For children, - Woman is the only creature that can bring up individuals in her lap, who would be blessed enough to lead a society, even societies, to endurance and elevated human values.[ Imam Khomeini, May Allah bless his soul]

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The PARTY PLANNER who makes you popular.
The SINGER who taught childhood songs.
The LIGHT that guides through dark moments.
The EGO BUILDER, picking you up when you're down.
The DRUGGIST who knows the cure for your pain.
The PRAYING HANDS that guide spiritually.
The GUARDIAN ANGEL who keeps you safe.
The FRIEND who puts real meaning into "I Love You"!
And the paradise is under the feet of your mothers - Prophet Muhammad (saw)
Happy Mothers Day is a time of commemoration and celebration in honor of all kind and affectionate mothers of the universe. It is a time of family gatherings, and crayon scribbled "I Love You Mother".

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Welcome to Islam, - *The distorted image of Muslim women

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Since the height of the feminist movement in the late 70's there has been a magnifying glass placed over the status of Muslim women. Unfortunately, the magnifying glass that has been used is an unusual one.
Unusual in the sense that it is very selective about which items it will magnify; other items it will distort to such a degree that they will no longer look familiar. I remember once reading an "in depth" article about the lives of Muslim women. This article "explained" that at any time a man can divorce his wife by simply stating "I divorce you, I divorce you, I divorce you".
This article can lead anyone ignorant of the Islamic ruling regarding divorce to believe that in less than five seconds the woman is left with no husband and is left to care for herself )and possibly children( by any means necessary.
The question that immediately popped up in my mind was, "Did the author innocently write that out of sincere ignorance or was it another of the many attempts to degrade the religion of Islam and its followers )Muslims(?" It may be out of paranoia, but I tend to believe it was the latter of the two.
The truth of the matter is that Islam has the most humane and most just system of divorce that exists. Firstly, many options are taken and tried before coming to the decision of divorce. If the man and woman decide that they can no longer live together successfully as a husband and wife, the husband )in most cases, not always( pronounces the divorce by saying "I divorce you". At this point the waiting period begins.
The waiting period lasts for three menstrual cycles to assure the woman is not pregnant. This period allows the couple time to think about what they are doing and if this is what they really want to do. There are no lawyers involved to antagonize an already delicate situation.
In the case that it is realized, that the woman is pregnant, the waiting period lasts the entire time she is pregnant. During the waiting period )whether the woman is pregnant or not( the man is obligated to provide food, clothing and shelter to the woman as he did before the divorce pronouncement.
If the couple carries the divorce through to the birth of the child and the woman suckles the baby, the man is obligated to feed and clothe both his ex-wife for the time the woman suckles )the maximum being two years(. After his weaning, the child will be provided for by the father until he/she is no longer in need of support.
It is quite ironic that in such an "advanced society" as America, there are divorce cases in which women are being forced to pay alimony to their ex-husbands. Can this and many other things we know about the American system of divorce compare to the Islamic system of divorce?
I have also read stories wherein it is stated that women are forced to marry men without their consent. This in no way resembles the marriage system in Islam. In Islam the woman marries the man of her choice. She may even marry someone that her mother and/or father objects to.
The point is that it is the woman who makes the final decision as to whom she will marry. Once the man and the woman decide that they are interested in one another for marriage, a dowry is decided upon. A dowry is not a bride’s price but it is a gift from the groom to the bride.
They agree upon a gift that is affordable by the groom. In the time of the Prophet, sallallahu alayhi wa sallam , often things such as livestock and money were given. This is a wise decision in the event that a woman becomes divorced or widowed, she has some financial security to fall back on even if it is for a limited amount of time. Once the man and woman are married, the man is required to clothe, feed, shelter and educate her )or allow her to be educated( in the same manner as he does himself.
The last distorted image that I will cover is that of the Muslim women's dress. The western-influenced media portrays our dress to be outdated and oppressive. Needless to say, I differ with these adjectives. Our dress code does not hinder us from doing anything productive in our lives.
Muslim women maintain a variety of jobs, none of which are devalued nor hampered due to their dress code. And as for the timing of Muslim women's dress during these contemporary times, it seems most appropriate due to decreasing morals in the world today.
For those who say that Islamic dress is outdated, they speak from great ignorance. The decreasing morality and trials of this time makes Hijab even more in need. More than ever before sex crimes are rampant.
Although this society tells women they can wear what they want to wear, anytime a rape occurs the woman is the one put on trial and one of the first questions is, "What were you wearing?" This concept seems as though it is a set up directed against the so-called contemporary woman. Also there is a direct correlation between the respect a man has for a woman and the amount of her body she displays flauntingly.
In conclusion, I hope this article helps to clear up some distorted/misunderstood aspects of Islam and women. Women in Islam are respected and held in high regard. We will never find success and/or solutions to our problems until we realize that Allaah knows best and that this disbelieving society will ruin itself.

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Welcome to Islam, - *Are Muslim women oppressed?

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Among the many topics of interest to non-Muslims, the status of Muslim women and the theme of their rights -- or rather, the perceived lack of them – seems to be foremost. The media’s portrayal of Muslim women, usually outlining their “oppression and mystery” seems to contribute to this negative perception.
The main reason for this is that people often fail to distinguish between culture and religion -- two things that are completely different. In fact, Islam condemns oppression of any kind whether it is towards a woman or humankind in general.
The Quran is the sacred book by which Muslims live. This book was revealed 1400 years ago to a man named Muhammad, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, )may Allaah exalt his mention( who would later become the Prophet, may Allaah exalt his mention. Fourteen centuries have passed and this book has not been changed since, not one letter has been altered.
In chapter 33, entitled Soorah Al-Ahzaab )The Clans(, verse 59 Allaah The Exalted Almighty Says )what means(:"O Prophet, tell your wives and your daughters and the woman of the believers to bring down over themselves )part( of their outer garments. That is more suitable that they will be known )as free respectable women( and not be abused. And ever is Allaah Forgiving and Merciful."]Quran 33:59[ This verse shows that Islam makes wearing a Hijaab necessary. Hijaab is the word used for covering, not only the headscarves )as some people may think( but also wearing loose clothes that are not too bright.
Sometimes, people see covered Muslim women and they think of this as oppression. This is wrong. A Muslim woman is not oppressed, in fact, she is liberated. This is because she is no longer valued for something material, such as her good looks or the shape of her body. She compels others to judge her for her intelligence, kindness, honesty and personality. Therefore, people judge her for who she actually is.
When Muslim women cover their hair and wear loose clothes, they are obeying the orders of their Lord to be modest, not cultural or social mores. In fact, Christian nuns cover their hair out of modesty, yet no one considers them “oppressed”. By following the command of Allaah, Muslim women are doing the exact same thing.
The lives of the people who responded to the Quran have changed drastically. It had a tremendous impact on so many people, especially women, since this was the first time that the souls of man and women were declared equal -- with the same obligations as well as the same rewards.
For the first time in history, women were granted economic independence in Islam. The money they bring in to marriage is theirs as well as the money they earn. In Islam, women are allowed to choose their own husbands and in extreme cases, ask for divorce. A woman has the right to be educated, contrary to what the contemporary world might think. The responsibility is that of the person who is raising her.
Islam is a religion that holds women in high regard. Long ago, when baby boys were born, they brought great joy to the family. The birth of a girl was greeted with considerably less joy and enthusiasm. Sometimes, girls were hated so much that they were buried alive. Islam has always been against this irrational discrimination against girls and female infanticide.
The Prophet Muhammad, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam, said:"Seeking knowledge is mandatory for every Muslim )male and female(."Men and women both have the capacity for learning and understanding. Since it is also their obligation to promote good behavior and condemn bad behavior in all spheres of life, Muslim women must acquire the appropriate education to perform this duty in accordance with their own natural talents and interests.
While maintenance of their homes, providing support to the husband and bearing, raising and teaching children are among the first and very highly regarded roles for a woman, if she has the skills to work outside the home for the good of the community, she may do so. However, this is allowed only as long as her family obligations are met and as long as she complies with the Islamic code of dress and conduct, with no intermingling with men in the workplace.
Islam recognizes and fosters the natural differences between men and women despite their equality. Some types of work are more suitable for men and other types for women. This differentiation in no way diminishes the effort or benefit of one gender over the other. God will reward both genders equally for the value of their work, though it may not necessarily be within the same sphere of activity.
The two great roles a woman plays in life are that of a wife and a mother. The Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, once said to a group of Companions, may Allaah be pleased with them:"The best among you are those who are the best to their wives."This shows that Islam highly encourages treating the wives well. They should be shown love, respect and care. To foster the love and security that comes with marriage, Muslim wives have various rights. The first of the wife's rights is to receive dowry, a gift from the husband, which is part of the marriage contract and required for the legality of the marriage.
The second right of a wife is maintenance. Despite any wealth she may have, her husband is obligated to provide her with food, shelter and clothing. He is not forced, however, to spend beyond his capability and his wife is not entitled to make unreasonable demands.
Concerning motherhood, the Prophet Muhammad, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam, said: "Heaven lies under the feet of mothers."This implies that the success of a society can be traced to the mothers who raised it. The first and greatest influence on a person comes from the sense of security, affection and training received from the mother. Therefore, a woman having children must be educated and conscientious in order to be a skillful parent.
A man came to the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam, and asked: "Who among my kinfolk is worthy of my good companionship?" The Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, replied: "Your mother" three times before saying: "Your father."This indicates the impact that a mother has in a person's life. So women are highly honored in this great religion.
Islam is a religion that treats women fairly. The Muslim woman was given a role, duties and rights 1400 years ago that most women do not enjoy even today in the West. These rights are from God and are designed to maintain a balance in society; what may seem “unjust” or “missing” in one place is compensated for or explained in another place.

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Welcome to Islam, - *Does Islam degrade women?

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The image of the typical Muslim woman wearing the veil, forced to stay home, and forbidden to drive is all too common in most peoples' thoughts.
The status of women in Islam is often the target of attacks in the secular media. The ‘Hijaab,’ or Islamic dress code for women, is cited by many as an example of the ‘subjugation’ of women under Islamic law. Before mentioning the reasoning behind the religiously mandated Hijaab, let us first study the status of women in societies before the advent of Islam.
In the past, women were degraded and generally used as objects of lust.
The following are examples from history which amply illustrate the fact that the status of women in earlier civilisations was very low, to the extent that they were denied basic human dignity:
A.Babylonian Civilisation:
Women were degraded and denied all rights under the Babylonian law. If a man murdered a woman, instead of him being punished, his wife was put to death.
B.Greek Civilisation:
Greek Civilisation is considered the most glorious of all ancient civilisations. Under this very ‘glorious’ system, women were deprived of all rights and were looked down upon. In Greek mythology, an imaginary woman called ‘Pandora’ was the root cause of misfortune of human beings. The Greeks considered women to be subhuman and inferior to men. Prostitution became a regular practice amongst all classes of Greek society.
C.Roman Civilisation:
When Roman Civilisation was at the zenith of its ‘glory’, a man even had the right to unjustifiably take the life of his wife. Prostitution and nudity were common practice amongst the Romans.
D.Egyptian Civilisation:
The Egyptians considered women to be evil and a sign of the devil.
E.Pre-Islamic Arabia:
Before Islam spread in Arabia, the Arabs looked down upon women and very often, when a female child was born, she was buried alive.
When Islam came, it uplifted women and gave them equality and expected them to maintain their status. Islam raised the status of women and granted them their just rights 1400 years ago.
Too often the image of a covered woman is used to represent what much of the world views as oppression. Her very existence is described in terms that convey ignorance and unhappiness. Words like, beaten, repressed and oppressed are bandied about by the western media in a desperate attempt to convince the readers that women in Islam have no rights. Descriptive and intrinsically oppressive terms such as shrouded and shackled are used to portray an image of women who have no minds and who are the slaves or possessions of their husbands and fathers.
This is a misconception of the real image of women in Islam. In Islam, a woman has the basic freedom of choice and expression based on recognition of her individual personality. She is free to choose her religion. The Quran states what means:"There shall be no compulsion in ]acceptance of[ religion. The right course has become clear from error… "]Quran: 2:256[
In Islam, women are encouraged to contribute their opinions and ideas. There are many traditions of the Prophetsallallaahu'alayhi wa sallam)may Allaah exalt his mention( which indicate women would pose questions directly to him and offer their opinions concerning religion, economics and social matters.
A Muslim woman chooses her husband and keeps her name after marriage. A Muslim woman's testimony is valid in legal disputes. In fact, in areas in which women are more familiar, their evidence is conclusive.
The reason why Hijaab is prescribed for women is mentioned in the Quran in the following verses of Surah Al-Ahzaab:"O Prophet! Tell your wives and your daughters and women of the believers to bring down over themselves ]part[ of their outer garments. That is more suitable that they will be known ]as chaste, believing women[ and not be abused. And ever is Allaah Forgiving and Merciful."]Quran: 33:59[
The Quran says that Hijaab has been prescribed for women so that they are recognised as being modest women, which may also prevent them from being molested. Suppose two equally beautiful twin sisters walk down a street. One of them is attired in the Islamic Hijaab, i.e. the complete body is covered, except for the face and the hands up to the wrists. The other sister is wearing western clothes, such as a miniskirt or shorts. Around the corner is a lout who is waiting for a catch to tease a girl. Whom will he tease - the girl wearing the Islamic Hijaab or the girl wearing the miniskirt or shorts? Naturally, he will tease the girl in the more revealing dress. Such dresses are an indirect invitation to the opposite sex for teasing and molestation. The Quran rightly says that Hijaab prevents women from being molested.
Under the Islamic Sharee'ah )Law(, a man convicted of having raped a woman is given capital punishment. Many are astonished at this ‘harsh’ sentence. Some even say that Islam is a ruthless, barbaric religion! I have asked a simple question to hundreds of non-Muslim men. Suppose, God forbid, that someone were to rape your wife, your mother or your sister. You are made the judge and the rapist is brought in front of you. What punishment would you give him? All of them, without exception, said that they would put him to death. Some went to the extent of saying they would torture him to death. To them I ask that if someone rapes your wife or your mother you want to put him to death, but if the same crime is committed on somebody else’s wife or daughter you say capital punishment is barbaric? Why should there be double standards?
Western Society Falsely Claims to have Uplifted Women
In western countries, where liberation encompasses unlimited freedom, women are actually finding themselves living lives that are unsatisfying and meaningless. In their quest for liberation, they have abandoned the ideals of morality and stability and found themselves in marriages and families that bear little resemblance to "real life". What is so liberating about being forced to work all day and coming home at night to housework? What is so liberating about having babies who, at six weeks of age, can be deposited in child care centres to learn their behaviour and morality from strangers?
Western talk of women’s liberation is nothing but a disguised form of exploitation of her body, degradation of her soul, and deprivation of her honour. Western society claims to have ‘uplifted’ women. On the contrary, it has actually degraded them to the status of concubines, mistresses and society butterflies who are mere tools in the hands of pleasure seekers and sex marketers.
In conclusion, the Muslim woman was given a role, duties and rights 1400 years ago that most women do not enjoy today - even in the West. These are from God and are designed to keep balance in society; what may seem unjust or missing in one place is compensated for or explained in another place.

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