Every Day is Women's Day

“Indeed, the Muslim men and Muslim women, the believing men and believing women, the obedient men and obedient women, the truthful men and truthful women, the patient men and patient women, the humble men and humble women, the charitable men and charitable women, the fasting men and fasting women, the men who guard their private parts and the women who do so, and the men who remember Allah often and the women who do so - for them Allah has prepared forgiveness and a great reward.” Quran 33:35

Allah establishes the inherent dignity of women as the above-quoted verse, and others, make clear. This dignity is independent of external factors, ranging from how a woman looks to whether or not she is married, or whether or not she has children. Allah has honored women as His Creation, just as He has men. Allah also establishes that superiority is based on piety for all human beings (Quran 49:13), and that the deeds of both genders are rewarded equally: “Whoever does righteousness, whether male or female, while they are a believer - We will surely cause them to live a good life, and We will surely give them their reward (in the Hereafter) according to the best of what they used to do” (Quran 16:97). Notice the specific and clear inclusion of the words “male or female” in this verse. 

Consider the struggles internal to the Muslim community, as in the lack of adequate space (or any space) in our Masjids or a solid voice in the Masjid’s decision-making power.

Also consider how our neighbours from other faiths who have a hard time believing the above-quoted verses about Muslim women’s value in Islam, when they see so many statistics of Muslim women relentlessly facing domestic violence, spiritual abuses, deprivation from education and other opportunities to progress.
Also note that when Muslim women do excel in making social, economic, cultural, and political achievements, they must endure a high level of backlash from within their own communities. 

Exalting women with verses of the Quran may be attractive to the outside world but meaningless if we do not celebrate and empower women inside our walls. So, it is good to pause and consider how we might champion women Within our homes and our communities, not out of envy or rivalry or discontentment, but out of the rooted security and devoution we want to adopt towards the Quran, which is the greatest champion of women.

To all my female relatives, friends, colleagues and students, I wish you support, ease, and success in all your righteous endeavours towards this Deen, Dunya and Akhirah - today and always ameen 

Islam can only continue in a community where both men and women are engaged and active in its scholarship, practise and service. This is the Sunnah.