Text Box:  SPEECH OF HAZRAT KHALIFATULLAH MUNIR AHMAD AZIM INTERFAITH CONFERENCE: LIBERATION OF WOMEN THROUGHOUT ISLAM After glorying Allah and taking refuge in Allah against Satan the Acccursed, and greeting Salaams and Welcoming the guests and members present, Hazrat Muhyi-ud-Din Al Khalifatullah said: Nowadays people think that women had achieved their liberty in the West and that liberty started in the 20th Century. The liberalisation of women was not started by women! People do not understand this well. They think that such and such country and politician is behind the liberalisation of women. The truth is, when we read from all sacred books and according to all prophets who came before the dawn of Islam, they also taught women their rights, their liberty! And if today there are such liberties which people say that the women have, these did not happen because of the mundane laws, but instead it is through the laws of spirituality that they obtained such liberties. As Islam is a universal religion, and that the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) is a universal prophet, it is him who has given back the dignity, honour, and rights of women through the revelations of the divine teachings which he received from God. As a prophet for all religions (universal prophet), these divine teachings (concerning women) which he brought, and as the Liberator of Women, he was a source of blessings for each woman, from whichever religion she came from, whatever her beliefs and responsibilities were. The rights and responsibilities of women in each religion, the important point is that these have become a controversial subject, and people have wrong information about it and thus do not understand it properly. To well understand this subject, we must realise that a woman must look for what God has revealed Himself, and not what man is saying! To start with the most important points, we must look at the spiritual aspects. I think that all women will agree with me on this, that the objective of our creation on this earth is that we must turn towards our Creator, to worship Him in all good things and to stay far away from all evils. It is through this mean that we can fight against Satan with force, but where will we obtain this power to overcome Satan? My answer to that is that without the help of God and obedience to His instructions, you will not be able to fight against Satan and overcome him. God created man and woman and both have a soul. Both have been created for the same purpose of life. Both have as work to accomplish their religious obligation, both will be judged by God, and both will be rewarded or punished according to their individual actions. Like mentioned in the Holy Quran, in Chapter An-Nisa (The Women) V.124, God says: “As for those who lead a righteous life, male or female, while believing, they enter Paradise; without the slightest injustice.” Thus, as per our understanding, there is no doubt in this, that there will be life after death, be it for the man or for the woman, and both will be judged accordingly. Each of them will have to account for all their actions; each soul will be punished for their wrong actions, and each soul will be rewarded for their obedience towards God. Men and women are of different sexes. This is a medical establishment that men and women are different. In English this is called: « Biological composition and temperaments ». Almighty God knows very well, and His knowledge surpasses those of us, and He gave each man and woman their role according to their nature. There is no one who is inferior or superior to the other. On the contrary, both are like two bricks which block a space. In our everyday life, we see that in society there are different types of people, and all of them play a particular role to maintain the liveliness of the society. For example, a nurse or doctor brings their contribution to society by treating the sick. The teachers bring their contribution by educating children; a mason brings his contribution in society by constructing buildings and houses, the planters bring their contribution in society by taking care of availability of foods for our consumption, factory workers (men and women) who bring their contribution to society by sewing clothes to cover our body, and make us look smart. Like this there are lots of examples which can be mentioned on the contribution of each person in society. Now the Holy Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) has said: “Speak with the women with gentleness and respect”, and he said also, that among all the things of this world and precious things of this world, the most precious is a pious (virtuous) wife. And in another Hadith of the Holy Prophet (pbuh) where he addressed his male companions, and said: “Don’t you want me to inform you of a better treasure?” They all replied: “Yes, O Messenger of Allah.” Then he said: “Look for a pious (virtuous) wife; when you look at her, you are satisfied with her, she obeys you when you give her an order, and she preserves herself (remains chaste) when her husband is absent from home.” Usually people say that women are the inferior sex, and there are different reasons why they say that women are inferior. But what the people do not realize; it is true that men have been created with a physical body which is more solid, but as for women, they have been created in an extraordinary way where a woman takes cares of her house, of her children, and their education and it is only women who can get pregnant. She carries her baby in her womb for 9 months and afterwards she gives birth to her baby. At the same time, her body produces milk to feed the baby. Women are courageous creatures, whereby they have the necessary temperament to do a lot of sacrifices, and stay up all night, and they are very patient with these children. It is the women who have the greatest role to uphold the honour and good reputation of her family. This does not apply only to individual houses, but it concerns the whole society, the country and the whole world. It is women, who play the most important role everywhere, but unfortunately, due to satanic influence of the modern education, people consider women as toys, and they have the tendency to treat women as puppets. Women possess great and noble qualities, but unfortunately nowadays, men consider them as just cooks, who are supposed to remain in the kitchen and within the four corners of the house. What they forget is that women have the capacity to manage the affairs of the household, and to take the responsibilities of the family. God had never said (in any sacred books) that the role of women is just to stay in the kitchen and cook, and that they do not have to go out to work like men. In fact, men also have to learn how to cook and take care of the house to help their wife. The Holy Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) used to help his wives in household chores, and help them to cook, sweep the floor, and stitch torn clothes etc. It is a woman who can change the lives of a man and brings him towards spirituality. In a house where there is an agreement between husband and wife, and understanding between children and families, and they perform their prayers regularly and they read their sacred book, then this house is illumined with the divine light. But in a house where there is no agreement, no understanding and love between husband and wife, children and families, and that everyday there are disputes, fights and beatings, and that there is no spirituality; they are only attached to useless mundane things, then this house becomes an obscured house, where there is no peace and tranquillity and that house becomes like a cemetery! The wife who is attached to her husband through divine love becomes like a really scented flower, she is like a gem shining amongst her family. The gem of the crown of the woman is her chastity; it is the lease of life, that through her chastity and the power emanating from it, she saves her husband from all sorts of calamities. The inestimable gem of the woman is her modesty. If by arrogance a woman exceeds all limits of modesty, she goes against righteousness then she invites destruction and the punishment of God on her. If a woman has all comforts, and is rich and honourable, but she lacks modesty in her, then her life becomes a waste and is without foundation. Modesty raises the woman to the sublime summit of purity. The modest woman has authority in her house, outside her house, in society, and also anywhere else in the world. The progress of a nation depends on the education of women. Their education is very important. It is educated women who will promote righteousness throughout the world. In certain fields, women must have the liberty to act and they must become role models. And they must show their children moral and spiritual values. Thus, when they will inculcate these moral and spiritual values within themselves, there will be prosperity in the family, in the country, in the whole world and each one will learn to respect one another. It is the woman who will determine if her country or community will prosper or not. Thus, if she does not adopt the right values, then definitely her children will stumble in the wrong paths; will bring shame to the society and country. A wrong step which certain religions have adopted, is that they have never let women become responsible, and the result is that the good qualities of these women were never given an opportunity to shine. As the Spiritual Leader; the Messenger of Allah and the Khalifatullah of the Jamaat Ul Sahih Al Islam, we have ladies’ organizations such as the Siraj Makîn (Firm & Influent Torch), whereby their responsibilities extend to different fields such as religion, social works, education of the young and old, and at the same time we, in the Jamaat Ul Sahih Al Islam are here to invite all women and men from the different religions, races, colours etc.; let us all forget our differences of opinions, and come together to work as one team, one family to serve mankind. Thus, my message today for all those who are present here, is that in the capacity of the Spiritual Leader here in Mauritius and at International level, we (in the Jamaat Ul Sahih Al Islam) are inviting all our sisters to join hands with the “Siraj Makin”, our female wing, to work together for the benefit of humankind and the betterment of our country. Let us forget that we belong to such and such religion; let us put in our minds that we are all creatures of God. To conclude, in my personal name and on the behalf of the “Siraj Makîn”, I thank you all from the bottom of our hearts to have accepted our invitation and for your presence here today. May by the Grace of God, He (God) bless all of you who are present here, who have sacrificed your time to come here to listen to good words, which can make each and everyone ameliorate ourselves in our everyday lives. May God be pleased with our efforts and may He put lots of rewards and blessings in it. I also hope that our ties of friendship and fraternity go on increasing by the Grace of God, through this special function today which is a first, but it must not be a last one. And we must meet regularly, where each one of us brings our contribution for the moral and spiritual progress, be it in the family, the society and the country. Thank you for your attention. 20th December 2008 (After Zohr Prayers)