This is an extract of my article which was published in Al Nahdah/Vol.23 No.2-3
( a journal of the Regional Islamic Da’wah Council of Southeast Asia and the Pacific )
In the Name of Allah, the Most Beneficent and Most Merciful
Every Muslim woman should have a vision in their lives. They should unlock their lives from an ordinary life to an extraordinary life. A woman should strive on her mission to lead a worthy life in this world in order that she will have eternal happiness and tranquility in eternity. Then only she is considered as a successful woman in the eyes of Islam.
The status of woman is very high in Islam. Our beloved prophet Muhammah(SAW) in his farewell speech at Arafah in the tenth year of Hijrah said, “O people, your wives have certain rights over you and you have certain rights over them. Treat them well and be kind to them, for they are your partners and committed helpers.” This saying proves that woman’s position in Islam is very important and respected. The Holy Qur’an also provides clear cut evidence that woman is equated with man in the sight of Allah in terms of her rights and responsibilities. The Holy Qur’an states which mean: “Every soul will be held in pledge for its deeds”. (Surah Al-Muddaththir:38). It also states “Whoever works righteousness, man or woman, and has faith, verily to him will We give a new life that is good and pure, and We will bestow on such their reward according to their actions.” (Surah An-Nahl:97) and it is also stated in (Surah An-Nisa’ 4:124)
Therefore, Muslim women cannot be too dependent on men. We must learn the many fields of knowledge in order to be independent in our thoughts and activities because in the end, we will be accountable for our deeds before Allah. Islam sets golden rules for a woman to be a wife, mother and career woman. A true Muslim woman has a great vision she values the quality of motherhood, she constantly lives under the guardianship of her husband and at the same time she manages to live as a career woman.
In order to accomplish her vision, a Muslim woman has to fulfill her mission by playing the role as a wife, as a mother and as a career woman. The three roles are the mission of a Muslim woman which can flourish her vision into reality. If only every Muslim woman realizes this entity and practice the basic acting as a righteous and faithful wife to her husband, being a loving and caring mother to her children and being active in her career life, then only the beauty can be seen there.
Islam has not taken away any right of a Muslim woman; rather it has increased and enhanced her rights and obligations to the Creator and herself. It is stated in the Holy Qur’an, woman have rights similar to the rights of man. Her good deeds are rewarded by Al Mighty Allah and her bad deeds may be punished or forgiven by Allah, just like the Muslim man. We are accountable for every deed.
“Every servant of Allah will remain standing before Allah on the Day of Judgment until they have answered 5 questions about 5 things: their life-how they spend it; their knowledge-how much they acted upon it; their wealth-how much they required and spend it; their body (and health)-how they used it.”(Muslim)
