Islamic Education: A global essential for women’s defense.

Islamic Education: A global essential for women’s defense.
If the media doesn’t run a story of a Muslim woman in hijab, or better yet in netted burqa, lacerated by strings of depression on her forehead, on its headline, it would have just lost a photojournalism award on any piece on Islam. The question is does Islam really hate women and relegates them to the back seat of ignorance and husband’s domination? Aren’t Muslims supposed to be the most educated, since the very basis of Islam is llm, or knowing?
The Power of Dialogue
Khawlah was a Muslim woman whose husband Aws pronounced this statement at a moment of anger: "You are to me as the back of my mother." This was held by pagan Arabs to be a statement of divorce which freed the husband from any conjugal responsibility but did not leave the wife free to leave the husband's home or to marry another man. Having heard these words from her husband, Khawlah was in a miserable situation. She went straight to the Prophet of Islam to plead her case. The Prophet was of the opinion that she should be patient since there seemed to be no way out. Khawla kept arguing with the Prophet in an attempt to save her suspended marriage. Shortly, the Quran intervened; Khawla's plea was accepted. The divine verdict abolished this iniquitous custom. One full chapter (Chapter 58) of the Quran whose title is "Almujadilah" or "The Woman Who Pleads" was named after this incident:
"Allah has heard and accepted the statement of the woman who pleads with you (the Prophet) concerning her husband and carries her complaint to Allah, and Allah hears the arguments between both of you for Allah hears and sees all things...." (Quran 58:1).
This easily supports my ever nagging point that women must be educated in all departments of life including, becoming experts on Islamic faith but with a new angle of interactive academy and critical analysis.
Wives are educators
Aisha the beloved youngest wife of the Holy Prophet was regarded as a jewel of Islam, not because she was simply his only virgin wife or she was the pretty daughter of his best friend Abu Bakr Siddiq, but more importantly she was the one who challenged him intellectually. That being smart, outspoken, childish yet loving was her unique characteristic. She took pride in what she did and she did it equally professional. Her integrity was tested in the episode of Ifq/ slandered by a hypocrite and she passed with flying colors. The Quran talks about her exoneration in glowing accolades. Altogether she is the first woman scholar in Islam and has left this rich legacy among women that no matter what you do and what maybe your circumstances, getting a basic education and learning about your faith is the key to success.

I dislike the dichotomy many offer when it comes to secular job based knowledge and divine revelation- they are both important and sacred as the originator of all wisdom is God Almighty, Allah. Lady Aisha taught the people of Medina, including the boys and answered the men and women their repeated questions, for almost half a century, after the Prophet’s demise. If education and seeking the truths of revelation wasn’t the most meaningful part of her life, while being the Prophets’ favorite, then how could she have served so selflessly for so long? She did not wallow in sorrow at the absence of her most beloved and prized gift. She adored him by keeping his mantle burning with her dedicated service. Many a times when this issue of women learning Islam comes up, the image of black covered females takes over. Learning is a duty separate from any other acts in Islam; they all have their own virtues and one should not hinder the other. Being active like Lady Aisha should be paramount and the world have seen many such savants who have not made the ridicule of the narrow minded stop them from dong their duty.

Q 3:110 You are the best of peoples, evolved for mankind, enjoining what is right, forbidding what is wrong, and believing in Allah.

Humanity comes first

Today our women don’t only have to grapple with issues of daily hygiene and prayers or learning the many ways of worship in Hajj or whilst traveling in the Path of Allah alone but they must be in the know about the more serious social-economic issues of survival and the bombarding political problems of self identity in the media and workplace. Being equipped with the right tools of research and knowing how to handle issues intelligently and wisely makes her stand among the Mother Mary’s of the world and the many Karen Armstrong’s of the West.

You may have noticed how some superstars have become the darlings of the media with their heroic off screen philanthropy? Well this is the humanity that needs to be re-awakened among our people- the hadith says the best of you is she who benefits others.

This is the time when leadership must recognize that 70% of the world are affected by the present economic downturn that’s wringing dry the financial capabilities of those who didn’t even benefit from the credit crunch. Inasmuch, the majority of those feeling the poverty pinch are women and children. Where will they be fed from? Who will supply them drinking water, or save them from HIV or cholera? Will they have a safe place to bow their heads in the night and will their children have the future out of a vicious cycle of ignorance and violence?

Islamic education is meant to not only change the knowledge base of an individual but to bake a character of thoughtfulness and self responsibility. In so doing, many have rid themselves of superstition and custom based lifestyles by studying the deeper meaning of social reform and Islamic theology. Therefore, learning the Quran should never be about exorcising possibly mental health victims for a few dollars but to liberate the mind from mental slavery.

Q 14:1 Book which We have revealed unto you, in order that you may lead mankind out of the depths of darkness into light.

Women should speak up

Instead of relying on a male Imam to defend your rights and to educate against domestic violence, marital rape and endless macho domination, it’s the most powerful en-armament to have an educated sister standing up against these dastardly Un-Islamic practices prevalent in Muslim comminutes across divides. Naturally, the voice of the oppressed is powerful as it sits by the throne of Allah.

Easily a woman would stand in front the undefeatable Umar bin Khatab and question him on his standardization efforts on the maher/dowry- the woman’s inalienable right by divine decree is to accept or refuse whatever bridal price she’s offered. So discussion and dialogue are not alien to Islam but rude attitude and callous behaviors are definitely strange bed fellows to any Faith. So to have women educated on the liberation movement on saving the planet through active greening and faith based environmentalism is an integral nature of women studying the Scriptures in the past. Whatever are the current issues facing globalization today it’s equally our concern and the precedence of its solution is somewhere in our divine text and time-tested tradition. Why did Fatima, the Prophet’s special daughter chose a life of austerity despite being a royal princess and the wife of an able and scholastic Ali bin Talib? It was she knew such a model lifestyle would become the tradition of millions of women, who realize happiness is not rooted in crass shopping but lies in being contented and grateful, and yet still be sassy and sophisticated. Princess Fatima worked with her hands and refused any servants. She is likened to the millions of ladies who work day jobs yet return home to make dinner, help with home work and give company to their husband’s dreams while pursuing studies. They are indeed the servants of Allah but choose to be honorable in their lives not because of anything but simply the Spiritual has strike their core. A woman, the crystals of love and the angels of tenderness, is not a servant of her husband nor children yet alone mother-in-law and father-in-law. She is entitled to her own residence, aides and maintenance plus pocket money! If there is not a critical education of Islam when it comes to women’s issues serious ailments will prevail. Additionally, the main characters of society building, the mothers of our nation, will be paralyzed in executing their duties.

Q 5:67 O Messenger, proclaim the (message) which have sent to you. If you did not then you would not have fulfilled and proclaimed His mission. And Allah will defend you from men (who mean mischief).

Women scientists are real leaders

Isn’t it admirable that recently the world paid tribute to a woman who made her 63 years of adult existence the locus of fighting for women to be educated, to vote, to be treated fairly, to work, to assemble and to receive proper medical treatment in Guyana. She was an American Jewish woman who arrived in colonial Guiana and adopted the Indian culture humbly, while walking from coast to mountain, seeking after justice and equality on others behalf. She is Janet Jagan, sitting besides Mother Theresa and Nelson Mandela on the pedestal of humanity’s self less leaders. Isn’t this what Islam aught to do? It made at least the Prophet and his followers fight against poverty with zakat, against women being treated as chattels with marriage, against girls being buried alive with equalization in dignity and against all forms of gender bias by announcing they are not the Satan that whispered into Adam’s ear. But how will one seek this self dignity and self pride in ones identity when the culture of the triumphant civilization wreaks havoc on your self, your faith, your dress, your ideas, your cuisine and your history? In the traveling museum of Islamic civilization one may be astounded to find these scientists weren’t only bearded men in long flowing robes but so many revered women were pioneers of Science and Islamic thought.

Today the Muslim woman may still be seen oppressed and her issues unsolved but there is light the end of tunnel. See this Gallup's report, Muslim Americans: A National Portrait, which compares the opinions of Muslim Americans with those of the general U.S. population done in USA recently.

The report also reveals that Muslim American women are one of the most highly educated female religious groups in the United States, second only to Jewish American women. In addition, as a group, Muslim Americans have the highest degree of economic gender parity at the high and low ends of the income spectrum.

I would like to paraphrase a quote from Maryam Jameela, the convert American Jewess, who lived in Pakistan for many years and wrote Islam vs the West: That learning about the society where you live makes you appreciate the religion you profess.