Islam is a religion of balance and dignity, values that seem nearly impossible to connect with when navigating such a polarized digital landscape. We each feel the effects of this in different ways; one of the areas I struggled with the most is understanding the status of my feminity and respecting the unique roles and concerns Allah has for me.
Unfortunately, I’m not alone in this struggle: I know young women who described their gender as “a test” or worse, “a burden,” but to think of it like this misses the honor of those who came before us. It’s a big part of why I continued writing long after my original domain was shut down. I wanted to create a space where women come together and talk about these pressing issues without facing unnecessary criticism— a space where we can learn more about our deen and practice in a healthier manner together.
Putting our voices out there is especially important now: the fabric of our society is being ripped apart by callous legislation, and people on every side want us to conform to their idea of a proper woman. When we study Islamic History, we learn that the truth is: that while we aren’t the same as men, that does not make us inferior, and the definition of the ideal woman- let alone the ideal Muslim isn’t cookie-cutter.
Women were the backbone of the deen since the very Quran was first revealed. The Prophet’s (SAW) first wife Khadija, was not only a savvy businesswoman, the mother to his child, and at one point his employer, but when Muhammad (SAW) received the first revelation; the first thing he did was to run to Khadija for comfort. Being a woman of incredible intelligence and virtue, she reassured him of Allah’s love and encouraged him to seek spiritual guidance. Another of the Prophet’s wives, Aaisha, was also instrumental in setting the scene for early scholarship. By sharing so many hadiths and being incredibly diligent in educating the people around her, she was one of the many individuals who set the stage for the first generation after them. This would continue into later generations through women like Fatima al-Fihri, who founded the first-ever university. Her family valued education deeply and ensured that both their sons and daughters received a secular and religious education. Later in life, she saw that the city she resided in could use a place to pursue a higher-level education, so Fatima founded the al-Qarawiyyin mosque and university.
The role models that came before us teach many important lessons, from how living a virtuous life is the best way to secure your place in society and – far more importantly, Jannah. How crucial it is for the women among us to be educated, which starts with ourselves. How can we tell someone else to do something that we are avoiding? How can we truly know what Islam wants us to do if we don’t seek out knowledge? This is precisely why we need to learn about the intricacies present within common rulings and solidify our Fard Ayn (required knowledge)