Friday sermon, 31st March 2000
The First Sermon
It has become a regular event every year that the nations of the world celebrate 'The International World Day for Women'. This event provides us with an opportunity to cast a glance at the condition of the woman in the environment of Islam and her condition under the systems of other cultures present throughout world history.
Islam has come to establish a balance between man and woman in the majority of worldly affairs. It has not distinguished between them except when natural differences are apparent. This is not the case in other cultures.
This is clearly evident when one takes a look at the status of women present in other societies in World history.
European Philosophers used to debate whether a woman's soul is like that of a Man's or is she more akin to an animal.
In Ancient Rome the husband had the right to sell his wife if he pleased. For the Greeks the woman had no right to inheritance. The Indians used to burn the woman alive alongside the body of her deceased husband, (A practice that is still present today amongst some tribes.)
And the Arabs before Islam used to bury their baby daughters alive. In other religions her status is no better.
The Jews isolate their wives at the time of menstruation on the pretext that they are filthy. Jewish women also never inherit. The British Christian Church under the command of Henry the Eighth prohibited women from touching the Bible as they saw her as inherently filthy.
When Islam came it arrived to reinstate woman's natural rights and to return to her her humanity and nobility in society. It returned to her the equality she was born with. Allah created both man and woman from a single soul. Islam established, and He gave both equal rewards in their actions.
"Their Lord answers them, I waste not the toil of any labourer be you male or female."
Islam has come to protect the women in all three stages of her life. First as a child, then as a wife and finally as a mother.
As a daughter Allah describes her as a precious gift. The Prophet, May Allah bless him and give him peace is reported to have said that whoever brings up two daughters with love and affection until the time of their womanhood he and I will be close like this (pointing to his two middle fingers).
As a wife Islam has made sure that she will not marry without her consent and approval. The blessed Prophet, Allah bless him and give him peace, did not stop mentioning his wife Khadeeja after her death and he did not slaughter an animal except that he donated some of it to her family. Is this not the height of honour for a wife that he proceeds praising her even after her passing?
As a mother Islam puts her right before the father's. The path to Paradise lies between the feet of your mother. This love and respect Islam carries has come to establish that she is honoured and protected from such dangers present in society.
The reasons why Islam has made the share of a man twice that of a woman's is because a women is always provided for by the men be it husband, father or brother. She unlike the men does not have to spend a penny from her wealth even if she is wealthy on anyone. Whereas the man is the one who must pay for the wedding expenses and is responsible for all financial burdens for the family.
There are also logical reasons as to why Islam considers the testimony of two women equivalent to the testimony of one man. This is for the sake of justice and completeness of the evidence. A woman is far more likely to be inclined to a sensitive character that may bias her testimony. Or she may be affected by the witnessing of a violent crime. This ruling concerns major crimes where a serious punishment may have to carried out on the accused. When it comes to simple matters the testimony of one woman is sufficient.
There is a big contrast between the genuine rights given to the woman in Islam and those presented through hollow slogans in the West. These slogans often appear to be full of mercy for the woman but deep down are far more insidious and carry sinister intentions.
The women's conference of Peking organized by the United Nations produced a declaration which summarizes as follows:
We all agree that there is a need to improve the situation for women all over the world. However are these the changes backed by the United Nations that women are calling for? Let me read to you some official statistics on the real problems that are facing the women in today's society.
Today there is one billion poor people in the World. 60% of these are women. In America 23% of women live below the poverty line. In the World today there are 905 million illiterate people and 65% of those are women. 80% of the refugees in the world today are women. In America the wage of a woman is 64% that of a man's doing the same job. 40% of AIDS's victims are today women. In the USA every 18 minutes a woman is attacked. In India 5 women are killed every day. Finally, in England every week two women are killed by their partners.
Therefore, why are these so called women conferences not dealing with these pressing issues? They focus on abortion, sexual inclinations and prostitution only. In all this Islam is their target. Brothers and Sisters are rejection of these kinds of conventions does not mean that we should leave them to plan and conspire. We must make our views known and felt and come with the alternative to their proposals. The Muslim women must also be aware of all these conspiracies targeting them, as they are the foundation of the family and the nation.
The Second Sermon
Dear Brothers and Sisters, finally we must all strive to convey the message of the Prophet, Allah bless him and give him peace, expressed during his sermon on the last Hajj to all the women of the world. In his message the Prophet, Allah bless him and give him peace, asked men to take good care of women. This was centuries ago before any such conferences like the ones held today were present.
Related Links:
Khutbas
Women in
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