Some Advice to the Muslim Women

Some Advice to the Muslim Women - Shaykh Khalid Yasin
(Recorded in Sydney, 2003)

(When I saw him in a lecture last year, I couldn't help thinking of Malcolm X!)

A Muslim woman is the "Sidratul Tayyiba" (goodly tree) who has the commitment to:
- wear hijab and keep herself pure
- fulfill the obligations to worship Allah, study Quran, follow Sunnah
- stay dignified, serve husband without complaints, raise children Islamically
- engage in remembrance in Allah, purge immorality from home

In other words, bears goodly fruits.

Men cannot do what women do day in day out.

Complaints

Rasul said "These are not the best amongst you" when women complained about things. "These" could mean both ways: the men that were the cause of the complaints, and the women who made the complaints.

Take your complaints to the right people. Don't spread them to others, gossipping etc.

Be careful with whatever you do, as the children watch and learn from you 24hr/day.

Awrah

Clothes should:
- cover the entire body, except hand & face (that's the minimum). It's best to cover the face as well.
- not reveal shape of body, or be transparent and show the skin
- not resemble women of jahiliyyah. For example, designer clothes with cross as head scarf!
- not imitate men's

- Women shall not wear make-up, pluck eyebrows, or wear perfumes
- Voice is also awrah - talk in straightforward manner, and do not "decorate" your speech

Guard yourself.

At Home

Women are in charge inside the house. They do not HAVE to do any work in the house. Men are the qawwamun = maintainer of (i.e responsible for) the women. Men are not the commander, demanding to be served this and that. If men want someone to do household work, then hire a servant. Getting married does not mean getting a slave.

But when women do the household duties to please the husbands, it's a blessing for them from Allah. The husbands should appreciate their contributions in the house and reward them.

And women protect the home. They are the homeline defense.

Guard the home, children, his secrets, and yourself.

Equality

Men & women are created from one single soul (Al-Nisaa'). Equal in the sight of Allah, regarding their piety; but different in rights, responsibilities, anatomy, psychology.

Roles

Remember your roles: chief role of raising children, cultivating home, preparing the next generation. Women can go out to work only when it does not compromise these responsibilities.

Pursue proper knowledge. You are the teacher of the children.

Community

Women are the 1st support for the community. Form a pro-active committee to improve things - in the masjid for example. Don't just complain. Advise each other against badmouthing others. Get training in da'wah so that you can reach to other women, esp new reverts and on-muslimah.

Be aware of deviations, chauvanism, personal interests, rebellion (case in point: against polygamy).

Polygamy

The woman who controls her jealousy will get the same reward as the man who controls his
fear of going for jihad. Women:men ratio in US: 2.5/1. This does not include gays, in jail, playboys, etc! In short, there are not many real MEN around!

If your husband is not so decent, don't complain. Polish him up. Encourage him to pray, read Quran, do good, etc.

Q&A

The idea of decent men capable of polygamy

- There's no hard and fast rule for a man's "entitlement" of polygamy.
- Fair in regards to $ and time. Give according to ratio (eg: # of children). Brothers be careful with those rights and the time. It will be judged by Allah.
- The husband does not have to ask for the wife's permission to take another wife. But he SHOULD.

The meaning of "fully dress but naked"
= covering women who do not behave in accordance to Islam

How to advise non-covering sisters
- It's the responsibility of their guardians (father, husband, brother etc)
- Others may advise them nicely. And be patient

Conditions of marriageable women of ahlul-kitab:
- virgin
- chaste
- not musyrikat (associating others w/ Allah)
Very risky, especially if living in non-Muslim society. 7 of 10 men lose the children due to divorce, and they grow up as non-Muslims.

Parting advice:

• Fear Allah
• Ask Allah for all your needs
• Be careful
• Look to your behavior