I will summarize our duty in the following points:
First: Being proud of this religion. Allah The Exalted Says (what means): {So do not weaken and do not grieve, and you will be superior if you are [true] believers.} [Quran 3: 139]
The era of hiding and feeling ashamed for belonging to Islam has ended and the era of frankness and declaration has started. It is painful and harmful that people who lived in the quagmire of vice and committed the utmost of prohibited sins have started to embrace the religion of Allah The Almighty, whereas we observe that some Muslims want to bring misery to their nation and expose it to suffering.
Second: Seeking sound knowledge of the Sharee‘ah (Islamic legislation). Having a clear and enlightening argument is the best means to boost one's morale. With Sharee‘ah knowledge, one discovers misguidance and deviation.
Third: Reviewing Western and Eastern writings about their own societies and what both of them call to now after they had tasted the bitterness of misery due to abandoning religion and giving a free hand to their desires.
Fourth: Directing our efforts with sincerity and determination to bring up our children. It was narrated that the Messenger of Allah, said: "Each one of you is a guardian and is responsible for those under his guardianship." [Al-Bukhari and Muslim]
A sound upbringing is a shield for children against floundering in invalid behavior that the society is replete with, and it is their protection against the misleading thoughts that are spread in it.
Fifth: Knowing the secularists through their writings and sayings, warning people against their deception and misguidance, clarifying the extent of their danger on the Ummah (Muslim nation) and its religion and mentioning their experiments in Muslim countries which they may implement in any other country which has not yet been exposed to their secularism.
Sixth: Common people should gather around scholars, seekers of knowledge and callers to Allah The Almighty and adopt their opinions and attitudes. They should distance themselves from the excitement and improvised situations that the righteous youths are dragged to so that whoever wishes to fish may fish in troubled waters.
Suggestions
First: Girls' curricula should be based on a scientific Islamic view. We have spent a long time during which we did not manage to create educational curricula befitting that sex. Equality in curricula between men and women is a fault; this was mentioned earlier.
Second: Creating curricula in the Islamic culture that clarify the woman's rights in Islam, her duties and position as well as the deteriorated status of the woman in the East and West and refuting the malicious allegations of those who advocate emancipation. In the past, we were not in need of such measures and we feared the spread of such allegations. Now, however, we have been invaded by these allegations in our very homes. It is also incorrect to delay these curricula until the university stage.
Third: Woman's work must be addressed through comprehensive and wide-scoped studies prepared by experts and knowledgeable people in the fields of education from among those who are proud of their religion and acquainted with the Sharee'ah of their Lord.
Fourth: It is time, or rather it is overdue, for the project of a girls’ university to see the light; a project which puts an educational plan befitting this sex and steers us clear of contradicting opinions in the society through its universities. It is better for the Ummah to entrust responsibility in these universities to sincere highly-qualified persons from among men and women, and thereby the Ummah will distance itself from the evils of those who are evil.
Reason and subjective conditions to establish this kind of university is indisputable.
Fifth: Woman's work is not a pure administrative task; rather, it is related to her personality and role in society as well as how suitable a certain kind of work is for her. Therefore, this matter must be studied within the framework of Sharee‘ah as well as the Ummah's interest.
· What is the Ummah's need to graduate female hostesses/attendants, when the danger of their potential work is known in advance?
· What is the Ummah's need to graduate groups of females who are specialized in drama and theatrical arts?
· What is the Ummah's need to graduate a large number of females in some specializations, such as decoration, agriculture and secretarial work?
I am not saying that the woman cannot understand these specializations or be good at them; rather, I mean that these are not the only criteria.
Sixth: The so-called feminine departments in some governmental administrations must be reconsidered. Is there any benefit in their existence? Are they governed by the Sharee‘ah regulations?
Seventh: To stop applying the credit hour system in educating girls as this negatively influences the woman. It is not necessary that everything which is applied to men is also applied to women.
Eighth: The woman’s employment system must be fairly addressed. It is not fair that the woman leaves her home at 6:30 am and returns at 3 pm. It is also not fair that she remains more than twelve hours in the school during the exams. What is the problem if the woman works only half the working hours specified for the man and receive half of his wages? In this way, we will have the capacity to employ twice the number of available workers or even more.
What is the problem if there are long holidays for the woman after delivery in order to look after her newborn? Meanwhile, she should be rewarded for this as she is undertaking the most serious task in life.
What is the problem if there are economic criteria for woman's work? There are many houses where both the man and the woman work while there are other houses where neither men nor women work!
All these points and many others could be subject to dialogue and discussion, provided that we get rid of the complex of equality between man and woman in the employment system. This is also contingent on getting rid of the inferiority complex as well as regaining the feeling of our distinction relative to other peoples of the world.
Like many Muslims today, I struggle with constancy in the remembrance of my Creator. I stay mostly mindful of being His servant, often finding myself subconsciously glorifying His name.
But just as regularly I lapse and suddenly realize that my heart has slipped away, like the spinning helm of great wooden ship in a storm. Sometimes I feel almost totally disconnected and fear the spiritual pitch and roll that seems to have overtaken my life. I feel control can only be restored through some momentous feat, an arduous test—Allah protect us. Without some such heroic deed, I'm struck with terror of having forever lost hold of my own destiny.
No sooner than I succeed in wrestling the wheel of my focus back to Allah Almighty, my spiritual equilibrium is swiftly restored. Once again, I feel capable of following my heart through bitter squalls and biting gales, guiding it home to a worthy port. My mind seems a clear sky. I am the ship of my soul's unflappable quartermaster, salt in my face, the winds of faith haying set me on a course to connect with Allah Almighty. His remembrance comes to me like breathing free. Not so long ago, I could barely navigate such spiritual storms. I thought each one a shipwreck, stranding me off the coast of uncharted despair. Then someone taught me how to read the charts of spiritual human experience. And so I thought to share whatever I've understood with you.
The waves of Divine Will toss and turn the faith of each one of us. It's how we develop our spiritual "sea legs" so to speak.
Even those who do understand that the Eman (the faith) within us rolls like the ocean surges never achieve strength of faith until they learn this: We must never abandon ship in the face of the tumults that test and rock us, for we are the captains of our earthly vessels. Rather, we have been commissioned to weather all storms, one by one, struggling to hang on to the rope of Allah Almighty with two hands.
This is simply the nature of who we are, human beings. Our lives are destined for toils, ups and downs, difficult times mixed in with that placid ease. It is not that Allah Almighty desires to make things hard on us. It is rather the way He created us, in this phase of our lives, to be. Allah tells us in the Quran (what means): "Very truly, We created man [in a life] of travail" [Quran 90:4].
Not for pain and confusion and despair, but to face head on our own epic tale. We are to "become" the undaunted heroes of faith, come what may. Deliverance, that is but Allah's affair. Without understanding wherefore art thou (why are you like this)—why our every heart's desire does not transpire, why all harm and evil in our lives does not simply dry up and blow away with a good wind —we shall never comprehend the untold pleasures and happiness that toll, indeed, for us in this life. And we shall fail to push in to our sole purpose in it and it is all and alone only faith.
Asking such questions, even knowing their truth, is not going to turn earth into Heaven not instantly. This is the terra of trial, even if it seems not always firma. Knowing this is what makes living on it not merely tolerable but joyous, if we embrace it, like a sailor, for what it is.
Faith means hoisting up these difficult questions full mast. Go ahead! Steady as she blows! Ask it! Why is earthly life like this? Aye. But be sure to pay heed to the saltiest answer. For thus has your Lord decreed it. Into temptation we are horn. And within our very souls it respires...for a time.
It is a realization that many claim, but with which most people never come to grips. Here is a related query: What does it mean to struggle spiritually?
My humble answer? To be aware that you are ineluctably connected.
It is not about a particular physical or spiritual deed, but rather a state of being--a sure feeling and firm belief that you are attached mentally, emotionally, psychologically altogether!—with your Rabb, the Most Merciful Creator, the All-Knower, Loving and Oft-Forgiving Lord—Allah, Transcendent and Exalted.
Once you take hold of this notion, you will have seized upon that cord which never cuts.