist him in life and in death. To be at enmity with those who are
his enemies. To align oneself with those that have allegiance to him.
To respect his rights and his honour. To revive his way and his
Sunnah. To spread his da'wah and his Sharee'ah. To expel any doubts
that are raised against it. To give ones full attention to the
sciences ofHadeeth. To gain understanding of its meaning and to call
to it. To have mildness and kindness in learning and teaching it. To
give due place and importance to it. To display correct manners when
reading it. To withhold from speaking about it without due knowledge.
To give due respect to its people because of their attachment to it.
To take on board its manners and conduct. To love the Ahlul-Bayt and
his Sahaabah. To avoid those who introduce bida' (innovations) into
his Sahaabah, and to avoid those who attack even a single one of his
Sahaabah. Sincerity to the leaders: It is to help them upon the truth.
To obey them in it. To order them with it. To remind and advise them,
with kindness and gentleness. To make them aware of what they are
heedless and neglectful of To help them fulfill those rights of the
Muslims that have not reached them yet.Not to rebel against them. To
enamour the hearts of the people with obedience to them. Al-Khattaabee
- rahimahullaah - says:"From sincerity to them is Prayer behind them,
Jihaadalong with them, to give the Zakaah to them and not to rebel
against them with the sword when injustice or bad treatment appears
from them. And that they are not praised with false praises and that
du'aa is made for their righteousness." All of this isbased upon the
fact that what is meant by the leader of the Muslims is ...

ISLAMIC ARTICLE :- ~ Solution to inequality between men and women: the values of the Qur'an

In societies devoid of real justice, the inequality of women and men
is a serious social issue posing major problems. In many countries
around the world, women are often treated as second-class citizens and
even outcasts.Perceived as weak and protection-seeking beings,they are
often abused. For the same reason, they do not hold a role in society
that commands respect or authority.
In societies where such prejudices prevail, a woman with a
remarkablecareer in business life hardly finds acceptance. Generally,
women are regarded as people who lack self-confidence and
determination, and who have poor intellectual faculties. This
rationalization of a"woman-stereotype" in society wrongly serves as an
explanation for every mistake a woman makes. In reality, such mistakes
are not peculiar to womenbut are universal among human beings.
Among candidates applying for job vacancies,men are usually favored
over women, even if they possess exactly the same backgrounds,
intelligence and skills. This tendency explains why there are limited
opportunities available to women in business life.
On the other hand, the majority of women identify with this image
attributed to them. This identification makes them readily assume the
inferiorroles assigned to them in many societies.
Prejudices in social life towards gender differences have striking
consequences in underdeveloped countries.Let alone their entitlementto
education and work, they are even deprived of making their own
decisions about marriage. All sorts of women's personal decisions rest
either with their fathers orhusbands.
There is an on-going effortto provide solutions to these flawed
implementations only a few of which have been included here.
Associationsfounded to protect women's rights, concepts such as
freedom and equality or the feminist movement or seminars, panels and
discussions have not contributed much towards a workable solution. All
these efforts prove that these solutions inherently breed more
complications. This is a natural consequence since the real solution,
as in all other domains, is unique: adherence to the Qur'an.
In a society adhering to the Qur'an and the Sunnah, no prejudicial
distinction is made between the individuals ofa society whether
women,men, wealthy, poor, youngor old. Social standing, profession,
wealth, or gender do not make people enjoy particular privileges. The
good deedsone engages in and one's fear of Allah distinguish one, as
is alluded to in the verse "Take provision, but the best provision is
fear of Allah." (Surat al-Baqara: 197) In the Qur'an, people are not
classified prejudicially as men or women. Allah addresses both men and
women having faith in Him and engaging in gooddeeds. Allah stresses
the importance of living by the values He commands. In that respect,
being maleor female has no significance. Some of the verses stressing
this are asfollows:
The men and women of the believers are friends of one another. They
command what is right and forbid what is wrong and perform prayer and
give the alms, and obey Allah andHis Messenger. They are the people on
whom Allah will have mercy. Allah is Almighty, All-Wise. Allah has
promised the men and women of the believers Gardens with rivers
flowing under them, remaining in them timelessly, for ever, and fine
dwellings in the Gardens of Eden. And Allah's good pleasure is even
greater. That is the great victory. (Surat at-Tawba: 71-72)
Men and women who are Muslims, men and women who are believers, men
and women who are obedient, men and women who are truthful,men and
women who are steadfast, men and women who are humble, men and women
who give in charity, men and womenwho fast, men and women who guard
their private parts, men and women who remember Allah much: Allah has
prepared forgiveness for them and an immense reward. (Surat al-Ahzab:
35)
Anyone, male or female, who does right actions and is a believer, will
enter the Garden. They will not be wronged by so much as the tiniest
speck. (Surat an-Nisa': 124)
The Trouble Women Suffer in Social Life
In societies distant from religion, women encounter many difficulties,
and, in particular, those experienced after a divorce deserve special
mention. A divorce createsmany problems for a woman who has been
prevented from working by her husband and hencehas come to depend
economically upon him.
That the majority of women do not have a profession, that they are not
young enough to go to work or that they are not entitled to any social
rights make conditions hard for divorced women.

HADEES - ~

The Prophet (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) said: "If my Ummah bears
fifteen traits, tribulation will befallit." Someone asked, "What are
they, O Messenger of Allah?" He said, "When any gain is shared out
only among the rich, with no benefit to the poor; when atrust becomes
a means of making a profit; when paying Zakat becomes a burden; when a
man obeyshis wife and disobeys his mother; and treats his friend
kindly whilst shunning his father; when voices are raised in the
mosques; when the leader of a people is the worst of them; when people
treat a man with respect because they fear some evil he maydo; when
much wine is drunk; when men wear silk; when female singers and
musical instruments become popular; when the last ones of this Ummah
curse the first ones - then let them expect a red wind,or the earth to
swallow them, or to be transformedinto animals." [Tirmidhi]
This hadith lists some of the evils that will befall theUmmah in its
last days. Because of our committing these sins we will deserve to be
punished. It is scary to see how many of these sins are now rampant
amongst Muslims.
The first sin mentioned is that the wealthy will keep wealth among
themselves exclusively, not letting it circulate and benefit the poor.
Look at current tax laws and you will see this to be true. Another
manifestation of this sin is the invitation of rich relatives to
celebrations but not poor ones. This is also a way of keeping
goodthings among the rich only,as it excludes the poor from even
benefiting from a meal.
When people hold certain positions but only do their job when they are
bribed, this amounts to using a trust to make a profit. Holding a
position of responsibility is a trust/amanat, but we see politicians,
government servants and many others, instead bent on profiteering.
Another example of using a trust to make a profit is the practice of
banks loaning out to others on interest the money that people keep as
safekeeping with them.
The third trait mentioned in this hadith is that zakat will become a
burden. This is also evident today. How many people happily give
zakat, despite it being a purification of wealth and source of great
reward with Allah (subhana wa ta'ala)?
A man obeying his wife in preference to his mother is also a sin. This
is provided that neither of them is asking him to do something haraam
or that which compromises any other's rights. There is no obedience if
that obedience entails disobedience of Allah's prescribed rules and
laws.
Unfortunately, we also see among Muslims today that friends take
precedence over family, although rights through kinship are highly
stressed in Islam. We also see people raising their voices in mosques
in argumentation and quarrels. The worst of a people being the leader
of that nation also appears to be the case in many Muslimmajority
countries around the world. Consequently, people are afraid of the
evilof their leaders and despitetheir wickedness thus treatthem with
respect.
As for the last four traits: Many members of the Muslim Ummah are
gripped in the vice of drinking alcohol; many don't think much of the
sin of men wearing silk; female singers and music are entrenched in
the popular culture of Muslims;and some deviant sects also engage in
the repulsive sin of bad mouthing the first generation of Muslims.
We need to seriously repent and ask Allah (subhana wa ta'ala) to
saveus from the punishments that befall the sinful.