Developing Khushu in Salah #3

Two tools to help develop Khushu

According to Ibn Taymiyyah, there are two things that help us to develop Khushu in Salah. 

- A strong desire to do what is obligatory

Firstly, ask Allah to grant you the tawfeeq (help) for this desire and for His help in developing Khushu and consistency in it. 
To develop this desire you should strive hard to focus on what you are saying and doing. You should ponder over the Qur’an recitation that is bein

g read, the dhikr etc. For those whose first language is not Arabic, it would help to find the translation of what you are reading. And understanding what you are saying has a massive difference on your Salah.
You should also remember that you are standing in front of The Lord of the worlds and speaking to Him. So worship Allah as if you see Him.

- Weakness of distractions

To do this one should push away all distractions and clear the mind of unwanted thoughts and by also seeking refuge in Allah from waswas (evil whispering of satan, who is trying to divert you from your Salah).

So when you are trying to develop Khushu have these two concepts in mind.

May Allah grant us the tawfeeq to have Khushu. Ameen

(A reminder to myself first and foremost)

Developing Khushu in Salah #2

Khushu of True faith and Hypocrisy 

Before we go on to how to develop Khushu in Salah we need to understand Khushu of a person with true faith and Khushu of hypocrisy. 

Khushu of True faith 
Ibn al Qayyim (may Allah have mercy on him) said the Khushu of true faith is when the heart feels aware and humble before the greatness and glory of Allah. It is also filled with awe, fear and shyness so that the heart is humbled before Allah and broken, as it were, with fear, shyness, 

love and the recognition of the blessings of Allah and its own sins.

To have Khushu a person must empty their heart of all other things except Allah and focus on the Salah and to have Ihsan which means 'to worship Allah as if you can see Him but if you can not do that then know that Allah is watching you' (please do not try to imagine Allah because our mind can not comprehend Him)

Allah has said that he has prepared forgiveness and a great reward for the humble men and humble women (refer to 33:35). Also having Khushu in Salah helps you to enjoy it and it makes it easier as Allah says

وَاسْتَعِينُوا بِالصَّبْرِ وَالصَّلَاةِۚ وَإِنَّهَا لَكَبِيرَةٌ إِلَّا عَلَى الْخَاشِعِينَ

And seek help through patience and prayer; and indeed, it is difficult except for the humbly submissive [to Allah]
(2:45)

So prayer is difficult for those who do not have Khushu.

The Prophet (SAW) use to find joy in prayer and so should we.

Khushu is also obligatory as Allah says in the Qur'an

دْ أَفْلَحَ الْمُؤْمِنُونَ
Certainly will the believers have succeeded:

الَّذِينَ هُمْ فِي صَلَاتِهِمْ خَاشِعُونَ
They who are during their prayer humbly submissive
(23:1-2)

This implies that Khushu is a must in Salah and whoever does not have it is sinning and not a successful one.

Khushu also means calmness so one should not peck the floor when doing prostration, or rush from ruku but one should do it calmly and at a measured pace.

The Prophet (SAW) said "Five prayers which Allah has made obligatory. Whoever performs wudu properly for them, prays them on time, perform ruku properly and has perfect Khushu, it is a promise from Allah that He will be forgiven, but whoever does not do this, has no such promise - if Allah wishes, He will forgive him and if He wishes, He will punish him" (Abu Dawud)

According to another Hadith "...will be guaranteed paradise" (Bukhari)

This shows the importance and requirement of Khushu in Salah because the benefits of it are so many.

Khushu of Hypocrisy
The person who has the Khushu of hypocrisy is someone who shows they have Khushu but they actually do not have it in their heart.

Hudhayfa (may Allah be pleased with him) said "Beware of the Khushu of hypocrisy." He was asked, "what is the Khushu of hypocrisy?" He said, "When the body shows Khushu but there is no Khushu in the heart."

Tips
• Make dua to Allah to grant you Khushu because only He can help you with it and it takes a lot of skill to achieve it.

• Know Allah (Try to learn about Allah and realise the greatness of the One who you are standing in front of) This should also increase awe, love and fear of Allah.

• Beware of Khushu of hypocrisy. Remember that Khushu is in the heart and the results of it manifest on the body. Try not to show more Khushu than you have.

• Have Ihsan

May Allah make it easy for you and me

(A reminder to myself first and foremost)

Developing Khushu in Salah #1

Khushu

We perform Salah five times a day but can we honestly say that we have Khushu in it. When some of us pray, we go into autopilot or we daydream, but we should realise that the Salah is like a gift from Allah and that is how we should treat it. Being able to stand in front of Allah five times a day is an honour and we really should make the most out of our Salah and to do this we need to have Khushu.

Allah says in the Qur’an:

وَاسْتَعِينُوا بِالصَّبْرِ وَالصَّلَاةِۚ وَإِنَّهَا لَكَبِيرَةٌ إِلَّا عَلَى الْخَاشِعِينَ

And seek help through patience and prayer; and indeed, it is difficult except for the humbly submissive [to Allah] (Al Khasi’in – Those who have Khushu)

(2:45)

Khushu means humility. It is to be humble in front of Allah. It also means serenity, tranquillity and dignity. To have Khushu a person needs to fear Allah and know that He is always watching.

Khushu also means that the heart stands before the Lord in humility and submission. (Al Madarij)

حَافِظُوا عَلَى الصَّلَوَاتِ وَالصَّلَاةِ الْوُسْطَىٰ وَقُومُوا لِلَّهِ قَانِتِينَ

Maintain with care the [obligatory] prayers and [in particular] the middle [i.e., 'asr] prayer and stand before Allah, devoutly obedient.

(2:238)

Part of obedience is to bow, to be solemn and submissive, to lower one’s gaze and to humble oneself out of fear of Allah, may He be Glorified. (Ta’zim Qadr al Salah)

Allah says:

قَدْ أَفْلَحَ الْمُؤْمِنُونَ

Certainly will the believers have succeeded:
الَّذِينَ هُمْ فِي صَلَاتِهِمْ خَاشِعُونَ

They who are during their prayer humbly submissive

(23:1-2)

Khushu is developed in the heart (that is why I decided to do a post about it and to benefit my brothers and sisters in the deen) and the results of it manifest on the body. This brings to mind the hadith of the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلمwho said: “Beware! There is a piece of flesh in the body, if it becomes good (reformed), the whole body becomes good, but if it gets spoilt, the whole body gets spoilt and that is the heart.” (Sahih Bukhari)

Shaitan, who wishes to mislead mankind, tries to distract us during Salah so that we lose the reward and sweetness of Salah and he also tries to divert us getting closer to Allah hence why some people get a lot of waswas during Salah. May Allah save us from the cursed one.

The Prophet Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم also said:

“The first thing of your religion that you will lose is Khushu, and the last thing that you will lose of your religion is Salah. There may be a person praying who has no goodness in him, and soon you will enter the masjid and not find anyone who has Khushu” (Al-Madarij)

So in these difficult times where we are drawing closer to the Day of Judgement, day by day, we really need to hold fast to our deen and try to improve our Salah so that we may please Allah and draw closer to Him, Most Glorified and Exalted is He.

May Allah make it easy for us to gain Khushu.

More posts about Khushu heading your way in’shaa’Allah

(A reminder to myself first and foremost)

Purifying The Heart #2 - Sincerity

Sincerity to Allah is really important in whatever deed you do throughout your life. We need to have sincere intentions to please Allah through our deeds. 

Narrated `Umar bin Al-Khattâb رضي اللهُ عنه : I heard Allah's Messenger صلى الله عليه وسلم saying, ``The reward of deeds depends upon the intentions and every person will get the reward according to what he has intended. So whoever emigrates for worldly benefits or for a woman to marry, 

his emigration will be for what he emigrated for.'' (Bukhari) 

For purification of the heart we need to constantly ask ourselves who are we doing it for? Are you doing it for Allah or are you doing it so people will think good of you. With all deeds we need to ask ourselves are we doing it for Allah. We need to make sincere intentions and also be sincere to Allah. We all know that Allah is watching us and He knows what is in our hearts (intentions etc). So during the purification we really need to be sincere and do it solely for the purpose of Allah's pleasure and so that we can be closer to Him. 

Tips
• Make dua to Allah to grant you sincerity to Him

• Remember that Allah is watching you and knows what your intentions are

• Before doing any deed ask yourself 'Am I doing it for Allah?' Doing it for people will not benefit you at all but doing it for Allah will benefit you immensely!! 

• Purify your intentions with whatever deed you do. And try to do it for the purification because no one can see your heart but Allah so why not purify it and make it beautiful for Allah who is the All Loving, All Merciful and He is the Greatest. 
“There is among people, he whose speech will dazzle you in this life and he will claim that Allaah is witness to (the sincerity of) what is in his heart, yet he will be among the most vicious enemies (of mankind).” (2:204)

• Be humble, once you see that you are starting to see results from purification thank Allah and praise Him and remember that you wouldn't have been able to do it without His help or guidance. 

• Strive against yourself and other things to please Allah 

• Have a focus on where you want to go with this purification = Allah's pleasure and closeness to Him

• Have patience, purification of the heart can take quite a long time depending on the state of your heart 

"The servant of Allah does not attain a true state of emaan until he sees trials as a blessings, ease as distress, and that he does not like to be praised about his worship" ( Fudayl Ibn Iyaad) 

(A reminder to myself first and foremost)

Purifying The Heart #1 - Self Reflection

It is really important to reflect on one’s self and see how you can improve yourself for the sake and pleasure of Allah. That is purifying and adorning the heart with what Allah loves and adopting good manners. After all He does say

لَقَدْ مَنَّ اللَّهُ عَلَى الْمُؤْمِنِينَ إِذْ بَعَثَ فِيهِمْ رَسُولًا مِّنْ أَنفُسِهِمْ يَتْلُو عَلَيْهِمْ آيَاتِهِ وَيُزَكِّيهِمْ وَيُعَلِّمُهُمُ الْكِتَابَ وَالْحِكْمَةَ وَإِن كَانُوا مِن قَبْلُ لَفِي ض

َلَالٍ مُّبِينٍ

“Certainly did Allah confer [great] favour upon the believers when He sent among them a Messenger from themselves, reciting to them His verses and purifying them and teaching them the Book [i.e., the Qur'an] and wisdom, (the prophet's sunnah) although they had been before in manifest error.”
(3:164)

And living our lives the way the Prophet (SAW) lived, who is the best example anyone can have. Allah said to him:

وَإِنَّكَ لَعَلَىٰ خُلُقٍ عَظِيمٍ

And indeed, you are of a great moral character.
(68:4)

The prophet (SAW) emphasised on the necessity of ihtisab or self evaluation. 'Everyone starts his day and is a vendor of his soul, either freeing it or bringing about its ruin' (Muslim)

Umar (RA) also said 'Judge yourself before you are judged, evaluate yourself before you are evaluated and be ready for the greatest investigation.’

We should implement as much fard (if not done so already) and sunnah acts as possible and try to be like the Prophet (SAW) In character and manners.

Narrated `Abdullâh bin `Amr رَضِيَ اللهُ عَنْهُما : The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم was neither a Fâhish nor a Mutafahhish (never used bad language). He used to say, ``The best amongst you are those who have the best manners and character.'' (Bukhari)

Abu Ad-Dardâ' narrated that the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said: ``Nothing is heavier on the believer's Scale on the Day of Judgement than good character. For indeed Allah, Most High, is angered by the shameless obscene person.'' (Sahih)
(Tirmidhi)

The truth is no one is perfect. We all have strengths and weaknesses. Self reflection can be used for many things in our life e.g. Sincerity of intentions of deeds but we will be using it as a tool for purifying the heart and to learn about ourselves so that we know what makes us act in a certain way. This would be the first step to purifying yourself.

Firstly, Reflect on how you can be a better servant of Allah by doing extra good deeds, purifying yourself from bad habits, staying away from things that have been forbidden by Allah.

Self reflection is a must if you wish to purify your heart, so that you know what you can improve on and what diseases of the heart you need to get rid of.

In the next few weeks/ months In'shaa'Allah I'll put up a few diseases in the heart and how it can be cured by the help of Allah.

Some of the diseases are:
-Kufr, Shirk
-Relying on other than God
-Showing off
-Arrogance
-Jealousy/ Hatred
-Controlling the tongue
-Animal desires
-Anger
-Greed
-Ungratefulness
-Love of the world
-Boasting
-Fantasising
-Fear of poverty
-Displeasure with divine decree
-Seeking reputation
-Negative thoughts

I would recommend that people write down which diseases you need to get rid of and your strengths as well and how you think you can improve both strengths and weaknesses.

Tools needed:
• Plenty of dua to Allah to seek His aid in your purification.

• The Qur'an (try to implement a verse in your life every week. E.g. Allah says the successful ones are those who fear Him in Surah Baqarah. So try to fear Him. I'll be putting a post up about that. And remember some verses may take longer to implement)

• Be sincere - do it only for the sake of Allah and know that He is watching you and knows your intentions.

• Be humble, once you feel that a certain disease is gone, praise and thank Allah and know that without His help you would not have succeeded in doing so.

• Start keeping a book and write your experiences in it. The diseases, what you have learnt, your strengths and weaknesses. Go back to it at least once a week and review.

• Some diseases will take longer to be cured so patience is needed. "And Allah loves those who are firm and steadfast (As Sabirin - The patient) (3:146)

• Speak to someone you trust and ask them what habits they noticed that you can get rid of and do not get offended even if you think you don't do a certain thing, instead take it as a learning experience.

"The day when there will not benefit (anyone) wealth or children. But only one who comes to Allah with a sound heart." (26:89,90)

May Allah make us among those who return to Him with a sound heart. Ameen.

(A reminder to myself first and foremost)

Dawah Tip #1 - Body Language

Before starting your dawah conversation, make dua to Allah to make it easy for you and ask Him to guide the person you are giving dawah to because none can guide or help except for Allah.

When giving dawah, it is important to have the right body language, correct tone of voice etc as 94% of our communication is non verbal. A lot of people like Yusuf Estes and others embraced Islam after seeing the kindness and mannerisms of Muslims. 

Narrated `

Abdullâh bin `Amr رَضِيَ اللهُ عَنْهُما : The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم was neither a Fâhish nor a Mutafahhish (never used bad language). He used to say, ``The best amongst you are those who have the best manners and character.'' (Bukhari)

We should aim to adopt the best manners and character for our own benefit and use it for dawah as well as to get us into Jannah.

When giving someone dawah you should make them feel relaxed. You can do this by relaxing yourself first. Make sure you keep your back straight. This helps with increasing your own confidence. Being confident is crucial as the person can take over the conversation or change the subject. And try to keep them interested by emphasising what you are saying.

Make eye contact with the person. This makes them feel that all your attention is on them and they would want to listen to what you have to say. But do not stare at them because this will make them feel uncomfortable.

Try not to stand too close to the person you are giving dawah to as this might make them feel intimidated and they will feel like your invading their personal space. Leave at least an arm’s length distance between you and the person.

ادْعُ إِلَىٰ سَبِيلِ رَبِّكَ بِالْحِكْمَةِ وَالْمَوْعِظَةِ الْحَسَنَةِۖ وَجَادِلْهُم بِالَّتِي هِيَ أَحْسَنُۚ إِنَّ رَبَّكَ هُوَ أَعْلَمُ بِمَن ضَلَّ عَن سَبِيلِهِۖ وَهُوَ أَعْلَمُ بِالْمُهْتَدِينَ

Invite to the way of your Lord with wisdom and good instruction, and argue with them in a way that is best. Indeed, your Lord is most knowing of who has strayed from His way, and He is most knowing of who is [rightly] guided. (16:125)

Speak to them calmly and with kind words and make them realise how beautiful Islam is through you by showing them. E.g. Kindness, respect.

Try to find out their name by asking them and get to know them a bit. Use their name during the conversation. This would make them feel that the message is specifically for them. Shake hands with them too.

Introduce yourself as well and talk a bit about yourself (but not too much) so that the person feels comfortable and doesn't see you as a complete stranger.

If they ask a question listen to them attentively. They will throw a lot of questions at you but in turn question them about their beliefs (Not to show interest but just to make them realise that logically Islam makes more sense)

Do a bit of research beforehand like the basics of Islam etc and watch videos on YouTube of people giving dawah so that you would know what questions and comments to expect from people.

Smile at them and enjoy talking about this wonderful deen. But mostly enjoy! Giving dawah makes you realise how fortunate you are to be a Muslim.

I would personally recommend this website to learn about the basics of Dawah
http://www.missiondawah.com/dawah/dawah-training/call-of-duty-dawah-course-online-training.php

And I’ll finish this tip off with a beautiful ayah from the Quran.

وَمَنْ أَحْسَنُ قَوْلًا مِّمَّن دَعَا إِلَى اللَّهِ وَعَمِلَ صَالِحًا وَقَالَ إِنَّنِي مِنَ الْمُسْلِمِينَ

And who is better in speech than one who invites to Allah and does righteousness and says, "Indeed, I am of the Muslims." (41:33)

Depression

Depression is an illness that a lot of people go through at some point in their life and it can be avoided and treated just like all other illnesses. Although, anti depressants are used to treat it somehow the person may find that they are back in that state again after a year or two. Some of the symptoms of depression are:

• continuous low mood or sadness
• feeling hopeless and helpless
• having low self-esteem 
• feeling tearful
• feeling guilt-ridden

• feeling irritable and intolerant of others
• having no motivation or interest in things
• finding it difficult to make decisions
• not getting any enjoyment out of life
• having suicidal thoughts or thoughts of harming yourself
• feeling anxious or worried
(Symptoms according to NHS)
The solution to it can only be found in the infallible words of Allah, The Qur'an.

Have you wondered why it happens? There may be an answer like a life event or unhappiness with one’s life but this is not the answer because one may find that after a while they end up in depression again. The truth is life is hard.

Allah says in the Qur'an “Or do you think you will enter into heaven (with ease)?” (2:214)

This verse poses a question for people to understand that entering Jannah is not possible without various difficulties surrounding it.
We also need to remember this verse in the Qur'an where Allah says: “Allah does not place a burden on a soul greater than what it can handle.” (2:286). One should feel hope from this verse because whatever you are going through, you CAN handle it or else Allah, The Almighty, The All-Knowing would not have put you through a certain test.

Depression can be related to from a spiritual way. Allah has created everything in a perfect balance, even humans. Allah says in the Qur'an “And do not ruin the balance” (55:9).

So how can depression be related to balancing something? We as humans have a spiritual side and a physical side and both need to be kept in a balance. We need to feed our bodies for energy and feed our spiritual side with prayer and acts of worship as we have been created to worship none other than Allah. If we overfeed our bodies, we’ll be unable to perform our duties or if we focus too much on the dunya and not on Islam, this unbalances the natural balance and abandoning worshipping Allah has a detrimental effect on us especially our soul, which leads to depression.

The only solution to avoid and treat depression is found in the Qur'an.

Allah says in the Qur'an “Those who believed, and whose hearts find rest in the remembrance of Allah.” (13:28)

Ibn Kathir said in his tafsir “for their hearts (believers) find comfort on the side of Allah, become tranquil when He is remembered and pleased to have Him as their Protector and Supporter. So Allah said,

“Verily, in the remembrance of Allah do hearts find rest” (13:28)

So one needs to ask themselves are they remembering Allah during hardship, trials, tests and during times of ease.

The best option to avoid depression and find peace in the heart is to remember Allah constantly. Some of the acts that help are:

• Ask Allah to help you because none can help but Him. Just turn to Him and remember “Verily the help of Allah is near” (2:214)
• Ask Allah for patience
• Having Khushu in prayer ( I would recommend everyone to read ‘Developing Khushu in the prayer’ by Muhammed Salih Al-Munajjid)
• Dhikr (Remembering Allah and Praising Him whenever you have some time free e.g. walking to the bus stop)
• Reading the Qur'an (Even if it is just a page or a verse, plus translation if you do not understand Arabic)
• Having Hope in Allah and leaving everything in His Hands because He knows what is best for us
• Also remember that everything comes to an end so whatever trial or test you are going through will come to an end as well
• Speak to a friend or family (Talking about a problem helps to perceive your problems in a different way)
• Do exercise (During depression, a neurotransmitter called serotonin, which regulates mood, anger etc goes low. Doing exercise helps to keep it up). Even the Prophet Muhammad (SAW) took part in various sports.

Islam and Sexism

Author: Hisham Zoubier

"As salaam allaykum. Peace be upon you. 

For those of you not familiar with that Islamic greeting, it is said between all Muslims and Arabic speaking peoples around the world; white, black, man or woman. I have invited you here today because it has become increasingly apparent to me that the image of women in Islam is one of sexism and degradation. One of inferiority, and one of disgrace. One of inequality, and one of male domination. In fact, nothing could be further from orthodox Islamic teachings. Many of you will look at me with disbelief, and with skepticism and I fully expect it. However, everything I tell you here today will have it's justification by historical fact and by Quranic quotation.

The Quran is the basis of all Islam and history shows that the application of it has not always been one of contradiction. Now, in Islam there are very specific rules relating to the equality of men and women. They are both looked upon as being equal in soul and in mind, and in spiritual responsibilities. Of course, they are not looked upon as the same; but merely different.

You cannot say that the role of the mother is the same as the role of the father, or vice versa; because they are different. But you cannot say that one is inferior to the other. The mother cares for the newborn baby a lot more than the father does and this sort of motherly love is held in the highest regard in Islam. The Prophet Mohammed, peace be upon him, was asked by a follower one day whom he should treat with more affection. The prophet answered, "Your mother." The man asked who was next in line, and again the prophet replied, "Your mother." He asked again and the response the same; it was not until the fourth time that the prophet said, "Your father." The prophet also said," Paradise lies at the feet of mothers."

In the West, female assault (ie, assault on women) is very common. Statistics show that 25% of all reported crime in the UK are violent assaults on women. The question of violence towards women in Islam is very clear. IT IS NOT ALLOWED. The honour of women is of extreme merit, and no man may dare to infringe upon it. Islam does not permit any sort of abuse to women; verbal or otherwise. Wife beaters were declared by the prophet not be Muslims and it has been reported that the prophet never hit any child or any woman. In fact, rape or any assault on women is a very serious crime in Islam. Here, there has been much talk about "date rape". I've been told that rapists can get off with a year or less in jail here. And this is justice; this is the law, in the civilised world. A man can violate a woman's honour and put her under all sorts of duress and harm, and scar her emotionally for life.... and a few months later, he can walk out of jail, free to continue his life with barely a thought to what he has done to that woman. In some countries in the Middle East, rape can be punishable with life imprisonment or lengthy prison sentences; although, I am sure that many would prefer to simply remove the problem from down below and get it over with. That sort of safety in those countries, which is alien in the West, is why my sister can walk the streets at any hour of the night on her own and feel completely safe; secure in the knowledge that no man will trouble her or molest her, because he knows that as soon he crosses that line, he will be held accountable for his actions. How many of you would walk the streets alone at night in the West's towns and cities? 

Spiritual Equality in Islam:
In Islam, women are not regarded as the fountain of all evil; Eve is not blamed for Adam's mistake; both were at fault and both repented. In spiritual matters, a woman is as responsible as the man is; this is clear. Both have to fulfill the requirements of being a Muslim; in fact, the woman generally has the easier time! During Ramadan, which is the Muslim month of fasting and cleansing, a woman does not fast, if her menstruation cycle happens to be in place. This also applies to their praying; they can be excused from praying during this cycle. Men, on the other hand, always have to fast; unless they are ill and are incapable or their health is in jeopardy (same as women). Women, like men, have to pray, have to do Hajj (which is the Muslim pilgrimage to Mecca), they have to give Zakat (which is charity to the needy); all men and women have to perform these duties; there is no difference between them, and they all will be held accountable by God. "Whoever does deeds of righteousness, be they male or female, and have faith, they will enter paradise and not the least injustice will be done to them" [Nisaa 4:124] The Quran also says," They (women) are garments for (men) while (men) are garments for (women). 

Education and Social Status of Women in Islam:
The woman in orthodox Islam, is not held back. She is expected to care for her children; but that attitude is universal. All mothers care for their children. And the mother has a bond with her child that no man, including myself, can ever really understand. But the idea, that she is not allowed to leave the house without her husband or his permission or participate in the running of the society, or be ignorant is not in Islam. The husband does not rule the woman's life. Some may think they do, but they do not. As a matter of fact, and this is interesting, under certain conditions, the wife runs the husband's life!! If the man is not tending to his familial duties, or is squandering his wealth, as opposed to providing for his family, the wife is permitted to seize control to help the family.

In providing for her family, the woman has a special privilege. The husband is supposed to provide for his family; in fact, sacrifice his worldly goods and himself to do so. The wife, on the other hand, does not have this compulsory duty. Although in many Muslim families the woman gives much of her own wealth to provide for the family; in fact, I have a Sudani cousin whose parents split up and he lives with his mother, and she provides, through working, for him. But the obligation of the wife sacrificing her assets, or her wealth, is not in Islam. She is permitted, under Islamic law, to spend her money as she chooses.

In education, the woman also has the paramount duty to learn. The man is not allowed, under Islamic law, to prohibit or restrict her quest to do so. The woman is ordered by God, as much as the man is, to learn, to read, to seek truth, to educate themselves. "The search for knowledge is a duty for every Muslim, male or female." And since her primary duty of caring for the children diminishes as time goes by, she has a lot of time with which to do that. In fact, a matter of history, Islam was far and away the first social system that gave women equality. Hundreds of years ago, more than a millennium before the rest of the world caught up, Islam gave women the right to own property. And as far as running businesses are concerned; the Prophet Muhammed, peace be upon him, was employed by his own wife Khadiga, may Allah be pleased with her. Women were eminently active in their societies in the time of the Prophet. In fact, it is on record that a woman debated with the prophet; something barely any man would dare to do! And it is also recorded that there was a debate between a man and a woman and the woman was declared correct and accurate, by the prophet.

Marriage:
In matters of finding a mate, Islam also has very clear rules about the practise of arranged marriages. It doesn't do them. The woman and the man are both free to marry whoever they choose and free to divorce one another at any given time, although divorce is looked upon as the final resort. There is a story related about a woman who came to the prophet and complained that she had been married to a man without her consent; her parents had forced her into it. The prophet told her that she was free to annul the marriage if she wanted to, since she had not freely agreed to marry him in the first place. As a matter of fact, she was happy with the marriage; but she complained so as to make the point to Muslim women that they were not under the command of any human being. Only God. It is also said in the Quran that:
“Whoever does deeds of righteousness, be they male or female, and have faith, they will enter paradise and not the least injustice will be done to them.” [Nisa 4:124]

In the Quran we are told that the believing men and believing women should, and I quote:
“lower their gaze and guard their modesty." The hijab is not what many of you think it is; the basic hijab, in fact, the complete hijab, is a scarf that a woman puts on her head, and drapes onto her shoulders. It is NOT a mask, or a veil. Many Muslim women do wear the mask, and the veil, but this is out of cultural demands on a people; not Islamic. There is a sound hadith that supports that notion; the prophet said that all the body must be covered except for the hands and face. The second point of the hijab, is that it is not a sign of inferiority. Many people view it as such, but anyone who meets a woman who has converted to Islam out of her own free will, which is, by the way, a fundamental rule of the religion; freedom to choose, the woman will tell you that the hijab is a sign of respect. It identifies her as being a noble Muslim lady, a woman who does not want to be harrassed. Women have told me that when they wear the hijab, a miraculous transformation takes place on the streets. They are not pushed when they board buses, and the men around them are careful not to bump into them. And another Muslim woman will see her and treat her as a sister, because in Islam all Muslims have a singular bond to one another, which I have never seen outside of Islam. But more on that, at another time. The hijab, as hard as it may be to believe, is not a degrading symbol. It is merely a symbolic gesture to the world, when the woman is on the streets, she does not want to be harrassed. And that the woman is an honourable lady. Just as the man's clothing regulations attribute the same to him; on fact, many Muslim men also cover their hair. Of course, they do not wear a scarf; their hair isn't long enough. And lastly, and this should make my point clear, when the woman is not in public or amongst strangers, she does NOT have to conform to any real clothing regulation. She is permitted to wear as she pleases; amongst her family, amongst her sisters, amongst her extended family( in Islam the family is massive). In fact, the only time that is she is requested to wear the hijab, is when she knows she will be among male strangers that are over the age of puberty and when she is over the age of puberty and before she reaches an older age where she no longer anticipates marriage or when she is praying. Although, many older women do wear it as an example to the younger generation. And no one is to be forced to uphold even these slight regulations. The command from the Quran states very clearly, "Let there be no compulsion in religion: Truth stands clear from error." I knew plenty of Muslim women who were devout, including my own mother, who has done more charitable endeavours than any person I know, that do not wear the hijab, unless they are praying. I'm not encouraging it either way; I am not a woman, so I cannot really speak for it. I do know that it is said in the Quran for a woman to guard her chasitity, as do the men, and the hijab is a means of that, amongst other things. But the wearing of the hijab alone does not make the woman pious; many women who wear the hijab are not at all pious. But they wear it to give that illusion. The prophet said that actions were by intent alone; the intent for a moral existence must be there.

The history regarding women in Islam is also astounding, considering what Muslim women are thought of today. If you look at the historical account of women is Islam, then you will find there as well that women were not devalued. Before Islam came, the people of the world disgraced women. They treated them as cattle, as dishonourable things. In fact, many families would kill a newly born baby simply because it was a girl. Can you imagine that? It is dire indeed; the prophet thought so, because one the many things that he put a stop to was that. But before Islam came, women were not allowed to marry who they chose, or own property, or businesses; in essence, their role was to be pretty, stay in the home for all their lives and be breeding stock. And then, in the Islamic world, over 1400 hundred years ago, that all changed. Women were given the right to own; in fact as I said before, if their husbands were incapable of handling their businesses or assets properly, wives were permitted to take over from them! The wife of the prophet, may God be pleased with her, was not only his wife. She was also his employer; he worked for her! Oh, and by the way, he did not ask her to marry him; she asked him to marry her. And because of her righteousness, because of her decency, she is regarded to be one of the most reliable sources of information regarding the prophet's life. If she were inferior, why would the prophet have accepted her proposal? If she were inferior, why would he have worked for her? If she were inferior, why would male Muslim scholars today still accept her observations regarding the prophet? History shows that in the beginning, Islam was the true emancipator of women. I quote now from Fatima Mernissi's book, the Veil and the Male Elite; a Muslim lecturer in Morocco who is a devout Muslim and a devout feminist. "Women fled by the thousands to enter Medina, the Prophet's city in the seventh century,, because Islam promised equality and dignity for all, for men and women, masters and servants. Every woman who came to Medina when the Prophet was the political leader of Muslims could gain access to full citizenship, the status of sahabi, Companion of the Prophet. Muslims can take pride that in their language they have the feminine of that word, sahabiyat, women who enjoyed the right to enter into the councils of the Muslim umma, to speak freely to its Prophet-leader, to dispute with the men, to fight for their happiness, and to be involved in the management of military and political affairs. The evidence is there is the works of religious history, in the biographical details of sahbiyat, by the thousands who built Muslim society side by side with their male counterparts."
And all this, more than 1400 years ago.

The sign that the majority of people, who convert to Islam each year, are women further shows that Islam is not sexist. The first adherent to Islam was a woman; If Islam was sexist, then why would they do such a thing? What Western woman of common sense would convert to a religion that would degrade her? They are not forced into it; if you do not believe that Islam is fundamentally against forceful conversion, then believe the laws of the Western governments, where they live! Islam is not a sexist religion. I know that you have heard various things, seen various things; but believe me, you have been misinformed. The application of religion, no matter what school of thought, is not always representative of the actual teachings; be it Christianity, Judaism or Islam. 

Before I leave, I have one last thing to say.
"For Muslim men and women, for believing men and women, for devout men and women, for true men and women, for men and women who are patient and constant, for men and women who humble themselves, for men and women who give in charity, for men and women who fast and deny themselves, for men and women who guard their chastity, for men and women who engage in Allah's praise, for them has Allah prepared forgiveness and a great reward."
That is the 35th verse of the 33rd chapter of the Holy Quran..

Salaam wa allykum.

Contact Information:
e-mail address:  hishamzoubeir@hotmail.com

In Recognition of Women

Author: Dr. Khalid Abou El Fadl
 
WHEN Imam Zuhri, a famous scholar of Sunna (Prophet Muhammad's traditions), indicated to Qasim ibn Muhammd (a scholar of the Qur'an), a desire to seek knowledge, Qasim advised him to join the assembly of a well-known woman jurist of the day, Amara bin Al-Rahman. Imam Zuhri attended her assembly and later described her as "a boundless ocean of knowledge." In fact, Amra instructed a number of famed scholars, such as Abu Bakr Muhammad ibn Hazama, and Yahya ibn Said.

Amra was not an anomaly in Islamic history, for it abounds with famous women narrators of jurisprudence, starting with Aisha, the Prophet's wife. A conservative count would reveal at least 2,500 extraordinary women jurists, narrators of Hadith, and poets throughout history.

That was then, but now we encounter hardly a single Islamic woman jurist. Women are all but absent from Islamic public and intellectual life. There are remarkable women activists in many Mosques and there are a few impressive writers, such as Zaynab al-Ghazali.  But these are exceptions. One will rarely find a woman lecturing to a mixed audience about a gender-neutral topic such as "riba" (usury), for example. And while it is common to encounter professional Muslim women in every walk of life, it is very rare to find them on the boards of Islamic centers, or holding leadership positions.

There are several reasons for this alarming phenomenon. A particularly disturbing one is the derogatory attitude that seems to have infected many Muslim men. Very few are willing to be instructed or taught by women. Muslim men, in North America and elsewhere, seem to have developed a woman-phobia that consistently aspires to exclude women from conferences, meetings, gatherings, and even the Mosques.
May God bless Fatimah bint Qais, who tenaciously argued with Hazrat Umar and Hazrat Aisha over a legal point and refused to change her opinion. And there was Umm Yaqab, who on hearing Abdullah ibn Masud explain a legal point, then confidently told him, "I have read the entire Qur'an but have not found your explanation anywhere in it."

The fact is, that Islam neither limits women to the private sphere, nor does it give men supremacy over the public and private life. One notices that the Greek and Roman cultures that preceded Islamic civilization did not produce a single eminent woman philosopher or jurist. Likewise, until the 1700s, Europe failed to produce a single female social, political, or legal jurist. Islam did exactly the opposite in every respect, so much so that Hazart Umar bin al-Khitatab used to entrust Shaffa bint Abdullah as an inspector over the market in Medina. Moreover, Islamic history is replete with examples of female professors who tutored famous male jurists.

Yet the sad legacy of our time is that we have taken women back to the pre-Islamic era by excluding them from public exposure or involvement. A modern scholar, Muhammad al-Ghazali, once described this phenomenon as the "ascendency of Bedouin fiqh (jusrisprudence)." What he meant by this term is that in much of contemporary culture... the world revolves around men and everything is channeled to their service.

The sunna (traditions) of the Prophet reveals that he used to assist his wives in household duties.  But most modern scholars have not had the probity to suggest that the practice of men lending a helping hand in the home is to be recommended or even required in certain circumstances. Most men are content to ignore this and selectively emphasize whatever in the sunna serves only their interests. It is well-known that women like Aisha, Umm Salamah, Laila bint Qasim, Asma bint Abu Bakr, Khaula bint Umm Darda, and many others, were trusted with preserving and teaching one fourth of our religion.

Isn't it time we again trusted women to contribute to our public and intellectual lives? May the Muslim community in North America lead the way in producing the first Muslim woman jurist in more than two centuries. It is certainly long overdue.

[Edited slightly from an article first published in the July/Aug 1991 issue of THE MINARET and reprinted in VOICES, vol. 1, no. 2, Dec/Jan 1992, by Professor Khalid Abou El Fadl. Dr. Abou El Fadl is a law professor at the University of California, Los Angeles, where he specializes in Islamic Law.]
 

The Impact of Marginalizing Women in the Islamic Movement

Author: Waheeda Carvello

At first glance this topic seems fairly simple, yet it is not so. For too long the inferior role of women in Muslim society has become so entrenched that their marginalization is not even recognized. Coming as I do from South Africa, I am reminded of the way that Blacks were marginalized under the apartheid system. It is ironic that, while Muslim men in South Africa were rightly outraged by the inferior status accorded to them under apartheid, they did not see, and many are still unable to see, the parallels between the marginalization of non-Whites under the apartheid of South Africa and the marginalization of women under the ‘apartheid’ (separation) imposed by Muslim men. The question that we must confront is whether Muslim men who profess to uphold Islamic values are willing to redress the indignity and humiliation that Muslim women continue to suffer.

The key question that one is prompted to ask, is where does all this come from? Is this the Islamic way? Is this the way our Prophet intended women to be treated? The problem is that much of what has been historically handed down to us, even from sources which many in this hall would consider unquestionable, is steeped in obvious male-dominated bias. Before I discuss the role of the Prophet’s wives, let me demonstrate that even our so-called "unquestionable sources", such as Sahih Bukhari and Sahih Muslim, are replete with false ahadith — and I want to emphasize "false" ahadith as opposed to "weak" ahadith. There is a fundamental principle regarding the authenticity of ahadith, which is accepted by all Muslims, that any hadith that conflicts with the Qur’an must be rejected. There are no "ifs" and "buts" regarding this principle. Unfortunately, when it comes to women, there are many ahadith that conflict either with other ahadith of the Prophet or with verses of the Qur’an.
We have a very sad situation: most Muslims say that they hold the Qur’an as the most important source for all Islamic issues, but when it comes to practice, it seems that "traditions" determine how we conduct our lives. Nowhere is this more noticeable than in the treatment of women. And apparently it all stems from the perception that Eve, or Hawaa, who was supposedly created from the rib of Adam, was the cause of the downfall of man.

Ask most Muslims where they get this information from and they will readily tell you it is from the Qur’an. Now, if I were to pose the question how was Eve created, I am almost always told, even by those ‘ulama’ that we call the ‘imams’ of mosques, that she was created from Adam’s rib. But that is not what the Qur’an says. So where do Muslims get this information from? Surely they haven’t started to read the Bible? — for this is a Biblical view. In fact, they get it from ahadith. Sahih Bukhari and Sahih Muslim have between them six different sayings on women’s creation that are demeaning and insulting to women. The question then is whether the Prophet could have made such statements, especially as they run contrary to what Allah says on the subject.

Instead of giving you all six ahadith, let me quote you one from each source:
From Sahih Bukhari: "Treat women nicely, for a women is created from a rib, and the most curved portion of the rib is its upper portion, so if you try to straighten it, it will break, but if you leave it as it is, it will remain crooked. So treat women nicely."

From Sahih Muslim: "A woman is like a rib. When you attempt to straighten it, you will break it. And if you leave her alone you will benefit by her, and crookedness will remain in her."

If we are going to talk about the Seerah and the Sunnah of the Prophet, let us be absolutely sure that we will not accept blind adherence to hadith sources, however "sahih" or "authentic" they may be labelled. If they conflict with the Qur’an, then they must be so completely rejected that no doubt is left as to their rejection. The ahadith which I have quoted are in clear violation of what Allah says in the Qur’an.

The first verse of Sûrah an-Nisa (‘the women’) leaves no doubt that Hawa was not created from Adam, Iet alone from his crooked rib. Allah says: "O mankind! Be careful of your duty to your Lord Who created you from a single soul and from it created its mate and from them twain hath spread abroad a multitude of men and women. Be careful of your duty to Allah in Whom you claim (your rights) of one another, and toward the wombs (that bare you). Lo! Allah hath been a watcher over you" ( 4:1).

In this conference about the Seerah of the Prophet (saw), I cannot overemphasize the need for very close examination of the Prophet’s own treatment of women. Muslim women have suffered much over the years because of false accounts of the "seerah" of the Prophet. Now we need to understand that to accept the texts of early historians uncritically is an insult to the pristine honor accorded to the wives and daughters of the Prophet. We must remember that truth is often camouflaged in the very source of information we use as reference. Often the information at our disposal is imbedded in the indiscriminate use of isolated traditions or of groups of traditions emanating from single biased sources or from well-defined socio-political and religious groups. Each seeks to establish that version of "history" that is best suited to its own aspirations and prejudices.
The contributions and dynamism of these revered mothers of Islam are almost always viewed through the skewed lenses of traditional conservatism, in brief complaisant descriptions or tales. They are often marginalized as weak, weeping women, constantly quarrelling and bickering amongst themselves for the love, affection and attention of the beloved Prophet of Islam, Muhammad (saw).

We need to remind ourselves that emotional and personality traits are among the things that make us human, men and women alike. Did Prophet Muhammad not weep? Did he not show irritation when a blind man approached him while he was talking to a pagan Quraish leader? Did he not doubt Hadhrat Ayesha (ra) when a malicious rumor was spread about her? Early in his prophethood, did he not become frightened and seek solace and comfort from Hadhrat Khadijah (ra)? Did he not become anxious? Did he not despair? Why is it that when a man displays these emotions and behaviour then it is viewed with sympathy, and in many instances as signs of strength and character building? But if women, let alone the revered mothers of Islam, show their "humanness", they are labelled as weak and flawed, to the extent that they are robbed of their significant contribution to the advent of Islam and to humanity.

The fact of the matter is that Muslims have become the mules of politics that engender nothing. A woman’s God- given status, character and honor becomes as much a symbol of political struggles as anything else.
All of us present here today believe in the Islamic movement and have gathered here to explore, understand and implement the lessons drawn from the studies of the Seerah of the Prophet Muhammad (saw). We must be aware, however, that our efforts will be in vain if we continue to cling to the rope of conservatism. Conservatism, though a mental attitude, has a social base and finds anchor in intellectually bankrupt and stagnant societies, even when these societies give a superficial impression of being progressive. We must bear in mind that in these societies conservatism provides an inner defense-mechanism for an externally perceived threat. As far as Muslim communities around the world are concerned, this externally perceived threat is nothing more than the aspirations and internal resurgence of Muslim women who wish to reclaim their rightful place as educators and community builders, thus helping to evolve their societies constructively towards an Islamic Revolution which will benefit the whole of humanity. We Muslim women today want to follow the example of the first Islamic movement lead by Prophet himself, in which the inclusive and active participation of women played a vital role in bringing about the desired change.

What was the attitude of Prophet Muhammad towards women? We know that he treated them with respect, love, kindness and commitment. All his wives were noble, strong, intelligent and assertive women. Each one contributed in a profound way, not only in molding and shaping the first Muslim society but also in shaping and enhancing the personality of Prophet Muhammad and his companions (may Allah bless them all).

Even though he was Divinely guided and inspired, they also contributed to his strength, and he would often seek their council and advice. His wives would argue and debate with him on many political and socio-economic issues. When Hadhrat Umar ibn-al Khattab found out that his daughter Hafsa, who was married to Prophet Muhammad, used to argue with him all day, he could not contain himself and decided to go and chastise his daughter. Hafsa was never at a loss for words and the Prophet welcomed this. He enjoyed the challenges presented to him by his wives. When he learnt of Umar’s intentions he did not allow Umar to stop his daughter. Umar then went to seek audience with Umm Salama, also a wife of the Prophet. Umm Salama was an intelligent and forthright woman. Prophet Muhammad held her in high esteem and used to consult her on many complicated issues regarding the governance of society. To Umar’s chauvinist remarks, she replied, "I wonder at you, Ibn Khattab. You interfere in everything. Will you now interfere between the Messenger of Allah and his wives?"

Let us now turn our attention on the first wife of the Prophet, Hadhrat Khadijah (ra). As we all know, she was a wealthy businesswoman, of noble character, and proposed to and married Prophet Muhammad. At the time of the marriage, the Prophet was twenty-five and Khadijah was forty years old. This marriage between a mature woman of understanding and a valiant, honorable young man bears testimony to the needs of a man who was chosen by Allah to change the destiny of humanity.

She was his anchor and model of encouragement, she was more than just a moral supporter, she was also a leader in the truest sense. Her ability to reason and comprehend surpassed that of the men of her time. Even when Prophet Muhammad was frightened by his first encounter with angel Jibril, she had genius enough to realize that something tremendous and awe-inspiring had happened to him. She was the first to recognize the Prophet of Allah. She became the first Muslim and a staunch supporter in the face of determined and distressing opposition. She was firm in her faith, energetic and enthusiastic, and never faltered in encouraging her husband to persevere in the face of adversity. Her support steadied Muhammad’s troubled spirit in the earliest days of his prophetic career.

The annals of history can no longer ignore the important and vital role this outstanding lady of Islam played in mobilizing the first Islamic movement. Her contribution to the economics of the movement was two- fold: firstly, the Prophet’s marriage to her brought him economic freedom and time for spiritual contemplation and the eventual preparation for prophethood. And secondly, she used her wealth to finance the missions and expeditions of the Prophet. She provided the financial and economic base, which is a crucial and essential pre-requisite for any political movement to succeed. Her entire wealth was spent in the way of Allah. This economic base was used to spread the message of her husband, for freeing slaves who had embraced Islam, and helping to feed and shelter the emerging community of Muslims. This is a very profound and significant contribution, and its outcome we all know. If wealthy Muslims around the world follow the example set by our revered mother of Islam, contemporary Islamic movements around the world would not only surpass the spirally usurping economic system of the west but would be able to challenge and crush this exploitative system. It is also worth remembering that Hadhrat Khadijah, may Allah be pleased with her, also inspired Hazrat Abu-Bakr to contribute his wealth.

The relationship between Hadhrat Khadijah and Prophet Muhammad was one of mutual love, respect, mercy and understanding. Prophet Muhammad never stopped loving her, and although he married several more wives in later years and loved them all, it is clear that Khadijah always had a special place in his heart. Once Ayesha (ra) asked him whether Khadijah had been the only wife worthy of his love. He replied, "she believed in me when no one else did: she accepted Islam when people rejected me: and she helped me and comforted me when there was no one else to lend me a helping hand." Could all this have been done by a ‘weak, dependant’ woman? Of course not.

The Prophet Muhammad’s marriage to Hadhrat Ayesha was also an exceptional one. Here we have a man nearing the end of his life and a woman still near the beginning of hers. Hadhrat Ayesha had a lively temperament and was quick to learn. She had a clear heart and an accurate memory. It is important, however, to dig deeper and to bring out the real significance of this union. The emphasis here is on education and the cultivation of the intellect, which every human is blessed with. Allah has blessed humanity with the ability to think and reason. Knowledge is a continuous process. The acquisition of knowledge is regarded as one of the most important acts of worship, which must be infused with love and action to achieve the desired outcome. We must remind ourselves that if knowledge is not related to and acquired through action, it cannot be transformed into power, and cannot be used for the reconstruction of society and environment. What we lack today is the application of knowledge. Most of us are educated — in some instances, very highly educated — but how well do we understand what we have learnt? And how many of us have the commitment and the strength to apply it? Let alone implement it? That is what made the marriage of Ayesha to the Prophet so exceptional.

Prophet Muhammad encouraged intellectual growth and debate. Although Hadhrat Ayesha was intelligent, she had a great deal to learn. The Prophet tutored Ayesha with love and understanding, and enhanced her potential. Through this interaction with the Prophet and the other wives she became very knowledgeable. Like any student, she would sometimes feel insecure regarding her progress and the Prophet would always help her and assist her to improve herself. Like Hadhrat Hafsa, she was never short of words and was not afraid to question or debate in order to find out the truth. When she got older she passed on the knowledge she had received from the Prophet, and long after his death she was a source of knowledge and wisdom for both women and men.

Ayesha accompanied the Prophet on many expeditions. She participated with total courage and commitment in the battles of Badr, Uhud and al-Khandaq (the ditch), and learned through these experiences. Through this kind of training, and as an active participant, she developed into a mature eloquent woman who could fully participate in the affairs of the first Islamic state, alhumdulillah. This is the sunnah that we should all be aspiring towards, not the sunnah which has been fabricated to suit the needs of our men’s nafs.

In conclusion, let me come back to what I said at the outset. The marginalization and dehumanization of women through the error and deviation of historical texts cannot be left unchallenged. Writing and debating about the problem, and confining it to academia, is not going to bring about the desired change. We need to start now. The resurgence has begun and the reformers and advocates of change should not only persevere with patience but should also have the right perception of the situation and a proper understanding of the various factors inhibiting change in order to initiate the proper course.

In his paper Processes of error, deviation, correction and convergence in Muslim political thought (1989), Dr Kalim Siddiqui marhoom wrote:
"History is a crucible. It is relentless and impartial in dealing with error and deviation. History is intolerant of all degrees of perversion of the truth, however well-meaning and sincere the human motive behind it. All kinds of religious traditions have fallen into the trap of exaggerated self-righteousness and absurd claims of having discovered the whole truth to the exclusion of all others."

Dr Kalim wrote this in the context of sectarianism and the false claims of some Islamic groups, current and past. But precisely the same can be said of the positions taken by many male ulama and male-dominated Islamic traditions vis-à-vis women. The error and deviation introduced into Muslim thought on the subject of the role and position of Muslim women need to be corrected for the sake of the Islamic movements currently struggling for truth and justice all over the world, as much as for the sake of Muslim women ourselves. Without the full support, participation and input of Muslim women, as demonstrated by the women of the earliest Islamic community and the first Islamic state, contemporary Islamic movements cannot hope to achieve the goals they have set themselves.
 
Waheeda Carvello teaches at the Al-Ghazali College in Pretoria, South Africa. This is the paper that she presented at the Seerah Conferences convened by the Institute of Contemporary Islamic Thought (ICIT) and Crescent International in Colombo, Sri Lanka, and Karachi, Pakistan, in June 2000.
Source:  http://www.muslimedia.com/archives/movement00/wom-move.htm

Equality of Men and Women in all Three Levels of Islam

The Wisdom Behind the Islamic Laws Regarding Women
Shaykh `Abdul Rahman `Abdul Khaliq
Translated by Ali Al-Timimi
© IANA
 
My brothers and sisters everywhere!  Islamic law - that Allah (Glorified and Exalted be He) sent down to His Messenger Muhammad - came to announce that women (exactly like men) are full human beings.  Women (like men) are therefore required to follow the way appointed by Allah.

A woman (like a man) is therefore obligated with all three degrees of this religion: Islam (outward submission to Allah), Iman (inward faith in Allah), and Ihsan (perfection of worship of Allah).

It is thus required for every woman to testify that there is none deserving worship but Allah and that Muhammad is Allah's Messenger; to pray; to give charity; to fast; and to make a pilgrimage to Allah's House if she has the means.

It is likewise required for every woman to believe in Allah, His angels, His scriptures, His messengers, the Last Day, and to believe in Allah's decree (and that the good and evil consequences thereof are from Allah).
These are the fundamentals of Islam and Iman.

It is likewise required for every woman to worship Allah as if she sees Him.  For although she cannot see Allah, she must believe that He sees whatever she does in secret and in public.

Women (exactly like men) have been commanded with these three levels of the religion (Islam, Iman, Ihsan).
Women are also obligated to enjoin good and forbid evil; to wage jihad by saying that which is truthful; and to adhere to all noble behavior, like: truthfulness, trustworthiness, courage, modesty, and self-respect.

Every Muslim woman is commanded to be steadfast in her religion and not to be negligent with her faith.  It is impermissible for her - under any pressure or compulsion - to open her heart to accept the word of disbelief. Hence every Muslim woman falls under Allah's statement:
"Whose disbelieves in Allah, after he has believed - excepting him who has been compelled, and his heart is still at rest with the Faith - but whosoever's breast is expanded in unbelief, upon them shall rest anger from Allah, and there awaits them a mighty chastisement." (Qur'an 16:106)

Clearly when Islam charged women with all these duties and in all these obligations made her equal to men, the intent was to honor her and permit her to reach the highest degree of perfection of her being.

The duties that Allah has obligated humanity with are but a means to honor us.  Prayer, as well as fasting, is an honor for the servant and a means to raise his rank.  To adhere to Allah's straight path and the manners of Islam are, without doubt, a means to honor us and not to humiliate us as imagined by those who are ignorant of Allah and follow their desires.

Such people think and imagine that a human being who does not believe in Allah, does not uphold the trust of these duties, and does not perform what Allah has commanded him is of a higher standing than the believer who adheres to the obligations of Islam.  Such an idea is ignorance and renders human beings on par with the animals.

Humans have been created to be tried by Allah and have been charged with fulfilling these duties to Allah (Glorified and Exalted be He) and His creatures.  As for animals, while they have been created by Allah, they have not been charged with this trust.

Whoever considers that a human being who does not uphold what Allah has obligated as equal to those who fulfill what Allah has obligated is like those who consider humans and animals to be equal.  For this reason, 

Allah has said:
"Shall we treat that those who have surrendered (as Muslims) as We treat the guilty?" (Qur'an 68:35)

And He has said:
"We have crated for Hell many of the jinn and humanity; they have hearts, but understand not with them; they have eyes, but perceive not with them; and they have ears, but they hear not with them.  These are like cattle; nay, rather they are further astray!  Those - they are the heedless." (Qur'an 7:126)

The disbeliever in Allah is a guilty criminal, for he does not know whom He is to worship, i.e., his Creator, his Protector, his Lord, and He Who created this universe in which he lives.  The disbeliever enjoys what Allah has blessed him with and yet forgets the One Who blessed and preferred him with such blessings.  As for the believer, he is the honorable servant who knows His Lord and Creator, Allah, Whom he worships.  He fulfills what Allah has obligated and travels upon the path that Allah has delineated for him.
 
Source:
http://www.islaam.com/challenges/equality_in_3_levels.htm