Primary Role of a Woman in Islam
On Wednesday, 7 August 2019, both Kenyan and International media reported that the Kenya’s National Assembly was interrupted temporarily after Kwale Woman Representative Zuleikha Juma Hassan entered the chambers with her five-month old baby. The MP said she took her baby girl Mwanabaraka to work on Wednesday after struggling to get childcare, which would normally have meant she would have to stay at home and miss parliamentary sessions.
Zuleikha Juma Hassan is a victim of the secular liberal slogan of feminism championed globally by the West to enslave women intellectually under the pretext of freedoms. Leading on the forefront was an American feminist Betty Friedan, credited as one of the founders of modern-day feminism, she alleged in her famous book, “The Feminine Mystique”, that if American housewives embarked on lifelong careers, they would be happier and healthier, have better marriages, and their children would thrive. The underlying message, echoed by the voices of many feminists over the years, was that it was employment rather than motherhood that could offer women true self-fulfilment, value and success in life. However, her assertions were and will continue to be fake!
The pinnacle of feminism concept is evident in particular ‘Gender Equality’ which seeks to equalize the rights, roles and responsibilities of men and women in family life and society, have served as one of the most destructive forces upon marriage, motherhood and the family unit. Since feminism has removed women from their houses under the pretext of prioritizing material and careers success at the expense of motherhood and family cohesion! So, society and families are suffering from regular breakdowns whereby there are changes of roles in the society to an extend women and men are competing for the same roles or to make matters worse women competing to become family breadwinners, act and behave like men, earn like men, dress like men and attempt to be less emotional like men… Hence, it is unsurprisingly to witness mainstream media making noise when feminism is under attack!
Contrary to Islam, the woman’s primary role is that of a wife, mother and homemaker. The role of motherhood is defined by what the Prophet (saw) said:
«الجنة تحت أقدام الأمهات»
“that heaven lies under the feet of mothers.”
In addition it was narrated that:
جاء رجل إلى رسول الله e فقال: يا رسول الله من أحق الناس بحسن صحابتي؟ قال: »أمك« قال: ثم من؟ قال: »أمك« قال: ثم من؟ قال: »أمك« قال: ثم من؟ قال: »أبوك« ((متفق عليه)).
A person came to Messenger of Allah (saw) and asked, “Who among people is most deserving of my fine treatment?” He (saw) said, “Your mother”. He again asked, ”Who next?” “Your mother”, the Prophet (saw) replied again. He asked, “Who next?” He (the Prophet (saw) said again, “Your mother.” He again asked, “Then who?” Thereupon he (saw) said,” Then your father.” (Agreed upon)
Indeed, Islam has defined genuine role of women and honored the women when on one occasion a woman asked the Prophet (saw) about tidings related to women and He (saw) said:
«أفما ترضى إحداكن أنها إذا كانت حاملا من زوجها وهو عنها راض أن لها مثل أجر الصائم القائم في سبيل الله، فإذا أصابها الطلق لم يعلم أهل السماء وأهل الأرض ما أخفي لها من قرة أعين، فإذا وضعت لم يخرج منها جرعة من لبنها، ولم يمص مصة، إلا كان لها بكل جرعة وبكل مصة حسنة، فإن أسهرها ليلة كان لها مثل أجر سبعين رقبة تعتقهن في سبيل الله»
“Does it not please any of you that if she is pregnant by her husband and he is satisfied with her that she receives the reward of one who fasts and prays for the sake of Allah? And when the labor pains come none in heaven or earth knows what is concealed in her womb to soothe her. And when she delivers, not a mouthful of milk flows from her and not an instance of child’s suck that she receives for every mouthful and for every suck, the reward of one good deed. And if she is kept awake by the child at night, she receives the reward of one who frees 70 slaves for the sake of Allah.” [Tabarani]
In addition, Sheikh Abdullah Azzam (Rahimahullah) said that:
“Mothers play a great role in building a generation. The better a mother is at raising her children, the more successfully the Ummah is built and the more successful it is at producing heroes. You hardly ever see a great man except that a great woman is behind him who left some of her traits in his personality by way of the milk from which he was fed and the warm embrace in which he sought refuge.”
In conclusion, women in Islam are protected against confusions and hardships witnessed in the secular liberal societies today due to feminism calls that have led to materialist competitions between men and women. Since, the man is obligated to be a breadwinner and when not capable his relatives need to assist him and if they are not able then the Islamic state of Khilafah (Caliphate) will assist him to meet his family’s needs by spending from the Khilafah’s Bait ul-Mal (treasury) and so women will not be enslaved under the calls for economic profit disguised as women empowerment! Hence, everywoman and everyman must join the efforts to work for the resumption of the Islamic way of life through the reestablishment of the Khilafah on the method of Prophethood. Since the Khilafah will guarantee women their dignity and respect by facilitating their potential to realize their primary role of motherhood by cutting ties with colonial states that champion feminism to oppress women by forcing them to leave their homes and children; instead to go and sit in an office and become like money-minting machines!
Ali Nassoro Ali
Member of Media Office of Hizb ut Tahrir in Kenya
Article No.57: Friday, 08 Dhul-Hijja 1440 | 2019/08/09