Flowers for the Women Wearing Veils - Volume I — Page 34
! ! 34 However, there are also those women , who would prefer to give up their lives rather than forsake Islam. Yet , who are these women? They are those who understand their faith and who cultivate a complete and profound awareness of it. It is Necessary f or Women to b e Knowledgeable in their Faith Thus, it is imperative that women should be acquainted wi th their faith. T hey should love their faith and be devoted to it. When they reach this state , they will act upon it of their own volition, and will become a model for other women , as well as a source of propagation of Islam. Indeed , they should also understand that just as men can teach religion to men, in the same manner, women can teach religion to women. I have presented examples to prove that women can serve their religion which only reaffirms that women have been doing exactly this in the past. Thus, when it has been established that some women have served in this way, we know that others can also do so. To say that women of earlier tim es were pious and virtuous , while questioning your own ability to emulate those actions , indicates a lack of resolve and courage. There are m any women who ask , “If we try, c an we become like A’is ha h ra ? ” They should reflect on how A’isha h ra became A’isha h ra. She worked hard, showed courage and thus , became A’isha h ra. Today, this kind of hard work and courage is necessary to become like her ra. Losing courage before even attempting something can be likened to giving the example to a child of someone who has attained a m aster’s degree and then motivating the child to also study hard so that they too can one day attain a m aster’s. However, upon b e ing given the example , t he y repl y , ‘ How can I be capable of attain ing a m aster’s like that person ! So, I am not going to even try and study. ’ T hat person whose example was narrated to the child, he had made an effort , and so he attained a m aster’s degree. Then, wh at is stopping th e child from put ting in the effort and attain ing a degree ? How did t he Companions ra Attain High Status? Note how the Companions of the Holy Prophet sa became his companions and how they attained such eminence. This was only