Muslim Women: Pathways to Activism

By Kaniz Fatma, New Age Islam 5 August 2023 Muslim Khwateen Activism Ki Raheen By Dr. Mohiuddin Ghazi Publisher: Central Maktaba Islami Publishers, New Delhi Pages: 168 Price: 150 rupees ------ Every community must involve its entire population in order to advance because women make up half of the human population. If half the population is unemployed, development cannot take place in that area, and women today are active participants in a variety of areas. It is necessary to direct them in the appropriate way. They ought to be educated about the possible fields of employment. The book "Muslim Khawaateen Activism Ki Raheen" by Dr. Mohiuddin Ghazi is an important development in this area. Syed Saadatullah Hussaini's foreword to the book is quite in-depth. He says, “Women have played their roles admirably over the magnificent eras of Islamic history. Muslim women are valued in every sector now because of the considerable efforts made in recent years by Islamic movements to restore their role in various nations of the world. The status of women in Muslim countries and Islamic communities is currently rapidly changing across the globe. In addition to playing an active social and inspiring role, women are rising forward to take on helpful services in many different spheres of life. In some areas, this number is also raising concerns. This trend is occasionally thought to run counter to several widely held notions and cultural norms about women and their place in society. In light of this, it is crucial to clarify an accurate and impartial Islamic viewpoint... Islam views women as contributing members of society rather than being segregated from it... In relation to women's social activities, this book makes an effective attempt to draw connections between the distant past, recent past, present, and future. I'm hoping that this book will be very helpful in spreading the true message of Islam among women and will offer real-world advice to women who are aware of their obligations in the present.” The book under review is organised into 9 chapters. In this book, the eminent author directly addresses women, which is contrary to the common style and for good reason. Additionally, he has equipped them with the guidelines, directions, and a strong sense of inspiration and drive to keep travelling down these paths. The author highlights the peaceful nature of Islam and fair-minded Islamic feminism, overcoming outdated ideas and highlighting the middle path of Islam between Western civilization trends and the radical notions which are mistakenly linked to Islam. For someone to perform any meaningful work, their personality needs to grow. He can better serve the faith as he matures as a person. In the first chapter of the book, the author told the female characters about the potential areas for personality development. The author emphasizes the importance of wives supporting husbands during challenging circumstances and highlights some women who excelled independently. The Qur'an mentions numerous righteous women who performed heroic acts on their own, often on their own. Queen Saba's decision to embrace Islam led to the nation adopting Islam. The wife of the pharaoh displayed bravery in facing his cruelties. Hazrat Musa's mother successfully dropped her baby into the water, while the sister of Hazrat Musa conducted a challenging operation at the pharaoh's palace. Hazrat Maryam's mother dedicated her unborn child to Allah. Hazrat Maryam alone faced the sufferings of her people with patience. (peace be upon all of them) The author advises women to develop as many abilities as they can in areas where they can demonstrate a desire for worship. This includes the ability to write and speak. According to the author, women should pursue their own professional advancement. In the second chapter, the author emphasizes that knowledge applies to both men and women. Women have historically had an advantage in this field, but things aren't much better now. So, it is crucial for women to advance in sciences. Statistics show that in the 7th and 8th centuries Hijri, hundreds of women were experts in hadith. Women taught many eminent hadith scholars, including Imam Ibn Hajar. The author provides historical examples, introduces Shahda Bint Abu Nasr, and takes the reader on a tour of Hazrat Ayesha Siddiqa's educational institution. The third chapter, "Home, Family, and Neighbourhood," stresses the significance of a Muslim woman's primary vocation being caring for her home, followed by her family and her neighbourhood. The author recounts how Hazrat Asma's personality was balanced while concentrating on a few aspects of her life. She attended the Prophet's educational and training events, making use of them to raise her children in the best possible ways, but she also used to be in charge of all household responsibilities as well as those outside the house. Under the heading "Great Wives of Great Husbands," he has listed a number of noteworthy women from the recent past. The author also emphasizes recognizing the value of our neighbours and maintaining a positive outlook on life, emphasizing appropriate behaviour towards them. The breadth of social work has significantly expanded, as have the opportunities for it, in the modern era. Muslim women must act independently in the area of social service under this circumstance. In the fourth chapter, "Advance in the Field of social service," the author encourages women to engage in a variety of professions. He provided examples to demonstrate how women have historically set excellent examples in the legal area, influenced the government, and received financial support. The best instances of women performing social work are shown in the article. The author also highlights Indian women's significant roles in social service in the sub-chapter on "Tradition of Social Service Among Indian Women." The author advised the women that their efforts to raise social consciousness can be more successful in the fifth chapter of the book, "How Can You Reform Society." He has provided numerous examples of this. The author also outlines what we should do in this regard at the same time. Islam has liberated women from having to handle finances. There is a misperception that women may not need to experience financial hardships in such situations. There is no question that a woman's primary sphere of influence is her home, but that does not imply they do not actively contribute to society's advancement. The role of wealth generation has grown in modern times. Men must take the initiative in this, but women must also participate. In the sixth chapter of "You are the Trustee of your wealth," the author discusses women's livelihood and their roles in modern society. He shares three instances from the Blessed Sirat: Hazrat Khadija, the best businesswoman, Hazrat Zainab bint Jahsh, the most competent, and Hazrat Ayesha, the wealth-distributor [may Allah be pleased with them]. Modern civilization's mixed society presents numerous challenges for women, but there are also options for work-from-home careers available to them. The author has also offered his viewpoint on the matter. Additionally, the author provided 8 insightful career pieces of advice. The author discusses the shifting political climate in the seventh chapter, "Recognise your political power," where every vote counts. He has advised women to understand their political clout. He provided first-century instances to illustrate how women participated in politics during the Islamic Golden Age. The author emphasises the necessity for Muslim women to fulfil their role in writing: “Women who are engaged and effective in society can contribute favourably to politics. They have a lot more opportunities now that the country's political system has been established. All women have the same rights as men, including the ability to vote and run for office. Many seats are also reserved for women alone, and only women are allowed to run for those positions. As in the past, fashion has changed, and instead of imitating men, women now freely utilise their right to vote.” (p. 129) In the book's eighth chapter, "Don't be left behind in the Support of Religion," women are given advice on how to stand up for Islam at a pivotal time. In addition to using Hazrat Khaula as an example of the past, he informs the reader of the contribution Zainab al-Ghazali has made to the cause of Islam. He outlines nine necessary steps in this chapter. What attitude does the Holy Qur'an have towards women? The author demonstrates this in the ninth chapter, "Muslim Women in the Holy Qur'an." The Holy Qur'an is remarkable for its portrayal of a Muslim lady as a powerful figure, despite being viewed as weak in society. The Muslim woman bravely confronts situations, organizes risky campaigns, and remains active and steadfast in Allah's cause, much like believing men. She is active and steadfast in their cause, sometimes without the help of men and sometimes in the face of opposition. The ideal situation is where believing men and believing women are prominent in their mutual cooperation for religious reasons. This 168-page book explores contemporary issues, neglecting the focus on theology and jurisprudence. The book should be widely read and discussed in congregations, with the author effectively expressing his points. ------ Kaniz Fatma is a classic Islamic scholar and a regular columnist for New Age Islam. URL: https://newageislam.com/books-documents/muslim-women-pathways-activism/d/130386 New Age Islam, Islam Online, Islamic Website, African Muslim News, Arab World News, South Asia News, Indian Muslim News, World Muslim News, Women in Islam, Islamic Feminism, Arab Women, Women In Arab, Islamophobia in America, Muslim Women in West, Islam Women and Feminism