Abu Hurairah
17-01-07, 01:29 PM
Equality of Men and Women in all Three Levels of Islaam
Shaykh 'Abdul Rahman 'Abdul Khaliq (Hafidh'Allah- may Allah protect him)
The Wisdom Behind the Islamic Laws Regarding Women
Translated by Shaykh Dr. Ali al-Timimi (Hafidh'Allah- may Allah free him)
My brothers and sisters everywhere! Islaamic law - that Allaah (Glorified and Exalted be He) sent down to His Messenger Muhammad (saw)- came to announce that women (exactly like men) are full human beings. Women (like men) are therefore required to follow the way appointed by Allaah (swt).
A woman (like a man) is therefore obligated with all three degrees of this religion: Islaam (outward submission to Allaah), Imaan (inward faith in Allaah), and Ihsaan (perfection of worship of Allaah).
It is thus required for every woman to testify that there is none deserving worship but Allaah and that Muhammad is Allaah's Messenger (saw); to pray; to give charity; to fast; and to make a pilgrimage to Allaah's House if she has the means.
It is likewise required for every woman to believe in Allaah (swt), His angels, His scriptures, His messengers, the Last Day, and to believe in Allaah's decree (and that the good and evil consequences thereof are from Allaah).
These are the fundamentals of Islaam and Imaan.
It is likewise required for every woman to worship Allaah as if she sees Him. For although she cannot see Allaah, 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 (Islaam, Imaan, Ihsaan).
Women are also obligated to enjoin good and forbid evil; to wage jihaad 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 Allaah's statement:
"Whose disbelieves in Allaah, 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 Allaah, and there awaits them a mighty chastisement." (Qur'an 16:106)
Clearly when Islaam 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 Allaah 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 Allaah'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 Allaah and follow their desires.
Such people think and imagine that a human being who does not believe in Allaah, does not uphold the trust of these duties, and does not perform what Allaah has commanded him is of a higher standing than the believer who adheres to the obligations of Islaam. Such an idea is ignorance and renders human beings on par with the animals.
Humans have been created to be tried by Allaah and have been charged with fulfilling these duties to Allaah (Glorified and Exalted be He) and His creatures. As for animals, while they have been created by Allaah, they have not been charged with this trust.
Whoever considers that a human being who does not uphold what Allaah 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, Allaah 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 Allaah 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 Allaah 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, Allaah, Whom he worships. He fulfills what Allaah has obligated and travels upon the path that Allaah has delineated for him.
Shaykh 'Abdul Rahman 'Abdul Khaliq (Hafidh'Allah- may Allah protect him)
The Wisdom Behind the Islamic Laws Regarding Women
Translated by Shaykh Dr. Ali al-Timimi (Hafidh'Allah- may Allah free him)
My brothers and sisters everywhere! Islaamic law - that Allaah (Glorified and Exalted be He) sent down to His Messenger Muhammad (saw)- came to announce that women (exactly like men) are full human beings. Women (like men) are therefore required to follow the way appointed by Allaah (swt).
A woman (like a man) is therefore obligated with all three degrees of this religion: Islaam (outward submission to Allaah), Imaan (inward faith in Allaah), and Ihsaan (perfection of worship of Allaah).
It is thus required for every woman to testify that there is none deserving worship but Allaah and that Muhammad is Allaah's Messenger (saw); to pray; to give charity; to fast; and to make a pilgrimage to Allaah's House if she has the means.
It is likewise required for every woman to believe in Allaah (swt), His angels, His scriptures, His messengers, the Last Day, and to believe in Allaah's decree (and that the good and evil consequences thereof are from Allaah).
These are the fundamentals of Islaam and Imaan.
It is likewise required for every woman to worship Allaah as if she sees Him. For although she cannot see Allaah, 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 (Islaam, Imaan, Ihsaan).
Women are also obligated to enjoin good and forbid evil; to wage jihaad 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 Allaah's statement:
"Whose disbelieves in Allaah, 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 Allaah, and there awaits them a mighty chastisement." (Qur'an 16:106)
Clearly when Islaam 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 Allaah 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 Allaah'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 Allaah and follow their desires.
Such people think and imagine that a human being who does not believe in Allaah, does not uphold the trust of these duties, and does not perform what Allaah has commanded him is of a higher standing than the believer who adheres to the obligations of Islaam. Such an idea is ignorance and renders human beings on par with the animals.
Humans have been created to be tried by Allaah and have been charged with fulfilling these duties to Allaah (Glorified and Exalted be He) and His creatures. As for animals, while they have been created by Allaah, they have not been charged with this trust.
Whoever considers that a human being who does not uphold what Allaah 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, Allaah 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 Allaah 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 Allaah 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, Allaah, Whom he worships. He fulfills what Allaah has obligated and travels upon the path that Allaah has delineated for him.