Abdul Haleem Abu Shiqah, an Arabic scholar writes in his book (which is translated into Urdu as “Aurat Ahde Risalat mein”), that a woman is part of our society but we made her contribution nil and due to her illiteracy and ignorance she is not capable of bearing and upbringing of a generation which this ummah needs today. No wonder the ummah has become so voiceless and inactive in the present world. A woman has the same capabilities, thoughts, vision and sensibilities as men do. Unfortunately half of Muslim population has been made redundant for no valid reasons and with no logical explanations or sanction from Qur’an and Hadith.

Islam is a way of life for both men and women enjoining upon them to educate themselves. The responsibility of creating a healthy society lies with both men and women, in Islam, which is not possible with half the population remaining illiterate and ignorant. The reason is simple, the ummah followed traditions rather than Qur’an and Sunnah. The result was obvious. Majority of women remained illiterate under coercion in a male dominated society whereas those who defied had blindly followed the west and had become epitome of western culture.

Remember when Rasulullah (S) was given the prophet hood it was a woman Hazrat Khadija (R) who accepted him as prophet first and said Ammanna wa Saddaqna. It was a woman (Hazrat Umme Ammara Ansari) who was praised by Rasulullah (S) as great warrior in the field of Ohud and he gave his shield to her as gift. You should know that it was a woman Hazrat Ayesha Siddiqa (R) who is considered the best of teachers of Ummah. It was a woman Hazrat Asma (R) who was made in charge of the markets by Hazrat Umer (R) due to her exceptional qualities and capabilities to do the job.