To: pezz who wrote (52180 ) 6/7/1999 2:53:00 PM From: one_less Read Replies (1) | Respond to of 67261
I know a set up when I see one. Yet, I feel at least bound to provide information. What you do with it is on you not me. There are huge volumes of information on women in Islam. I would love to have an open minded discussion on the subject. Normally I don't put information out on this thread because most of the participants would see that as "pushing" religious doctrine. As you requested, however here is a tiny bit of representative information. Women in Islam were formally recognized as equals over a 1400 years before any western culture ever considered the idea. If you study the body of information in its wholeness you would see balance of power and equity. Like everything, Islam seeks to accomplish in our lives, it harmonizes between the physical, the mental and the spiritual. In other words, it treats the individual as a total being and does not ignore part. That is why rather than push man or woman to the denial of their nature, it instructs them to take advantage, to nurture and develop what God has given to them. Among the greatest gifts God has blessed womankind with is the motherhood. God says in His Holy Book, the Qur'an: "Oh Mankind! Obey your Lord, who created you from a single person and creates from like nature his mate, and from both derived countless men and women. Obey God, whom you turn to and obey the wombs that bore you, for God is ever-watching you." In a single verse God establishes the status and high rank of women as demonstrated by the most beautiful and incomparable role of mother in Islam, the place of the woman in general and mother in particular has no equal. <<Note: here you see a reference from God to obey women>> It is politically correct to object to any reference to obeying men yet few on first reading find objection in this, so far. Like everything, Islam seeks to accomplish in our lives, it harmonizes between the physical, the mental and the spiritual. In other words, it treats the individual as a total being and does not ignore part. That is why rather than push man or woman to the denial of their nature, it instructs them to take advantage, to nurture and develop what God has given to them. The Prophet Mohammad (peace be upon him) said: "Everyone of you is shepherd and everyone of you shall be asked about those under his (or her) guard. The king is a shepherd and shall be asked about his subjects, the man is shepherd and shall be asked about his family, and the woman is a shepherdess in the house of her husband and shall be asked about those under care." In fact, the role of mother is given a higher position in importance, in responsibility and in respect, as illustrated in the following story bout the Prophet Mohammad (peace be upon him). A man came to the Prophet (peace be upon him) and asked him to advise him on whom should he takes into consideration. The Prophet (peace be upon him) answered "your mother", the man said "then", the Prophet (peace be upon him) said "your mother", the man said "then", the Prophet (peace be upon him) said "your mother", the man said "then", the Prophet (peace be upon him) said "your father". and yet again the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "Paradise lies at the feet of mothers" which means that the woman's role as a mother is a sacred one. Islam has emphasized this fact in great fashion by instructing us to respect and care for our mothers for more than what we do for our fathers. The torn families of our days, and our social problems can be all avoided if the motherhood is taken as a serious responsibility and a respectable duty. Islam does not ask of the women to stay at home, have children, and be limited to raising them. Islam emphasizes the importance of this task to a healthy family and a healthy society. If a woman is capable of taking other tasks of life without abandoning such an important and vital task, she is not only allowed to do so, but she is requested to do just that. Every person, man or a woman, is requested to do his utmost to be a positive productive useful member of his or her own society.