An Example of Noble Character

A TESTIMONY During one of my travels in the United States, I met an American Muslim woman now living in Utah named Jeanine Aisha Mirza. She is married to a Pakistani Muslim, Naseer Ahmed Mirza. In an interview I came across, she made a striking observation: while many Americans believe that Muslim wives are oppressed, her personal experience paints a very different picture. As she put it: “While most Americans are under the impression that Muslim wives are oppressed,” Ms. Mirza said, “I haven’t found that to be true. It’s just a different division. Outside the home, my husband’s the boss. But in my house, I’m the boss.” I have encountered many similar testimonies. In the United States, many women are hesitant to marry white American men because of a constant fear of divorce. As a result, many serious-minded women prefer to marry Muslim men—especially those who have come to the U.S. for higher education. Jeanine Aisha Mirza, through her experience, highlighted an essential principle of Islam. Islam does not assign a lesser status to women compared to men. Instead, it establishes a balanced system of division of responsibilities based on equality and mutual support. Islam divides life into two broad spheres: the external and the internal. The external sphere—public and financial affairs—is primarily the man’s responsibility, while the internal sphere—home and family life—is the woman’s domain.