THE CLAIM TO WOMEN LIBERATION

IN THE NAME OF ALLAH, THE BENEFICENT, THE MERCIFUL All praise is due to Allah, the lord of the worlds who declared in the holy qur’an thus: وَلَنْ تَرْضَى عَنْكَ الْيَهُودُ وَلَا النَّصَارَى حَتَّى تَتَّبِعَ مِلَّتَهُمْ قُلْ إِنَّ هُدَى اللَّهِ هُوَ الْهُدَى وَلَئِنِ اتَّبَعْتَ أَهْوَاءَهُمْ بَعْدَ الَّذِي جَاءَكَ مِنَ الْعِلْمِ مَا لَكَ مِنَ اللَّهِ مِنْ وَلِيٍّ وَلَا نَصِيرٍ And never will the Jews or the Christians approve of you until you follow their religion. Say, "Indeed, the guidance of Allah is the [only] guidance." If you were to follow their desires after what has come to you of knowledge, you would have against Allah no protector or helper. (2:120) We praise and thank Him, we believe and rely on Him. We seek protection in Allah from the evil of our souls and actions. Whoever Allah guides is the guided person, and whoever He (allows) to stray, you will find no one for him as a guiding protector. I bear witness that there is no deity worthy to be worship except Him alone, without partner. I equally bear witness that our leader and our master, Muhammad is his servant and messenger. O Allah shower your peace and blessing upon Muhammad (SAW), his household, his companions and those who follow them in righteous till the Day of Recompense. Thereafter, O servant of Allaah, I admonish you and myself to fear Allaah, following His injunction thus: “"... وَاتَّقُوا اللَّهَ لَعَلَّكُمْ تُفْلِحُونَ (130) وَاتَّقُوا النَّارَ الَّتِي أُعِدَّتْ لِلْكَافِرِينَ (131) وَأَطِيعُوا اللَّهَ وَالرَّسُولَ لَعَلَّكُمْ تُرْحَمُونَ (132) " . “… but fear Allah that you may be successful. ( 131 ) And fear the Fire, which has been prepared for the disbelievers. ( 132 ) And obey Allah and the Messenger that you may obtain mercy.” Q3:131-132 My brothers and sisters in faith, this is the second sermon in the month of Jumaadal-Ula and we shall be discussing “The Claim to Women Liberation” having talked about the series of lectures centered on the prophetic heritage and climaxed last week with “Duties of Muslims towards the Qur’an” By this topic- ‘The Claim to Women Liberation’ we mean the west’s claim of liberating women from what they refer to as the shackles of the Islamic law and their wish to give total freedom to women. The meaning of personal freedom in the west means carelessness, i.e: bestial freedom, this means that man is free to do what he wishes and not what they should, even if it violates the moral values , or hurts himself, or hurts persons who cannot complain, like the animals or the environment, or the cosmic relationships around him. This could either desecrate man to the level of the animal that conducts its need alone without having the mind that could prevents him or deter him. Or elevate him to the ( the status of a god ) which is not queried about his actions. The two postulations are errors and deviation from the uprightness. Human rights are not absolute without restrictions as believed by the West, which changed freedom to total freedom making man run after his desires like an animal, even worst in some situations that the animals. This made it nudity part of their form of human right even in the public, infact the practice of sexual intercourse in public gardens, parks, roads. Gay therefore is a right for every man and woman and gay marriage a constitutionally binding right. A woman as part of her right is free to abort her baby as that is merely an integral part of her and she is free in this body. They fail to see this new creature in her womb as having the right to life giving to it by Allah, the Creator, which cannot be trampled upon by any person; not the mother, or the father. The west failed to recognize that absolute freedom does not exist in the world; the vehicles on the highway move on some specific lanes in accordance with traffic rules and regulations, same goes for the ships navigating the great oceans and seas, the airplanes cruising the airways, if any of them deviate from the designed or laid down path, it exposes itself to destruction. The sun, the moon, the stars, all runs along specific orbits. Allah said: لَا الشَّمْسُ يَنْبَغِي لَهَا أَنْ تُدْرِكَ الْقَمَرَ وَلَا اللَّيْلُ سَابِقُ النَّهَارِ وَكُلٌّ فِي فَلَكٍ يَسْبَحُونَ (يس :40) It is not allowable for the sun to reach the moon, nor does the night overtake the day, but each, in an orbit, is swimming. (36:40) Physical honour not a honour in reality: The proponents of the west claim honouring the woman in the open from what they described as oppression of men- her father and husband etc- as well as desecrate religious beliefs regarding her as meaningless and devil’s bondage, but in actual sense kill her secretly. They relate with the woman as they do with the man forgetting her natural build-up is quite different. This was the position of Alexis Carrel in his book- “Man, the unknown” Verily, the woman was created to be the mother of human generation, a reason why she gets pregnant, gives birth, nurses, and rears, menstruates, etc. Allah said: " حَمَلَتْهُ أُمُّهُ كُرْهًا وَوَضَعَتْهُ كُرْهًا " (الأحقاف : 15) His mother carried him with hardship and gave birth to him with hardship,(46:15). To saddle her with men’s kind of responsibilities is an injustice on her part and favoritism for men over her. In the west, she is used as tool of enjoyment or fun, sexual arousal. This is why the philosophy of women's fashion in the West is focused on highlighting beauty, embodiment of attractions, and exposing stimulating forms, lacking all forms of decency as we (Muslims) know it. Women also have become the most important element in the advertisements, even to advertise men’s products. And woe be unto those women who wither their youth, cast their modesty in the waste bin and care less, as the reality with famous actresses in America, France and elsewhere. The family system have been dissolved, family values broken down, many girls don’t get married, or stay under any family cover, rather they prefer to serve as concubines, sex partners etc without the accompanying responsibility of marriage; financial, moral, social and religious. Brothers and sisters in Islam, imagine the misfortune of this lifestyle, what would be the fate of the foetus who does not know his father, or the father is not legally credible with a fatherly compassion. This necessitated the crave in the west for the absolute legalization of abortion with no controls or restrictions, without any regard for religion, virtue or morality. What sort of freedom allows the killing of an innocent foetus in the mothers’ womb, just on the pretext of the parents’ bestial desire. Liberating the woman from darkness and oppression of ignorance In Islam, the woman is accorded her balanced rights and honour coming out of the oppression of the days of ignorance, regarding her as human, daughter, mother, one of the members of the family and society. The woman as a human: Islam views her as important as men, and she could be rewarded or punished like men, she is also regarded as one of the two basic sexes of humanity. Allah said: " يَا أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ إِنَّا خَلَقْنَاكُمْ مِنْ ذَكَرٍ وَأُنْثَى " (الحجرات :13) , “O mankind, indeed We have created you from male and female …” (49:13) "فَاسْتَجَابَ لَهُمْ رَبُّهُمْ أَنِّي لَا أُضِيعُ عَمَلَ عَامِلٍ مِنْكُمْ مِنْ ذَكَرٍ أَوْ أُنْثَى " (آل عمران : 195) “And their Lord responded to them, "Never will I allow to be lost the work of [any] worker among you, whether male or female …” (3: 195) " إِنَّ الْمُسْلِمِينَ وَالْمُسْلِمَاتِ وَالْمُؤْمِنِينَ وَالْمُؤْمِنَاتِ وَالْقَانِتِينَ وَالْقَانِتَاتِ وَالصَّادِقِينَ وَالصَّادِقَاتِ وَالصَّابِرِينَ وَالصَّابِرَاتِ وَالْخَاشِعِينَ وَالْخَاشِعَاتِ وَالْمُتَصَدِّقِينَ وَالْمُتَصَدِّقَاتِ وَالصَّائِمِينَ وَالصَّائِمَاتِ وَالْحَافِظِينَ فُرُوجَهُمْ وَالْحَافِظَاتِ وَالذَّاكِرِينَ اللَّهَ كَثِيرًا وَالذَّاكِرَاتِ أَعَدَّ اللَّهُ لَهُمْ مَغْفِرَةً وَأَجْرًا عَظِيمًا " (الأحزاب :35) . “Indeed, the Muslim men and Muslim women, the believing men and believing women, the obedient men and obedient women, the truthful men and truthful women, the patient men and patient women, the humble men and humble women, the charitable men and charitable women, the fasting men and fasting women, the men who guard their private parts and the women who do so, and the men who remember Allah often and the women who do so - for them Allah has prepared forgiveness and a great reward.” (33:35) The prophet said: "Women are the twin halves of men" Narrated by Ahmad, Abu Dawood , Tirmidhi and Darimiy. Her honour as a daughter: Islam prohibits greatly killing of her either for fear of destitution, shame, or for whatever reason. This is achievement is enough pride for Islam in abrogating infanticide. Islam also enjoined good discipline, education, care and spending on her till she is married and not without her consent. Her honour as a wife: Islam gave her rights as it has given to the man except in the family level. Allah said: " وَلَهُنَّ مِثْلُ الَّذِي عَلَيْهِنَّ بِالْمَعْرُوفِ وَلِلرِّجَالِ عَلَيْهِنَّ دَرَجَةٌ " And due to the wives is similar to what is expected of them, according to what is reasonable. But the men have a degree over them [in responsibility and authority]. (2:228) It also enjoined financial spending on her and good relations with her. Allah said: " وَعَاشِرُوهُنَّ بِالْمَعْرُوفِ " (النِّساء :19) . And live with them in kindness. (4: 19) Honouring her as a mother: Islam places attainment of Paradise under her feet, and enjoins good relationship with her as mother and for what she suffered for her children’s sake: " وَوَصَّيْنَا الْإِنْسَانَ بِوَالِدَيْهِ إِحْسَانًا حَمَلَتْهُ أُمُّهُ كُرْهًا وَوَضَعَتْهُ كُرْهًا وَحَمْلُهُ وَفِصَالُهُ ثَلَاثُونَ شَهْرًا " (الأحقاف : 15) . "And We have enjoined upon man, to his parents, good treatment. His mother carried him with hardship and gave birth to him with hardship, and his gestation and weaning [period] is thirty months. " (46: 15). Honouring her as a member of the family and society: Islam forbids that she is inherited with the husband’s estate on his death. " يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا لَا يَحِلُّ لَكُمْ أَنْ تَرِثُوا النِّسَاءَ كَرْهًا " (النِّساء :19) O you who have believed, it is not lawful for you to inherit women by compulsion. (4: 19) It also gave her eligibility for ownership, sale and purchase and other contracts as men have: " لِلرِّجَالِ نَصِيبٌ مِمَّا اكْتَسَبُوا وَلِلنِّسَاءِ نَصِيبٌ مِمَّا اكْتَسَبْنَ " (النِّساء :32) For men is a share of what they have earned, and for women is a share of what they have earned. (4:32) She is also allotted a portion of the inheritance which was hitherto restricted to men. " لِلرِّجَالِ نَصِيبٌ مِمَّا تَرَكَ الْوَالِدَانِ وَالْأَقْرَبُونَ وَلِلنِّسَاءِ نَصِيبٌ مِمَّا تَرَكَ الْوَالِدَانِ وَالْأَقْرَبُونَ مِمَّا قَلَّ مِنْهُ أَوْ كَثُرَ نَصِيبًا مَفْرُوضًا " ( النِّساء :7 ).َ For men is a share of what the parents and close relatives leave, and for women is a share of what the parents and close relatives leave, be it little or much - an obligatory share. (4:7) SECOND KHUTBAH All praises are due to Allah, Who says: " مَنْ عَمِلَ صَالِحًا مِنْ ذَكَرٍ أَوْ أُنْثَى وَهُوَ مُؤْمِنٌ فَلَنُحْيِيَنَّهُ حَيَاةً طَيِّبَةً وَلَنَجْزِيَنَّهُمْ أَجْرَهُمْ بِأَحْسَنِ مَا كَانُوا يَعْمَلُونَ " ( النّحل :97 ) Whoever does righteousness, whether male or female, while he is a believer - We will surely cause him to live a good life, and We will surely give them their reward [in the Hereafter] according to the best of what they used to do. " (16:97) Peace and blessings be upon Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) raised to perfect good characters for men, his household, companions and those who follow them till the day of recompense. Thereafter, Servants of Allah, there are worldly renowned days recognized for certain events or occasions. Among them are scholars of Islam keep silent on them because they have nothing to do with Islam and Muslims, while they warn Muslims of the dangers of some of them, and some others they defined the Islam position on them. Every 8th of March annually is recognized as the International Women's Day. Women are viewed in Islam as dignified persons, and infact, a chapter is named the chapter of the women in the Qur'an and nothing of such for men. In addition to that Allah placed on her the responsibility of enjoining good and forbidding evil and that is not restricted o men alone in the Muslim community. Allah said: " وَالْمُؤْمِنُونَ وَالْمُؤْمِنَاتُ بَعْضُهُمْ أَوْلِيَاءُ بَعْضٍ يَأْمُرُونَ بِالْمَعْرُوفِ وَيَنْهَوْنَ عَنِ الْمُنْكَرِ وَيُقِيمُونَ الصَّلَاةَ وَيُؤْتُونَ الزَّكَاةَ وَيُطِيعُونَ اللَّهَ وَرَسُولَهُ أُولَئِكَ سَيَرْحَمُهُمُ اللَّهُ إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَزِيزٌ حَكِيمٌ (71) . " The believing men and believing women are allies of one another. They enjoin what is right and forbid what is wrong and establish prayer and give zakah and obey Allah and His Messenger. Those - Allah will have mercy upon them. Indeed, Allah is Exalted in Might and Wise. (9:71) . Islam also made the seeking of knowledge obligatory on them, as for men. We have seen of them great scientists, scholars of literature, poetry, memorizers of the qur’an, … etc where great scholars consult and visit… There were among them those who gave verdicts on religious issues like ‘Aisha, the mother of the faithfuls, … after her we had people like Zainab daughter of Imam Alaau- d- din As-sarmaqandiy, the author of the book- "Tuhfatul-Fuqohaau" … we also had Zainab al-Ghazali in Egypt. Oh Allah descend peace; flowing with continuous tranquility and security upon Nigeria and all other Muslim nations. O Allah accept the worship of the pilgrims of hajj and Umrah, and grant us all Your pleasure, And the last of our call will be, "Praise to Allah, Lord of the worlds!"