In the midst of an era of ignorance, Islam dignified women in society by elevating them and equipping them with exceptional rights. Islam granted women the right of education, to enroll in a profession, to marry of their choice, to become inheritors and to engage in different aspects of the community.
In the 7th Century the last Prophet of Allah (s.a.w) declared, “The pursuit of knowledge is obligatory on every Muslim”. This statement was not only directed towards Muslim men, but it was made mandatory on every believing man and woman that they pursue in the path of Knowledge. Along with this he stated, “The best amongst you is the one who learns Qur’an or teaches it.” The very wife of the Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w), Hadhrat Aisha (r.a) is famously held as one of the most influential scholars of Islaam.
A Muslim woman, regardless of what role she holds, is to be treated with care and respect. While she is a daughter , she is under the care of her father. In regards to her the Messenger of Allah (s.a.w) has said, “…and whoever takes care of three daughters and raises them upon good mannerisms, is merciful towards them until Allaah makes them independent of him, Allaah would obligate the
entrance to Jannah for him.” When she takes on the role of a wife, she is then taken under the care and affection of her husband. In regards to her a Hadeeth states, “The best of you is he who is the best to his family..”. When she further adopts the role of a mother, she is given a high status and her position in the family is elevated. In emphasis of the importance of mothers, on an occasion when a man repeatedly questioned the Prophet (s.a.w) of “who amongst the people is most worthy of my good companionship?” Each time he replied, “Your mother.” When the man asked for the fourth time he replied, “Your father.”
The sisters are role models for everyone, the way a child’s’ first Parochial School is within his mothers’ lap. If a mother holds exceptional traits of an admirable character, no one can take her place in the life of her child. “It is these qualities which assure that she will become the best university for the construction of her child. She needs to find within herself these qualities in order to carve with her love, discipline and Islaamic instructions, the future of the next generations of Muslims.”
