PROMINENCE, EMINENCE AND SIGNIFICANCE OF WOMEN IN ISLAM

BY

Muhummed Zulkifli Nazim

بسم الله الرّحمن الرّحيم

ربّ اشرحلي صدري ويسّرلي أمري واحلل عُقدة مّن لُّلساني يفقهو قولي

الحمد لله ربّ العالَمين والعاقبة اللمتّقين والصّلوةُ والسّلام على رسولك سيّدنا محمّدٍوأاله وأصحابه وأهل بيته وأهل طاعتك أجمعين

أمّا بعد

أعوذ بالله من الشيطان الرّجيم

بسم الله الرّحمن الرّحيم

 وَلَهُنَّ مِثْلُ الَّذِي عَلَيْهِنَّ بِالْمَعْرُوفِ وَلِلرِّجَالِ عَلَيْهِنَّ دَرَجَةٌ وَاللَّهُ عَزِيزٌ حَكِيمٌ (2:228)

و قال أيضا

 الرِّجَالُ قَوَّامُونَ عَلَى النِّسَاءِ بِمَا فَضَّلَ اللَّهُ بَعْضَهُمْ عَلَى بَعْضٍ (4:34)

صَدَقَ اللهُ العَظِيم

Alhamdulillaah, by the Grace and Mercy of Almighty Allah, I have chosen a subject titled : “Prominence, Eminence and Significance of Women in Islam” to present it to the people of the world because of the fact that, the involvement and participation of women, in every sphere of life, whether it be family, education, social, business, professional or any other section to which men may have compartmentalized  their entire life style, has been taken purely for granted.  No one seems to think, reflect or ponder or even try to understand, the role that women have been playing since time immemorial, for the well-being of the family – for the success, progress and achievements in life of man in general not forgetting, of course, the tranquility and peace that go hand-in-hand with it.

So our subject will not narrow down the presentation just to the woman Economist, or the Lady Doctor or the Woman Lawyer or the woman Professional, it will show, Insha Allah, the many Economists, lawyers, Doctors and specialists in various professions, whether it be male or female, have been gifted to the world by the educator and exemplar in the home – the lady of the house.

 We know that in our own time, - it is still fairly popular among the ignorant in the community - It has been said that chemistry enough to keep the pot boiling, and geography enough to know the different rooms in her house, was science enough for any woman;

Even in the Western world, in years not far off,  Byron, whose sympathies for woman were of a very imperfect kind, professed that he would limit her library to a Bible and a cookery-book.

 In the other extreme, the present, so-called civilized world makes a woman to dress and behave that she may attract, and is burdened with accomplishments that she may be chosen.  While making her totally dependent without her knowledge, she incurs the risk of becoming a living embodiment of the Italian proverb--"so good that she is good for nothing."

Islam tells you that this view of woman's character and culture is as absurdly narrow and unintelligent - on  the one hand, as the opposite view, now so much in vogue, is extravagant and unnatural; and on the other - that woman ought to be educated so as to be, as much as possible the equal of man; undistinguishable from him, except in sex; equal to him in rights, power and position; as well as his competitor in all aspects, making life a fierce and selfish struggle for place and power and money.  

You can see that  Islam, the Middle Path – enjoined in the Holy Quran strikes a fantastic balance between these extremes.

As Proof : Let us look at the book of  unsurpassed, unrivaled, unmatched and supreme wisdom – The Holy Quran. (2:143)


وَكَذَلِكَ جَعَلْنَاكُمْ أُمَّةً وَسَطًا لِتَكُونُوا شُهَدَاءَ عَلَى النَّاسِ

وَيَكُونَ الرَّسُولُ عَلَيْكُمْ شَهِيدًا

“Thus have We made of you an Ummah – A community, justly balanced - Thus We have appointed you a middle nation that ye might be witnesses against mankind and the Apostle a witness over yourselves.”

 Digressing a little, Surah Al-Baqarah has 286 verses and this verse which talks about “A Middle Nation” – “Justly Balanced Community” comes right in the Middle of Surah Al-Baqarah.  Verse No. 143 (Just a significant observation).

 Continuing our subject, I have divided this subject into two parts.  One – which details and compares the Rights of women with the legendary male domination, and all that goes with it, on slightly a higher plane and Two – the influence wielded by the woman in the home and the reflection to society.

 Let us now look further into the Holy Quran: Ch.2 : V. 228 says:

وَلَهُنَّ مِثْلُ الَّذِي عَلَيْهِنَّ بِالْمَعْرُوفِ وَلِلرِّجَالِ عَلَيْهِنَّ دَرَجَةٌ وَاللَّهُ عَزِيزٌ حَكِيمٌ

And women shall have rights similar to the rights against them according to what is equitable; but men have a degree (of advantage) over them and Allah is Exalted in Power, Wise.

And they (women) have rights similar to those (of men) over them in kindness, and men are a degree above them.  Men have a degree of Responsibility over them. And Allah is Mighty, Wise.

In order to fully appreciate this Verse, and the words

 وَلِلرِّجَالِ عَلَيْهِنَّ دَرَجَةٌ

‘Men have a degree of advantage over women’, we will have to refer also to another Verse - Verse No. 34, Chapter 4, Surah Nisa. 

It further says that… ‘Allah has given one more than the other’.

الرِّجَالُ قَوَّامُونَ عَلَى النِّسَاءِ بِمَا فَضَّلَ اللَّهُ بَعْضَهُمْ عَلَى بَعْضٍ

"Men are the protectors and maintainers of women because Allah has given the one, more (strength) than the other."

Anthropologically, man is stronger and also different, which is also a biological truth. 

No doubt nature has given him this advantage, for which no glory or tribute goes to man, and no discredit to women either. 

The other meaning of :

 فَضَّلَ اللَّهُ بَعْضَهُمْ عَلَى بَعْضٍ

also means: “because Allah has made one of them to excel the other”

Again it is a two-way affair.

Man is the protector and maintainer of women at the same-time they excel one another. 

Just ponder over the state of affairs in the social set-up today – You can see that every individual is gifted with a specialty of their own

Therefore, this advantage described in the Holy Quran for man, is being given, in order that he is able to effectively discharge a great task -  the task of a protector and maintainer and therefore this advantage which has been given to him, has nothing to do with the rights. 

In fact this advantage, in no way reduces the rights of women , nor her importance or her significance.
The Holy Quran says: in Verse 7 Chapter 4 – Surah – Al-Nisaa

لِلرِّجَالِ نَصِيبٌ مِمَّا تَرَكَ الْوَالِدَانِ وَالأقْرَبُونَ

وَلِلنِّسَاءِ نَصِيبٌ مِمَّا تَرَكَ الْوَالِدَانِ وَالأقْرَبُونَ

مِمَّا قَلَّ مِنْهُ أَوْ كَثُرَ نَصِيبًا مَفْرُوضًا

There is a share for men from what is left by parents and those nearest related, and a share for women from what is left by parents and those nearest related, whether, the property be small or large - a legal share.

You can see the repetition of the phrase individually for man and woman “from what is left by parents and those nearest related”

نَصِيبٌ مِمَّا تَرَكَ الْوَالِدَانِ وَالأقْرَبُونَ

So that there may be no misinterpretation or ambiguity or uncertainty, with regard to the respective individual rights of man and woman.

And again in Verse 32 - Chapter 4 – Surah – Al-Nisaa

 وَلا تَتَمَنَّوْا مَا فَضَّلَ اللَّهُ بِهِ بَعْضَكُمْ عَلَى بَعْضٍ لِلرِّجَالِ نَصِيبٌ مِمَّا اكْتَسَبُوا وَلِلنِّسَاءِ نَصِيبٌ مِمَّا اكْتَسَبْنَ وَاسْأَلُوا اللَّهَ مِنْ فَضْلِهِ إِنَّ اللَّهَ كَانَ بِكُلِّ شَيْءٍ عَلِيمًا

"And wish not for the things in which Allah has made some of you to excel others. For men there is reward for what they have earned, (and likewise) for women there is reward for what they have earned; For unto men a fortune from that which they have earned and unto women a fortune from that which they have earned. And ask Allah of His bounty. For Allah is ever Knower of all things."

You can see a similar repetition in this Ayath

 لِلرِّجَالِ نَصِيبٌ مِمَّا اكْتَسَبُوا وَلِلنِّسَاءِ نَصِيبٌ مِمَّا اكْتَسَبْن

"For men there is reward for what they have earned, and similarly, for women there is reward for what they have earned – Again to make sure there is no ambiguity or uncertainty in their respective rights."

As the maintainer and protector of women, whatever that the man earns is for her and whatever she earns herself or is a recipient of an inheritance - is also for her.  This is proved by this ayath

يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا لا يَحِلُّ لَكُمْ أَنْ تَرِثُوا النِّسَاءَ كَرْهًا

O ye who believe! you are forbidden to inherit women against their will - It is not lawful for you forcibly to inherit women against their will. Verse 19 - Chapter 4 – Surah – Al-Nisaa

The Quranic verses (Ayaath) and noble authentic hadithes (Ahaadeeth) with regard to worship, knowledge and intelligence, are so explicit with regard to men and women. They emphasize the fact, that the training and discipline that are most suitable for the one sex in early life, are also the most suitable for the other; and the education and culture that fill the mind of the man will prove equally wholesome for the woman.  

طلبُ العلم فَريضَةٍ على كُلّ مسلم ٍ ومسلمةٍ

Seeking Knowledge is obligatory on all Believing men and Believing women – said our Holy Prophet (S).

Indeed all arguments stressed in favour of higher education of men, plead equally strongly in favour of the higher education of women.  
In all the sections, division and subdivision in a home; Every branch, every sector, every unit, where the responsibility of the home lies, intelligence will add to woman's usefulness and efficiency.  Knowledge with Wisdom – knowledge alone will not do  – knowledge and wisdom coupled with intelligence will make her reflect and ponder which would in turn provide foresight for proper planning and implementation, as well as, enable her to anticipate and provide for the various eventualities, possibilities and emergencies of life,  Her intelligence will recommend and suggest, improved and superior methods of organizing and planning, and give her strength in every way.  She will be well disciplined and she will find a stronger and safer protection against any form of deception, or masquerades and pretense; rather than be talked about her as weak, merely innocent and unsuspecting ignorance. 
She will be saved from reliance on others and she will have a more powerful influence on her family with regard to morality and religion which will, well and truly, provide her and her family with the most decent comfort in life and true happiness.
No wonder Rasoolullahi (S) said:
و رُوي عن النّبيّ(ص)  : كُلُّكُمْ رَاع ٍ وكلّكم مَسْؤلٌ عَنْْ رَعِيَّتِهِ                                                    

(The word راع means – Shepherd, herdsman, it also means guardian, caretaker, custodian, supervisor, protector, defender)
So the hadith says that : 

Everyone of you is a Shepherd, Everyone of you is a guardian, a caretaker and a protector – And you will be questioned on everything subject to your care, your supervision and in your custody. 
In various hadithes, it speaks of the
women’s responsibility -  راع
ٍ  -
towards her household, her husband, her children and everything that comes
within her purview. And if she is not knowledgeable, or educated or intelligent,
questioning her would be futile.  This
in itself proves that it becomes a necessity that a woman should have a thorough
if not, some knowledge of everything that is under her care and custody. 

It, therefore, becomes imperative that the mind and character of women be cultivated with a view to their own well-being, as well as for the well-being of mankind, in general.  Men themselves cannot be sound in mind or morals if women behave in a manner opposite. Because, the moral condition of a people mainly depends upon the education of the home, then the education of women is to be regarded as a matter of national importance.  Not only does the moral character, but, the mental strength of man find their best safeguard and support in the moral purity and mental cultivation of woman;.  
However, if   more completely the powers of both are developed,  then the society will be the more harmonious,  well-disciplined and the more safe and certain in its elevation and advancement.
To maintain a high standard of purity in society, the culture of both sexes must be in harmony, and keep equal pace.  A pure womanhood must be accompanied by a pure manhood.  The same moral law applies alike to both.  To condone the notion that because of a difference in sex, man were at liberty to set morality at defiance, and to do that with impunity, which, if done by a woman, would stain her character for life, would mean blasting the foundations of virtue,.  To maintain a pure and virtuous condition of society, therefore, man as well as woman must be pure and virtuous; both alike shunning all acts impinging on the heart, character, and conscience--shunning them as poison, which, once imbibed, can never be entirely thrown out again, but mentally embitters, to a greater or less extent, the happiness of after-life.

The Holy Quran steps in here to tell us
exactly that:

إِنَّ الْمُسْلِمِينَ وَالْمُسْلِمَاتِ وَالْمُؤْمِنِينَ وَالْمُؤْمِنَاتِ وَالْقَانِتِينَ وَالْقَانِتَاتِ وَالصَّادِقِينَ وَالصَّادِقَاتِ وَالصَّابِرِينَ وَالصَّابِرَاتِ وَالْخَاشِعِينَ وَالْخَاشِعَاتِ وَالْمُتَصَدِّقِينَ وَالْمُتَصَدِّقَاتِ وَالصَّائِمِينَ وَالصَّائِمَاتِ وَالْحَافِظِينَ فُرُوجَهُمْ وَالْحَافِظَاتِ وَالذَّاكِرِينَ اللَّهَ كَثِيرًا وَالذَّاكِرَاتِ أَعَدَّ اللَّهُ لَهُمْ مَغْفِرَةً وَأَجْرًا عَظِيمًا

"Men who surrender unto Allah, and women who surrender, and men who believe and women who believe, and men who obey and women who obey, and men who speak the truth and women who speak the truth, and men who are patient and constant and persevere (in righteousness) and women who are patient, constant and persevere (in righteousness), and men who are humble and women who are humble, and men who give charity and women who give charity, and men who fast and women who fast, and men who guard their chastity and modesty and women who guard their chastity and modesty, and men who remember Allah much and women who remember Allah much, Allah has prepared for them forgiveness and a vast reward." ( Surah Al-Ahzab - 33:35 )

The influence of woman is the same everywhere.  Her condition influences the morals, manners, and character of the people in all countries.  Where the woman is debased, society is debased; where she is morally pure and enlightened, society will be equitably and justifiably elevated.
The respective social functions and duties of men and women are clearly defined by nature.  Allah created man AND woman, each to do their proper work, each to fill their proper sphere in His realm.  Neither can occupy the position, nor perform the functions, of the other.
Their several vocations are perfectly distinct.  Woman exists on her own account, as man does on his, at the same time that each has intimate relations with the other.  Humanity needs both for the purposes of the race - and in every consideration of social progress both must necessarily be included.
Even though they are companions and equals, but when you evaluate their powers, they are unequal in certain respects.  Man is stronger, more muscular, and of rougher fibre; woman is more delicate, sensitive, and nervous.
Both are alike adapted for the respective functions they have to perform in life; at the same time there are various vocations, occupations professions and trade where both man and woman have equal expertise; or even, one excelling the other – as per the Quranic verse:
 فَضَّلَ اللَّهُ بِهِ بَعْضَكُمْ عَلَى بَعْضٍ                                            

“..Things in which Allah has made some of you to excel others.”
and there are certain aspects of vocations, occupations and trade, which are exclusively in the area of men as well as that which absolutely come within the scope, range, field of activity and competence of women.  In these instances, to attempt to impose woman's work upon a man would be quite as absurd as to attempt to impose man's work upon a woman.  There are however, instances where, Men are sometimes womanlike, and women are sometimes manlike; but these are only exceptions which prove the rule.

A totally misunderstood notion of women’s lib has created utter chaos in the world.  Some time ago an interesting article appeared in the American magazine 'Coronet'. It tells the story of a woman who, in the name of equality between man and woman, lost the concessions which she enjoyed earlier. Previously, women were not required to lift weights of more than 25 lbs., whereas no such limit existed in the case of men.

She says that now the working conditions in the General Motors Factory, in the State of Ohio , where over 2500 woman workers toil, have undergone a change. Now she finds herself maintaining a very powerful steam engine or cleaning a 250 lb. metal oven, placed there a few moments earlier by a strongly built male worker. She feels completely exhausted and knocked out. She further says that every minute she has to hook a 25 to 50 inch handle, weighing 35 lbs. Her hands are always swollen and aching. 

 According to this magazine, one Mrs. Macdaniel says that, on account of lifting heavy weights some female workers of her factory suffered from internal haemorrhage. These women want to return to their previous position. They want to be treated as women and not as mere workers.

 Equality has to be qualified. The supporters of misplaced equality, invariably, they are the wealthy society women, as well as a large percentage of academics and a majority of career women – for them it may be a simple matter.

They sit in their luxurious apartments, lecture rooms and air-conditioned offices and dance floors and talk of equality, but they have never been to the factories, where most of the wage-earning women of that country have to work.

Mrs. Macdaniel says that she does not want this equality, because she cannot do manly jobs. Men are physically stronger than women. She would prefer to give up the job rather than compete with men. The privileges which the working women of Ohio have lost, are far greater than the benefits they have gained under the protection of the workers' law. The women have lost their personality. It is not known what they have gained after emancipation. The position of a few women might have improved, but not of all. 

This was the gist of that article.

It is clear from its contents that these women are so fed up with the discomforts which have been imposed upon them in the name of liberty, equality and fraternity, these words have become mere hallucinations .

Man and woman are two stars, two planets, like the sun and the moon, with their distinct orbits within which they should move.

 لا الشَّمْسُ يَنْبَغِي لَهَا أَنْ تُدْرِكَ الْقَمَرَ وَلا اللَّيْلُ سَابِقُ النَّهَارِ

وَكُلٌّ فِي فَلَكٍ يَسْبَحُونَ

It is not permitted to the Sun to catch up the Moon nor can the Night outstrip the Day: each (just) swims along in (its own) orbit (according to Law). (Surah Yasin, 36:40).

Their happiness, as well as the happiness of the whole human society, depends on the condition that Man and Woman, move in their respective orbits.

Liberty and equality can be useful, only if, both the sexes follow their normal and natural courses – their natural orbits.

Let us now come to the second and most important part of this theme :

THE WOMAN IN THE HOME – The Mother.

Homes, are the nurseries of children who grow up into men and women. It will be good or bad according to the power that governs them.  
Where the spirit of love and duty pervades the home -
Where head and heart merge and rule wisely there –
where the daily life is honest and virtuous –
where the administration, management and supervision is sensible, kind, and loving, then may we expect from such a home an issue of healthy, useful, and happy beings; capable and  committed, dedicated, devoted and steadfast, they gain the requisite strength, of following the footsteps of their parents, of walking uprightly, governing themselves wisely, and contributing to the welfare of those in and around them.
If, however, the home is surrounded by ignorance, coarseness, and selfishness, they will unconsciously assume the same character, and grow up to adult years rude, uncultivated, unmanageable, undisciplined, disobedient and all the more dangerous to society if placed amidst the manifold temptations of what is called civilized life.  
"Give your child to be educated by a slave," said an ancient Greek, "and instead of one slave, you will then have two."
The meaning is very clear – a woman in the home, who is ignorant and who thinks and behaves like she is the slave of man - children growing under her care and custody, without any doubt, will grow up with an abject, slavish mentality.
The child cannot help imitating what he sees.  Everything is to him a model – whether it be of manner, of gesture, of speech, or of habit, and/or of character. 
Models, therefore, takes precedence in importance in moulding the nature and character of the child; and if we expect to have fine characters, we must necessarily present before them fine models.  Now, the model, most constantly and incessantly, before every child's eye is the Mother.
It is said that “One good mother, is worth a hundred schoolteachers.”  In the home she is "loadstone (magnet) to all hearts, and loadstar (The star that guides the Pole Star) to all eyes."  
Imitation of her is constant—imitation.  She is not just an instructor in precepts; But instruction in action. Example is far superior to preaching precepts.
It is teaching without words, often exemplifying more than tongue can teach.  In the face of bad example, the best of precepts are of but little avail.  The example is followed, not the precepts.  
Indeed, precept at variance with practice is worse than useless, inasmuch as it only serves to teach the most cowardly of vices--hypocrisy.
Even children are judges of consistency, and the lessons of the parent who says one thing and does the opposite, are quickly seen through.  It is said that “The teaching of the friar was not worth much, who preached the virtue of honesty with a stolen goose in his sleeve.”
This is exactly
what is happening in our society today. 

By imitation of acts, the character becomes slowly and imperceptibly, invisibly and unnoticeably, but at length, slowly takes shape.  The several acts may seem in themselves trivial; but so are the continuous acts of daily life.  
Like snowflakes, they, fall unperceived; each flake added to the pile produces no sensible change, and yet the accumulation of snowflakes culminates in the avalanche.  So do repeated acts, one following another, at length, become consolidated in habit, determine the action of the human being for good or for evil, and, in a word, form the character.
It is because the mother, far more than the father, influences the action and conduct of the child, that her good example is of so much greater importance in the home.  It is easy to understand how this should be so.  
The home - the woman's domain - her kingdom, where she exercises entire control.  Her power over the little subjects she rules there is absolute.  They look up to her for everything.  She is the example and model constantly before their eyes, whom they unconsciously observe and imitate.
The ideas then implanted in the mind are like seeds dropped into the ground, which lie there and germinate for a time, afterwards springing up in acts and thoughts and habits.  Thus the mother lives again in her children.  
They unconsciously mould themselves after her manner, her speech, her conduct, and her method of life.  Her habits become theirs; and her character is visibly repeated in them.
This maternal love is the visible providence of our race.  Its influence is constant and universal.  It begins with the education of the human being as life begins, and is prolonged by virtue of the powerful influence which every good mother exercises over her children through life.  
When launched into the world, each to take part in its labours, anxieties, and trials, they still turn to their mother for consolation, if not for counsel, in their time of trouble and difficulty, however much educated they may be or whatever position they may be in,.  
The pure and good thoughts she has implanted in their minds when children, continue to grow up into good acts, long after she is dead; and when there is nothing but a memory of her left, her children rise up and call her our blessed mother.
It is not saying too much to claim, declare and affirm that the happiness or misery, the enlightenment or ignorance, the civilisation or barbarism of the world, depends in a very high degree upon the exercise of woman's power within her special kingdom of home.

Posterity may be said to lie before us in the person of the child in the mother's lap.  What that child will eventually become, mainly depends upon the training and example which he has received from his first and most influential educator. 
It is the mother who guides the child in the home, to be a Muslim Doctor, a Muslim Lawyer, the Muslim professional, the Muslim businessman and “Muslim” in every sphere of life – not in the racial, ethnic and tribal sense, but in the sense of being totally in subjugation to the Will of Allah Almighty – to serve humanity.
قال رسول الله (ص) : خيرُالنّاس ِ مّن ِ انتفَعَ به النّاسُ                          
Our Holy Prophet Muhummed (S) has said: “The best of people are those who are most beneficial to other people.” 

Woman, above all other educators, educates humanely, compassionately and charitably.  Man is the brain, but woman is the brain and heart of humanity; the man is its judgment, while she is its feeling; he its strength, she its grace, ornament, and solace.
Even the understanding of the best woman seems to work mainly through her affections.  Even though man may direct the intellect, woman cultivates the feelings, which mainly determine the character.  While the man fills the memory, the woman occupies the heart.
The mother makes us love what the father can only make us believe, and it is chiefly through her that we are enabled to arrive at virtue.
In short, the influence of the mother more or less affects, for good or for evil, the entire destinies of man.
We need not go far in search of these
wonderful and illustrious and tremendously impressive  examples.
Examples in Islamic History are many:

Islam presented a model character of womanhood in the great personalities of Lady Khadijah, the Mother of the Believers, and her daughter Fathima, the truthful.  Khadija (RA) sacrificed the power and glory of abundant wealth for the sake of Islam, and adopted a life of poverty.  

No household was as successful as that of Imam Ali and Lady Fathima (A.S.) because it was built on the foundation laid down by the Prophet and Lady Khadijah, whose greatness surpasses human perception. 

The graduates of this purified family were given honours, hitherto unheard of. 

The Prophet named his daughter Fathima :

"Leader of the women of the worlds."

“And  Leader of the women of Paradise .”

فاطمَةَ سيّدةَ نساءِالعالمين

فاطمَةَ سيّدةَ نساءِ أهل ِالَجنّة

When He described her husband Ali, the valiant, he said :

أنا مدينة العلم وعليّ بابها –

فمن أرادالحكمةوالعلم فليات الباب

"I am the city of wisdom and Ali is its door. Who so wishes to have wisdom let him come by its door."

He also said:

أنا دارُ الحكمة وعليّ بابها

 I am the House of Wisdom and Ali is its door

  He called her two sons Hassan and Hussain :

الحسن والحسين سيّدا شباب أهل الجنّة

"Hassan and Hussain will be the Leaders of the youths of Paradise ." 

No family unit, since the creation began, has ever produced so many qualities, the radiance of which glitters the soul and spirit of the obedient devotees of the Almighty.  

The outstanding wisdom of the members of the household of the Prophet is expressed through their deeds and words, which were always coherent with each other.  They were the role models of all the ethical behaviour which they taught.  They preached what they practised in public and private life.  The purity of their faith in Allah was manifest in their love, devotion and obedience to Allah.

Hence the most important of all women that will serve us as a guide is the biography of Fathima (A S.). as one of the members of the Prophet's (S) household, the role to which she was destined, her social, mental, and political status, are today, unparalleled. 

A lesson to be learned about the highest manifestation of motherhood in Islamic history, is the history of Fathima (A.S.), about the edifying, enlightening, enriching and intellectual symbol of womanhood in the house, womanhood in marriage, womanhood in relationships, womanhood in motherhood, in training and nourishing children like Hassan, Hussayn,  Zainab, Umm Kulsum (Alaihis Salaathu Wassalaam), and in companionship with her husband Ali (A.S.).

And again, Her part in teaching Zeinab was even more important than with Hussain, the symbol of humanity, because Hussain (A.S.) had grown up inside the Prophet's mosques and among the companions of the Prophet. He had grown up in Medina at the center and peak of the confrontations and historic social events. But Fathima (A.S.) had trained Zeinab inside her home and on her lap. The role of Zeinab in the revolution of Karbala and in its continuation and progress, resulted from Fathima (A.S.)'s teaching and from the high spirit of Zeinab herself. From every corner of Fathima (A.S.)'s house, a symbol and a embodiment of humanity appears – Fathima the Mother.

With all these characteristics of a mother in the home instilled in her, you could say that Fathima (AS) was the natural cherisher of infancy and the instructor of childhood, she was also the guide and counsellor of youth, and the confidant and companion of manhood, in her various relations of mother, sister, daughter, and wife and the Leader of the women of the worlds..

She was a woman who, throughout the whole of her life, from her childhood to her marriage, from her marriage to the end of her life, felt herself to be a responsible, committed person, a part of the destiny of the community, defending what was right, supporting justice in thought, idea and deed, and confronting the dispossession, oppression and deviation which existed in her society. She was always available to help with all social problems and confrontations. She did not remain silent until her death, even though she knew that she would not succeed in this fight.

This is the meaning of social commitment and responsibility. This is what she ingrained and imbued, entrenched and established in her children. And even today, we are honouring them and respecting them with awe.

Yes Fathima followed the footsteps of her mother and left an immortal legacy of human greatness, expressed in her attributes of purity, sincerity, unshakeable faith and contentment with the pleasure of Allah, whether in happiness as well as in times of afflictions.

This is the lesson that can be learned from the noble infallible, flawless and perfect life of Fathima (A.S.).

A Supreme, unparalleled example of  prominence, eminence and significance of a woman in Islam - The most prominent, eminent and significant honourable lady of Islam – Fathima Binth Muhummed (A.S.)

MAY ALLAH IN HIS MERCY GUIDE US ALL ALONG THE RIGHT PATH THE PATH OF THOSE ON WHOM HE HAS BESTOWED HIS FAVOURS AND PROTECT US ALL FROM THE PATH OF THOSE WHO HAVE INCURRED HIS WRATH OR GONE ASTRAY.

AAMEEN.