Flowers for the Women Wearing Veils - Volume I — Page 278
! ! 278 this question is very important , but it does not pertain to Shariah. Shariah proves that the Holy Prophet Muhammad sa sought advice from men as well as women. The methodology of consultation is not specified , either with reference to men or to women. Even the greatest advocate against the represent ation of women cannot prove this issue. The Sharia h states , “seek consultation. ” However, the method is left to our discretion to act according to the prevailing circumstances. If during the time of the Holy Prophet Muhammad sa , consultation consisted of representatives coming to Medina from Syria, Yemen, Aleppo , and so forth , i t is possible that an attack could have taken place in their absence. Therefore , the Holy Prophet Muhammad’s sa practice was to gather people at the time of Salāt to consult them. Later , this practice had to be changed. Therefore, the method of consultation can be altered, for it is not specified in the Sharia h. W e must establish it according to our circumstances. If we err, we will suffer the consequences. T he Sharia h will not be buried away. I t will surely remain alive. The people in our Jama'at should fully understand this. T hat age no longer exists when a person can stand up and declare that women are intellectually challenged , thereby inferring that women have no intelligence. This assessment is itself proven wrong by the practice of the Holy Prophet Muhammad sa and the practice of those who followed him. If it meant what is normally thought to be true, then why did the Holy Prophet Muhamma d sa seek advice from ‘ Umme Salmah ra ? If women are deficient in intellect, then could such women exist who excelled perfectly intelligent men in matter s of intellect , leaving no man to be their equal ? I present to you Ha z rat A ’isha h ra. In the Holy Qur’ān , the following words were revealed : ا ﻟ َّﻨ ِﺒ َّٖني َﺧ ﺎ َﺗ َﻢ [ “ Seal of the Prophets ” ] ! ! ! ! !!!!! " Holy Qur’ān, Ch. 33 : V. 41 ) O n the other hand , the re were also the words [of the Holy Prophet sa ] mentioned in the Hadith which states :