Woman Between Past and Present

We are the children of a bewildered generation, heavy-laden with responsibilities... We look back at the past and revere its heritage and magnify its authority, and we see that we still submit to many of its traditions which, if we do not take them up wisely, stand as a barrier between us and true progress... Then we face our present, and in it two currents contend within us: the current of the past's inheritance, and the current of the present's problems. So we waver and hesitate between the two. Then we gaze toward the future with all the hopes and wishes and resolve and faith that are in our souls, and we make ready to assault it and knock at its door... By my life! If we do not make of the past a foundation and of the present a lesson and a weapon, we shall never be able to assault the future as it requires, so as to become the advanced society... the society whose flourishing and brilliance woman alone carries the banner of — or bears the blame for its languor and its failure...

The Young Muslim Women's Association has dedicated itself to raising the standard of the Muslim family, so as to prepare for society women who can fulfill their lofty mission completely.

And what increases its optimism about its future is that the road to it has become safe and half-paved...

For woman today has made herself ready for the struggle and for entering the wide-flanked arena, looking out upon this society which remained for ages arid, for lack of the gentleness of her guidance and the softness of her speech, so that it was — and in many respects still is — palsied of hand and broken of wing.

There remain in woman's path some obstacles, and it falls to woman alone to undertake their destruction. For there no longer remains anyone who casts thorns in her path or bars her way... rather, wherever we turn we see efforts expended to smooth away every obstacle before her... And the man whom she used to hold responsible for her backwardness, her retardation, and her concealment is no longer a barrier to her renaissance, nor an obstructor of her road to advancement; rather she sees in him the first supporter of her cause. It is he who longs for a contented society, and an atmosphere in which the radiance of the renewed spirit shines, in a secure home where he can rest assured in his life's partner and rely on her culture in the rearing of his children.

The past ages drew a thick curtain over woman's gifts, one that stood between her and her true duty in life. So her powers failed behind the curtain, her understanding strayed, and her resolve weakened... Yet she was responsible, to some degree, for that surrender and that quiescence... For had she looked back to the dawn of her Islam — or gone beyond that to her Jahiliyya — she would have known that woman was no hidden, humbled person. Rather, Islam exalted her place and raised her standing and cast into her soul a radiance that filled her beating heart with wakefulness and ardor; so she turned to learning, drawing from it what she could, and threw herself into the struggle with a brimming soul and firm faith. Thus history recorded the names of Arab heroines and poetesses and women of letters whose energies and genius Islam had whetted.

How beautiful was the stand of that bold Arab woman before Umar ibn al-Khattab, the day he rose to speak and said: "O people, do not be extravagant in women's dowries; for were it an honor in this world or piety before God, the most entitled to it among you would have been the Messenger of God — and he never gave any of his wives a dowry of more than twelve uqiyyas." Then a woman rose up to him and said: "O Commander of the Faithful! Why do you deny us a right that God has granted us? — when God Almighty says: 'And if you have given one of them a qintar, take not anything of it back.'" And Umar said: "Everyone knows better than Umar"... Then he turned to his companions and said: "You hear me say such a thing, and you do not object to it against me — until a woman answers me who is not among the most learned of people"??

Today we face a time that requires of us rising and wakefulness, and man has begun to feel his need of woman's arm in his constructive and social struggle... He has begun to grasp the importance of the mission woman performs for life, if she performs it well... And the man who looks toward the bright future and longs for the better society does not doubt that unless he extends woman a helping hand, and she in her turn joins arms with him, he cannot cross the stage with firmness, safety, and peace until he reaches the goal victorious...

So, my sister! The arena before you is wide-flanked, and society needs your blessed effort... The destiny of your people swings between your hands: either you will be bold, sincere, and firm of step, and create an advanced, resplendent society; or you will be frivolous and slack, the outward shows of life distracting you from grasping its essence — and so your time will be wasted, your passing opportunities will slip by, and you will thereby wrong your home, your society, and your homeland!! And do not let the multitude of responsibilities frighten you, for they are a test of you, and upon your discharging them well depend the results of your struggle.