Representation is important. I never realized how important, until the people that I looked up to disappointed me. And then I discerned a problem in what actually was, and what should be, my role model. Representation doesn’t mean perfection because we are ultimately imperfect as human beings. Representation is seeing people who look like yourself, who adhere to your core values, as flawed as you are, but determined, driven, disciplined and daring to venture into uncharted territory, to pick themselves back up after a mistake and join back the race. It is seeing women who look like you reflected in the media that you consume, and women who bear your name being the heroines of your latest action novel. It is seeing women pioneers and businesswomen listed in the stock exchange. If you never saw this growing up, then the experience was isolating.
That is why I’m proud to throw my support behind Amani Al-khatahtbeh’s Muslim Women’s Day coming up on 27th March. Not that I believe that every day shouldn’t be Muslim Women’s day, indeed our religion reminds us of our place by the numerous stories told of inspiring women in The Final Revelation. But the current political and social world around us demands that we do this – it necessitates that we take charge of our own voices and stories, make room for ourselves at the table, take the mic and tell everyone that we aren’t going anywhere. That this is the new normal, and people should get used to it. For me at least, Muslim Women’s Day is a celebration of who I am, a reminder of how honoured I am, as well as an opportunity to remind myself of the value in living 100% as per what I believe in, without diluting any part of myself to conform to society’s expectations. And it is in this that lies a challenge. How do we ensure that we scale the highest of ladders in our contributions to society without conforming? Can we have heroines who are unapologetically believers first, and society’s change makers second? It seems almost impossible to satisfy these two beasts, in these times.
And so I look to the past to learn from our lauded women leaders- ummahatul muumineen, our own Mothers of the Believers, whose strength of character and noble qualities serve as potent examples of role models we would be honoured to emulate. We learn of Khadijah bint Khuwaylid, May Allah be pleased with her, an honourable and noble lady raised in luxury, but who went on to shatter the glass ceiling 1400 years ago in rising to become a successful and esteemed businesswoman exporting goods through the oft dangerous trade routes and primary commerce centers at that time, from Makkah to Syria and to Yemen, whose business was larger than all of the Quraysh trades combined. Whose generosity, integrity, modesty and character earned her the honour of Allah’s greeting through Angel Jibril – who was given glad tidings of having a palace made of Qasab in Paradise, wherein there will be neither noise nor toil. One of the greatest supporters of Islam in its earliest days, financially, morally and physically, the mother of Fatimah bint Muhammad, the Leader among the Women of Paradise, and the grandmother of Hasan and Hussain, who are to be of the foremost of the youth in paradise.
And we learn of other Mothers of the Believers – Aisha Bint Abu Bakr, Hafsa bint Umar, Maymuna bint al-Harith, Umm Habiba Ramla bint Abi Sufyan, Umm Salama Hind bint Abi Umayya- whose brilliant minds, outstanding memory and mastery in interpretation of the teachings of the Prophet have contributed to the jurisprudence of Tafsir, Hadith, Fiqh and Shariah. We learn of their political and business acumen, and their bravery in not just the battlefield but in spreading the message of Islam. And we also learn of Maryam bint Imran, the mother of Prophet Isa, may Allah be pleased with them both, a pious and devout woman with a chapter of the Quran named after her. Whose nourishment was provided by The Sustainer, as she prostrated before him everyday in her sanctuary, and in acknowledgment of her total trust and reliance on Him told one of His prophets, “Indeed Allah provides for whom He wants, without measure.” (Quran 3:37) Who was elected and purified by The Sublime One, and raised above all women of the World (Quran 3:42).
Courtesy: Almadiana(1001 arabian nights)/Pinterest
And we learn of Asiyah bint Mazahim, may Allah be pleased with her, the wife of Pharaoh, a queen who raised a prophet. From whom we learn resilience and courage, in standing up to a corrupter and a tyrant, and in whose backyard she imparted spiritual and intellectual education to Prophet Musa, May Allah be pleased with him, to start a revolution. These women inspire me. From Prophet Musa’s mother who heeded the command of The Glorious One to release her baby into the Nile, believing in His message that he will be returned to her, and that he will be honoured to be one of The Beneficient’s messengers. And to Asiyah, who convinced the King to spare this one baby of Bani Isra’il from his blood-lust. Who raised her adopted son to disregard the unparalleled wealth and luxury which surrounded him in the palace and be empathetic to the plight of those persecuted by his adopted father. Who displayed valour in the face of attempted murder and stood up against injustice. And who died with absolute conviction in her belief and love for The Magnificent One, so that even in her death she inspires us to emulate her legacy of truth, justice, faith and revolution. Whose station was elevated amongst humankind to be one of the four foremost ladies of the universe. And whose last prayer, as she was tortured to death, was immortalized by The Possessor of Majesty and Honour in The Book- “And Allah presents an example of those who believed: the wife of Pharaoh, when she said, ‘My Lord, build for me near You a house in Paradise and save me from Pharaoh and his deeds and save me from the wrongdoing people’ (Quran 66:11)” These are our outright heroines. Unshakable women. Not just distinguished in their roles as mothers and wives, but warriors in every sense of the word. This is the gold standard.
Learning about these women gives me immense hope and lays bare to me the triviality of my problems compared to our heroines of gone days. It then becomes easier to live our lives, unafraid, to encourage each other to stand firm in doing good and leave a legacy that our children would be proud of. To strive to please The Most Sacred just as our heroines proved in pleasing Him when it mattered most. To be unapologetic strong women. We each recognize this potential in each other – let us encourage each other, we recognize some of these women amongst ourselves – let us always know them, let us always be them, let’s raise similar women to them inshaallah.
Sources: thesalafifeminist.blogspot.com
