Depression? Suppression? Oppression?
Reading time: 2 - 4 minutes
By Khadija Bradley
Only within the past few months has it been more than evident that people in the general masses do not understand the beauty of Islam. Especially, when it comes to the position, and equality of women in the deen.
Some sisters may feel lost during Discover Imaan Week when they start to question what in terms of spirituality they may attain. This is something only natural when we live in a society with feminism trying to make better the situations for women. However with Islam which we have been blessed with we don’t need such movements. Spiritually Islam recognises that men and women are equal in all aspects of the religion.
“Verily, for all men and women who have surrendered themselves unto God, and all believing men and believing women, and all truly devout men and truly devout women, and all men and women who are true to their word, and all men and women who are patient in adversity, and all men and women who humble themselves before God, and all men and women who give in charity, and all self-denying men and self-denying women, and all men 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.” (33:35)
However the roles for each are different, since the nature of men and women are different. This is where Islam is successful and feminism fails. Feminism in general does not acknowledge the differences between the two genders. As such if women want to try and be successful especially in this society they must imitate men.
A woman’s natural role in motherhood and being a wife have been ignored without a doubt and as such now have a stigma attached to them. In Islam on the other hand the status of a mother is a worthy and lofty position. One should only look to the many hadiths and sayings of the prophet (sws) especially where “jannah lies at the feet of your mother”(Al’ Nisa, Ibn Majah & Ahmad) for evidence.
Of course this isn’t to say that all women must do is bear children. The majority of the Prophet’s SWS wives did not bear children. They were integral parts of the society and took part in daily Islamic life. The Prophet’s wife Ai’isha (ra) was one of great scholars of Islam – many male Sahaba would consult her regarding Islamic rulings.
Women can gain spirituality throughout their entire day. Whether it be going out to Tesco to buy food for the family or travelling on the bus to go to university lectures. We are not limited as many people, non-muslim, would like us to think.
We should look to our intentions and purify those first before anything else. When we do so we can become closer to Allah by making every action ibadah.
“Say: Behold, my prayer, and all my acts of worship, and my living and my dying are for God alone” (6:163).
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