The Qur’an is the only book of world Scripture in which women are frequently referred to alongside men, and both are described as being friends and partners in faith. The Quran says:

The believers, men and women, are protecting friends one of another; they promote the right and forbid the wrong, establish prayer, pay the poor-due, and they obey God and His messenger. As for these, God will have mercy on them. Surely God is Mighty, Wise. God has promised to believers, men and women, gardens under which rivers flow, to dwell therein, and beautiful mansions in gardens of everlasting bliss. But the greatest bliss is the good pleasure of God: that is the supreme felicity. (Qur’an 9:71-72)

Islam considers a woman to be equal to a man as a human being and as his partner in this life. Women have been created with a soul of the same nature as man’s. Allah (SWT) says in the Quran:

“O mankind! Be dutiful to your Lord, Who created you from a single person (Adam), and from him (Adam) He created his wife (Eve), and from them both He created many men and women and fear Allah through Whom you demand your mutual (rights), and (do not cut the relations of) the wombs (kinship). Surely, Allah is Ever and All-Watcher over you.” (Al-Nisa 4:1)

*Aishah Ajibola

And in the words of the Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w),

“Assuredly, women are the twin halves of men.” (Sahih reported by Abu-Dawud (r.a)

In reality, and in Islam, the rights and responsibilities of a woman are equal to those of man, but they are not necessarily identical with them. Equality and sameness are two very different things. The fact of their nature and physique do not exempt them from being part of the society and taking their roles for development.

A sit-at-home mother or a typical housewife may not be able to contribute meaningully to the growth of the society.  So, she needs and has right to employment.  Career Muslim women will definately add values, to the socio-economic well-being of the society than a sit-at-home mother. While Islam does not prohibit women working outside the home, it does stipulate that employment should not come before, or seriously interfere with her responsibilities as wife and mother. Her work should not cause friction within the family, and the husband’s consent is required and if she is not married, her guardian’s consent is required.

Her appearance, manner of behavior should follow Islamic guidelines in terms of dressing, chastity and general comportment.  For a Muslim woman, her modest dress is an expression of her religion.  Her dressing confers respect, dignity to her.  Besides, modesty in dressing protects the society from adultery and other forms of illegal sexual relations that lead to the break up of families and corruption of society.

Women should try to seek employment in positions such as teaching, nursing other women, midwifery, medicine with specialization’s like pediatric or obstetrics-gynecology.  According to recent research, there are dearth of female Muslim doctors in the country.  This will help to give confidence to female Muslim patients during issues of medical examination and treatment.

Question:
The month of Safar is regarded as a month of ill-fortune and bad luck, please explain?

Ask Your Imam

Answer: That is not true. It is only a superstition, and the handiwork of pagans who use that to taint Islam.  Islam is a pure religion from Allah.

First of all, Allah controls everything both the good and the ugly.  He is the fashioner of every thing that happens in life.  The Qurans says: “No calamity befalls, but with the Leave [i.e. decision and Qadar (Divine Preordainments)] of Allah, and whosoever believes in Allah, He guides his heart [to the true Faith with certainty, i.e. what has befallen him was already written for him by Allah from the Qadar (Divine Pre-ordainments), and Allah is the All-Knower of everything.” Qur-an 64:11

Again, Islam does not have any room for superstitious beliefs. Muslims should not believe in any inauspicious days, weeks, months or years, that are said to be ill-luck. There is nothing that bring bad luck in Islam.

The Messenger of Allah, (s.a.w) also condemned these in the following hadith related to the month of Safar: “There is no superstitious owl, bird, no star-promising rain, no bad omen in the month of Safar”. (Muslim, Bukhari)  There is no bad omen in the month of Safar and no evil spirits. (Muslim)

Muslims must shun all superstitious beliefs regarding the month of Safar. We must continuously keep reminding ourselves that anything good or bad, favorable, or unfavorable comes only from Allah (God).