| 
The Qur'an, the only true guidance for humanity,
was revealed so that people would know how to deal with all
of the situations that they may encounter while in this world.
In addition, the Sunnah (example) of our Prophet (saas) shows
how to implement its teachings into one's life. Allah even
made it possible for people to understand how to live the
Qur'an's morality by giving examples from the Prophets' and
other Muslims' lives: "There is an
excellent example in them for you to follow, that is for those
whose hope is in Allah and the Last Day. But if anyone turns
away, Allah is the Rich Beyond Need, the Praiseworthy"
(Surat al-Mumtahana: 6) and "We have
sent down Clear Signs to you, the example of those who passed
away before you, and an admonition for those who guard against
evil" (Surat an-Nur: 34). In these verses, He reminds
sincere Muslims, who hope for the best in Hereafter, that
the people presented in the Qur'an serve as good examples
and guidance for them.
One of these sincere Muslims is Maryam, one
of the two women noted for their exemplary characters: "Allah
has made an example for those who believe: the wife of Pharaoh,
when she said: 'My Lord, build a house in the Garden for me
in Your presence, rescue me from Pharaoh and his deeds, and
rescue me from this wrongdoing people.' And Maryam, the daughter
of 'Imran, who guarded her chastity-We breathed Our Spirit
into her. She confirmed the Words of her Lord and His Book,
and was one of the obedient" (Surat at-Tahrim: 11-12).
Therefore, every believer is responsible for learning about
Maryam's good character from the Qur'an, which gives the most
accurate information, and trying to emulate her.
Allah introduces Maryam as having the
ideal Muslim woman's character. This character is completely
different than the common character of women in today's unbelieving
societies, where they usually share a common socially acceptable
character handed down from their ancestors. In these societies,
men and women are expected to conform to very different sets
of character traits, for men's ideals, worldview, lifestyle,
and evaluation of events are believed to be different from
those of women.
According to the Qur'an, however, men and
women have the same responsibilities and characters, for Allah
refers to an ideal Muslim character. He defines the
Islamic character in the following verse:
Men and women who are Muslims,
men and women who are believers, men and women who are obedient,
men and women who are truthful, men and women who are steadfast,
men and women who are humble, men and women who give charity,
men and women who fast, men and women who guard their chastity,
men and women who remember Allah much: Allah has prepared
forgiveness for them and an immense reward. (Surat al-Ahzab:
35)
As this verse shows, each person's character
is not determined by his or her society's values or continuing
traditions, but by the ideal Muslim character. Any
woman who adopts this character will have the strongest and
the most solid personality possible. And by implementing it
in her life, she will win Allah's good pleasure and love,
instead of striving to attain status or superiority in her
society.
In this book, we deal with the common woman's
character as seen in unbelieving societies and analyze how
this erroneous character became established. In addition,
we explore Maryam's character, whom Allah raised above all
other women, and thereby define the ideal Muslim woman's character.
As a result of this analysis, we will see that this superiority
is only in terms of faith, fear and respect of Allah, and
fine character, and that every man or woman who does good
deeds will be justly rewarded with Allah's good pleasure,
mercy, and Paradise, as mentioned bellow:
"Anyone, male or female, who does right actions and believes,
will enter the Garden. They will not be wronged by so much
as the tiniest speck" (Surat an-Nisa': 124).
Another aim of the book is to reveal the
inconsistencies in the common woman's character in unbelieving
societies and to inform people who are looking for the truth
about a way of life and morality that will lead them toward
honor, respectability, and superiority on Earth as well as
in the Hereafter.
- Maryam : An Exemplary Muslim
Woman
- Maryam's Son, Prophet 'Isa
(As)
- How Unbelieving Societies View
Women
- The Importance Of Women
- The Muslim Women's Ideal Character
- Women Noted In The Qur'an
- Conclusion
|