Being woman is not an evil
By: Najma Hassan
Allah has bestowed this world with numerous and myriad bounties among which woman is one. She is the flower, which fills every corner with fragrance and aroma, the personality that colors the world with her pure existence, and the one whose fine steps are rewarded by Allah.
As a daughter, she is a source of bounty for her parents; as wife, she completes half of the husband’s faith; as a mother, she is a source of heaven for her children.
The slogan ‘Beti Bachao Beti Padhao’ which has become a fad thing today was initially given by the last Prophet of Islam Hazrat Muhammad (PBUH) some 1500 years ago, when Arab was darkened with the smoke of ignorance and benightedness, when girls were buried alive ruthlessly. Women had no respect and status and were oppressed and ill-treated for they were seen as inauspicious and damned existence.
Eye of humanity was weeping tears of blood. Then Allah endowed them with Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) who revamped the era to a new epoch by his character, manner, behavior and loyalty. It is Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) who introduced the woman to love and respect.
But even today, not much has actually changes for her. If in the past she would be buried after being born, today the technology is such that she is not even allowed to open her eyes in the sunshine of new world. She is killed right inside her mother’s womb within a few months of her being conceived there.
Now who is responsible for it? The husband who presses his wife abortion, therefore giving a solid proof of his ignorance even when he is a lettered person? Or the mother-in-law, who afflicts her daughter-in-law with the hope and longings for a male child, finishing her own essence? Or the forbearance and tolerance of that mother who chooses to sew her lips and surrenders meekly? Or that doctor, who carries out the abortion, read female feticide, thus contaminating his noble profession by such an evil act.
For God’s sake, stop killing daughters in their mother’s womb. Just watch keenly into the mirror of truth. Modesty and awareness are indeed needed so this lively blossom can be saved. Otherwise soon the time will arrive when humans will be seen mourning on her complete absence. Truly said by Allama Iqbal:
Jis Qoum Ne Iss Zinda Haqiqat Ko Na Paya,
Uss Qoum Ka Khursheed Bohat Jald Huwa Zard
(A nation which can’t perceive this truth divine,
Pale grows its sun and soon begins decline)
Woman’s essence is full of gentleness, kindness and love, with a cheerful spirit, without whom the society is soulless. Mother is a woman; sister, a woman; wife, a woman; then why do we lack the power to accept a girl as our progeny?
Being a woman is not an evil, not a misfortunate, and not a contempt. If woman would have been worthless and impure creature, she would not have been remembered in the Holy Qur’an. Where Quran has mentioned great men, it has also talked about the great women.
Holy Quran invites both men and women for education. The first verse descended upon Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) has relevance to education.
Quran in Surah Al-Alaq Says:
اقْرَأْ بِاسْمِ رَبِّكَ الَّذِي خَلَقَ * خَلَقَ الْإِنْسَانَ مِنْ عَلَقٍ * اقْرَأْ وَرَبُّكَ الْأَكْرَمُ * الَّذِي عَلَّمَ بِالْقَلَمِ * عَلَّمَ الْإِنْسَانَ مَا لَمْ يَعْلَمْ *
[Proclaim! (or read) in the name of the Lord and Cherisher, who created – created man, out of a (mere) clot of congealed blood. Proclaim! And thy Lord is most Bountiful – He who taught (the use of) the pen – Taught man that which he knew not.]
From Adam to last Prophet, this soil has been gifted with about one lakh and 24 thousand prophets and all of them are men. Women are questioned why not a single woman has been descended to this world as a prophet?
What if a woman has not been descended as prophet, but it is the women who have given birth to the prophets. So what if a woman has not been descended as a prophet, women have secured prophets in their wombs for 9 months. So what, if a woman has not been descended as a prophet, women have sucked the prophets.
Allah has sent prophets, it is woman who reared and fostered them.
Vajud-e-zan se hai tasvir-e-kaenat mein rang
Isi ke saaz se hai zindagi ka soz-e-darun (Allama Iqbal)
[This picture that this world presents, from woman gets its tints and scents;
She is the lyre that can impart, pathos and warmth to human heart]
(Author is a student at Sheikh-ul-Alam Memorial Degree College Budgam and can be reached at [email protected])
