Flowers for the Women Wearing Veils - Volume I — Page 388
! ! 388 U nder other social systems , you may say that if you were to remain occupied with raising children, then you will not be able become businesswomen , or ministers, or lawyers , or g enerals and you will not be able to e stablish peace in the world. However , in following Islam you c annot say this. Perhaps, this response will not satisfy Christian nations, but Islam has provided you with a v ery thorough explanation in response to this argument. According to Islam , if your son becomes a g ener al and brings peace to the world through his work , then his mother also receives her share of blessings for raising such a son who has brough t peace to the world. Thus , the Paradise which is promised to your son is the same Paradise promised to you. The refore, the true fruit of your life’s labor is dependent upon the proper upbrin ging of your children. Direct your attention to praying, keeping fasts, and giving charity. If you do not heed this advice, how wi ll your children heed the teachings of Sharia h ? You can to a certain extent, raise your children properly by setting a good example yourself , for it is true that when one sets an example, those around t h e m follow it ; and certainly, children have a great ability to copy others. If mothers do not set good examples for their children, then surely it would be near impossible for their children to be raised righteously. Additionally, God Almighty has decreed in the Holy Qur’ān that seek ing knowledge is incumbent up on both men and women. That knowledge which is gained for worldly benefit does not reap any blessings. God Almighty rewards those honorable deeds , which remain unrewarded in this world. Granted, the greater portion of knowledge men seek is for their business or wo rk, but they receive no blessings for this type of knowledge. However, after completing their formal education , women have a golden opportunity to attain blessings, since there is no worldly pressure put upon women who desire to com plete their education. Rather, completing their education is for the sake of acquiring knowledge. Therefore, women can acquire blessings while completing their fo rmal education. Just as God Almighty states that when you fast or pray you do not receive any return for it in this world, therefore, God promises us our just rewards in the Hereafter. When you raise your sons and ed ucate them, they in turn work and take c are of your needs as necessary. Therefore, you have gained the benefit of their education