Fatwa Penyembuh AIDS

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
إن الحمد لله نحمده ونستعينه ونستغفره ونعوذ بالله من شرور أنفسنا وسيئات أعمالنا . من يهده الله فلا مضل له ومن يضلل فلا هادي له وأشهد أن لا إله إلا الله وحده لا شريكله وأشهد أن محمدا عبده ورسوله وبعد




Alhamdulilah segala puji-pujian kepada Allah SWT kerana dengan limpah kurnia Rahmat Nya dapat lagi kita menikmati kurniaan NikmatNya yang sangat berharga dari Dunia dan Seisinya ialah Nikmat Iman dan Islam… dan Pada peluang pada kali ini insyaallah saya akan keluarkan artikal dalam blog ini sedikit Ilmuan Tentang Keimanan… Pada petama kalinya saya akan huraikan Muaddimah dahulu yang menjadi rujukan kepada saya ialah Kitabul Iman, yang dikarang oleh Syeikh Abd Majid Azzindani seorang Ulama yaman yang tersohor Alim dengan Ilmu I’jazul Ilmi…

Bismillahirrahmanirrahim…

Hendaklah diketahui oleh kita semua perkara yang pertama wajib kita ketahui ialah mengenal Allah SWT melalui jalan pengetahuan dengan Al-Quran dan As-Sunnah. Sebagaiman Firman Allah swt didalam Al-Quran:

قال الله تعالى : (فَاعْلَمْ أَنَّهُ لاَ إِلَهَ إِلاَّ اللَّهُ) محمد-19
Yang Bermaksud: ( Maka hendaklah kamu mengetahui bahawa tiada tuhan melainkan Allah SWT )


Dan hendaklah kita mengenal Utusan Allah (yakni Rasulnya), Benarnya Utusan Allah itu, Melalui dengan jalan Ilmu yang diwarisi dengan Yakin, sepertimana firman Allah SWT:


قال الله تعالى : {أَفَمَنْ يَعْلَمُ أَنَّمَا أُنزِلَ إِلَيْكَ مِنْ رَبِّكَ الْحَقُّ كَمَنْ هُوَ أَعْمَى إِنَّمَا يَتَذَكَّرُ أُوْلُوا الأَلْبَابِ}
الرعد/19
Yang Bermaksud: ( Adakah orang yang mengetahui bahwasanya apa yang diturunkan kepadamu dari Tuhanmu itu benar sama dengan orang yang buta? hanyalah orang-orang yang berakal saja yang dapat mengambil pelajaran )

Hendaklah mengetahui hikmah kita diciptakan di dunia ini, dan mengetahui tempat pulang kita, hanya kepada Allah kita susuli, dan juga hendaklah kita mengetahui agama Islam dengan sempurna yang Allah suruh kita ikutinya.

Dan adalah semulia-mulia ilmu pengetahuan ialah ilmu Iman yang berhubung kait dengan mengenal Allah SWT, Rasulnya, dan Agamanya (Islam), Sesungguhnya kepentingan amal itu dinisbahkan bersama faedah yang mencapai manusia daripadanya, seperti dinisbahkan bahaya yang ditolak oleh manusia dari dirinya dengan pengetahuan ini, Hendaklah kita ketahui Ilmu Iman menjamin kepada manusia dengan kebahagian dan kejayaan yang besar didunia dan akhirat.

Sesungguhnya Allah SWT telah menjanjikan kepada orang-orang yang beriman di dunia dengan janji yangbanyak, diantaranya:

1 - Memberi kemenangan kepada golongan Islam menghadapi musuh-musuh Islam.

قال الله تعالى: { وَكَانَ حَقًّا عَلَيْنَا نَصْرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ } الروم/47
Yang Bermaksud: (dan kami selalu berkewajiban menolong orang-orang yang beriman )

2 - Allah menjaga (pendinding) orang beriman terhadap orang-orang kafir.

قال الله تعالى: {إِنَّ اللَّهَ يُدَافِعُ عَنْ الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا إِنَّ اللَّهَ لاَ يُحِبُّ كُلَّ خَوَّانٍ كَفُورٍ} الحج/38
Yang Bermaksud: ( Sesungguhnya Allah membela orang-orang yang Telah beriman. Sesungguhnya Allah tidak menyukai tiap-tiap orang yang berkhianat lagi mengingkari nikmat)

3 - Allah pengawai kepada orang-orang yang beriman.

قال الله تعالى :{اللَّهُ وَلِيُّ الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا} البقرة/257
Yang Bermaksud: ( Allah pelindung orang-orang yang beriman )

4 - Allah SWT memberi hidayah kepada orang-orang yang Beriman.

قال الله تعالى: {وَإِنَّ اللَّهَ لَهَادِ الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا إِلَى صِرَاطٍ مُسْتَقِيمٍ} الحج/54
Yang Bermaksud: (Sesungguhnya Allah adalah pemberi petunjuk bagi orang-orang yang beriman kepada jalan yang lurus)

5 - Tidak memberi kemenangan kepada orang kafir memerangi orang-orang yang beriman.

قال الله تعالى : {وَلَنْ يَجْعَلَ اللَّهُ لِلْكَافِرِينَ عَلَى الْمُؤْمِنِينَ سَبِيلاً} النساء/141
Yang Bermaksud: ( Allah sekali-kali tidak akan memberi jalan kepada orang-orang kafir untuk memusnahkan orang-orang yang beriman )

6 - Memberi kedudukan dan pemerintahan kepada orang yang beriaman di muka bumi ini.

قال الله تعالى : {وَعَدَ اللَّهُ الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا مِنْكُمْ وَعَمِلُوا الصَّالِحَاتِ لَيَسْتَخْلِفَنَّهُم فِي الأَرْضِ كَمَا اسْتَخْلَفَ الَّذِينَ مِنْ قَبْلِهِمْ وَلَيُمَكِّنَنَّ لَهُمْ دِينَهُمُ الَّذِي ارْتَضَى لَهُمْ وَلَيُبَدِّلَنَّهُمْ مِنْ بَعْدِ خَوْفِهِمْ أَمْنًا يَعْبُدُونَنِي لاَ يُشْرِكُونَ بِي شَيْئًا وَمَنْ كَفَرَ بَعْدَ ذَلِكَ فَأُوْلَئِكَ هُمْ الْفَاسِقُونَ} النور/55
Yang Bermaksud: ( Dan Allah Telah berjanji kepada orang-orang yang beriman di antara kamu dan mengerjakan amal-amal yang saleh bahwa dia sungguh- sungguh akan menjadikan mereka berkuasa dimuka bumi, sebagaimana dia Telah menjadikan orang-orang sebelum mereka berkuasa, dan sungguh dia akan meneguhkan bagi mereka agama yang Telah diridhai-Nya untuk mereka, dan dia benar-benar akan menukar (keadaan) mereka, sesudah mereka dalam ketakutan menjadi aman sentausa. mereka tetap menyembahku-Ku dengan tiada mempersekutukan sesuatu apapun dengan Aku. dan barangsiapa yang (tetap) kafir sesudah (janji) itu, Maka mereka Itulah orang-orang yang fasik )

7 - Rezki yang baik.

قال الله تعالى : {وَلَوْ أَنَّ أَهْلَ الْقُرَى آمَنُوا وَاتَّقَوْا لَفَتَحْنَا عَلَيْهِمْ بَرَكَاتٍ مِنْ السَّمَاءِ وَالأَرْضِ وَلَكِنْ كَذَّبُوا فَأَخَذْنَاهُمْ بِمَا كَانُوا يَكْسِبُونَ} الأعراف/96
Yang Bermaksud: ( Jikalau sekiranya penduduk negeri-negeri beriman dan bertakwa, Pastilah kami akan melimpahkan kepada mereka berkah dari langit dan bumi, tetapi mereka mendustakan (ayat-ayat kami) itu, Maka kami siksa mereka disebabkan perbuatannya )

8 - Kemuliaan.

قال الله تعالى : { وَلِلَّهِ الْعِزَّةُ وَلِرَسُولِهِ وَلِلْمُؤْمِنِينَ } المنافقون/8
Yang Bermaksud: ( kekuatan itu hanyalah bagi Allah )

9 – kehidupan yang baik dan tenang.

فال الله تعالى : {مَنْ عَمِلَ صَالِحًا مِنْ ذَكَرٍ أَوْ أُنثَى وَهُوَ مُؤْمِنٌ فَلَنُحْيِيَنَّهُ حَيَاةً طَيِّبَةً} النحل/97
Yang Bermaksud: ( Barangsiapa yang mengerjakan amal saleh, baik laki-laki maupun perempuan dalam keadaan beriman, Maka Sesungguhnya akan kami berikan kepadanya kehidupan yang baik )

Ini adalah sebahagian kejayaan yang Allah SWT berikan kepada orang yang Beriman didunia. Dan kejayaan ini Allah SWT telah berikan kepada orang-orang yang Beriman dengan sebenarnya sebelum kami.

Adapun kehidupan di Dar Akhirat, maka kita akan dihitungkan apa yang telah kita laku kan didunia. Dan orang yang beriman akan dimasukkan kedalam syurga yang telah dijanjikan oleh Allah SWT.

قال الله تعالى : {إِنَّ الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَعَمِلُوا الصَّالِحَاتِ كَانَتْ لَهُمْ جَنَّاتُ الْفِرْدَوْسِ نُزُلاً} {خَالِدِينَ فِيهَا لاَ يَبْغُونَ عَنْهَا حِوَلاً} (الكهف/107-108
Yang Bermaksud: ( Sesungguhnya orang-orang yang beriman dan beramal saleh, bagi mereka adalah surga Firdaus menjadi tempat tinggal. Mereka kekal di dalamnya, mereka tidak ingin berpindah dari padanya ) (107,108)

Dan barangsiapa ambik tahu Hal Ehwal orang-orang Islam satu hari, dia dapati apa yang telah dijanjikan oleh Allah SWT kepada oang-orang beriman didunia ini tidak benar benar berlaku kepada mereka dari apa yang mereka lihat, bahawa sesungguhnya adalah Iman mereka itu lemah, atau sesungguhnya mereka telah hilang sifat-sifat keimanan yang banyak. Maka telah hilanglah kehidupan mereka didunia sebagaimana yang telah dijanjikan oleh Allah kepada orang yang beriman dari: Pertolongan, Pengawai, Menjaga, Memberi Hidayah, Beri Pemerintahan, Beri Kedudukan, tidak memberi kemenangan tehadap orang kafir, Rizki yang baik, Kemuliaan, dan Kehidupan yang Baik.

Dan barangsiapa berterusan kehidupannya yang lalai ( lemah imannya ) Maka mereka ini akan rugi, tidak dapat apa yang telah Allah janjikan kepada orang yang beriman di akhirat sebagaiman mereka rugi didunia, bahkan seakan-akan kerugian diri mereka didalam neraka. Waiyazubillah.

Tidak dapat tidak hendak kita memperkuatkan, memperkukuhkan dan memperbaharukan Iman kita, dengan syarat-syarat berikut:

1- Dengan menyebarkan Ilmu kepada orang-orang islam.
2- Mempraktik ( beramal ) dengan hukum hakam Agama Islam.

Dan adalah kepada orang yang alim tentang agama mereka hendaklah bersungguh-sungguh dan serta merta bangun untuk melaksakan kewajipan dakwah ini. Ulama’ ini hendahlah mereka mengetahui dan melihat bagaimana serangan musuh-musuh islam terhadap Islam, seperti serangan gerakan yahudi, nasrani, kristian dan gerakan-gerakan kebatilan yang lain lagi.

Ini adalah kitab Iman yang menjelaskan keimanan orang-orang Islam daripada silsilah (rangkaian) supaya mengetahui kewajipan keagamaan, kami memohon kepada Allah supaya menjadikannya Ikhlas kepada Allah SWT, dan memberi manfaat kepada orang-orang Islam.

Wallahu A’lam...

Mengapa Umat Islam Mundur ?

Satu waktu dipermulaan abad dua puluh seorang ulama dari Borneo, Muhammad Basyuni ‘Imran [dalam edisi Inggris, Muhammad Bisyooni 'Umran] berkirim surat kepada Rasyid Ridha yang memintanya untuk meneruskan dua buah pertanyaan agar dijawab oleh sang pangeran kefasihan (prince of eloquence) Amir Syakib Arsalan. Pertanyaan pertama, mengapa kaum muslimin mengalami kelemahan dan kemunduran yang merata di seluruh dunia, baik dalam urusan agama maupun dunia. Pertanyaan kedua, apakah yang menyebabkan kemajuan bangsa Eropa, Amerika dan Jepang ? Apakah dimungkinkan bagi kita, kaum muslimin, untuk juga maju dan pada saat yang sama tetap komitmen dengan agama mereka ?

Maka lahirlah, kemudian, buku Limadza Ta-akhharal Muslimuna Wa Taqaddama Ghairuhum ?, Mengapa Kaum Muslim Mundur dan Yang Lainnya Maju ?. Buku ini kemudian menjadi sangat terkenal di dunia islam. Mengapa begitu terkenal ? Karena kompetensi dan terkenalnya sang penulis [Amir Syakib Arsalan], juga karena pertanyaan [tema] yang coba dijawabnya, dan jaringan majalah Al Manar yang dikelola oleh Rasyid Ridha. Dalam bahasa Indonesia terjemahan buku ini diterbitkan tahun 1954 oleh K.H. Munawwar Chalil, dengan beberapa tema [bab] tambahan yang disisipkannya.

Fenomena Dunia Islam
Kemunduran umat Islam adalah gejala yang merata di seluruh dunia Islam. Perbedaannya hanya pada derajat saja. Mengapa umat islam mundur ? Untuk menjawab pertanyaan ini perlulah diketahui terlebih dahulu apa yang menyebabkan majunya umat Islam di kurun awal. Syakib Arsalan menyatakan faktor keagamaan, Islam, menjadi faktor pendorong utama kemajuan bangsa arab dahulu. Bagaimana faktor Islam ini dioperasionalkan, kata kuncinya terletak pada iman [keyakinan] dan amal [aksi], yang tidak terpisahkan dalam islam. Hal ini menuntut pada umat untuk memenuhi kualifikasi yang menuntutnya ke gelanggang perjuangan, jihad. Karakter yang tidak mencukupkan identitas keislaman pada atribusi atau sekadar pada nama atau aktifitas kesalehan pribadi semata-mata.

Kontras terhadap karakter pejuang, jihad pendahulunya umat islam saat ini [awal abad kedua puluh] kehilangan gairah, semangat dan kesetiaan terhadap keimanannya. Hal ini digambarkan oleh Syakib Arsalan dalam beberapa fenomena berikut :

1. Rendahnya semangat untuk memberi dan berkorban. Syakib Arsalan menggambarkan betapa pengorbanan yang diberikan oleh orang-orang Barat untuk membela negeri mereka, sebagaimana terjadi dalam perang dunia I. Jutaan orang tewas. Demikian pula dengan pengorbanan harta, jutaan dolar hilang untuk membela kepentingan bangsa mereka. Syakib Arsalan mengkontraskan itu semua dengan pengorbanan yang diberikan oleh umat Islam untuk membela negeri mereka, saudara mereka.
2. Pengkhianatan para elite. Perjuangan umat islam dalam menghadapi bangsa penjajah seringkali mentah atau gagal atau terintangi karena pengkhianatan elite mereka dalam perjuangan, baik elite kepemimpinan maupun elite intelektual, ulama.

Mengapa Umat Islam Mundur ?
Berdasarkan fenomena-fenomena di atas Syakib Arsalan mencatat beberapa penyebab kemunduran umat Islam.

1. Kebodohan. Bukan cuma kebodohan yang sesungguhnya, tetapi juga pengetahuan setengah-setengah yang dimiliki oleh beberapa kalangan umat. Bahkan pengetahuan setengah-setengah lebih berbahaya dari kebodohan.
2. Karakter [akhlaq], moralitas yang rendah. Kemajuan memiliki akhlaq atau karakter yang mendukungnya semisal, keberanian, keteguhan, kesabaran [determinasi diri], mengembangkan kapasitas intelektual.
3. Degradasi yang menginfeksi para elite, penguasa. Sikap despotik, menganggap rakyat sebagai makhluk yang diciptakan bagi mereka, sewenang-wenang.
4. Rasa takut, pengecut dan rendah diri, perasaan tidak berdaya, sekedar menjadi objek tertuduh [victims].


Responsi Umat Islam Terhadap Kemajuan Barat
Syakib Arsalan kemudian memetakan dua responsi ekstrem yang diberikan oleh sebagian kalangan umat Islam dalam menyikapi kemajuan Barat. Profil pertama adalah mereka yang ultra-modern, zaahid [ingkar-pembantah], yang mengingkari sejarah dan identitas kultural mereka, yang ingin mengesampingkan agama dari kehidupan sosial dan kemajuan, yang ingin melikuidasi agama dari kehidupan sosial politik, yang ingin membangun wilayah itu menjadi wilayah netral agama. Profil kedua adalah mereka yang menganut konservatisme ekstrem [jamid, enggan berubah], yang menolak ilmu pengetahuan semata-mata karena ia adalah produk orang kafir, yang bersikap fatalistik, yang menutup diri dan mencukupkan dengan warisan tradisi semata-mata.

Kedua profil diatas membawa sikap yang tidak tepat. Syakib Arsalan membantah sikap pertama dengan mengajak mereka untuk memikirkan lebih dalam fenomena sejarah bangsa-bangsa yang maju adakah mereka melepaskan identitas religius [keagamaan] dan kultural mereka. Eropa [dengan negara-bangsa yang beraneka], Jepang justru menegaskan dan memelihara identitas keagamaan dan kultural mereka. Untuk membantah sikap kedua, Syakib Arsalan mengutip ayat-ayat yang mengajak untuk optimis, bekerja, dan menghilangkan sikap fatalistik dalam kehidupan. Ia juga mengingatkan sikap konservatisme ekstrem akan memuluskan para penjajah untuk menduduki negeri mereka.

Apakah Mungkin Umat Islam Maju Sekaligus Bertahan Dalam Islam ?
Syakib Arsalan mengafirmasi secara positif kemungkinan ini. Jepang bisa menjadi pelajaran. Islam sendiri mampu memberikan dorongan dan motivasi internal untuk meraih kemajuan, sebagaimana dulu ia pernah meraih kejayaan. Bagaimana memulainya ? Atau darimana memulai langkah menuju kemajuan itu ? Syakib Arsalan menjawab terletak pada semangat untuk memberi dan berkorban. Ini adalah akar awal untuk memulai, yang mungkin agak mengejutkan; mengapa bukan dimulai dari meraih ilmu pengetahuan modern terlebih dahulu.

Rujukan
Mengapa Kaum Muslim Mundur. Al Amir Syakib Arsalan. Penerbit Bulan Bintang, 1992 [cet 1. 1954].
Our Decline, Its Causes and Remidies. Amir Shakib Arsalan. Islamic Book Trust, Kuala Lumpur. 2005.

Buku Bermanfaat

Buku bermanfaat

Penerjemah Online

Klik link berikut Penerjemah Online

The Voice of a Woman in Islam

Dr. Yusuf al-Qaradawi

Many Muslims have adopted the Judeo-Christian ethic which views women as the source of human tragedy because of her alleged biblical role as the temptress who seduced Adam into disobedience to his Lord. By tempting her husband to eat the forbidden fruit, she not only defied Allah, but caused humankind's expulsion from Paradise, thus instigating all temporal human suffering. Those misogynists who support this Biblical myth, dredge from the archives of psuedo-Islamic literature such as false and weak hadiths.

This Old Testament myth is a widely circulated belief in the Islamic community despite the fact that Allah in the Qur'an stresses that it was Adam who was solely responsible for his mistake. In 20:115 it is stated:

"We had already, beforehand, taken the convenant of Adam, but he forgot; and we found on his part no firm resolve." Verse 20:121-122 continues: "In result, they both ate of the tree...thus did Adam disobey His Lord, and fell into error. But his Lord chose for him (From His Grace): He turned to him, and gave him guidance."


Therefore, there is nothing in Islamic doctrine or in the Qur'an which holds women responsible for Adam's expulsion from paradise or the consequent misery of humankind. However, misogyny abounds in the pronouncements of many Islamic "scholars" and "imams." The result of such misinterpretation of hadiths and spreading negativity is that entire societies have mistreated their female members despite the fact that Islam has honored and empowered the woman in all spheres of life. The woman in Islamic law is equal to her male counterpart. She is as liable for her actions as a male is liable. Her testimony is demanded and valid in court. Her opinions are sought and acted upon. Contrary to the pseudo hadith: "Consult women and do the opposite," the Prophet (SAW) consulted his wife, Um Salama on one of the most important issues to the Muslim community. Such references to the Prophet's positive attitudes toward women disprove the one hadith falsely attributed to Ali bin Abi Talib: "The woman is all evil, and the greatest evil about her is that man cannot do without her."

The promotion of such negativity against women has led many "scholars" and "imams" to make the unsubstantiated ruling about female speech. They claim that women should lower their voice to whispers or even silence except when she speaks to her husband, her guardian or other females. The female act of communication has become to some a source of temptation and allurement to the male.

The Qur'an, however, specifically mentions that those seeking information from the Prophet's wives were to address them from behind a screen (33:53). Since questions require an answer, the Mothers of the Believers offered fatwas to those who asked and narrated hadiths to whomever wished to transmit them. Furthermore, women were accustomed to question the Prophet (SAW) while men were present. Neither were they embarassed to have their voices heard nor did the Prophet prevent their inquiries. Even in the case of Omar when he was challenged by a woman during his khutba on the minbar, he did not deny her. Rather, he admitted that she was right and he was wrong and said: "Everybody is more knowledgeable than Omar."

Another Qur'anic example of a woman speaking publicly is that the daughter of the Shaykh mentioned in the Qur'an in 28:23. Furthermore, the Qur'an narrates the coversation between Sulayman and the Queen of Sheba as well as between her and her subjects. All of these examples support the fatwa that women are allowed to voice their opinion publicly for whatever has been prescribed to those before us is prescribed to us, unless it was unanimously rejected by Islamic doctrine.

Thus, the only prohibition is the female talking softly and flirting in a manner meant to excite and tempt the male. This is expressed in the Qur'an as complacent speech which Allah mentions in 33:32:

"O consorts of the Prophet! Ye are not like any of the other women: If ye do fear Allah, be not too complaisance of speech, lest one in whose heart is a disease should be moved with desire: but speak ye a speech that is just."

What is prohibited then is alluring speech which entices those whose diseased hearts may be moved with desire and that is not to say that all conversation with women is prohibited for Allah completes the verse: "...but speak ye a speech that is just." (33:32)

Finding excuses to silence women is just one of the injustices certain scholars and imams attempt to inflict upon women. They point to such hadiths as narrated by Bukhari about the Prophet which says: "I have not left a greater harm to men than women." They assume that the harm implies that women are an evil curse to be endured just as one must endure poverty, famine, disease, death and fear. These "scholars" ignore the fact that man is tried more by his blessings than by his tragedies. And Allah says:



"And We test you by evil and by good way of trial." (21:35).

To support this argument Allah says in the Qur'an that two of the most appreciated blessings of life, wealth and children, are trials. Allah says: "And know ye that your posessions and your progeny are but a trial." (Anfal 28) A woman, despite the blessings she bestows on her relations, can also be a trial for she may distract a man from his duty toward Allah. Thus, Allah creates awareness how blessings can be misguided so that they become curses. Men can use their spouses as an excuse for not performing jihad or for eschewing sacrafice for the compiling of wealth. Allah in the Qur'an warns: "Truly among your wives and children are enemies for you." (64:14)

The warning is the same as for the blessings of abundant welath and offspring (63:9). In addition, the sahih hadith says: "By Allah I don't fear for you poverty, but I fear that the world would be abundant for you as it has been for those before you so you compete for it as they have competed for it, so it destroys you as it has destroyed them." (Agreed upon) This hadith does not mean that the Prophet (SAW) encouraged poverty. Poverty is a curse from which the Prophet sought refuge from Allah. He did not mean for his Ummah to be bereft of wealth and abundance for he said: "The best of the good wealth is for the pious person." (narrated by ahmed and Al-Hakam) Women are also a gift for the pious person for the Qur'an mentions the Muslim men and women (the Muslimat), the believing men (Mumins) and women Muminat as aids and comforts for each other here and in the hereafter. The Prophet did not condemn the blessings Allah provided for his Ummah. Rather the Prophet wished to guide the Muslims and his Ummah away from
the slippery slope whose bottomless pit is a mire of callousness and desire.

Object of Despair

By Fahim Firfiray

From: Faiza Iqbal
Date: 25 Mar 2001

Comments:

First and foremost, I would like to thank the creators of this website for offering muslims and non-muslims alike, the opportunity to properly understand the principles of Islam. I was reading the article entitled "Liberation through the Veil," and I was reminded of a poem I once received that beatifully describes the role of Hijab. I wanted to share this poem with you.

OBJECT OF DESPAIR
(By Fahim Firfiray)

Emma is a lawyer
And so is Aisha too
Colleagues going into court
At circa half past two

Its 1 O'Clock right now
They grab a bite before the trial
They chat about this and that
Conversing with a smile

Aisha is in full hijab
With a loose all over suit
Emma's in her business wear
With accessories taboot

Emma's really quite bemused
At Aisha's godly ways
She looks Aisha in the eyes
And very firmly says

You're a smart girl Aisha
Why do you wear that across your hair?
Subjugated by "man"-kind
An object of despair

Take it off my sister
Let your banner be unfurled
Don't blindly follow all around
DECLARE YOUR FREEDOM TO THE WORLD

Aisha is amazed
But not the least bit shy
She bravely puts her milkshake down
And gives Emma the reply

My dear sister Emma,
Why do you dress the way you do?
The skirt you're wearing round your waist,
Is it really you?

Now that we've sat down
I see you tug it across your thighs,
Do you feel ashamed?
Aware of prying eyes?

I see the way you're sitting,
Both legs joined at the knees,
Who forces you to sit like that?
Do you feel at ease?

I'll tell you who obliges you,
To dress the way you do,
Gucci, Klein, and St. Laurent
All have designs on you!

In the main, its men my friend,
Who dictate the whims of fashion,
Generating all the garb,
To incite the basest passion

"Sex Sells" there is no doubt
But who buys with such great haste,
The answer is likes like you,
Because they want to be embraced...

They want to be accepted,
On a level playing field
Sure, with brain and intellect
But with body parts revealed

Intelligence and reason
Are useful by and by
But if you want to make a mark
Stay appealing to the eye

You claim your skirt is office like
A business dress of sorts
Would we not laugh at Tony Blair?
If he turned up in shorts?

His could be the poshest of pants
Pinstripe from Saville Rowe
But walking round like that my friend
He'd really have to go

Why do you douse yourself in creams
To make your skin so milky?
Why do you rip off all your hair
To keep your body silky?

A simple shower's all you need
To stay respectable and clean
The time and money that you spend
Is really quite obscene

Why do you wake up at dawn,
To apply a firm foundation,
Topped with make up and the like,
In one chaotic combination?

And if you should have to leave the house
Devoid of this routine
Why do you feel insecure
That you should not be seen?

Be free my sister Emma
Escape from your deep mire
Don hijab today my friend
And all Islam's attire

Avoid all those sickly stares
Or whistles from afar
Walk down the street with dignity
Take pride in who you are

Strength lies in anonymity
Be a shadow in the crowd
Until you speak and interact
When your voice will carry loud

You're a smart girl Emma
Wear this across your hair
Don't be subjugated by "man"-kind
An object of despair

To use your very words my friend
Let your banner be unfurled
Don't blindly follow all around
DECLARE YOUR FREEDOM TO THE WORLD

Women's Liberation Through Islam

by Mary Ali and Anjum Ali

Today people think that women are liberated in the West and that the women's liberation movement began in the 20th century. Actually, the women's liberation movement was not begun by women but was revealed by God to a man in the seventh century by the name of Muhammad (peace be uponhim), who is known as the last Prophet of Islam. The Qur'an and theTraditions of the Prophet (Hadith or Sunnah) are the sources from whichevery Muslim woman derives her rights and duties.

I. HUMAN RIGHTS

Islam, fourteen centuries ago, made women equally accountable to God in glorifying and worshipping Him - setting no limits on her moral progress. Also, Islam established a woman's equality in her humanity with men.

In the Qur'an, in the first verse of the chapter entitled "Women," God says, "O mankind! Be careful of your duty to your Lord Who created you from a single soul and from it its mate and from them both have spread abroad a multitude of men and women. Be careful of your duty toward Allah in Whom you claim (your rights) of one another, and towards the wombs (that bore you). Lo! Allah has been a Watcher over you." (4:1)

Since men and women both came from the same essence, they are equal in their humanity. Women cannot be by nature evil (as some religions believe) or then men would be evil also. Similarly, neither gender can be superior because it would be a contradiction of equality.

II. CIVIL RIGHTS

In Islam, a woman has the basic freedom of choice and expression based on recognition of her individual personality. First, she is free to choose her religion. The Qur'an states: "There is no compulsion in religion. Right has been made distinct from error." (2:256)

Women are encouraged in Islam to contribute their opinions and ideas. There are many traditions of the Prophet (pbuh) which indicate women would pose questions directly to him and offer their opinions concerning religion, economics and social matters.

A Muslim woman chooses her husband and keeps her name after marriage. A Muslim woman's testimony is valid in legal disputes. In fact, in areas in which women are more familiar, their evidence is conclusive.

III. SOCIAL RIGHTS

The Prophet (pbuh) said: "Seeking knowledge is a mandate for every Muslim (male and female)." This includes knowledge of the Qur'an and the Hadith as well as other knowledge. Men and women both have the capacity for learning and understanding. Since it is also their obligation to promote good behavior and condemn bad behavior in all spheres of life, Muslim women must acquire the appropriate education to perform this duty in accordance with their own natural talents and interests.

While maintenance of a home, providing support to her husband, and bearing, raising and teaching of children are among the first and very highly regarded roles for a woman, if she has the skills to work outside the home for the good of the community, she may do so as long as her family obligations are met.

Islam recognizes and fosters the natural differences between men and women despite their equality. Some types of work are more suitable for men and other types for women. This in no way diminishes either's effort nor its benefit. God will reward both sexes equally for the value of their work, though it may not necessarily be the same activity.

Concerning motherhood, the Prophet (pbuh) said: "Heaven lies under the feet of mothers." This implies that the success of a society can be traced to the mothers that raised it. The first and greatest influence on a person comes from the sense of security, affection, and training received from the mother. Therefore, a woman having children must be educated and conscientious in order to be a skillful parent.

IV. POLITICAL RIGHTS

A right given to Muslim women by God 1400 years ago is the right to vote. On any public matter, a woman may voice her opinion and participate in politics. One example, narrated in the Qur'an (60:12), is that Muhammad (pbuh) is told that when the believing women come to him and swear their allegiance to Islam, he must accept their oath. This established the right of women to select their leader and publicly declare so. Finally, Islam does not forbid a woman from holding important positions in government. Abdur-Rahman Ibn Auf consulted many women before he recommended Uthman Ibn Affan to be the Caliph.

V. ECONOMIC RIGHTS

The Qur'an states: "By the creation of the male and female; Verily, (the ends) ye strive for are diverse." (92:3-4)

In these verses, God declares that He created men and women to be different, with unique roles, functions and skills. As in society, where there is a division of labor, so too in a family; each member has different responsibilities. Generally, Islam upholds that women are entrusted with the nurturing role, and men, with the guardian role. Therefore, women are given the right of financial support.

The Qur'an states: "Men are the maintainers of women because Allah has made some of them to excel others and because they spend of their wealth (for the support of women)." (4:34)

This guardianship and greater financial responsibility given to men, requires that they provide women with not only monetary support but also physical protection and kind and respectful treatment.

The Muslim woman has the privilege to earn money, the right to own property, to enter into legal contracts and to manage all of her assets in any way she pleases. She can run her own business and no one has any claim on her earnings including her husband. The Qur'an states:

"And in no wise covet those things in which Allah hath bestowed His gifts more freely on some of you than on others; to men is allotted what they earn, and to women, what they earn; but ask Allah of His bounty, for Allah hath full knowledge of all things." (4:32)

A woman inherits from her relatives. The Qur'an states: "For men there is a share in what parents and relatives leave, and for women there is a share of what parents and relatives leave, whether it be little or much - an ordained share." (4:7)

VI. RIGHTS OF A WIFE

The Qur'an states: "And among His signs is that He created for you mates from among yourselves that you may live in tranquillity with them, and He has put love and mercy between you; Verily, in that are signs for people who reflect." (30:21)

Marriage is therefore not just a physical or emotional necessity, but in fact, a sign from God! It is a relationship of mutual rights and obligations based on divine guidance. God created men and women with complimentary natures, and in the Qur'an, He laid out a system of laws to support harmonious interaction between the sexes.

"...They are your garments and you are their garments." (2:187)

Clothing provides physical protection and covers the beauty and faults of the body. Likewise, a spouse is viewed this way. Each protects the other and hides the faults and compliments the characteristics of the spouse.

To foster the love and security that comes with marriage, Muslim wives have various rights. The first of the wife's rights is to receive mahr, a gift from the husband which is part of the marriage contract and required for the legality of the marriage.

The second right of a wife is maintenance. Despite any wealth she may have, her husband is obligated to provide her with food, shelter and clothing. He is not forced, however, to spend beyond his capability and his wife is not entitled to make unreasonable demands. The Qur'an states: "Let the man of means spend according to his means, and the man whose resources are restricted, let him spend according to what Allah has given him. Allah puts no burden on any person beyond what He has given him." (65:7)

God tells us men are guardians over women and are afforded the leadership in the family. His responsibility for obeying God extends to guiding his family to obey God at all times.

A wife's rights also extend beyond material needs. She has the right to kind treatment. The Prophet (pbuh) said: "The most perfect believers are the best in conduct. And the best of you are those who are best to their wives." God tells us He created mates and put love, mercy, and tranquillity between them.

Both men and women have a need for companionship and sexual needs, and marriage is designed to fulfill those needs. For one spouse to deny this satisfaction to the other, temptation exists to seek it elsewhere.

VII. DUTIES OF A WIFE

With rights come responsibilities. Therefore, wives have certain obligations to their husbands. The Qur'an states: "The good women in the absence of their husbands guard their rights as Allah has enjoined upon them to be guarded." (4:34)

A wife is to keep her husband's secrets and protect their marital privacy. Issues of intimacy or faults of his that would dishonor him, are not to be shared by the wife, just as he is expected to guard her honor.

A wife must also guard her husband's property. She must safeguard his home and possessions, to the best of her ability, from theft or damage. She should manage the household affairs wisely so as to prevent loss or waste. She should not allow anyone to enter the house whom her husband dislikes nor incur any expenses of which her husband disapproves.

A Muslim woman must cooperate and coordinate with her husband. There cannot, however, be cooperation with a man who is disobedient to God. She should not fulfill his requests if he wants her to do something unlawful. A husband also should not take advantage of his wife, but be considerate of her needs and happiness.

VIII. CONCLUSION

The Qur'an states: "And it becomes not a believing man or a believing women, when Allah and His Messenger (Muhammad) have decided on an affair (for them), that they should (after that) claim any say in their affair; and whoso is rebellious to Allah and His Messenger, he verily goes astray in error manifest." (33:36)

The Muslim woman was given a role, duties and rights 1400 years ago that most women do not enjoy today, even in the West. These are from God and are designed to keep balance in society; what may seem unjust or missing in one place is compensated for or explained in another place. Islam is a complete way of life.

-- Mary Ali and Anjum Ali

INTRODUCTION OF III & E

The Institute of Islamic information and Education (III&E) is dedicated to the cause Islam in North America through striving to elevate the image of Islam and Muslim by providing the correct information about Islamic beliefs, history and civilization from the authentic sources. Inquiries are welcome.

E-mail: light@iiie.net

Source location: http://www.iiie.net/Brochures/Brochure-21.html