Islam recognises women’s rights – NASFAT Chief Missioner

Men and women are equal in the sight of Allah and are expected to perform all acts of worship, the Chief Missioner of Nasru-lahi-l-Fatih Society (NASFAT), Imam Abdul-Azeez Onike has stressed. In a statement to commemorate the International Women’s Day, Onike said patriarchal tendency and beliefs were inherited attitudes from the “Period of Ignorance” which […]

Men and women are equal in the sight of Allah and are expected to perform all acts of worship, the Chief Missioner of Nasru-lahi-l-Fatih Society (NASFAT), Imam Abdul-Azeez Onike has stressed.

In a statement to commemorate the International Women’s Day, Onike said patriarchal tendency and beliefs were inherited attitudes from the “Period of Ignorance” which predated Islam.

The cleric referenced Qur’an chapter 16v97, which says “whoever does righteousness, whether male or female, while he is a believer – We will surely cause him to live a good life, and We will surely give them their reward [in the Hereafter] according to the best of what they used to do”.

Onike said most of the misconceptions about women were due to deliberate distortion or manipulation of textual provisions, just as the concepts degrading womanhood were not scripture-based.

He said the organization had been partnering local and international non-governmental organisations to champion the cause of better living for women intellectually and financially.

He said NASFAT’s project 25-25-25 empowers 25 women in 25 trades and in 25 locations.