'ISLAM ACCORDS MEN, WOMEN EQUAL STATUS'
By Andrew Ahiante, Lagos
Muslim group honours women for championing the course of Muslim women.

October 13, 2003 – (This Day - Lagos) They all have one thing in common, the determination to liberate Muslim women, who they claim, were still relegated to the background in utter disregard for their rights and priviledges as set forth in the Islamic legal code, Sharia.

With the issue of stoning to death, caning and amputation, remaining the dominant Muslim news in national dallies, the Women of Hounour, as the are referred, women had decided to reverse the trend and restore dignity to such oppressed members of the society.

Alhaja Sikiratulahi Atinuke Atobajaye (Iya Suna of Nigeria, President General, Nuru-ul-Islam International Alasalatu of Nigeria), Alhaja Fausat Taiwo Afolabi, Director, Office of Local Government Administration, Lagos State, Alhaja Fariat Tinubu, Director, Personnel Management, Amuwo Odofin Local Government Area, and Sayyidah Zeenat Abiola Kalejaye, all members of the Aenu Rahmat Faedot Tijani-yyat of Nigeria, were so deservingly honoured for championing the crusade against the plight of Muslim women in Lagos, recently.

Others were Alhaja Kareemah Daranijo, a philanthropist, Alhaja Sherifat Abiola Andu, Managing Director, Arabel and Alhaja Ganiat Adebanjo, a TV presenter and broadcaster.

According to the organisers, all members of the Rahmat Tijaniyyat, the Moslem Women's Wing, Central Zawiyyat, Ikorodu, the women have been involved in the propagation of the Islamic religion, business entrepreneurship and philantropism.

"It is not for you to be successful in business, you must use such to the advancement of mankind and promotion of human dignity", they noted.

The group had also organised a week long activities, including visitations to the Babs Salam Motherless Babies Home, G.R.A, Ikeja, the Old Peoples Home, Majidun, Ikorodu, which were also meant to actualise their aims and objectives of bringing succour to the less privildged in society.

Other activities of the week include symposiums, lectures, prayer sessions, talk show and book launch on Moslem Women and the Challenges of the 21st Century.

"What appeared utopian in concept has been translated into reality by Allah subhanau wa Tahala. The concept of women's week was nurtured for several months and went through months of incubation. Its concept appeared unattainable, unrealisable, but what appeared to be a dream is now a reality", Chairman of the group, Hajia Aminat Oyenuga, declared in her opening remarks.

She spoke on the perspective of the role of Muslem women in the upbringing of children, which she said, could not be overemphasised.

"The family is an agent of socialisation. The society is made of different units of the society. The major part of a child's time is spent with the mother and the mother moulds the character of the child, while the father is the bread winner of the family", she said, stating that where a
family is built on a solid foundation of morals and the fear of Allah, that family would be an ideal one.

"Where all families of a society are built on this solid rock foundation of morals and the fear of Allah, the society generally would be better for it and we will live a life of fulfillment and purposefullness. The society will be free from vices, miscreants, drug addicts, and all the evils that pervade our society today", she said, saying that it was in the realisation of the vital role of women that the concept of the women conference was muted.

She observed that women today have not lived up to the expectation of this vital role. Also, she said women were confronted with many problems and challenges.

Lined up before the conference for discussion were the position of Islam on women's liberation, the problems facing career Muslem women, Muslim women participation in politics, the prescribed dress code for Muslim women and many more.

Hajia Sayyadah Zeenet Abiola Kalejaye, one of those honoured, who set the tone for the discussion, said the issue of Muslim women has always attract comments from both Muslims and non-Muslims alike, explaining that women were regarded with much dignity and esteem in Islam.
She frowed at the claim that Muslim women were object of oppression, harassment and ill-treatment, pointing out that a critical study of the Holy Qu'ran and the Prophetic traditions will reveal the type of honour and dignity given to women by the Almighty Allah and as clearly demonstrated by the Holy Prophet Muhammed (SAW) in his treatment of his wives and the women folks amongst his followers".

She said before the advent of Islam, women were looked upon as an item in the house.

Giving a historical background to the status of women before the advent of the Islamic religion, she said unlike what the situation was before then, women were not only well respected partners of men in Islam, they have property ownership rights, right to do business and choose their husbands. Added to that, on responsibilities and earning rights, she said women in Islam, were perfectly equal to men.

She advised that men, who were married to career women, endeavour to show some understanding towards their plights.

On Muslim women and western civilisation, Hajia Kalejaiye said it has brought their marginalisation by their male counterparts.

"Therefore, they should be gender sensitive and try as much as possible to liberate themselves from the male overbearing influence and dominance in their lives", she advised.

While arguing that there was no question of rivalry between men and women,she said: "Each has been allotted his/her natural responsibilities.
The Holy Qur'an says "men are protectors and maintainers of women, because Allah has made one of them to excel above the other, and because they spend (to support them) from their means."

Islam, she said, "believes that men and women are equal human beings but with different responsibilities', regretting, however, that under the guise of civilisation, women in the west have been reduced to second class citizens.

"The so-called freedom they are claiming to have given to the womenfolk does not really exist much in real life. The woman is often abused in the West and treated mainly as an investment commodity. She is a tool in the hands of the advertising agencies. There are various commercial ads with pictures of women semi-nude. Why not men? Why is it only the women that are used for such show of shame?", she queried.

She advised Muslim women in the new millennium to be careful and do not imbibe western cultures and values blindly.

"Take their technology and avoid their moral laxities. Guide your daily life activities with the Qur'anic injunctions. Try to be Islam personified. Emulate the way of life of the good women of Islam", she stressed, advising those of them in politics against corrupting themselves in the quest for appointments or election into positions of authority.

"Politics, to a Muslim woman, must not be a 'do or die' affair. We should also play politics without bitterness", she advised, just as she pointed out that a career Muslim woman must not neglect her children and expose her husband to temptations by not being available for him as at when necessary.

"Do not pursue vain glories to the detriment of your heavenly assigned duties", she advised.

From: http://allafrica.com/stories/200310130836.html