Muslim converts (or reverts) are coming from all ethnic groups, ages and economic groups today. Where in the past it was predominantly an African American movement in America against racism and for many it was also a return to their roots, it has now spread to whites, Hispanics, Asians and other ethnic groups. Furthermore it is important to say that in Europe and Australia, there are also a very large number of people coming to Islam as well. Of particular interest are the numbers of women coming to Islam from all ethnic groups and all walks of life. In the past 6 years Islam has gotten a lot of media attention and women in particular have become a major highlight. I suppose people must wonder, why do women love Islam?
Islam attracts many women for a number of reasons. Whether your a convert or not, the decision to practice your religion in the West is a decision based completely on free will. What surprises many people is that Muslim women like to cover! It's been quoted so many times that Muslim women are oppressed by the veil, countless books have been written on this subject. If this is so, then why do Muslim women choose to do so while living in a free society? Why are female converts putting on the veil? Clearly the opinion that a piece of cloth can oppress a person is ridiculous and false. In fact, most of us feel that the veil (hijab) has liberated us in many ways. We are no longer subject to the sexual degradation of women in society when we put on our hijabs. For most of us, the thought of using our sexuality to obtain higher positions, or to catch a man is seen as a degradation to women. !Quite the contrary to popular belief! Have you ever heard a sane women ask to be oppressed or degraded? I didn't think so. Believe this to be true of Muslim women all over the globe.
Of course Islam is not all about the hijab. The hijab is an act of faith and an obedience to Allah. Hijab is secondary to faith. The Islamic faith is based on several principles, the first and most important being the concept of one God. Supreme and Eternal, Infinite and Mighty, Merciful and Compassionate, Creator and Provider. God has neither father nor mother, neither sons nor was He fathered. None equal to Him. He is God of all mankind, not of a special tribe or race. This concept is very appealing to people who study Islam because it is logical,simple and fair. In this complex and often reckless world, simplicity is very appealing to women, so of course it is going to reason with our instincts. As I was learning about Islam 13 years ago, the first thing to stand out to me was the concept of one God. Second to that was the fact that Islam emphasized so much on the status of the woman. But it was not confined to that - as that would have been very self centered for me. Islam concerns itself with all of humanity, the young, old, sick and helpless, and the rich and powerful. Islam even concerns itself with non Muslims.
Islam is also applicable in modern day times. Things that were written 1400 years ago apply to today's world and lifestyle. Amazingly many of the same problems women face today were addressed at that time through the Quran and Sunnah (life and teachings of the Prophet Mohammad, salalahu alaihi wa salam). I often wonder about the wisdom behind our Prophet Mohammad's (sws.) 11 wives and think partly it was to set an example. Each one of his wives -Allah be pleased with them, played a specific role in Islam and are often referred back to when looking for problem resolution by women. For example, his (sws) first wife Khadija (ra.) was much older than him (15 years), a wealthy business woman and she proposed to him! You can find countless examples that draw a woman's attention in her! Some of his (sws) wives were widows (Sawda Bint Zam'a, Zaynab Bint Khuzayma, Salma Bint Umaya, Umm Habiba Bint Sufyan), others were arranged to form tribal alliances (Umm Habiba Bint Sufyan), were sent as maids (Maria Al-Qabtiyya), and some had children from previous marriages (zaynab Bint Khuzayma, Salam Bint Umaya and there may be others). One other woman proposed marriage to the Prophet (sws) and that was Mayamuna Bint al Harith. All of these example are very noble and appealing to a woman. There are of course more.
Another attraction to women is the fact that a husband and father, as well as brothers and uncles are commanded to protect her. This engages the very fitrah (nature) of the woman's spirit. A girls grows to be a secure woman when she has family protecting her. When she sees men around her who are strong, brave and honorable she develops a strong self esteem. When she grows and marries and becomes a mother, most certainly she wants the protection of her husband for herself and her offspring. If we deny that women like strong capable and honorable men, we deny the very essence of a woman and degrade the position of man. Man has a place and role in the family and so does woman. Today's society strips man of his role and dishonors him. It even in some cases effeminates him. This is not a sexist idea, this is nature. More men open doors for me (non Muslim by the way), a gallant and chivalrous gesture, now that I cover my hair and it is apparent I am a Muslim woman, than did men before I did so.
Several other aspects in Islam attract women, for example the right to work, the right to own property, the right to inheritance and so on. Although all of these things are important to a woman I don't find them to be a huge attraction for women in the western world as we are already given these rights today. What is impressive is that they were given these rights 1400 years ago while historically women in Western society's have been considered not only intellectually inferior to men but also a major source of temptation and evil. This is not so in Islam.
The last factor I will discuss which is most attractive for a woman today is the value of the mother, wife and family. Islam holds family and marriage in the highest regard. Mothers are held in the highest esteem. There are countless example so I will give a few. The Quran says, [Luqmaan 31:14-15]
“And We have enjoined on man (to be dutiful and good) to his parents. His mother bore him in weakness and hardship upon weakness and hardship, and his weaning is in two years give thanks to Me and to your parents. Unto Me is the final destination.
But if they (both) strive with you to make you join in worship with Me others that of which you have no knowledge, then obey them not; but behave with them in the world kindly, and follow the path of him who turns to Me in repentance and in obedience. Then to Me will be your return, and I shall tell you what you used to do”
Wives are given a very high standing and are regarded equally to men as human beings.
[al-Nisa’ 4:19] “and live with them honorably”
And the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: “And treat women with kindness, and treat women with kindness.” Narrated by al-Bukhaari, 5186; Muslim, 1468.
And he (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: “The best of you is the one who is best to his womenfolk, and I am the best of you to my womenfolk.” Narrated by al-Tirmidhi, 3895; classed as saheeh by al-Albaani in Saheeh al-Jaami’, 3314.
This is not one sided however, and as a justice seeker I am please to say men also have rights and are given high regard in Islam. Unfortunately this subject is not as well covered in English as it should be. Undoubtedly we still have a long way to go in regards to translating material concerning Islam into English. However more is available today than was 10 or 15 years ago. Surely the rise in Interest of Islam has something to do with this as well as the demand by new Muslims. Islam has far more to it than what is currently available for reading and inshallah as more is translated and printed, many of the false representations about Islam will be clarified. This will also be useful to us who are Muslim as we study our religion to better understand and grasp its true and infinite wisdom.
Today the family is on the brink of destruction. This is crossing all borders and nations and isn't solely a problem confined to the west. In our struggle to preserve our family's both men and women should read and inform themselves on what Islam teaches us about ourselves, our duties and obligations to eachother and to Allah. Surely we are the benefitors of His wisdom and not the other way around.
Hadith Qudsi of the Prophet (sws) relates, "Oh My Servants, if the first of you and the last of you and the human of you and the jinn of you were like the best of my creations, My Kingdom gains nothing. Oh My servants, if the first of you and the last of you and the humans and the jinns of you were like the worst of My creations, My Kingdom loses nothing. Oh My servants, if the first of you and the last of you and the humans and the jinns of you were all to ask me of anything, and I gave everyone of you what they asked for, My Kingdom loses as much as the ocean when a pin is dipped into it."
When we follow the word of our Lord we will be victorious. Surely all women want victory for their children and family. Society and life may have changed in many ways, but in many ways we are still the same. The following story is an excellent moral example of how Islam regards women. The Greeks had Homer's Iliad and we have Ya Mutasim.
A Muslim woman was attacked by the Romans in a Roman city. She was not raped. She was not killed. She was not murdered. She did not have her throat slit, like our sisters in Bosnia. She did not have her baby taken from her stomach, like the Muslim sister had in Bosnia when they were cut open alive. Nothing like this happened to her. Simply she was abused. And she shouted, "Ya Mutasim" (Wa Mu3tasemaah). And that is all she shouted. And the Khalifah Mutasim Billah, these word reached him and he called the emergency sixth adan in the masjid and all of the Muslims gathered in the masjid. And they said, "What is the matter?" And he said that "A report has reached me that one Muslim sister was attacked in a Roman city." He said "Wallahi, I will send an army that is so big that when it reaches them it is still leaving our base. And tell me the strongest city of these Romans and I will send the army to that city." This was the decisive response of the Khalifah. When the honor of one sister was touched.
Even if this is a story in history the moral remains the same. And this is why women love Islam!
~Badreya
Narrated Wa'il ibn Hujr: "When a woman was forced against her will in the time of (the Prophet Muhammad), he avoided punishing her but inflicted (punishment) on the one who had molested her."
Al-Tirmidhi, Hadith 1012
