Am I the only one who noticed this? Recently the media and other government funded “moderate” Islamic organisations and personalities are pushing this slogan to the Muslim community in Australia like a runaway train.

Whats wrong with the statement? Muslim women can do anything they want. Can we really? The statement would only ring true when a Muslim has enough fear and love of Allah (swt) that they can do anything they want because they will never entertain the thought of doing things that violate the commandments or limits set by her Creator, Allah (swt). For the rest of us who are distracted in proving ourselves to the non muslims, we must realise that, no, Muslim women cannot possibly do everything and anything they want when their whims and desires contradict Islam or compromise it. You might add, why is there anyone to force us here? I answer, no, no iron fist here, please nobody bring up that ignoramus comment of Islam spread by sword. It is the realisation of the authority, and might, and power of our Lord, Allah (swt), coupled with the blessings He (swt) has provided us.

We need to realise that from the beginning of our allegiance to submit to Allah’s (swt) commandments, by identifying ourselves as Muslims (Arabic word which translates to submitters to Islam), the commandments and rules from Allah (swt) become mandatory for us, why? It’s our proof on the Day of Judgment of our obedience to Allah (swt), the evidences we will so desperately try to muster so that we may be saved from Hell fire and enter Paradise, the epitome of Allah’s (swt) mercy.

The commandments of Allah (swt) would render some activities unlawful or disliked for Muslim women to do. Some we simply cannot do without compromising our character or dress code, if we are sincere we need to accept that fact. Swimming, basketball, volleyball are some examples because in Australia, there are no women only or Muslim women only facilities for these recreational activities which guarantee no-entrance to non Muslim men and keep out the public view (notice most swimming pools have translucent walls) . These activities would require a Muslim to discard her outer covering, known as, Jilbab, which is mandatory attire for a Muslim in the public arena. If she does so, she would be sinning, no nicer way to put this fact.

In the Quran, Surah al-Ahzab ayah 59 (33:59) says:

Ya ayyuha an-Nabiyy qul li azwajika wa banatika wa nisa al-mu’minin yudnina alayhinna min jalabib hinna; dhalika adna an yu’rafna fa laa yu’dhayn. Wa kana Allahu Ghafur Rahim

O Prophet! Say to your wives and your daughters and the women of the faithful to draw their JALABIB close around them; that is better that they will be recognized and not annoyed. And God is ever Forgiving, Gentle.

For those who are bent on proving the rights and independence of muslim women (by playing ball?) must realise these are only recreational activities, or past time activities. Getting engrossed in such activities are not only time wasting, these are distractions from the more important activities of a Muslim, such as studying Islamic knowledge or getting involved in services which are needed by the Muslim community here in Australia.

The issue boils down to that of placing Allah’s (swt) commandments before our preferences and wants. Allah says in Quran:

The answer of the Believers, when summoned to Allah and His Messenger, in order that He may judge between them, is no other than this: they say, “We hear and we obey”: it is such as these that will attain felicity. It is such as obey Allah and His Messenger, and fear Allah and do right, that will win (in the end), (24:51-52)

I refer to an excellent bit from an article from Islamic Awakening, Labayk! I Hear and Obey Shariffa Carlo:

“Obeying Allah and His messenger is the foundation of the words La ilaha il Allah, Muhamadur Rasool Allah. (There is no deity worthy of worship except Allah and Muhammad is His messenger) . It is the essence of the deen. To the extent that when we receive a command from the Quran or from the Prophet, we are just to say, “we hear and we obey.” An example of this is:

Narrated Abu Sa’id Al-Mu’alla: While I was praying, the Prophet called me but I did not respond to his call. Later I said, “O Allah’s Apostle! I was praying.” He said, “Didn’t Allah say: ‘O you who believe! Give your response to Allah (by obeying Him) and to His Apostle when he calls you’?” (8.24) Sahih Bukhari: Volume 6, Book 61, Number 528.

This is Islam. This is true faith. We recognize that our own personal desires, our rationalizations, and our understandings are all limited and flawed. We recognize that we do not know it all, and that if what we want contradicts with what Allah and His messenger have commanded for us, then what we want is incorrect and Allah and His messenger are correct and we defer to their judgment.”

http://www.islamicawakening.com/viewarticle.php?articleID=274

How do we attain the quality of obedience? We do this by engrossing ourselves in knowledge of Islam, knowledge of Allah (swt) and his authority over us. Also to keep ourselves conscious of Allah’s (Swt) dominion and watch over us at all times. Realise that your life is being video-taped and will be played back to you on the big screen on the Day of Judgement, with your hand and feet giving testimony to things you would otherwise wish you would not have done.

So getting back to the statement, the think tanks who mustered up this slogan or the attention given much by the media to this statement made from a niche group within our muslim community here in Australia seeks to create attributes of arrogance and ego within the muslimahs in the mask of “empowering the women”. Its effect: dismissing or overlooking the boundaries set by Allah (swt) to the Muslim, to essentially put personal wants and likes before worship and prioritising self before Allah (swt). We need to be aware of this and not take it lightly. We women cannot do anything and everything, we accept and know that and we are happy with that. We know that many of these things are unnecessary past time activities and are no way near as important as following the commandment of Allah (swt).

Islam has given the Muslim rights and empowerment in areas that really matter, such as financial, honour and the list goes on, and it was given by none other than Allah (Swt).