They do not advocate the right of working women, especially teachers, to suitable work opportunities near their home cities not faraway so that they will not take the trouble of traveling to foreign places and perhaps be abused. They do not call for women’s right to this urgent demand, since women think of something that is totally different, like suggesting women entering the world of sport. This is what is important to them because they think it is the unfulfilled right of women.
They do not call for the working women’s right to a suitable, paid or unpaid leave to care for their newborns, not for two or four months, yet for two years as stated by the Quran in the verse (which means): {And his weaning is in two years.} [Quran 31:14] When granted this leave, mothers will devote themselves to the most important mission for which Islam uplifted the status of women and placed Paradise under their feet, by virtue of, bringing up the children and looking after them properly. They do not discuss this matter, nor do they discuss the women’s right to retirement at a time that is suitable for their feminine nature, as they need to pay attention to their children and check their conduct during their adolescent years at least. They do not call for women’s retirement at an earlier time than that of men’s retirement.
They do not ask for that because they think this is marginal. They are busy with a more important issue, which is the necessity of issuing women’s identity cards, as if it is a life-or-death matter. They are busy urging women to work as broadcasters and thus display their face to millions of men. They commend the very few cases of women who work as TV presenters and hold interviews with them as if such women have achieved a unique feat after having courageously broken the barriers of habits and traditions. Did Allah The Almighty order women to do this? It would be more suitable if they discussed women’s right to a life free from contradiction between Islam and the awful reality of the mass media. However, they – may Allah protect you from their evil – do the contrary.
They utilize some public and official declarations, such as the declarations of the UN conventions on eliminating all forms of discrimination against women, to gauge whether a “new and contemporary Fiqh on women’s issue” can be initiated so as to match the modern age, globalization, and changes in time. They hover around that without feeling bored or tired. People with the least intelligence can sense their secular attitude that does not think of Sharee‘ah as absolutely entitled to take the final decision on women’s issues. The Sharee‘ah is nothing to them and therefore, they are very keen on causing people to renounce it. They are brazen enough to probe the Sharee‘ah issues and rulings that do not appeal to them, claming falsely that they do not belong to Sharee‘ah because they are nothing but habits and traditions that can be easily dispensed with.
A woman, who repented to Allah The Almighty, mentioned in her message that I will mention here adapted, said:
Sister, may Allah The Almighty protect you, the obstructers from among the human and the Jinn devils are many, and each of them lies in wait for you in an attempt to snatch a piece of your faith. Each of them tries to weaken the link that is between you and your Lord. Each of them tries to get you out of your home. Each of them tries to remove your Hijab -- or at least to make it lose its function for which it was legislated to be worn -- and thus, tries to make your Hijab a garb for seduction and temptation and a means to incur the curse and evil consequences on you on the Day of Resurrection, instead of being a means to uplift your status in the sight of Allah The Almighty and draw you closer to Him. Each of them makes such attempts in different alluring ways, with cunning and deception, to block your way to guidance, success and salvation. In addition to these obstructers, there is the television that spoils the minds and morals by its programs, series, and movies. It gives little benefit and brings about great evil.
There are possible alternatives but they are weak and unconvincing. Therefore, you should be patient and resort to another important thing: your love for your Lord, draw yourself closer to Him, and give precedence to things that He loves and Is pleased with over your own fancies and desires. There are many who would obstruct your path; there are also unrighteous friends who further keep you away from Allah The Almighty open the gates of sin for you, and tempt you to enter them. They glamorize to you the clothing and forms of conduct that cause the wrath of Allah The Almighty upon you and make you forget that you will be questioned and will perhaps be punished. Be extremely wary of them and seek other friends who are righteous and truthful.
Allah The Almighty Says (what means): {And the Day the wrongdoer will bite on his hands [in regret] he will say, “Oh, I wish I had taken with the Messenger a way. Oh, woe to me! I wish I had not taken that one as a friend. He led me away from the remembrance after it had come to me. And ever is Satan, to man, a deserter.”} [Quran 25:27-29]
Chaste sister, there are many who would obstruct your path, such as the environment of your family members and acquaintances. Sometimes, you find it difficult to pursue the right course without suffering much of their ridicule, slander, and criticism, so you should be patient with any of that.
There is also the environment of aimless meetings that include backbiting, needless talk about the world and fashion houses, gossip, and little mention of Allah The Almighty. There is also an environment of parties, soirées, dining tables, and the required adornment, boasting, and ostentation, as well as frequent visits to the markets, paying full attention to the worldly life and its embellishments, and wasting a lot of money in this regard. Their environment drowns you in obliviousness and makes you forget the Hereafter. It makes you rarely think of death, the grave and its bliss and torment, Hell and torment, and Paradise and reward. This environment adds to the hardness of your heart, obstructs your way to Allah The Almighty, makes you forget the purpose for which you exist in life. Chaste sister, try to refine this environment, be moderate in dealing with it, do not allow it dominate your life at the expense of the Hereafter and do not make it surmount your love for Allah The Almighty.
Sister, beware of those who obstruct your way lest they should spoil your religious commitment, your mind, your morals, and the principles of your creed. Do not participate or agree with them on evil sayings or deeds. Give precedence to the pleasure of Allah The Almighty over people’s pleasure. Be keen to make your love for Allah The Almighty and everything that He loves and is pleased with a means that drives you to change this reality to comply with this love. By doing so, you will be happy and the society will be truly happy in the world and the Hereafter. Since the obstructers intend to make out of you a tool of destruction, try to be a means of construction, and then rejoice at your success.