Saturday 10 August 2013

Similarities: Jesus & Jonah

Let me bring to your attention with clear & fervent detail,
the overlooked prophecy told by Jesus (عليه السلام) in the Bible.
To understand this will not take a huge intellectual.
Jesus [ᴘᴇᴀᴄᴇ ʙᴇ ᴜᴘᴏɴ ʜɪᴍ] healed the blind & the leprous;
he was endowed with many miracles by the Most Gracious;
he brought the dead back from the grave.
But the disbelievers asked more from Allah's righteous slave. ¹
What is the significance of the miracle Jesus (عليه السلام) gave?
"Teacher, we want to see a miraculous sign from you." —(Matthew 12:38)
Out of many miracles he did by Allah's permission, ²
Jesus gave Jonah's miracle as the only exception:

"Only an evil, adulterous generation would demand a miraculous sign;

but the only sign will give them is the sign of Prophet Jonah.
For as Jonah was 3 days & 3 nights in the belly of a huge fish,
so the Son of Man will be 3 days & 3 nights in the heart of the earth."
—(Matthew 12:39-40)
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew%2012:39-40&version=NLT

So what's happened?

✔ They asked Jesus for a miracle & he gave them a miracle.
 Jonah's miracle was as Jesus' miracle.
What was so miraculous about Jonah's encounter with the Whale?

─────▀▄▀─────▄───▄ 

──▄███████▄──▀██▄██▀ "The Lord appointed a great fish to swallow up Jonah.
▄█████▀█████▄──▄█ Jonah was in the belly of the fish 3 days & 3 nights."
███████▀████████▀ —(Jonah 1:17)
─▄▄▄▄▄▄███████▀

 "The Lord appointed a great fish to swallow up Jonah. 
Jonah was in the belly of the fish 3 days & 3 nights." —(Jonah 1:17)

▷ Commentary of the Bible, Pastor Albert Barnes (theologian) writes:

"It was no greater Miracle to create a fish which should swallow Jonah,
than to preserve him alive...Jonah, by Miracle, was not consumed;
by Miracle, breathed; by Miracle, retained his senses in that fetid place."
http://barnes.biblecommenter.com/jonah/1.htm
▷ Commentary of the Bible, Pastor John Gill (biblical scholar) concedes:
"Jonah was so miraculously preserved; an a miracle it was that he
should not in this time be digested in the stomach of the creature;
that he was not suffocated in it, but breathed and lived."
http://gill.biblecommenter.com/jonah/1.htm

Suffocation, digestion and death - from all these he managed to survive.

Retaining his senses and breathing all signify that he was still alive!
Jonah prayed in the belly of the whale, do the dead pray? ³ ૅ.ે
The miracle of Jonah (عليه السلام) was that he was alive we must say!


Was Jonah dead or alive when he was thrown into the raging sea?
We get a unanimous reply — that he was ALIVE!
A fish comes and swallows him. Was Jonah dead or alive?
And again everyone says ALIVE!
From the fishes belly he prays to God for help. Do dead men pray? "No!"
So he was ALIVE!
On the third day the fish vomits him onto the seashore — dead or alive?
And the reply again is ALIVE!
It is a miracle of miracles!
The Jews say that he was ALIVE!
The Christians say that he was ALIVE!
And the Muslims say that he was ALIVE!
Little wonder that Jesus chose the sign / miracle of Jonah as his only sign;
it's something on which the followers of three major religions agree.

So this was the sign or miracle that Jonah (عليه السلام) performed
and this is the sign or miracle that Jesus (عليه السلام) proposes to emulate.

1. When you throw a man into a raging sea, he ought to die. Because Jonah did not die, therefore, it is a miracle.
2. A fish comes and gobbles the man; he ought to die. He did not die. It is now therefore, a double miracle.
3. Because of heat and suffocation in the whale's belly for 3 days and 3 nights, he ought to die. He did not die, therefore, it is now a miracle of miracles!
When you expect a man to die, and he does not die, only then is it a miracle.

Jesus too, after the ordeal he is supposed to have gone through, ought to die. If he died it would be no miracle.

.....________
..../..ᴏxғᴏʀᴅ../_ Resurrection means « coming back to life after being dead »
.../...ᴅɪᴄᴛɪᴏ-../ / as is stated in the Oxford Dictionary.
../....ɴᴀʀʏ.../ / If Jesus was crucified & resurrected, dying was compulsory.
((________| / So the death of Jesus was a necessity.
. `"""""""""`

"For as Jonah was 3 days & 3 nights in the belly of a huge fish,

so the Son of Man will be 3 days & 3 nights in the heart of the earth." —(Matthew 12:39-40)
The miracle of Jesus is parallel to or resembles the miracle of Jonah.

╔═(ℚ١)════════════╗

║ғᴏʀ ૩ᴅᴀʏs & ૩ɴɪɢʜᴛs ᴡᴀs
║ᴊᴏɴᴀʜ ᴀʟɪᴠᴇ ᴏʀ ᴅᴇᴀᴅ ?
║ ☑ ᴀʟɪᴠᴇ
║ ☐ ᴅᴇᴀᴅ
║ᴊᴏɴᴀʜ ᴡᴀs...ALIVE!
╚════════════════╝Jonah's miracle was that he was alive
╔═(ℚՁ)════════════╗so Jesus' miracle must be he was alive!
║ғᴏʀ ૩ᴅᴀʏs & ૩ɴɪɢʜᴛs ᴡᴀs
║ᴊᴇsᴜs ᴀʟɪᴠᴇ ᴏʀ ᴅᴇᴀᴅ ?
║ ☑ ᴀʟɪᴠᴇ
║ ☐ ᴅᴇᴀᴅ
║ᴊᴇsᴜs ᴡᴀs ᴅ̶ᴇ̶ᴀ̶ᴅ̶ ...ALIVE!
╚════════════════╝


When asking a Christian,
"How was Jesus according to you? Dead or Alive?"
All of them say he was DEAD.
Jonah was alive but Jesus was dead?
So was Jesus like or unlike Jonah?
According to their answer Jesus was unlike Jonah 
and this means Jesus does not fulfill the prophecy he gave.

How was Jonah in the whale's belly for 3 days and 3 nights — Dead or Alive?
Jews, Christians and Muslims all say he  was ALIVE.
How was Jesus in the tomb, for the same period of time — Dead or Alive?
Over a thousand million Christians, of every church or Denomination give a unanimous verdict of DEAD. 
Jesus said that he would be "LIKE JONAH" but they're insisting that he was "UNLIKE JONAH"!

Jonah [peace be upon him] prayed in need:

"In my distress I called to the Lord & he answered me.
From deep in the realm of the dead I called for help,
and you listened to my cry." —(Jonah 2:2-3)

Jesus, with prayers & petitions to God, began to plead:

"If it be possible, let this cup pass from me:
nevertheless not as I will, but as You will." —(Matthew 26:39)

▷ Commentary of the Bible, Pastor John Gill (biblical scholar) explains:

"When he (Jesus) prays that this cup might pass from him,
his meaning is, that he be excused (from) the sufferings of death."
http://gill.biblecommenter.com/matthew/26.htm

Jesus (عليه السلام) prayed so this cup [of death] is removed from him.

In other words, Jesus prayed in extreme need to survive death:
"Being in an agony he prayed more earnestly and his sweat was
as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground." —(Luke 22:44)
"His supplication was with "strong crying" to be saved from this fearful death.
These cries reached the hearing of the disciples.
The petition was thrice repeated.—(Matthew 26:36-44)
http://ibiblestudies.com/auth/macdonald/the_agony_in_the_garden.htm

Priest Dean Stanley said: "The cup did not pass from him." ^( '-' )^
http://ibiblestudies.com/auth/stanley/divine_sorrow.htm

But Jesus [peace be upon him] said: "I knew that You always listen to me." (John 11:42)

Allah says: "I answer the prayer of every suppliant when he cries to Me." —(Quran 2:186)

If we were to believe Jesus had died on the cross,

then many blunders or difficulties reside.
[E.g. 1] The last words of Jesus (on the cross) before he's said to have died:
« Jesus called out with a loud voice:
"Father, into Your hands I commit my spirit."
When he said this, he breathed his last. » —(Luke 23:46)
And where did this spirit go?
"The spirit returns to God who gave it." —(Ecclesiastes 12:7)
But 3 days after the alleged crucifixion event, Jesus had said:
"I have NOT YET ascended to the Father. 
I am ascending to my God & your God." —(John 20:17)

[E.g. 2] In the Gospels of Matthew, Mark and Luke,

Jesus [peace be upon him] was being taken away for crucifixion and a man named Simon of Cyrene carried the cross, as you can see from the following 3 verses:
1. "As they were going out, they met a man from Cyrene, named Simon, and they forced him to carry the cross." (Matthew 27:32) 
2. "A certain man from Cyrene, Simon, the father of Alexander and Rufus, was passing by on his way in from the country, and they forced him to carry the cross." (Mark 15:21)
3. "As the soldiers led him away, they seized Simon from Cyrene, who was on his way in from the country, and put the cross on him and made him carry it behind Jesus.(Luke 23:26)

But the Gospel of John says, in contradiction, that Jesus carried the cross himself:
"Carrying his own cross, he went out to the place of the Skull (which in Aramaic is called Golgotha)." (John 19:17)

[E.g. 3] Regarding Jesus' so-called death on the cross, in Mark 15:33-41 we read:

"And when the sixth hour was come, there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour. And at the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani? which is, being interpreted, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? And some of them that stood by, when they heard it, said, Behold, he calleth Elias. And one ran and filled a spunge full of vinegar, and put it on a reed, and gave him to drink, saying, Let alone; let us see whether Elias will come to take him down. And Jesus cried with a loud voice, and gave up the ghost. And the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom. And when the centurion, which stood over against him, saw that he so cried out, and gave up the ghost, he said, Truly this man was the Son of God. There were also women looking on afar off: among whom was Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James the less and of Joses, and Salome; (Who also, when he was in Galilee, followed him, and ministered unto him;) and many other women which came up with him unto Jerusalem." —(Mark 15:33-41)

Whereas in Matthew 27:45-56, we read:

"Now from the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land unto the ninth hour. And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that is to say, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? Some of them that stood there, when they heard that, said, This man calleth for Elias. And straightway one of them ran, and took a spunge, and filled it with vinegar, and put it on a reed, and gave him to drink. The rest said, Let be, let us see whether Elias will come to save him. Jesus, when he had cried again with a loud voice, yielded up the ghost. And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent; And the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose, And came out of the graves after his resurrection, and went into the holy city, and appeared unto many. Now when the centurion, and they that were with him, watching Jesus, saw the earthquake, and those things that were done, they feared greatly, saying, Truly this was the Son of God. And many women were there beholding afar off, which followed Jesus from Galilee, ministering unto him: Among which was Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James and Joses, and the mother of Zebedees children."  —(Matthew 27:45-56)

Note the major difference. In Matthew's version we see that after Jesus dies a major earthquake happens, and that the saints rise from the dead and start walking through Jerusalem!!!!! This is an obvious evolution in the text,and the writer is trying to make things seem better and more dramatic.

[E.g. 4] The criminals beside Jesus on the Cross, one of the most apparent contradictions.

When we read the crucifixion story, we read that there were two other men to be crucified along Jesus as well, they were theives and were being punished for their crimes. However this is one of the best examples of how this simple fact was modified into something very special and lovely.

In Mark, the two thieves were reviling and disbelieved in Jesus:
"And it was the third hour, and they crucified him. And the superscription of his accusation was written over, THE KING OF THE JEWS. And with him they crucify two thieves; the one on his right hand, and the other on his left. And the scripture was fulfilled, which saith, And he was numbered with the transgressors. And they that passed by railed on him, wagging their heads, and saying, Ah, thou that destroyest the temple, and buildest it in three days, Save thyself, and come down from the cross. Likewise also the chief priests mocking said among themselves with the scribes, He saved others; himself he cannot save. Let Christ the King of Israel descend now from the cross, that we may see and believe. And they that were crucified with him reviled him." —(Mark 15:25-32)

And in Matthew, we read the same:

"And when they were come unto a place called Golgotha, that is to say, a place of a skull, They gave him vinegar to drink mingled with gall: and when he had tasted thereof, he would not drink. And they crucified him, and parted his garments, casting lots: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, They parted my garments among them, and upon my vesture did they cast lots. And sitting down they watched him there; And set up over his head his accusation written, THIS IS JESUS THE KING OF THE JEWS. Then were there two thieves crucified with him, one on the right hand, and another on the left. And they that passed by reviled him, wagging their heads, And saying, Thou that destroyest the temple, and buildest it in three days, save thyself. If thou be the Son of God, come down from the cross. Likewise also the chief priests mocking him, with the scribes and elders, said, He saved others; himself he cannot save. If he be the King of Israel, let him now come down from the cross, and we will believe him. He trusted in God; let him deliver him now, if he will have him: for he said, I am the Son of God. The thieves also, which were crucified with him, cast the same in his teeth."  —(Matthew 27:33-44)

We do not see anything special happening with the thieves who were to also be crucified, in fact Matthew shows that they too also disbelieved In Jesus.

Whereas in Luke's Gospel, we find an interesting turn of events:

"And there were also two other, malefactors, led with him to be put to death. And when they were come to the place, which is called Calvary, there they crucified him, and the malefactors, one on the right hand, and the other on the left. Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots. And the people stood beholding. And the rulers also with them derided him, saying, He saved others; let him save himself, if he be Christ, the chosen of God. And the soldiers also mocked him, coming to him, and offering him vinegar, And saying, If thou be the king of the Jews, save thyself. And a superscription also was written over him in letters of Greek, and Latin, and Hebrew, THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS. And one of the malefactors which were hanged railed on him, saying, If thou be Christ, save thyself and us. But the other answering rebuked him, saying, Dost not thou fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation? And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this man hath done nothing amiss. And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom. And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise." —(Luke 23:32-43)

So now in Luke's version we see that one of the criminals began to believe in Jesus and there's mention of Paradise for him as well. Luke obviously modified the story from the two earlier accounts of Mark and Matthew, and wanted to make it seem as a great lovely moment. [End of mentioning 4 evolutionary examples and contradictions in the Gospels about the crucifixion].

With both Prophets (Jonah & Jesus), 
when you expect them to be dead but they miraculously survive,
that is the miracle the Most Gracious, Allah, willed;
and the miraculous sign (prophecy) Jesus told was fulfilled.

O how they mocked & ridiculed! —(Mark 15:16-20)

When they plotted to have Jesus [ᴘᴇᴀᴄᴇ ʙᴇ ᴜᴘᴏɴ ʜɪᴍ] killed!
But Allah is the best of planners, truly their plot had failed! 

It was not crucifixion but a cruci-FICTION.

“They said (in boast): "We killed the Messiah,
 Jesus son of Mary, the Messenger of Allah" -
but they killed him not, nor crucified him, but it appeared to them so,
& those who differ therein are full of doubts, with no (certain) knowledge,
but only conjecture to follow. For surely they killed him not.
But Allah raised him (Jesus) up unto Himself & Allah is The Powerful, The Wise." —(Quran 4:157-158)



Source(s):


¹ Jesus is the slave & messenger of Allah:

"I bear witness that there is no god except Allah.
I bear witness that Muhammad is His slave & messenger.
I bear witness that Jesus is His slave & messenger." [Bukhari 4:55:644]
"Never would the Messiah (Jesus) disdain to be a slave of Allah." —(Quran 4:172)

² Prophet's of Allah do miracles by Allah's permission. Jesus said:

"It is by the power of God I drive out demons." —(Luke 11:20)
"I can do nothing on my own initiative." —(John 5:30)
"Jesus was a man accredited by God to you by miracles which God did through him." —(Acts 2:22)
"I heal those born blind & the lepers & I bring the dead to life by Allah's permission." —(Quran 3:49)

³ Jonah prayed in the belly of the whale: —(Jonah 2:1) —(Quran 21:87)


⁴ The Jewish Leaders Plan to Kill Jesus: 

"The leading priests & teachers of the law were trying to find a way to arrest Jesus without the people seeing it. Then they could kill him." —(Mark 14:1)
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Mark%2014:1-2&version=ERV
"And (the unbelievers) plotted and planned [against Jesus]; and Allah too planned, and the best of planners is Allah." —(Quran 3:54)

⁵ The disbelievers called Jesus "Messiah" as a form of mockery, they said:

« "Let this Messiah, this king of Israel, come down now from the cross, that we may see & believe." Those crucified with him also heaped insults on him. » —(Mark 15:32)



Thursday 8 August 2013

Women in Islam

Oppressed. Dishonoured. Worthless. Such are the way women in Islam exist.
Are these myths spread like wildfire across society, perhaps through prejudice?
Or do you take the misbehaviour of some Muslims as Islam's representation?
Time. For. The. Truth!
First I kindly advise you: Let Islam represent Islam.
Enlighten yourself in order to correct your opinion.
Because Islam has truly revolutionized the status of women.
Don't believe me? I invite you to put Islam on the table.
Move aside all cultural traditions before you start to label.
Islam is composed of Quran (verbatim word of Allah)
and the (Sunnah) words and actions of Prophet Muhammad, Allah's final Messenger. ¹

• The 19th Chapter of the Quran is named after the mother of Jesus, Mary. ²



What if I told you Mary is mentioned more in the Quran than in the entire Bible? ³


              Bible: 18 times | Quran: 32 times
You thought Allah giving believers women role models was a thing imaginary!
"Allah sets forth, as an example to those who believe, the wife of Pharaoh (Asiyah) and Mary." —(Quran 66:11-12)

And what is even more extraordinary: "Some [scholars] argue that Allah had blessed some women, such as Mary, with prophethood. Among those who hold this view are Abul Hassan al-Ashari, al-Qurtubi and Ibn Hazm." ['Ar-Rusul war-Rissalat', p. 86] [Muhammad Naim Ya-Sin in 'The Book of Eeman', p. 65]



• Allow me to inform you about Moses' mother.
All born males were being killed by a tyrant ruler called Pharoah. (Quran 2:49)
Moses' mother was inspired to put her baby in a basket (Moses basket) into a river.
This separation led to extreme worry in her heart. —(Quran 28:4-12)
But Allah is the best of planners; Moses ended up living safely in the palace of the tyrant.
Whenever thinking about Islam and women, never forget this moment:
Allah united Moses' mother back with her son, but for what reason?
The reason first and foremost given by Allah is so she would not feel sad. —(Quran 28:13)



• Turn your attention to the wife of Adam, commonly known as Eve.
Eve's role in other religions are much bigger than in Islam,
more than what you could believe:
Because of Eve, Adam was expelled to earth.
Because of Eve, every one is tainted with sin since birth.
Because of Eve, God had to sacrifice Jesus on the cross, giving us worth.
Eve is blamed: "The woman gave me fruit and I ate it."
Then why is Adam in trouble?
"Because you listened to your wife and ate from the tree." —(Genesis 3:6, 3:17)
"Sin began with a woman." —(Sirach 25:24)



From this belief, Islam is free!

St. Tertullian, while he was talking to his 'best beloved sisters' in the faith, he said: "Do you not know that you are each an Eve? The sentence of God on this sex of yours lives in this age: the guilt must of necessity live too. You are the Devil's gateway: You are the unsealer of the forbidden tree: You are the first deserter of the divine law: You are she who persuaded him whom the devil wasn't valiant enough to attack. You destroyed so easily God's image, man." [Karen Armstrong's book, 'The Gospel According to Woman,' London: Elm Tree Books, 1986, p. 52-62]

Orthodox Jewish men in their daily morning prayer recite, "Blessed be God King of the universe that Thou has not made me a woman." The women, on the other hand, thank God every morning for "making me according to Thy will." [Thena Kendath, 'Memories of an Orthodox youth'. Susanah Heschel, ed. 'On being a Jewish Feminist, New York: Schocken Books, 1983, p. 96-97]

Fatimah Nasreef said: "Was not Eve the one who - as they say - tempted Adam and led him to eat from the forbidden tree as mentioned in Genesis? The noble Qur'an denies this false accusation and makes it clear that both Adam and Eve were responsible for their ejection from Paradise. The prohibition was directed to both of them... Both of them disobeyed God and together were tempted by Satan... Hence Islam exonerates woman from the sin that has been attributed to her, denying that she was responsible for Adam's ejection from Paradise." [Fatimah Nasreef, Women in Islam, p. 56-57]

Nowhere in the Quran can one find even the slightest hint that Eve tempted Adam.
In fact in one verse Adam specifically is blamed, can you fathom? —(Quran 20:121)
"You are Adam who turned out your offspring from Paradise." [Bukhari 9:93:606]
Islam blames both and both are forgiven; no need for punishment or sacrifice. —(Quran 7:19-23)





But in some religions women are said to be punished for Eve's disobedience:
"I will make your pains in childbearing very severe;
with painful labour you will give birth." —(Genesis 3:16)



• Adversely you will learn to: 
"Respect the womb that bore you" if you let the Quran interfere. —(Quran 4:1)
Women having to go through much pain during childbirth
is not a punishment even though it involves great hardship.
Islam puts into consideration her difficulty and turns it into a thing positive.
Allah says to honour and show thanks for the struggles of mothers, the Quran is clear:
"We have enjoined on man kindness to his parents,
in pain did his mother bear him and in pain did his mother give birth.
Show gratitude to your parents." —(Quran 31:14, 46:15)





Muhammad Fakhr Al-Din Ar-Razi said concerning Quran 46:15 (And We have enjoined on man to be dutiful and kind to his parents. His mother bears him with hardship and she brings him forth with hardship...) that, "The verse underlines the fact that the rights of a mother are greater than those of the father, for Allah mentions both parents together by saying, 'We have enjoined on the human being kindness to his parents,' He (Allah, the Creator of the Heavens and the Earth) then specifically mentions the mother, 'she did bear him in pain and gave birth in pain,' therefore, her rights are greater because the hardships she undergoes are greater. Many hadiths are known on this subject." [Ar-Razi, Tafsir al-Fakhr Ar-Razi, 28:14]

Muwaffaq Al-Din Ibn Qudamah said: "It is recommended for the father to seek the mother's permission in marrying off her daughter. For the Prophet said, 'Consult with the mothers in their daughters' affairs!'  [Abu Dawud 2095, Da'if (weak) hadith] This is because she shares responsibilities with the father in looking after her children's interests and also because consulting with her assures her approval and good will." [Ibn Qudamah, 'Al-Mughni', v. 7, p. 383]

Even Allah's names Ar-Rahman (الرَّحْمَٰن) and Ar-Raheem (الرَّحِيم) (meaning The Merciful)
are both derived from the Arabic word 'Rahm' (رحم) meaning mothers womb. 
The Prophet said: "The word 'Rahm' (womb) 
derives its name from Ar-Rahman (one of the names of Allah)." [Bukhari 8:73:17]
If that hasn't convinced you yet then, of this fact in Islam, will you please consider?
"A woman who dies while giving birth, dies a death of a martyr." [Dawud 20:3105] [Malik 16.12.36]

The Prophet said: "The martyrs are seven apart from those killed in the way of Allah - the one who dies of an internal hemorrhage is a martyr, the one who dies from drowning is a martyr, pleurisy is a martyr, the one who dies in a fire is a martyr, the one who dies under a collapsed building is a martyr, and the woman who dies when giving birth is a martyr." [From 'Preparing For the Day of Judgement' by Imam Ibn Hajar Al-Asqalani]



Abul Hudaj At-Tujeebi said: "I said to Saeed ibn Al-Musayib: 'I understand everything that Allah mentioned in the Quran concerning the kindness to parents, except His statement, 'But address them in terms of honour' (Quran 17:23), what are these terms of honour?'
Saeed ibn Al-Musayib said: 'It is the way a slave who has done wrong speaks to a harsh master.'"
Do we speak to our parents, especially our mothers, like this?
How far from the Islamic teaching and Allah's commands are we when, instead of speaking to them (i.e. parents) as a slave that did wrong to a harsh master, that we speak to them as a harsh master does to a slave who did wrong!!! 

Have you heard of the man named Juraij?
He didn't respond to his mother when she called him twice while he was in worship.
As a result of this, his life lead to much hardship. [Bukhari 3:43:662]

But have you also heard of the man named Uwais?
Prophet Muhammad [ᴘᴇᴀᴄᴇ ʙᴇ ᴜᴘᴏɴ ʜɪᴍ] said to Umar:
"In your time there will be a person by the name of Uwais. He had been suffering from leprosy from which he was cured but for a spot (so there will be a white mark on his body). His treatment with his mother would have been excellent. And if it is possible for you, then do ask him to beg forgiveness for you (from Allah)." [Muslim 31:6172]




Uwair ibn Amr reported: When delegations from Yemen came to help of (the Muslim army at the time of Jihad) Umar would ask them, "Is there Uwais ibn Amr amongst you?" (He continued searching him) until he met Uwais. He said, "Are you Uwais ibn Amr?" He said, "Yes." Umar said, "Did you suffer from leucoderma and then you were cured from it but for the space of a dirham?" He said, "Yes." Umar said, "I heard Messenger of Allah saying, 'There would come to you Uwais ibn Amr with the reinforcement from the people of Yemen. He would be from Qaran (the branch) of Murad. He had been suffering from leucoderma from which he was cured but for a spot of a dirham. He has a mother to whom he is very dutiful. If he were to take an oath in the Name of Allah, Allah would fulfill his oath. And if it is possible for you, ask him to ask forgiveness for you.' So, ask forgiveness from me." Uwais did so (asked forgiveness for Umar). [Riyaadh as-Saliheen, no. 372]

Another narration is: Umar said, "I heard Messenger of Allah saying, 'The best one of the next generation (At-Tabi'un) is a man called Uwais, he will have a mother and he will be suffering from leucoderma. Go to him and ask him to pray for forgiveness for you." [Muslim] This hadith is one of the clear miracles of the Prophet because he not only told the name of Uwais but also some of his special qualities and characteristics which tallied with the description given by him. Needless to say, this hadith tells us the merit of nice treatment and dutifulness to mothers.

"A Mother's Letter To Her Child"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QSRJ7uNR9sg

You will never be able to pay your mother back in Islam:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iL98iNRtPBo

You can pay back your father but you cannot pay back your mother!
That is the Islam you need to remember!

The Prophet [ᴘᴇᴀᴄᴇ ʙᴇ ᴜᴘᴏɴ ʜɪᴍ] said: "No son can repay (the right of his father) unless he finds him a slave, buys him and then emancipates him." [Muslim 9:3606] [Riyaadh as-Saliheen, no. 313]

Abdullah ibn Umar saw a Yemeni man performing Tawaf (circumambulating the Ka'bah) while carrying his mother on his back. This man said to Abdullah ibn Umar: "I am like a tame camel for her! I have carried her more than she carried me. Do you think I have paid her back, O Ibn Umar?" Abdullah ibn Umar replied: "No, not even one contraction!" [Al-Adab al-Mufrad Bukhari 1/62; classed as Sahih by Ibn Hajar in Takhreej Ahaadeeth al-Kashshaaf, and by al-Albani in Saheeh al-Adab al-Mufrad]

Zur’ah ibn Ibraheem narrated that a man came to Umar and said to him: 
"I have an old mother who is unable to go answer the call of nature, so I carry her on my back. I also help her perform ablution while turning my face away from her (out of respect). Have I fulfilled my duty towards her?"
Umar replied: "No."
The man said: "Even though I carry her on my back and exert myself in her service?" 
Umar said: "She used to do the same for you when you were young, while hoping that you will live. As for you, you await when she will go away (die)."








A lady had lost her son and later found him.

The Prophet asked: "Do you think this lady can throw her son in the fire?"
The Companions replied in the negative.
The Prophet then said: "Allah is more merciful to His slaves than this lady to her son." [Bukhari 8:73:28]
Here the Prophet gives an example of Allah's vast mercy by showing the love and mercy of this mother.

Islam is sexist?
I agree, the following does sound sexist, doesn't it?
When a man asked Prophet Muhammad: "Who deserves the best treatment?"
He said: "Your Mother" then "Your Mother" then "Your Mother" and then "Your Father."
[Bukhari 8:73:2] [Muslim 32:6180]
So the mother gets the gold medal, the silver medal and even the bronze medal.
The degree of respect given is undeniable!
The Prophet said: "Paradise lies at the feet of your Mother." [Ibn Majah, Kitab Al-Jihad, no. 2781]
Meaning, you must be graciously obedient to her.
You cannot even say "uff" (the slightest disrespect).
"Nor shout at them but address them in terms of honour." —(Quran 17:23)



Usamah ibn Zayd said: "There's nothing from the Dunya (world) that my mother wants and I have the capability of getting except that I will get it for her." [Mukarim al-Akhlāq (p. 225)]

'Ata' ibn Yasar said that a man came to Ibn Abbas and said: "I asked a woman to marry me and she refused to marry me. Another man asked her and she agreed to marry him. I became jealous and killed her. Is there any way for me to repent?" He asked: "Is your mother alive?" "No," he replied. He said: "Repent to Allah Almighty and try to draw near Him as much as you can." 
'Ata' said: "I went to Ibn Abbas and asked him: 'Why did you ask him whether his mother was alive?' He replied: 'I do not know of any action better for bringing a person near to Allah than dutifulness to his mother.'" [Al-Adab al-Mufrad - Al-Bukhari, 2:4]

In Islam, every single day is Mother's Day!


• By the same token, look at the world today:
Sex-selected abortion is still alive and sails.
"Up to 6 million females aborted over past decade" -
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/may/24/india-families-aborting-girl-babies
The birth of a female in some places is less valued than males.
Some people prefer sons over daughters, click the links for more details:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sex-selective_abortion
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-south-asia-13264301
Some pre-Islamic Arabs even buried their daughters alive!
Allah says: "When news is brought to them of the birth of a female child, 
his face darkens and he's filled with inward grief.
With shame does he hide himself from his people because of the bad news!
Shall he retain her in contempt or bury her in the dust? 
Ah! What an evil they decide on!" —(Quran 16:58-59, 43:17, 81:8-9)

And don't think they have dodged the bullet for their evil crimes.
On the Day of Judgement, they shall be questioned about their unjust actions:
Allah says: "And when the female (infant) buried alive (as the pagan Arabs used to do) shall be questioned. For what sin was she killed?" —(Quran 81:8-9)


Prophet Muhammad [ᴘᴇᴀᴄᴇ ʙᴇ ᴜᴘᴏɴ ʜɪᴍ] forbade "being undutiful to mothers
and burying one's little daughters (alive)." [Bukhari 3:41:591, 8:76:480]
Prophet Muhammad also forbade the killing of women and children. [Bukhari 4:52:258]




Islam came and abolished female infanticide by enabling those babies to survive.
Don't imitate, then, those who bury the precious into dust but spread real Islam worldwide!

Nu'aym ibn Qa'nab, before he accepted Islam, had buried alive his daughter. Upon acceptance of Islam, previous sins are forgiven, for Allah says: "Say to those who have disbelieved, if they cease (from disbelief), their past will be forgiven." (Quran 8:38)

Nu'aym ibn Qa'nab said to Abu Dharr: Abu Dharr! There was no man who I desired to meet more than you and there was none that I hated to meet more than you!" He said, "Your father belongs to Allah! How can these two be joined together?" I replied, "In the Jahiliyya (i.e. pre-Islamic time of ignorance), I buried a daughter alive and I feared that I would meet you and you would say, 'There is no way for you to repent. There is no way out.' On the other hand, I used to hope that you would say, "There is a way for you to repent. There is a way out." Abu Dharr asked, "Was it during the time of the Jahiliyya (pre-Islamic time of ignorance) that you did it?" "Yes," I replied. He said, "Allah has pardoned what was already done." [Al-Adab al-Mufrad - Al-Bukhari, 317:747]

Qays ibn 'Asim of Banu Tamim, who embraced Islam in 9 A.H., confessed that he had previously buried alive as many as 8 or 12 of his daughters.



There is a whole book in Al-Adab Al-Mufrad titled 'Book of Looking after girls'!
The 44th chapter is "Chapter: Disliking for someone to hope for the death of daughters"
and under this contains a Da'if (weak) hadith which reads:

"It is reported that there was a man who had daughters who was with Ibn Umar when he wished that his daughters were dead. Ibn Umar became angry and said, 'While you are providing for them!'" [Al-Adab Al-Mufrad 83; Book 4, Hadith 8]

Kathir ibn 'Ubayd said: "When someone in the family of Aisha had a child,
she did not ask: 'Boy or girl?' She asked: 'Was he created well-formed?'
If the answer was 'Yes,' she said: 'Praise be to Allah, the Lord of the Worlds.'"
[Al-Adab al-Mufrad - Al-Bukhari, 605:1256]

To protect yourself from theft, you lock your valuables nicely.
To protect yourself from heart disease, you eat healthily.
And to protect yourself from Hell-fire?
You treat your daughters kindly. 
"He who's involved in bringing up daughters and treats them benevolently,
they will act as a shield for him against Hell-Fire." — Prophet Muhammad [ᴘᴇᴀᴄᴇ ʙᴇ ᴜᴘᴏɴ ʜɪᴍ]
[Bukhari 8:73:24] [Muslim 32:6362]
Kindness to daughters is your shield of protection, don't you see?



Fatimah (Prophet Muhammad's daughter) was loved by him to such a high degree,
that he said: "Fatimah is part of me. Whatever upsets her upsets me,
and whatever harms her harms me." [Bukhari 7:62:157] [Muslim 31:6000]

Ibn Abbas said: "Whenever the Prophet returned from a journey, he would kiss Fatimah." [المعجم الأوسط للطبراني ٤\٣٥٢\٤١٠٥]

Prophet Muhammad said: "Do not dislike daughters, for they are pleasant and friendly." [سلسلة اﻷحاديث الصحيحة ٣٢٠٦]

When Imam Ahmad heard that someone had a baby girl, he would say to them:
“Congratulations for the Prophets were mostly fathers of daughters." [سير أعلام النبلاء ٩\٤٣٤-٥٣٧]


The Prophet said: "Shall I guide you to the best (form of) charity?
It is to provide for your daughter when she (returns) to you (because of divorce or other circumstances) and has no one but you to provide for her." 
['365: A saying a Day of Hope and Mercy from Prophet Muhammad (pbuh)' by Muhammad Patel, p. 34]

The Messenger of Allah also said: "Whoever has three daughters, or three sisters, or two daughters, or two sisters and he keeps good company with them and fears Allah regarding them, then Paradise is for him." [Tirmidhi 1916; Book 27, Hadith 22]

• Is Islam treating women as subhuman still your standpoint?
"I suffer not a woman to teach, but to be in silence" ⁵  sorry to disappoint...
But that's not in the Quran! A woman in the Quran's perception
has the right to argue even with the Prophet of Islam himself.  Let this be a lesson!
The lady Khawla bint Tha'balah complained to Prophet Muhammad, why?
Because she was being mistreated by her husband (an old Arab custom: Zihar). ⁶ 
The 58th Chapter of the Quran is titled "Al-Mujadila."
What does this mean? Do you have any idea?
It means "The Woman who Argues." http://quran.com/58
"Allah has heard and accepted the statement of the woman who argues with you 
(the Prophet) concerning her husband and carries her complaint to Allah." —(Quran 58:1)
Allah has condemned and abolished this mistreatment experienced by women.
The words used to hurt Khawla and other women were addressed by Allah:
They must "Go back on the words uttered" and "they say words iniquitous and false."
Rectification for the husband is outlined comprehensively in the Quran:
"(The penalty) in that case (is) the freeing of a slave, if unable, 
fast for 2 successive months, if unable, feed 60 needy ones." (Quran 58:2-4)



Thus a whole chapter (Surah) of the Quran is named after a woman (Khawla) who argued with the Prophet about the proper ruling in a certain familial situation regarding her husband.

"Indeed Allah heard the statement of her (Khawla bint Tha'labah) that disputes with you (O Muhammad) concerning her husband (Aus bin As-Samit), and complains to Allah. And Allah hears the argument between you both. Verily, Allah is All-Hearer, All-Seer." (Quran 58:1)

• Khawla was also one of the courageous female fighters of Islam.
And Umm Haram bint Milhan was amongst the first ones 
in the Prophet's dream seen fighting in the cause of Islam. [Bukhari 4:52:47]
With honour, the first martyr of Islam was Sumayyah bint Khabbat:



The Companion of the Prophet, Khansa bint Amr, was a famous female poet. She witnessed the battle of Qaadisiyah with her four sons and addressed them at the eve of the battle, saying:

"My sons! You embraced Islam and migrated willingly. By Allah, besides whom  there is no other deity worthy of being  worshiped, you are all sons of one man as you are sons of one woman. I have never cheated on your father. Never have I  brought disgrace upon your uncle, disparaged your esteem or altered your lineage. You know the great and abundant reward that Allah has set aside for the Muslims who fight against the disbelievers. Know that the everlasting abode is better  than this transient one. Allah says: 'O you have believe! Endure and be more patient [than your enemy], and guard your territory by stationing army units permanently at the places from where the enemy can attack you, and fear Allah, so that you may be successful.' When you wake up tomorrow morning, Allah willing sound and healthy, go and fight against your enemy with conviction and seek Allah’s help over His enemies. When you see that the war has become  tense, engage yourselves in the fight gallantly and resiliently that you may attain treasures and honour in the Abode of Eternity." [Ibn ‘Abdul-Barr reported in his book al-Istee‘ab]

The narrator proceeds: “Her sons then left having accepted her admonition and were determined to  implement her words. When the morning came, they set out early towards the battlefield and they all fought both gallantly and courageously until they were martyred, one after another."

The news of their martyrdom was approached Khansa and she said: "All praise is due to Allah who honoured me with their martyrdom. And I hope that my Lord will make me join them in the Abode of His Mercy!"

• What did Umar (2nd Caliph and Prophet Muhammad's friend) mention?
"By Allah, before Islam, we did not pay attention to women
until Allah revealed regarding them and assigned for them." [Bukhari 6:60:435]
Before Islam, women weren't given any attention or recognition!
This changed when Allah gave Prophet Muhammad divine revelation.

Umar's wife used to pray in the Mosque in congregation.
But Umar disliked that so his wife started to question:
"What prevents him (Umar) from stopping me from this action?"
As Prophet Muhammad [ᴘᴇᴀᴄᴇ ʙᴇ ᴜᴘᴏɴ ʜɪᴍ] told the men:
"Do not prevent Allah's women slaves from going to Mosques." [Bukhari 2:13:23]

Umar had a daughter who was called 'Asiya (name meaning rebellious).
Prophet Muhammad [ᴘᴇᴀᴄᴇ ʙᴇ ᴜᴘᴏɴ ʜɪᴍ] changed the name of 'Asiya and said:
"You are Jamila (Beautiful)." [Muslim 25:5332, 5333]

Umar's daughter, Hafsa, used to argue with the Prophet.
Hafsa said: "By Allah, we argue with him."
This made Umar angry until the Prophet's wife, Umm Salamah,
influenced Umar in a remarkable way.
She said: "It's astonishing you interfere in everything;
you even want to interfere between Allah's Apostle [Prophet Muhammad] and his wives!"
Umar then said: "By her talk she influenced me so much
that I lost some of my anger." [Bukhari 6:60:435]
Do these women sound like they have no voice?!

And even if the woman has no voice, still she is given perfect justice!
What do I mean by this?
Look back at the historic event demonstrating justice for a female who couldn't speak:
A man crushed a girl's head devastatingly with a stone to steal her ornaments.
Now instead of sending him to jail...
"She was brought to the Prophet while she was in her last breaths and was unable to speak.
The Prophet asked her: "Did so-and-so strike you?"
She moved her head, indicating denial.
When the name of her killer was mentioned, she nodded."
When she agreed and when he confessed, he ordered retribution.
(That his head was to be crushed with stones too). [Bukhari 3:41:596, 7:63:216, 9:83:18]

• A woman as a wife has the right to express her own feelings.

Barira's husband Mughith was extremely in love with her and the Prophet interceded for him.

Ibn Abbas narrated: "Barira's husband was a slave called Mughith, as if I am seeing him now, going behind Barira and weeping with his tears flowing down his beard.
The Prophet said to Abbas: "O Abbas! Are you not astonished at the love of Mughith for Barira and the hatred of Barira for Mughith?"
The Prophet then said to Barira: "Why don't you return to him?"
She said: "O Allah's Apostle! Do you order me to do so?"
He said: "No, I only intercede for him."
She said: "I am not in need of him." [Bukhari 7:63:206] [Riyaadh as-Saliheen, no. 247] 

The Prophet cared and was touched by Mughith's love for Barira
and wanted to intercede for him so they can get together.
So if he was misogynist, why would he take into consideration her feelings?

What about the entire village accepting Islam through one woman?
She witnessed a miracle by Prophet Muhammad (which he did by Allah's permission).
She returned to her village and told people the extraordinary information:
"I have met either the greatest magician or a Prophet."
"Allah guided the people of that village through that lady. 
She embraced Islam and they all embraced Islam." [Bukhari 4:56:771]

• Once there was a black lady slave who was falsely accused of theft.
Allah removed her from their lies by making plain her innocence.
She said: "The daughter of my masters went out wearing a red leather scarf
and the scarf fell from her. A kite (bird) picked it up, mistaking it for meat and flew away with it.
My masters accused me of stealing it and they tortured me.
They started searching me and even searched my private parts.
So while they all were around me and I was in my great distress,
while I was standing with those people, the same kite passed by them
and dropped the red scarf and it fell amongst them. I said to them:
This is what you accused me of stealing, though I was innocent." [Bukhari 1:8:430, 5:58:176]

• Another false accusation was made against Aisha (Prophet's wife).
Aisha was defended by Allah from the false accusation (that she committed adultery).
Yes, you heard right, a woman was defended by the Creator of all creation!
Umm Ruman (Aisha's mother) said when she was accused of adultery:
"When Aisha was accused, she fell down Unconscious.
When she came to her senses, she got fever and shaking of the body
because of a story which has been rumoured."

Aisha narrated this event herself:
"I travelled with the Prophet and walked away to relieve myself. 
When I returned, I noticed my necklace had fallen so I returned to search for it.
I was delayed. By the time I returned, Safwan bin Al-Mu'attil was behind the army
and we both moved out together and reached the army.
This led some people to spread gossip about me.
Finally the verse was revealed which proved my innocence."
When Allah revealed her innocence, she said (to the Prophet):
"I thank Allah only; thank neither anybody else nor you."
[Bukhari 4:55:602, 5:59:464, 6:60:213, 6:60:274, 6:60:275]
Read Aisha's story in excellent detail: [Bukhari 5:59:462]
http://www.quranexplorer.com/Hadith/English/Hadith/bukhari/005.059.462.html

Aisha said: "I did not think that Allah would reveal in my favour
a revelation (to confirm my innocence),
for I consider myself too unimportant to be talked about
by Allah in the Divine Revelation." [Bukhari 9:93:591, 9:93:635]
Read the verses of the Quran defending Aisha: http://quran.com/24/11-20
"You thought it [slander against Aisha] to be a light matter,
while it was the most serious in the sight of Allah." —(Quran 24:15)
"Aisha used to recite (Quran 24:15), she knew it more than anybody else
as it was revealed about her." [Bukhari 5:59:465]





• The miraculous birth of Jesus is worth mentioning,
when Mary [ᴘᴇᴀᴄᴇ ʙᴇ ᴜᴘᴏɴ ʜᴇʀ] gave birth as a virgin.
As Mary came to her people carrying her newborn,
"They uttered against Mary a grave false charge 
(that she has committed fornication)." —(Quran 4:156)

Isn't striking that Mary was accused of committing fornication,
yet not a word is spoken in the Bible about this horrific defamation? 
Nor is there a word spoken about the pain and struggle Mary
experienced when delivering her baby.
The words millions of Muslims recite over and over again....
The anguish, the agony, the distress, the discomfort, the pain
of Mary, the mother of Jesus, as she gave birth:
"So she carried him [baby Jesus in her womb]
and she secluded herself with him in a distant place (aloof from the people).
And the pains of childbirth drove her to [cling to] the trunk of a nearby palm tree.
She cried (in her anguish): "Oh, I wish I had died before this
and became totally forgotten!(Quran 19:22-23)



Mary, in her extreme distress, even wanted to be dead and completely forgotten!
But here's the interesting part...
Fact: Mary is the most remembered and mentioned woman in the whole Quran!
Islam did not allow her to be forgotten!

When Mary delivered her baby, she was ordered to refrain from food and speech
so she pointed to her blessed baby (Jesus).
They said: "How can we talk to one who is a child in the cradle?"
The first miracle performed by Jesus was not to produce an alcoholic beverage. 
But it was to defend his beloved Mother at a very young age.
Jesus [ᴘᴇᴀᴄᴇ ʙᴇ ᴜᴘᴏɴ ʜɪᴍ] said: "I am indeed a slave of Allah: 
He has given me Revelation and made me a Prophet." —(Quran 19:29-30)

So the Quran:
(a) mentions their false accusation;
(b) condemns what they utter;
(c) defends her (through the miracle of Prophet Jesus ᴘᴇᴀᴄᴇ ʙᴇ ᴜᴘᴏɴ ʜɪᴍ).
(d) punishes those people for it! (Quran 4:155-156)




• "Behind every great man stands a great woman" is an old feminist slogan.
We may be familiar with Moses, Jesus and Muhammad.
But behind their success, the women's great efforts and struggles may be hard to find.
The great women stood next to these great men, side by side in Islam; not behind.
Islam brings forth these great women onto the stage and calls them the best of humankind.
Islam does not let their efforts fade or become forgotten but comes to remind...
That the best women of humankind are:
1) Mary (mother of Jesus Christ);
2) Asiyah (foster mother of Prophet Moses);
3) Khadija (wife of Prophet Muhammad);
4) Fatimah (daughter of Prophet Muhammad).
[Bukhari 5:57:113] [Muslim 31:5966] [Tirmidhi 49:4252]



It was because of 2 female figures that Moses was not slain but a survivor:
1 - His real mother for putting him into the river;
2 - His foster mother for taking him in for adoption. (Quran 28:9)


Here's an outline of the struggle of Asiyah (Moses' foster mother):
- Pharoah found out she worshipped Allah, the God of Moses;
- this made Pharoah become enraged with anger.
- Pharoah offered her the choice to worship Allah or accept her husband (Pharoah) as her God.
- And if she chose to worship Allah instead she would be tortured to death.
- Asiyah, in her convinced belief in Allah, chose torture.
- And in her pain, she called out to Allah before her departure:
"O my Lord!  Build for me, a home with You in Paradise, and save me from Pharaoh
and his doings, and save me from those that do wrong." (Quran 66:11)

Detailed explanation of the struggles of Asiyah (emotional):

• Moses helped two sisters in distress and made du'a (supplication), and in turn Allah rewarded him with relief from his own distress:
"And when he came to the well of Madyan, he found there a crowd of people watering [their flocks], and he found aside from them two women driving back [their flocks]. He said, 'What is your circumstance?' They said, 'We do not water until the shepherds dispatch [their flocks]; and our father is an old man.' So he watered [their flocks] for them; then he went back to the shade and said, 'My Lord, indeed I am, for whatever good You would send down to me, in need.'" (Quran 28:23-24)

• Fatimah! A brave little tigress!
One day when the Prophet was praying, some men bought slaughtered camel intestines
and dumped them on the Prophet's back while he was in prostration.
The Prophet continued with his prayer while they exploded with laughter.
Fatimah stood amongst the men unafraid of their menacing behaviour.
She removed the intestines and verbally lashed out at the men, cursing at their faces,
and they stood by but did not respond to her. [Bukhari 1:9:499]

• Who was the first to accept the message of Prophet Muhammad [ᴘᴇᴀᴄᴇ ʙᴇ ᴜᴘᴏɴ ʜɪᴍ]?
A woman! Her name is Khadija (his first wife who was also a widow).
She received a very special blessing that you should know!
She was given the distinction of being greeted with Salam (peaceful greeting)
by Allah and his Angel Gabriel!
Gabriel [ᴘᴇᴀᴄᴇ ʙᴇ ᴜᴘᴏɴ ʜɪᴍ] went to Prophet Muhammad, saying:
"When she (Khadija) reaches you (O Prophet), greet her
on behalf of her Lord (Allah) and on my behalf." [Bukhari 5:58:168]

Khadija was the first to stand beside Prophet Muhammad during his frightened situation.
She supported the rise of Islam with her wealth and health.
The commencement of divine revelation to Prophet Muhammad began in the cave of Hira.
This is where Angel Gabriel asked him to read (Iqra!):
"Read, in the Name of your Sustainer
Who has created (all that exists)." (Quran 96)
This remarkable experience filled him with terror.
He rushed to his supportive wife Khadija,
saying, "Zamilooni! Zamilooni!" ("Cover me! Cover me!")
His heart beat severely and as he settled, he told the one by his side the whole story:
"O Khadija, what's wrong with me?
I was afraid that something bad might happen to me."
Khadija replied: "Never! But receive the good tidings!
By Allah, Allah will never disgrace you,
you keep relations with your kith and kin,
speak the truth,
spend money on the poor and destitute,
serve your guests generously
and help those who are stricken with calamities."
Khadija then accompanied him to (her cousin) Waraqa (an early convert to Christianity)
who also supported him with his Biblical knowledge and honesty.
[Bukhari 1:1:3, 6:60:478, 9:87:111]
Zamilooni (Cover me/Embrace me) event in beautiful detail:

Some societal views of widows: they "have been flung out as unwanted baggage" -
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-21859622
VRINDAVAN (City of Widows) in India:
http://web.archive.org/web/20061129032657/http://www.cnn.com/WORLD/9711/16/india.women/
"Many of those abandoned by their families on the death of their husband make their way here (to Vrindavan)." 



"Widows are often considered to be cursed, meaning they are thrown out by their families for fear of spreading their bad luck" - 
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2316493/The-heartbreaking-plight-Indias-widows-How-women-kicked-homes-shunned-society-husbands-die.html
A people burnt alive their widows, young or old, with their dead husbands. This inhumane practice is called Sati
All these beliefs and actions contrast to Islam:
"Khadija is the best among the women (of this nation)." [Bukhari 4:55:642]
Khadija was a twice widowed lady....and yet...
The Prophet was told: "(You treat Khadija in such a way) as if
there is no woman on earth except Khadija." [Bukhari 5:58:166]
The Prophet showed immense love to Khadija even after she had passed away:
He was told that he "used to remember and praise her too often." [Bukhari 7:62:156]
Anas said: "When the Prophet was given something, he used to say:
'Take it to so-and-so. She was a friend of Khadija's.
Take it to the house of so-and-so. She loved Khadija.'" [Al-Adab al-Mufrad - Al-Bukhari, 117:232]

Hafsa was another widow married to the Prophet.
Hafsa was given the honour of guarding the first ever
compilation of the Quran in the complete book form. [Bukhari 6:60:201, 6:61:509]
It's quite telling that even though Prophet Muhammad, around 1400 years ago, has died,
when I came across his following teaching, I cried:
"The one who looks after and works for a widow and for a poor person
is like a Mujahid (warrior) fighting for Allah's Cause
or like a person who performs prayers all the night and fasts all the day." [Bukhari 7:64:265, 8:73:35]
Taking care of Widows is Jihad!
It's time to throw all those misconceptions away!
For truth-seekers, those lies would disintegrate naturally anyway.
"Truth has come and falsehood has perished:
for falsehood (by its nature) is bound to perish." —(Quran 17:81)

• The Quran was revealed in a society that had prevalent various misogynistic customs and practices.
It's important for me to highlight, to you, these particular instances.
In this way, we will be able to see Islam's favour and blessings upon women.
For example, pre-Islamic Arabs had a taboo belief whereby they said:
"These cattle and crops are sacred; 
none may eat them except those we permit."  —(Quran 6:138)
Do you know, then, what Islam came and did?
They declared: "All that is in the wombs of such-and-such cattle is reserved 
exclusively for our males and forbidden to our women." (Quran 6:139)

How does the Quran respond to their sexism?
Such people were called by Allah as "foolish" and "weak-minded!"
"Lost, indeed, are they who, in their weak-minded ignorance, 
declare as forbidden what Allah has provided for them as sustenance, 
falsely ascribing [such prohibitions] to Allah:
they have gone astray and have not found the right path." —(Quran 6:140)



• Another shameful practice that was present in pre-Islamic society
that Allah explicitly revealed against was those who forced slave-girls into prostitution.
A hypocrite named 'Abdullah bin Ubayy bin Salul had "two slave-girls; one was called Musaika and the other one was called Umaima and he compelled them to prostitution,
saying to them: 'Go and fetch something for us by committing prostitution.'
They made a complaint about this to Prophet Muhammad."
Then the Prophet Muhammad [ᴘᴇᴀᴄᴇ ʙᴇ ᴜᴘᴏɴ ʜɪᴍ] was given revelation by Allah prohibiting this. [Muslim 43:7180, 43:7181]
Allah taught the value of women by removing them from 'sexploitation':
Allah says: "Do not force your slave-girls into prostitution for your own worldly gains.(Quran 24:33)
It's noteworthy that this hypocrite 'Abdullah bin Ubayy bin Salul was a continuous trouble-maker. [Bukhari 2:23:447, 4:56:720]
He was the biggest slanderer against Aisha so as a result will suffer a great penalty in the hereafter. (Quran 24:11) ¹º

• Once a man asked the Prophet: "Who is the most beloved person to you?" 
The Prophet replied: "Aisha (his wife)." [Bukhari 5:57:14]
Where did the final Messenger of Allah die?
With who did he spent his last moments with?
He died resting on his wife's chest. [Bukhari 5:59:722]
What happened when one of the Prophet's wives died?
Ibn Abbas said: "Which accident can be greater
than the death of a wife of the Prophet?" [Dawud 3:1193]

Aisha - the most beloved person to Prophet Muhammad -
was one of the greatest scholars and teachers of Islam! 
Over thousands of narrations did Aisha manage to narrate.
Aisha taught Urwa ibn Zubair, a man, the Quran and corrected his mistake.
Urwa thought the Apostles gave up hope in Allah:
Urwa said to her: "So they (Apostles) suspected that they were betrayed (by Allah)."
Aisha said: "Allah forbid! The Apostles never suspected their Lord of such a thing."
Urwa said: "What about this verse then?"
"Until when the Apostles gave up hope." —(Quran 12:110)
Aisha explained: "The Apostles gave up hope of converting the people who disbelieved." [Bukhari 6:60:217]

[Bukhari 2:26:706]
http://www.sacred-texts.com/isl/bukhari/bh2/bh2_708.htm

She told the same man in another occasion:
"Your interpretation (of Quran 2:158) is not true." [Bukhari 2:26:706]
Aisha taught the following Quranic verse too:
"If you fear that you shall not be able to deal justly with the orphan girls, then marry (other) women." —(Quran 4:3)
She explained: "Some men would marry orphan girls while they would be attracted to their beauty and wealth, and they would intend to marry her with a Mahr (bridal money) less than what other women of her standard deserve. 
So they have been forbidden to marry them unless they do justice to them and give them their full Mahr (bridal money)."
[Bukhari 3:44:674, 6:60:98, 7:62:2]

And Aisha explained the verse prior to Quran 4:3 as:
"Hence, render unto the orphans their possessions, and do not substitute bad things [of your own] for the good things [that belong to them], and do not consume their possessions together with your own: this, verily, is a great crime." (Quran 4:2)
Thus, according to Said ibn Jubayr and other successors of the Companions, the purport of the above passage is this:
"Just as you are, rightly, fearful of offending against the interests of orphans,
you must apply the same careful consideration to the interests and rights of the women whom you intend to marry."

Islam seeks to protect female orphans from unfair treatment in society.
Aisha taught: "(Quran 4:127) is about the female orphan who is under the guardianship of a man with whom she shares her property and he doesn't want to marry her and dislikes that someone else should marry her, lest he should share the property with him, so he prevents her from marrying. So Allah forbade such a guardian to prevent her from marrying." [Bukhari 4:51:25, 7:62:62]

If a woman is teaching the most important Book in the world (the Quran),
(the protected Book revealed by Allah for mankind's guidance),
then how can you say Islam dislikes the education of women?
How can the women be prevented from education,
when a woman (Aisha) is the one educating? [Bukhari 2:26:706]
Is it logical to be a great teacher without being taught oneself?



Prophet Muhammad even designated a specific day and place for the education of women.
This shows importance of knowledge for women to embrace.
"He promised them one day for religious lessons and commandments." [Bukhari 1:3:101, 9:92:413]

Shaykh Bin Baz was asked: "Do you hold there to be any maximum limit to girls' education?"
He replied: "No, there is no maximum limit; rather, they [can] keep studying to the highest stages to benefit themselves and to be of benefit." [http://www.binbaz.org.sa.node/21342]

Aisha, the third wife of the Prophet, narrated a mammoth of 2,210 Hadiths. The next woman in line is his wife Umm Salamah who narrated 387. Mahmood Ahmad Ghandanfar said, "In Islamic jurispudence or fiqh, Aisha's verdicts could fill several volumes."

• Islam orders men to converse with women through kind treatment.
As Allah says: "They are your garment and you are their garment." —(Quran 2:187)
A garment provides protection, comfort and warmness:
"...And live with your wives in kindness..." —(Quran 4:19)
So if anyone does otherwise it is because of his ignorance.
So when the women are left feeling distraught,
don't be hasty to bring Islam to court
because the men have forgotten what they've been taught.
The Prophet said to a man who beat his wife:
"Take your Mahr (dowry), and let her go." [Sunan ad-Darimi (No. 2200)]
In Islam, "You will be rewarded for a morsel of food
you put in your wife's mouth." [Bukhari 4:51:5, 5:59:693, 7:70:572]
Perhaps this has given you a taster of what Islam is truly about.
The Prophet said: "Those believers have the most complete faith 
who posses the best of character
and the best of you are those who are the best to their wives." [Tirmidhi 1162, 3895] [Ibn Majah 1977, 2008]
In this way Islam influences its adherents to live the most beautiful lives.
Allah says: "The believing men and women are protectors of one another." —(Quran 9:71)
The Prophet said: "Spend on your wife out of your means.
Do not raise a stick against your wife." [Al-Adab al-Mufrad - Al-Bukhari, 9:18]
Allah says: “And among His signs is that He created for you mates from among yourselves; 
that you may dwell with them in tranquillity. 
And He has put love and mercy between your hearts.
Truly in that are signs for those who reflect.” —(Quran 30:21)
Dwell in peace, love and compassion; and not in abuse.
This is one of Allah's Signs, then how can you refuse?
If even the food you feed your wife with your own hands
is considered an act of charity that is rewarded by Allah,
then isn't it becoming clearer and clearer where Islam truly stands?

The Prophet was asked, "What do you say (command) about our wives?"
He replied, "Give them food what you have for yourself, and clothe them by which you clothe yourself, and do not beat them, and do not revile them." [Sunan Abu Dawud, Book 11, Marriage (Kitab Al-Nikkah), no. 2139]

Ibn ul-'Arabi narrates that Shurayh an-Nakhai used to say: "My wife (Zaynab) died before me. I wish she could take from my life or that we died together, I have seen how men hit their wives, may my hand be paralyzed if I hit Zaynab." (al-Ahkam 1/462)

Shaykh Bin Baz said: "The husband should patiently endure his wife's shortcomings,
fear Allah, treat his wife kindly and recognize her rights and fulfill his duties towards her." [Fatwas of Ibn Baz, (30/332) | Translated by Alifta]

Shaykh Bin Baz also said: "It is obligatory upon men to fear Allah with regard to how they treat women." [Majmoo' al-Fatawa (v. 21, p. 228)]

Prophet Muhammad said: "The most perfect of the believers in faith are the best of them in morals. And the best among them are those who are best to their wives." [Narrated by Musnad Ahmad, no. 7354, according to the numbering of Dar Ehya' Al-Torath Al-Araby, Beirut; At-Tirmidhi, no. 1162, according to the numbering of Ahmad Shaker]

This hadith highlights the point that one should feed his family and children with the intention that it has been ordained by Allah. In that case, this natural instinct will become an act of worship for which he will be rewarded.

• Prophet Muhammad [ᴘᴇᴀᴄᴇ ʙᴇ ᴜᴘᴏɴ ʜɪᴍ] didn't even attend an invitation to a feast prepared for him.
Why?
Because his wife, Aisha, was not invited with him!

{Prophet Muhammad had a neighbour who was Persian, and he was expert in the preparation of soup. He prepared (soup) for Allah's Messenger [Prophet Muhammad] and then came to him to invite him (to that feast).
Allah's Messenger said: Here is Aisha also (and you should also invite her to the food).
He said: No.
Thereupon Allah's Messenger also said: No (then I cannot join the feast).
He returned inviting him, and Allah's Messenger said: She is also there (Aisha should also be invited).
He said: No.
Thereupon Allah's Messenger also said: No (and declined his offer).
He returned again to invite him and Allah's Messenger again said: She is also there.
He (the host) said: "Yes" for the third time.
Then he accepted his invitation, and both of them set out until they came to his house.} [Muslim 23:5054]


• Women are delicate like glass so treat them gently:
On a journey a man named Anjasha was driving the camels very quickly.
The Prophet [ᴘᴇᴀᴄᴇ ʙᴇ ᴜᴘᴏɴ ʜɪᴍ] told him: "O Anjasha! (Take care) drive slowly
with the glass vessels (women)!" [Bukhari 8:73:182; 8:73:228; 8:73:229]


• Treat Your Wife How You Want Your Daughter To Be Treated
Shaykh Ibn Uthaymeen said: "...Know that when you deal and interact with your wife then it is mandatory that you think of a [scenario] where a man is the husband of your daughter. How does he treat her? Would you be pleased for him to treat her with harshness and sternness? The answer is no. Therefore, do not be content with treating the daughter of another person in a fashion that you would not be pleased with for your daughter to be treated. This principle should be known by all people." [Ash-Sharh Al-Mumti', (12/381) | Translated by Hasan al-Sumali]






"For Muslim men and Muslim women,
for believing men and believing women,
for righteous men and righteous women,
for truthful men and truthful women,
for patient men and patient women,
for humble men and humble women,
for charitable men and charitable women,
for fasting men and fasting women,
for men and women who guard their chastity,
and for men and women who engage much in Allah's praise:
for them has Allah prepared forgiveness and a great reward." —(Quran 33:35)



"Anyone who does good deeds, - be they male or female - and have faith,
will enter Paradise and not the least injustice will be done to them."
—(Quran 4:124, 3:195, 16:97, 40:40, 49:13)
And such is evidenced from Prophet Muhammad's [ᴘᴇᴀᴄᴇ ʙᴇ ᴜᴘᴏɴ ʜɪᴍ] saying:
"While a dog was going near a well and was about to die of thirst,
an Israeli prostitute saw it and took off her shoe and watered it.
So Allah forgave her because of that good deed." [Bukhari 4:56:673]

• Allah says about His last and final Messenger:
"You [stand] on an exalted standard of character." —(Quran 68:4)
So how did the Prophet conduct himself with his wives?
First of all, many women will like the fact that he was a (♥) good listener (♥).
And even though Aisha talked for so long, he didn't interrupt her! [Bukhari 7:62:117]
When she had finished talking, he then gave her a loving reply:



The Prophet is a role model for all Muslim husbands around the world.

• Household work: 

Aisha was asked: "What did the Prophet used to do at home?" She replied: "He would do chores for his family, and when he heard the call for the prayer (Adhan), he would go out." [Bukhari, Book 64, Hadith no. 276]

Hisham ibn 'Urwa said that his father said: "I asked Aisha: 'What did the Prophet do in his house?' She replied: 'He mended his sandals and worked as any man works in his house.'"

Hisham said: "I asked Aisha: 'What did the Prophet do in his house?' She replied: 'He did what one of you would do in his house. He mended sandals and patched garments and sewed."

'Amra reported that Aisha was asked: "What did the Messenger of Allah do in his house?" She replied: "He was a man like other men. He removed the fleas from his garment and milked his sheep." [Al-Adab al-Mufrad - Al-Bukhari, 247:538-541]

• In Islam, the woman has no obligation to perform household chores:

Abu Muhammad Ali ibn Sa'id ibn Hazm said: "It is not obligatory for the wife to serve her husband in anything, be it kneading the dough, baking it, cooking it, tidying up, sweeping the floor, or anything related to household work. But it would be kind of her to do that. It is obligatory for the husband to bring her ready-to-wear clothes and fully cooked meals."
[Abu Muhammad Ali ibn Sa'id ibn Hazm in 'Al-Muhalla bi al-Athar' (The Gilded or Ornamented with Revelation and Tradition), 12 vols. (Beirut: Dar al-Kutub al-'Ilmiyyah, 1988), vol. 9, p. 227-228 (11th century CE)]

Ibn Hajr Al-'Asqalani said: "There is no evidence that permits the coercion of women to serve their husbands in any way. The consensus of scholars is such that he caters to all her needs. Al-Tahawi also reported that the husband is not permitted to dismiss the wife's servant. On the contrary, he was even to provide for that servant, too." [Al-'Asqalani in 'Fath al-Bari Sharh Sahih al-Bukhari', 9:633]

Shaykh Syed Mutawalli Ad-Darsh said: "The Islamic attitude is this: even if the woman is not working, is she under any obligation to do the housework or not? Look at the concept of marriage, at the marriage; the Fuqaha' - legalists - define this contract as Aqdu Istimtaa' - an agreement allowing all parties to enjoy themselves in that intimate relationship. It is not an agreement of servitude or anything like that. So when it comes to the legality and everyone says, 'Where are my rights?' this contract relieves the woman from cleaning or doing anything like that. In the words of Ibn Hazm, one of the great literalist scholars, it is the duty of the husband to bring the food ready-cooked to his wife. And the Fuqaha' (jurists) generally say that if the woman is one of those who are used to being served - upper class - it is the duty of the husband to provide her with a servant to look after her. However, it is said that good manners require a woman to look after what is inside the house, and the man to look after what is outside, common courtesy dictates that the husband lend the wife a hand. This was the ruling of the Prophet... When he ruled on Fatimah and Ali... when Aisha... was asked about the manner of the Prophet... at home, she said he used to be involved in the work of his family; he would repair his clothes and shoes, look after his bed, and so on. Now, in the situation where a woman is working to earn a living, we are not saying that the husband should necessarily look after the house, but good manners say she should help in the home and share the duties. This is what I do and what the Prophet... did. It is the husband's duty to care for his family and home, not just sit in front of the television for hours on end while his wife does the cooking and looks after the children. This is simply unfair." [Shaykh Syed Mutawalli Ad-Darsh (1930-1997), Answers to Questions Ranging from Contemporary to Family Issues, in http://ireland.iol.ie/~afifi/Ad-Darsh/27.9.96.htm]
[Sex, Marriage, & Family In World Religions, by Don S. Browning, M. Christian Green, and John Witte Jr., p. 217-218]

• The Quran declares the wives of the Prophet as mothers of the believers:
"[The Prophet's] wives are their [believers] mothers." —(Quran 33:6)
We will see in the Prophet's examples how he showed patience, [Bukhari 7:62:152]
how he was affectionate, playful, considerate, and so much more!

Despite the fact that Muslims must refrain from food, drink and sexual activity
during fasting in Ramadan, as ordained by the One above,
Prophet Muhammad knew a way to show his affection and love:
Hafsa said: "The Prophet kissed (his wives) while fasting." [Muslim 6:2448]
Aisha said: "The Messenger of Allah used to kiss his wives when fasting,"
and then she laughed. [Malik 18.5.14]



(♥) Playful/Cheerful/Joking (♥)

(1) Aisha offered a meal to Sawdah and she "said to her: Eat. She refused, so I took some of the food and smeared it on her face. The Prophet laughed and said to Sawdah: You smear her face (now). So she took some of the food from the plate and smeared my face with it, and the Prophet laughed." [Nasai 8917]



(2) Aisha narrated: I went with the Prophet on one of his journeys, whilst I was still a slim and slender young girl. He instructed the others to go on without us, and they went on ahead. Then, he said to me: Come, let's have a race. I raced with him and won the race. Then he never mentioned it again, and I had even forgotten about it, until one day I was accompanying him on another one of his journeys. By now, I was older and had become heavier. As before, he instructed his Companions to go ahead without us, and they went on ahead. Then he said to me: Come, let's have a race. And this time he won the race. The Prophet laughed and said: This is to make up (for my last defeat). [Dawud 14:2572] [Ibn Majah, hadith no. 2010, ruled as a sound hadith by Albani in Al-'Irwa]

(♥) Loyal and Devoted (♥) 

The Prophet's first marriage was with Khadija when he was 25 and when she was 40, this lasted for more than 20 years (until Khadija died). But even after Khadija's death, the Prophet's love for her was still very much alive.

Aisha narrated: Never did I feel jealous of any woman as I was jealous of Khadija. She had died three years before he married me. I often heard him praise her, and Allah had commanded him to give her the glad tidings of a palace of jewels in Paradise: and whenever the Prophet slaughtered a sheep, he would send some portions of it to Khadija's friends, saying: Send this to Khadija's friends. I annoyed him one day and said: (It is) Khadija only who always prevails upon your mind. Thereupon the Prophet said: Indeed I was nourished by her love. [Bukhari 31:5971, 5972]

(♥) Supportive (♥)

Safiyya was of Jewish origin and when her origin was mentioned to her sarcastically she became upset. While she was crying the Prophet came and asked her what the matter was. After she told him, Prophet Muhammad said to her:
"You are the daughter of a Prophet (Aaron), your uncle (Moses) was a Prophet, and now you are the wife of a Prophet (Muhammad). What do you have more than me to be proud of?"
[Tirmidhi, hadith no. 3894; authenticated by Al-Albani in Mishkat al-Masabeeh, 2/358]

(♥) Considerate (♥)

Abyssinian's were playing in the Mosque with their shields and spears.
And Aisha was interested in watching this sport taking place
whereas the Prophet wasn't interested as he "lay down on the bed and turned his face."
The Prophet asked her if she would like to watch the entertainment.
When she replied in the affirmative, the Prophet got up like a true gent.
And Aisha - on her tip-toes - stood with her chin on the Prophet's shoulder,
with her cheeks touching his blessed cheeks.
The Prophet told them to keep going with their games.
He then asked her if that was enough, and she replied yes.
She says, "he stood there for my sake until I was the one who had enough."
What she enjoyed most was having her cheek next to the Prophet's more than the sport.
[Bukhari 2:15:70, 4:52:155] [Muslim 4:1940, 4:1941, 4:1942]

(♥)  A True Gentleman


(♥) Complaining to and Consulting them / Seeking their advice (♥)

This is a reminder to those who look down on women as inferior in intellect,
I ask you to look into this story and please reflect.
The Prophet and his Companions had left for Mecca to perform pilgrimage ('Umrah).
However the pagan of Quraysh there prevented Muslims from entering into Mecca.
Consequently, the Prophet encamped at a valley called "Al Hudaibiyyah." 
A peace Treaty with the people of Quraysh was signed,
this pointed out that Muslims should return to Mecca to do their pilgrimage the following (next) year.
The conditions of the Treaty led to the Companions feeling unhappy
as they had set out with the intention of pilgrimage and did not want to stop half way.
The Prophet commanded his Companions to carry on with the rituals of 'Umrah at the valley itself. 
Thus he told them to slaughter their sacrificial animals and shave their heads.
But they did not listen to his instructions.
He even "repeated his order thrice" but to no avail.
The last Prophet of Islam asked help from a respected female.
The Prophet consulted his wife Umm Salamah,
"and told her of the people's attitudes towards him."
She said: "Do you want your order to be carried out?"
And she gave him a wise advice which he followed.
Umm Salamah advised him to go out to them,
without saying a word to any of them
and slaughter his animal and shave his head
in front of them to see.
The Prophet took her advice and this goes down in history.
When the Companions saw the Prophet doing the rituals, 
they too all got up to follow and copy him.
They helped shave each others head with zeal and enthusiasm.
The Companions carried out from none of the Prophet's orders
to perform, very eagerly, all of the Prophet's orders!
All by the wise advice from the mother of the believers.
[Bukhari 3:49:864, 3:50:891]

• What about the Hijab of women?
And why does it seem to garner controversy?
Never forget the best woman of her nation Mary [Bukhari 4:55:642]
who wore a Hijab, representing modesty.
"If the virgin Mary appears wearing a veil on all her pictures,
how can you ask me to sign on a Hijab ban law?" — Roberto Maroni, Italian Minister
So what is the point of the Hijab?
It's a mark of a woman's modesty and a shield.
"We live in a world where women get paid to get naked...
and the ones who want to cover themselves (Niqab in France) get fined."






If someone came up to you saying:
"When going abroad, lock your house doors for your safety.
I'm telling you this because there are good and bad people around."
Would that be an order of oppression?
"Tell the believing women to cast their garments over them,
that they should be known (as such) and not annoyed." —(Quran 33:59)
"Good and bad persons enter upon you so Allah revealed the verses of Hijab." [Bukhari 6:60:313]
A mark of a woman's modesty and protection is taken to mean a women's suppression?
When you lock and close your house doors, close your curtains, turn your lights on,
are these forms of protection or forms of oppression?
If you disagree, then next time you leave to go abroad,
leave your house doors open and never lock your cars.
And don't forget to criticize those who wear sunglasses and hats too!
But these are forms of protection; protection from robbery,
protection from sunlight and protection from men inclined to debauchery.
Surely our own body has more value from being harmed than your property.
Why is it okay to protect your belongings but not your own body?



• And Islam gives women protection from forced marriages too!
If you learn Islam from 'Muslim' wrongdoers
and next learn it from Islamic sources,
you will then be painting two entirely different pictures!
Muslims ≠ Islam.
"It's not lawful for you to force women into marriage against their will
and you should not treat them with harshness." —(Quran 4:19)
Woman are given the freedom of choice as to who they marry.
Khansa bint Khidam was a woman who was forced into marriage.
When she went to Prophet Muhammad, let's see what he did:
"She came and (complained) to the Prophet and he declared that marriage invalid." [Bukhari 9:85:78]
When asked to Prophet Muhammad [ᴘᴇᴀᴄᴇ ʙᴇ ᴜᴘᴏɴ ʜɪᴍ]:
"Should the women be asked for their consent to their marriage?"
He replied: "Yes." [Bukhari 7:62:67, 9:85:79]

Narrated Al-Qasim: A woman from the offspring of Ja'far
was afraid lest her guardian marry her (to somebody) against her will.
So she sent for two elderly men from the Ansar,
Abdur-Rahman and Mujammi, the two sons of Jariya, and they said to her:
"Don't be afraid, for Khansa bint Khidam was given by her father in marriage against her will,
then the Prophet cancelled that marriage." [Bukhari 9:86:99]

Shaykh Abdur-Rahman As-Sa'dee was asked: "Is it permissible to force one's daughter to marry someone she is not pleased with?" He replied: "Her father cannot force her, nor can her mother force her to marry even if both of them (i.e. mother and father) are pleased with his practice of the religion." [Al-Majmoo'ah As-Sa'diyah, 7/349. Translated by Abu Hakeem Bilal Davis]

A tyrant king was about to harm Abraham's wife, Sarah:
"A tyrant king caught hold of Sarah's hand and intended to sexually abuse her
but she prayed saying: 'O Allah! Do not empower this oppressor over me.'
So he (the king) had an epileptic fit and started moving his legs violently." [Bukhari 4:55:578, 9:85:82]

In the lifetime of the Prophet Muhammad, a woman was raped.
The rapist was ordered by the Prophet to receive capital punishment.
"Of the man who had intercourse with her, he said: Stone him to death." [Dawud 38:4366]

Imam Malik said: "The punishment is to be carried out on the rapist. There is no punishment for the woman who has been raped, whatever the case." [Muwatta (v. 2, p. 734)]

"During the caliphate of Umar ibn Al-Khattab, there was a man who forced himself upon a woman and raped her. When Umar heard about this, he had the man whipped and then ordered the man to be exiled from the land. He did not say anything to the woman, because there was absolutely no blame on her." [Muwatta Malik, Kitab al-Hudud, 3/51]

Let's not forget that it was Fatimah bint Khattab (Umar's sister) who showed her brother Umar ibn Al-Khattab verses of the Quran (Surah/Chapter 20) which lead him to embrace Islam; before this he was determined to kill the Prophet himself!

Ahmad ibn Hanbal said: "(If a woman knew that a man wanted to rape her) and she killed him to protect herself, then she is not at fault." [Al-Mughni of Ibn Qudamah, v. 8, p. 331]

• A wife has a right to take the reasonably required amount from her husband’s property for herself and her children without her husband’s knowledge if he spends miserly on them:

Hind bint 'Utba (Abu Sufyan's wife) came and said: "O Allah's Apostle! Abu Sufyan is a miser. Is there any harm if I spend something from his property for our children?" He said: "There is no harm for you if you feed them from it justly and reasonably (with no extravagance)." [Bukhari 3:43:640]

 It has been narrated that Maimuna bint Al-Harith had set free a slave-girl without the Prophet's permission. When she mentioned that to the Prophet, he said: "Have you, indeed?" She replied: "Yes." He said: "Had you given her to your maternal uncles, you would have your reward increased." [Riyaadh as-Saliheen, no. 324] 
This Hadith brings out the point that a woman is free to spend anything of her own property without the permission of her husband. 

• Hajar (Hagar), the 2nd wife of Abraham.
You should never forget this woman.
Because she's never forgotten in Islam.

When Hajar received the gift of baby Ishmael,
Abraham was told to take his wife Hajar and his new born
into the middle of a barren desert
and was ordered to leave them in Mecca.
"During those days there was not any water,
so Abraham placed near them a water-skin containing
some water and set out homeward."
Of this plan, Hajar was unaware
and asked Abraham why he was leaving them there.
With no food, water or companions, in the middle of nowhere!
She eventually became aware
When Abraham said: "(I am leaving you) to Allah's (Care)."
She then put her trust in Allah.

Time passed until her baby Ishmael became full of thirst.
Ishmael was unsettled and kept crying due to his hunger.
"When the water in the water-skin had all been used up,
she became thirsty and her child also became thirsty.
She started looking at Ishmael tossing in agony."
Hajar went forth looking for water in urgency.
She went between the 2 mountains: Safa and Marwah.
She ended up running to and fro (the mountains) 7 (seven) times.

"When she reached the Marwah (for the last time) she heard a voice.
She saw Angel Gabriel digging the earth so the water gushed out.
Ishmael's Mother started drinking from the water
and her milk increased for her child."
The water was flowing out in abundance and she was trying to control it.
Hajar looked at the overflowing water and said "Stop! Stop!"
Meaning "Zam Zam" and so the water is called Zam-Zam water. [Bukhari 4:55:583, 4:55:584] [Riyadh as-Saliheen, no. 1867]

One of the 5 Pillars of Islam is Hajj. ¹¹ 
Hajj is the Pilgrimage to Mecca.
Millions of Muslims around the world,
men and women,
are obligated to go to
one destination,
and carry out a ritual
which is an honour of one woman in history.
What is done?
They walk between Mount Safa and Marwah.
Sa'ee (Sa'y, Sa'i) (ritual walking).
For what reason?
Just because of one woman!

"Safa and Marwah (2 mountains at Mecca) are among the Symbols of Allah. 
So it is not harmful to ambulate (Tawaf) between them." —(Quran 2:158)

"The Hajj (Pilgrimage) of the person who doesn't perform the going (Tawaf)
between Safa and Marwah is incomplete in Allah's sight." [Bukhari 3:27:18]




• When she's a daughter, she opens a door to Paradise for her father.
When she's a wife, she completes half her husband's religion. ¹²
When she's a mother, Paradise lies under her feet.
I wish I could ask Prophet Muhammad - the last Messenger of Islam -
what the most precious thing in this world is, 
I wonder what he would have said...in fact...he said:
"The most precious thing in the world is a righteous woman." [Muslim 8:3465]

Now tell me Islam oppresses women,
Now tell me Islam dishonours women,
Now tell me Islam views women as worthless!
If you are truthful, you cannot.

"I urge you to take care of the women (nicely)." [Bukhari 4:55:548, 7:62:114]-
— Prophet Muhammad

Islam has raised the status of women from below the earth
to so high that Paradise lies at her feet!

Source(s):
¹ Prophet Muhammad's companions followed the Quran and Sunnah:
Muawiya said: "I have come to know that some of you men 
are narrating things which are neither in Allah's Book, 
nor has been mentioned by Prophet Muhammad. 
Such people are the ignorant among you." [Bukhari 9:89:253, 310]

"Islam is Qur'an and Sunnah according to the understanding of the Salaf." — Sheikh Albani

² Click here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_suras_in_the_Quran to see:
19th Chapter titled Mary
4th Chapter titled The Women
58th Chapter titled The Woman Who Argues

³ Mary, mother of Jesus, is mentioned 78% more in the Quran than in the Bible:
Quran: 32 times
Bible: 18 times
Watch Ahmad Deedat: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6_wlUeBg56U

⁴ Allah's Names (Ar-Rahman and Ar-Raheem) derived from womb:
http://translate.google.co.uk/#auto/en/%D8%B1%D8%AD%D9%85
The Quran contains 114 Chapters, every Chapter except one, begins with:
"Bismillah Ar-Rahman Ar-Raheem"
(In the name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YdM6jaj0ePU @0:07 secs

Linguistically, the Quranic terms for ‘womb’ and ‘mercy’ are synonymous. This is because, rather than Allah's punishment, childbirth in Islam is seen as one of His countless blessings. And, while Christianity holds every newborn baby to be a sinner - the fruits of its mother’s punishment, Islam teaches that all children are born innocent and sinless upon the fitra: a natural monotheistic and righteous disposition. Hence, one who embraces Islam is said to revert back to their natural religion.

  "I suffer not a woman to teach, but to be in silence." —(1 Timothy 2:12)
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Timothy+2%3A11-15&version=NIV

⁶  Zihar is when the husband makes his wife unlawful to him by saying:
"You are like my mother's back", this means he has made her his Mahram (close relative) i.e. his mother, therefore prohibited intercourse with her. This practice of unjust divorce was done by Arabs before Islam.

 Jesus [ᴘᴇᴀᴄᴇ ʙᴇ ᴜᴘᴏɴ ʜɪᴍ] was accused of being born of fornication. (John 8:40-41)

 According to the Bible, the first miracle Jesus [ᴘᴇᴀᴄᴇ ʙᴇ ᴜᴘᴏɴ ʜɪᴍ] performed was turning water into wine. (John 2:1-11)
The Quran mentions many miracles performed by Jesus but the production of alcohol is not one of them. (Quran 3:49, 5:110)

 City of Widows: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vrindavan

¹º Regarding the slander against Aisha:
"Indeed, those who came with falsehood are a group among you. For every person among them is [punishment] he has earned from the sin, and as for him among them who had the greater share - for him is a great punishment.(Quran 24:11)

Aisha narrated: 'as for him among them who had the greater share...' was 'Abdullah bin Ubayy bin Salul. [Bukhari 6:60:273]

¹¹ Prophet Muhammad said: "Islam is based on 5 pillars: (1) Testifying to the Oneness of Allah (2) The establishment of prayer (Salah) (3) Payment of Zakat (charity tax) (4) To perform Hajj (pilgrimage to Mecca). (5) To observe fast during the month of Ramadan." [Bukhari 1:2:7] [Muslim 1:18]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sa'yee

http://www.umreturlarim.com/sites/default/files/saysirasinda.jpg

¹² "When a person gets married he has completed half of his religion." [Al-Hakim, Al-Bayhaqi]

_________________________________________________________

 Unfortunately across the globe, Muslim women are victims of cultural aberrations that have no place in Islam. Powerful individuals and groups claim to be Muslim yet fail to practice the true principles of Islam. Whenever the media reveals unconscionable stories about honour killings, genital mutilation, forced marriage, the punishment of rape victims, forbidding women to drive, women being confined to their homes or women being denied education they are revealing a tale of men and women who are ignorant about the status of women in Islam. In light of the Quran and Sunnah (example of the Prophet), the veil of misinformation cloaking the true status of women in Islam is easily removed. For example, the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "The best women are the riders of the camels and the righteous among the women of Quraish. They are the kindest women to their children in their childhood and the more careful women of the property of their husbands." [Bukhari 7:62:19] Thus forbidding women to drive cars, as in Saudi Arabia, has nothing to do with Islam.

 MORE GREAT SHORT VIDEOS (please watch):

Yusuf Estes on Quran (4:34)
Creation of Eve
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q2wlMjTKEOA

On Domestic Violence
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jTRUt-WrOLs

 More information of the great female Companions of the Prophet:

• Umm Ayman



• Safiyyah bint Huyayy



• Umm Ammarah




• Fatimah bint Muhammad



• Zainab bint Jahsh



• Zainab bint Khazeemah



• Asma bint Abu Bakr



• Faree'ah ibn Malik



• Fatimah bint Asad


• Umm Haram bint Milhan



• Hafsah




• Javariah bint Harith


•  Umm Habibah Ramlah bint Abu Sufyan