Roles of women in nation building: The Islamic perspective (III)

This deliberate misconception pressurized women, their families and their communities to value employment over women rights and duties in Islam.The result has been injustice to women, a reduction in the time a woman can spend with her husband and children, and a shrinking job market for men. A vicious circle ensues: The economy suffers, more […]

This deliberate misconception pressurized women, their families and their communities to value employment over women rights and duties in Islam.
The result has been injustice to women, a reduction in the time a woman can spend with her husband and children, and a shrinking job market for men. A vicious circle ensues: The economy suffers, more women take up low paid jobs, unemployment among them rises, marriage opportunities dwindle, the number of unmarried women increases, morality suffers, and crime rates rises. Employers and shareholders thrive under these conditions, but the rest of society suffers.
 For women to work outside the home because of a real communal or personal need is acceptable in Islam, as long as the work, the workplace, and the co-workers operate within normal Shari’ah guidelines. However, just because a limited number of women may have true justification to seek outside employment, and may have to make compromise arrangements for their families, does not mean that flimsy excuses or selfish needs are acceptable reasons to compete with men for jobs nor that such women may neglect their primary role as mothers and homemakers.
It is essential that those in position of responsibility in communities and nations be reminded of the negative social effects of women in paid employment. They must remove the need for them to work, or weaken its consequences.
It is manifestly unfair to treat woman identically to men in the workplace; giving them the same jobs, making them work under the same conditions, for the same hours, and in the same places, while ignoring their intrinsic nature, and their essential family role.
Can the contemporary Muslim women emulate the early noble women around the Rasul? Yes we can! If we have deep knowledge of Tawhid, belief of Tawhid (oneness of God) focus on the essentials principles upon which the prophet (SAW) established nascent Muslim community, we must be ready to persevere, be patient, striving in the face of trials, for firm belief allowed the pioneering believers to overcome obstacles that still seem truly insurmountable.
 Challenges
The government continues to withhold the resources, against the masses. The men could not meet their responsibilities; children are not catered for and their education jeopardized. If the women are to go out to find everything for themselves, they may not contribute meaningfully especially in rearing the children, who are the future leaders. Government no longer caters for its citizens; the man does not earn enough, even if his wife works, their salaries put together can’t sustain their home and children. The consequence could be devastating, thus corruption in the land, bribery has become the norm in our society.
 Advice and action
The consequences of leaving the path of Allah or of corrupting the morals of Islamic societies are dire. We are warned about the punishment in this life and the hereafter. So let those beware who disobey his (i.e the Prophet’s) order, lest fitna strikes them or a painful punishment (an Nur, 24:63). The Prophet (SAW) said, “Allah’s sense of ghira is provoked when a believer does something which Allah has prohibited. (Bukhari)
 The preservation of morality and chastity should be an integral part of education and everyday life in Muslim societies and should be prominent in the media, and all public activities. Preventing free mixing of the sexes in education centres and work places plays a very important role in preserving chastity and morality in society. This explain the persistence of those fighting chastity in calling for United Nations resolutions to pervert society.
 Society must realize that to exempt the media, tourist attractions and public event and spaces from the moral injunction of the Shari’ah for economic or any other reason has serious consequences for society.
All the faithful, including scientists, intellectuals, specialists, traders and ordinary folk must unit to protect the Shari’ah and demand that no exemptions be allowed so that men and women and society are safe, form disobedience to the Creator, whose result is peace, progress, development in our dear country.     
Concluded