Respect for Our Daughters

A person's need to feel import is something perfectly natural, something instilled in human
nature. It may well be that this feeling is behind many of humanity's greatest inventions,
achievements, and noble acts.

This is why Allah mentions to us that Abraham (peace be upon him) said: “And ordain for me a
goodly mention among posterity.” [ Sûrah al-Shu`arā' : 84]

Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: “If a son of Adam dies, his good works come to
an end except for three: charity that keeps providing benefit, knowledge that people still benefit
from, and a pious child who supplicates for him.”

This is an indication that people like to feel that they are important, and feel that they will be
valued and that their works will endure even after they die. This is why the Prophet (peace be
upon him) guided us to continuous charity, enduring beneficial knowledge, and a pious son or
daughter who prays on our behalf.

Those who belittle and deride others, and who defame their characters, do not profit themselves
anything but pain and bitterness. It makes no difference whether they are officials, educators,
parents, or anyone else.

Our society is in need of programs to teach people this basic truth. All too many people have
inherited from their cultures – and this is a fact for many societies throughout the world of which
some are Islamic societies – contempt for women, looking upon the woman her as if she is a
creation of a lesser degree, a second class citizen – and in some cases it seems that they treat
her more as if the phrase “tenth class” would be more appropriate.

Up to today, some of us are prisoners to this base mindset, as if they had never heard the

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Respect for Our Daughters

guidance of the Prophet (peace be upon him) or benefited from the revelation sent down to us
by Allah. Such people are still toiling under the legacy of the pre-Islamic times of ignorance, in
spite of the fact that in our present age, many banners are being raised, like those of human
rights, women's rights, social justice, and equality. It is so bad that some of us look upon these
terms and concepts with bewilderment and suspicion.

This is in spite of the fact that the guarantee of human rights that is at the core of our  faith is
loftier and nobler than anything set down in any declaration of human rights anywhere in the
world. This is as true today as it has been in the past.

The problem here with respect to the issue of women – and to that of the young woman in
particular – is the result of the coming together with the ideas of the new ignorance with those of
the days of ignorance of old.

First of all, people come with all sorts of biases against women, like the notion that women are
inherently treacherous. Then you have the fact that in some cultures, the birth of a daughter is
received with ignominy and considered a bad omen.

Thirdly, women are still viewed in some circles as not being entitled to have their own opinions
or to make their own decisions. There is a saying: “Consult with them but do not heed what they
say.” Some people might even have gotten the notion in their heads that this blatant lie is a
saying of our Prophet (peace be upon him)!

Then there is the idea that a woman's place is in the kitchen. Here we have another dubious
saying: “Were a woman to reach Mars, she would still wind up in the kitchen.”

These concepts, though prevalent, are from the pagan Arab culture of the times of ignorance.
These notions are alien to Islam. They are not from the teachings of our Prophet (peace be
upon him).

Allah says: “So their Lord accepted their prayer: That I will not waste the work of a worker
among you, whether male or female, the one of you being from the other.” [ Sûrah Al `Imrân :
195]

Allah also says: “Lo! men who surrender unto Allah, and women who surrender, and men who
believe and women who believe, and men who obey and women who obey, and men who
speak the truth and women who speak the truth, and men who persevere (in righteousness)
and women who persevere, and men who are humble and women who are humble, and men
who give alms and women who give alms, and men who fast and women who fast, and men
who guard their modesty and women who guard (their modesty), and men who remember Allah
much and women who remember - Allah has prepared for them forgiveness and a vast reward.”
[ Sûrah al-Ahzâb : 35]

We can see in these verses how Allah mentions women alongside men, on parity with one
another.

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Respect for Our Daughters

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