The hourglass of time

History of Islamic women warriors is an eye opener which revealed to me the multiple roles women played in the Muhammad S.A.W. era and how Muhammad S.A.W. was kind to them. The more I read about women rights in Islam the more I came to know about Muhammad S.A.W. humanity, his thoughtfulness toward the Muslim women and his open-mindedness.

When Ume-Ammarah (Nusaybah bint Kaab ) fought in the battle of Uhud with great courage Muhammad S.A.W. praised her for her courage, Ume Ammarah was injured in the battle and when came to consciousness asked about Muhammad S.A.W. which reveals the amount of respect between the two, for Muhammad Ume-Ammarah was a human being and a brave women who fought alongside him in the battle field.

One day when I was using Face book I saw a women with a gun in her hand while she wore traditional shalwar, kameez and duppatta spread all over her head and shoulders but what bewildered me was the amount of swearing and cussing that was written under her picture by all the men, they wrote about her character and how she failed to be a good Muslim, they wrote how she ruined Islam’s name in front of the world etc. over all she was the evil that somehow was the filth that needed to cleansed, she was immoral and it seemed that if she came out of the picture she would be stoned to death, the ultimate way of cleansing a perfect society of Islam: execute women that do not play the role which is a norm, a standard , that do not possess the custom characteristics necessary for the attainment of a perfect Islamic society. Although I still cannot understand how cursing a girl’s picture can lead to a perfect Islamic society, I cannot understand how executing of the gender which is responsible for birth of Muslims can lead to the creation of Islamic society. Although I question about when the true way of Islam will be used to rid of all the wrongs of society: teaching (as portrayed by Muhammad when he discussed problems without the means of arms).

During my research for the hadith of Allah’s Prophet, I came across websites that offended (Nauzubillah) the Hadith by misrepresenting its meanings completely in order to lead the readers astray but my heart stopped beating after reading them as Muhammad is a true role model and a freedom fighter for the Muslim women.  It is a shame what the masses will find when they would want to know about Islam and those who fought for it; all they will find is propaganda and falsification.

Coming from a middle class family my sisters and I did not have any choice but to get out and work for food, clothes and shelter. Throughout my life I believed what people said about the character of such women who work but little did I know that I was the one who was ignorant because I did not care about what “Islam” and its “Prophet” had to say. This is what research of true Islamic scholars reveal:

“There is no restriction in Islamic law that says a woman cannot work or have a profession, that her only place is in the home. In fact, by definition, in a truly Islamic society, there must be women physicians, women nurses and women teachers.” – rasoulallah.net

In one of his last commands in his farewell pilgrimage before his death, Muhammad kept repeating, "I command you to be kind and considerate to women." In another hadith, he said, "It is only the generous in character who is good to women, and only the evil one who insults them."

It was not me and my sisters who were on the wrong path, we went out for our needs without treading on anyone’s rights, without insulting anyone’s faith or dignity, but what we never got is equal treatment in return and understanding for the ordeals we faced everyday and how we fought alone. This scenario is not only restricted to my family, I mention it only for reference. It belongs to every woman who struggles and faces ridicule when going out to work but has no choice to sit at home and not work because she has to go out for income, for food and for a shelter.

I think about how hard it was to survive in an Islamic Republic and still will be in the future, I think about the rights that Muhammad secured for women which are abundant and how I will never obtain them or how girls like me will never get when they will go out to work or live a married life, they will always face chauvinism and domestic manipulation by husbands, husbands’ brothers, sisters and mother. I wonder when we muslims will start acting as true muslims and follow the true Islam, follow the prophets and their male and female followers who all fought for us and shed blood for us.

I wonder when we will learn that Islam came as a Revolution for both men and women, when Muhammad secured the rights of husbands and daughters Both and not just husbands’.  I wonder if I will ever obtain my rights before meeting my maker or be a mark of ridicule for speaking up for myself domestically or professionally.

At times it seems as if the hour glass of time has been flipped, that history is repeating itself only, we have no apostle or a supporter to follow, to listen to, we are on our own to try to understand the truth and reality, to try to see the thin line between good and bad and not cross it. What is inconvenient is the weaker ones getting left behind; the ones with no voice that get left behind. The world is moving ahead toward advancements and a matter such as that of Human Rights is a petty issue but we are still unable to secure the rights of the weaker gender.

 What we need is to not complicate the matters but to keep moving forward, to interact and let others speak up as well as. What we need is to understand the real Islam and how it revolted against the negativity that was spoiling the Arab civilization. If we start thinking that we are all the disciples of Muhammad that we are all his Umat, that we are the ones to remember and understand his teachings and forget about how racially and ethnically divided we are then that would be the first step toward solving the problem. We do not need a utopian concept to solve our problems; we need to understand the law and the science that has already been sent by Allah via his Prophet  S.A.W.