The intellectual Rape of the Muslim Women
The Muslim world today faces a very grave situation. Not only have Muslims been disunited and removed from their homelands, but their women are ebing raped on a daily basis. I refer not only to the physical rape of our women but I also refer to �Intellectual Rape� of Muslim women.
When the Prophet Muhammad (saw) brought the message of Islam to mankind, it revolutionized the status of women; from granting her the basic right of life (not being killed for being female) to giving her rights in the economic, political and social spheres of life. Islam also placed great deal of emphasis on the need for knowledge for both men and women. Muhammad (saw) said: �The search of knowledge is a duty for every Muslim (male and female).�
The Quran states: �only those of his servants who are learned truly fear god.� (35:28)
If this is so then why is it that Muslim women of today are in last place in the intellectual race of knowledge, specifically Islamic knowledge? Where are the female scholars? The revival of women scholars can be brought about by following examples of Islamic history. Of the many female figures in the past, Aisha (ra) and Umm-al-Fadl (ra) were great scholarly women. They both fought in the way of Islam with the strongest weapon � knowledge. Aisha (ra) is remembered primarily for her intelligence and outstanding memory. She was one of the most reliable sources of hadith, reporting more than a thousand. Both men and women would approach Aisha (ra) for her vast knowledge of Islam. She was a great Muslim scholar of her time and to this day is held in the highest regard.
Umm-al-Fadl (ra) was the second woman to embrace Islam after Khadijah (ra) despite the fact that her husband remained non-Muslim. Her traits of powerful speech and _expression of knowledge can be traced to an incident which occurred in medina. It wad very often that the people gathered at Umm-al-Fadl �s (ra) house and both the Ansaar and Muhajiroon were present at the meeting. A dispute had broken out as the Ansaar questioned why they had to give up so much for the Muhajiroon. It was Umm-al-Fadl (ra) who appeased that conflict when she said that if anyone had knowledge, they would know that Islam is but a brotherhood and we must sacrifice for each other. She (ra) called for Muslims unity if anybody did not agree. She asked them to leave. The Prophet (saw) was also present was impressed by umm-al-Fadl�s understanding and _expression of Islamic knowledge. Umm-al-Fadl was also responsible for a large dawah movement on the outskirts of Medina resulting in the conversion of more then one thousand people.
The lives of Aisha (ra) and Umm-al-Fadl (ra) show us what heights Muslim women can reach. We must take them as our role models in seeking knowledge and understanding the truth. Islam has encouraged and commanded us in the quest of knowledge. There are no limitations of Muslim women becoming scholars so why create them? Unfortunately, too many Muslims feel that ignorance means obedience so the Muslim women are not encouraged to come out of their intellectual slumber. This is the mentality that must be conquered and this letter is a wake up call to all Muslims: a call to fight against the �Intellectual Rape� Muslim women facing today. So if true Islamic revival is to occur the women as well as the men must pick up their armor of knowledge and fight together for the institution of Islam. Knowledge is the only thing, which can overcome the darkness of ignorance, which hangs over us today.
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