Exemplary Muslim Women

EXEMPLARY MUSLIM WOMEN Just as men function on different planes of religiosity, so do women have their separate spheres of religious effectiveness. What are the traits of exemplary Muslim women? Let us first consider their everyday level of existence on which adherence to their religion broadly means paying the dues of God and men in purely personal matters. In particular, it means true belief in God and the carrying out of His commandments; strict adherence to justice in all worldly transactions; withstanding the temptations of the self as instigated by Satan; paying what is due to God in terms of one’s wealth and life; giving the Hereafter priority over the present world; being guided by Islamic ethics in dealing with one’s family, relatives and friends; in effect, invariably dealing with all matters in the manner approved of by Islam. Next in importance to these feminine duties is the training and nurturing of children. Most women become mothers, and the relationship between mother and child is of the utmost importance because the mother’s influence can be used for ends that may be good or evil, depending upon the mother’s proclivities. As a Muslim, of course, she clearly must use her maternal influence to bring her children up as moral beings. If they have deviated from moral rectitude, she must reform them. Everything that she does should be for their ethical and intellectual betterment. On a higher plane, talented women can further the cause of religion when the right opportunity presents itself. There