We, the girls of today’s generation, have immersed ourselves so much in this trending thought that women stand shoulder to shoulder with men. Yes, women are undoubtedly blessed with as many rights as men are. They have a status equal to men. But is our approach to this thought in the right direction?
The creator has created both men and women in two different forms. Two distinct forms. And He has blessed them with all the freedom they deserve. But today, we have taken a different approach to pursue freedom. A different mindset to discern what freedom is.
Today’s women have been compelled to imprint this statement in their hearts and emblazon it in their minds – ‘women are inferior to men’. And when their minds express out this statement to them, they begin to think of every possible way to prove to their minds that they stand equal to them. And when their hearts express out this urge to them, they follow their hearts.
And the outcome is:
- We dress the way men do. We wear tees and jeans and shorts and trousers.
- We walk and talk the way men do. We boldly walk over the roads, and talk in loud, husky voices so that we are heard and noticed.
- We work the way men do. We set up new businesses no matter we meet all sorts of men in our way to success. We travel door to door to sell products just to earn that big amount. We drive taxis that carry men in backseats.
And then there are others of us too, whose hearts express the same urge, as to yes; we too do stand equal to men. Again, we want to prove our minds the same thing. And so, we follow our hearts. Not this time by emulating men, but by proving our value to the society.
- We dress as how the society expects girls to dress up like. Society’s trends. Society’s fashion statement. Society’s style of dressing.
- We walk, talk and behave customarily, like all other girls do, but with that extra tinge of feminism in our expressions.
Ultimately, what we aim for is to ascertain men that we stand equal to them. What we aim for is to astound them with our intelligentsia.
While in the process of distinguishing our standard in the society, we fail to realize that in this equation of men and women, how subtly we have added Shaytaan in it, and subtracted Allah SWT from it. And it is nothing but Allah SWT’s subtraction from the equation that we worry now to set our standards equal to men and prove them and impress them.
What she (a woman) didn’t recognize was that God dignifies both men and women in their distinctiveness and not in their sameness.
– Yasmin Mogahed
As a woman, being a sensitive soul or a full time mother is regarded as a degradation in today’s society. And these sorts of remarks are the reasons that compel us to equate ourselves with men.
But wait, dear Muslimah, you need not degrade yourself. When Allah SWT Himself has placed you in such an esteemed position in His eyes, why do we even find the need to corroborate or impress men?
We are not brought down to this Dunya to flaunt our bodies and sacrifice our dignities. If you are being taught that you are ‘free’ by wearing less clothes on your body or by talking boldly or getting your choices noticed, remember, you are no more slaves to Allah SWT. You have become slaves to the society, and the society has become your master. The society is what dictates you, and you are the one who obey its commands. Society has become what you worship, and unfortunately, you don’t realize, it’s not Allah SWT that you are worshipping.
Dear sister, your value can never be measured by the number of people who appreciate your beauty or the number of men who like your uploaded pictures on social media. Your value is, was and always will be much higher near Allah SWT – condition provided – only if you pay heed to His words, as to why the Quran states it that way and why it does so.
Dear sister, no age is meant for this sort of enjoyment where you party around for days and stay unescorted. No age is meant for this sort of enjoyment where you celebrate get-togethers with men and ultimately call them your so called ‘Cherished Memories.’
Remember, if you are focusing more on pleasing every man on the road, you are being disloyal to ‘Half Your Deen.’ You are not here to please the society or its men. You are here, in this world, to please your Lord – Allah SWT.
Dear sister, let your value be defined by how beautiful your character is. Let your value be defined by how beautiful your soul is. Let your value be defined by your ‘inner beauty.’ Why run behind anything else when you have the opportunity of working for something that is worthy? It’s high time you reshape your perceptions of viewing yourself in your very own eyes. It’s high time that you reveal what our true dignity is. It’s time to – ‘Re-Veil Your Dignity’!
Written By:
Shariqa Nida
Member, Malakpet Unit
Girls Islamic Organisation, T&O
