Islamic Leadership And The Role of Women – Episode 23

Summary

In this episode we consider the profound spiritual states and societal roles that form the bedrock of a faithful community. The discussion moves from the inner peace of true Islamic Leadership to the honoured, collaborative duties and the role of women in Islam that secure a society’s very foundation.

1. Divine Tranquillity in Islamic Leadership During Trials

True Islamic leadership is distinguished by a divinely granted calm, a serenity that remains unshaken amidst the world’s greatest storms. A profound inner peace rooted in complete trust in Allah SWT. Historical accounts of figures like Imam Khomeini (a.s.) illustrate this principle vividly. For instance, when a nearby generator exploded with such force that it shattered windows hundreds of metres away, he did not flinch or even look back. While a startle reaction is natural, his heart displayed a tranquillity that transcended the immediate danger. This calmness is the natural state for those whose leadership builds upon sincere faith and certainty. Their composure reflects a heart firmly attached to the Divine, seeing beyond temporary trials to a greater, eternal reality.

2. Women’s Essential Role in Jihad Through Support and Sacrifice

The Holy Quranic verse revealed in the context of the Treaty of Hudaybiyyah holds a beautiful intricacy. After mentioning the “believers (men)”, it specifically honours the believing women with the same magnificent promise:

لِّيُدْخِلَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ وَالْمُؤْمِنَاتِ جَنَّاتٍ تَجْرِي مِن تَحْتِهَا الْأَنْهَارُ خَالِدِينَ فِيهَا وَيُكَفِّرَ عَنْهُمْ سَيِّئَاتِهِمْ ۚ وَكَانَ ذَٰلِكَ عِندَ اللَّهِ فَوْزًا عَظِيمًا

“[And] that He may admit the believing men and the believing women to gardens beneath which rivers flow to abide therein eternally and remove from them their misdeeds – and ever is that, in the sight of Allah SWT, a great attainment -”
(Surah Al-Fath, 48:5)

This explicit inclusion is profoundly significant. During that pivotal moment, men were preparing for a form of jihad, knowing they might not return. Their ability to depart with resolve depended entirely on the women left behind. These believing women safeguarded homes, wealth, and children. Their willing support and sacrifice constituted not a passive but an active, collaborative partnership in the struggle. As a result, women in Islam share fully in the spiritual reward, a truth the Prophet PBUH himself powerfully affirmed.

A beautiful narration makes this spiritual partnership explicit. Asma bint Yazid Al-Ansariyyah once came to the Prophet PBUH as a delegate for all women. She eloquently questioned how women, confined to domestic roles, could attain the reward of acts like jihad, Hajj, and congregational prayers that men performed. The Prophet PBUH, impressed by her question, gave a definitive answer. He instructed her to inform all women that

حسن تبعل إحداكن لزوجها وطلبها مرضاته واتباعها موافقته يعدل ذلك كله

“A woman’s good conduct towards her husband, her seeking his satisfaction, and her compliance with his approval equals all of that”

     Truly, this hadith establishes that the steadfast fulfilment of sacred duties by women in Islam at home is a form of worship equal in merit to the greatest outward acts of devotion.  The full narration is included below.

3. Preserving Family Foundations Against Western Societal Pressures

This role is far from simple or minor. It is an essential task worthy of immense divine reward because the family unit is the very essence and basis of a healthy society. When families are stable and spiritually sound, the community thrives. If family foundations break down, the entire social structure becomes vulnerable. The believing woman, through her patience, wisdom, and dedicated care, acts as the guardian of this fundamental institution. Her work in nurturing faith, maintaining harmony, and upholding Islamic values within the home is a monumental service. Islamic societies must deeply understand and honour this vital role. They must guard against the corrosive narratives that certain Western paradigms promote, which often drag women into a draining rat race under false banners of equality. These pressures can undermine the family’s sanctity and divert women from a path of honour that Allah SWT has already elevated to the highest spiritual station. The strength of any righteous community, therefore, directly ties to the quality of its Islamic Leadership, which must protect and honour these sacred societal roles.

The path our faith lays out offers a complete and honoured system. It recognises the different yet complementary roles of men and women, each with duties that lead to the same sublime destination. By embracing these roles with sincerity and understanding their divine wisdom, we build communities that are resilient, spiritually rich, and pleasing to our Creator. The greatest attainment, as the Holy Quran reminds us, is open equally to the believing men and the believing women who strive in their appointed fields with righteous hearts, guided by the principles of true Islamic Leadership.

Full Narration:

وافدة النساء إلى النبي (صلى الله عليه وآله) – أخرج البيهقي عن أسماء بنت يزيد الأنصارية أنها أتت النبي (صلى الله عليه وآله) وهو بين أصحابه، فقالت: بأبي أنت وأمي! إني وافدة النساء إليك، واعلم – نفسي لك الفداء – أنه ما من امرأة كائنة في شرق ولا غرب سمعت بمخرجي هذا إلا وهي على مثل رأيي، إن الله بعثك بالحق إلى الرجال والنساء، فآمنا بك وبإلهك الذي أرسلك، وإنا معشر النساء محصورات مقصورات، قواعد بيوتكم ومقضى شهواتكم وحاملات أولادكم، وإنكم معاشر الرجال فضلتم علينا بالجمعة والجماعات وعيادة المرضى وشهود الجنائز والحج بعد الحج، وأفضل من ذلك الجهاد في سبيل الله، وإن الرجل منكم إذا خرج حاجا أو معتمرا أو مرابطا حفظنا لكم أموالكم، وغزلنا لكم أثوابكم، وربينا لكم أموالكم (2) فما نشارككم في الأجر يا رسول الله؟.

فالتفت النبي (صلى الله عليه وآله) إلى أصحابه بوجهه كله ثم قال: هل سمعتم مقالة امرأة قط أحسن من مساءلتها في أمر دينها من هذه؟ فقالوا: يا رسول الله ما ظننا أن امرأة تهتدي إلى مثل هذا!.

فالتفت النبي (صلى الله عليه وآله) إليها ثم قال لها: انصرفي أيتها المرأة، وأعلمي من خلفك من النساء أن حسن تبعل إحداكن لزوجها وطلبها مرضاته واتباعها موافقته يعدل ذلك كله. فأدبرت المرأة وهي تهلل وتكبر استبشارا (3).

ميزان الحكمة – محمد الريشهري – ج ٤ – الصفحة ٢٨٦٩

Translation by AI

The Delegation of Women to the Prophet (peace be upon him and his family) – Al-Bayhaqi narrates from Asma bint Yazid Al-Ansariyyah that she came to the Prophet (peace be upon him and his family) while he was among his companions and said: “May my father and mother be sacrificed for you! I am a delegate from the women to you, and know – may I be your ransom – that there is no woman in the east or the west who hears of my coming here but that she holds the same opinion as I do.

Indeed, Allah sent you with the truth to men and women, so we have believed in you and in your Lord who sent you. And we, the community of women, are confined and restricted; we are the maintainers of your homes, the fulfillers of your desires, and the bearers of your children.

Yet you, the community of men, have been favored over us with [the obligations of] the Friday prayer and congregational prayers, visiting the sick, attending funerals, and Hajj after Hajj, and better than all that is striving in the cause of Allah. And when any of you men leaves for Hajj, Umrah, or guarding the frontier, we safeguard your wealth for you, spin cloth for you, and raise your children for you. So, do we not share in the reward, O Messenger of Allah?”

The Prophet (peace be upon him and his family) turned his whole face towards his companions and said, “Have you ever heard a woman’s speech more excellent than her inquiry regarding her religion?” They said, “O Messenger of Allah, we never thought a woman could be guided to such a thing!”

Then the Prophet (peace be upon him and his family) turned to her and said, “Return, O woman, and inform the women behind you that a woman’s good conduct towards her husband, her seeking his pleasure, and her compliance with his approval equals all of that (what the men do).” The woman then turned back, exclaiming tahlil (saying La ilaha illa Allah) and takbir (saying Allahu Akbar), out of joy.

Mizan al-Hikmah – Muhammad al-Rayshahri – Vol. 4 – Page 2869

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Islamic Leadership Jihad Surah Al-Fath Women In Islam