Flowers for the Women Wearing Veils - Volume I — Page 397
! ! 397 has no authority over a woman regarding religion. When a woman has understood a specific aspect of her faith, i t is her right to act upon it accordingly, even if everyone opposes it. She cannot defend herself by claiming that her father or brother or husband did not allow her to do so. God will reply that in matter s of truth, I did not make you dependent upon anyone. It is for this reason, that matte rs of belief are interconnected with the mind and no one can decipher what goes on within another person’s br ain. Right now, whilst you women sit here p erhaps one woman’s child is making noise and you are thinking in your heart how imprudent she is, ruining the whole lecture. Yet, she is totally unaware of your thoughts. Thus, God Almighty has mad e the brain a hidden treasure which cannot come under the rulership of any King , n or any father , son , or teacher. It is as if God Almighty has granted you a chest, in which you can store all your secrets. Even if you live with someone for ten years, they will not know what that box contains un less you yourself reveal that which lies within your mind. It is your own personal trunk. If you wish to tell some one a secret , you can use the key to open that box. If you do not wish to tell them, then you do not open the box. Thus , God Almighty has given everyone the right to protect their treas ure in their own personal trunk. If they wish to share it with some one, they can open the door and if they do not wish to share it, they need not open it. Therefore, God Almighty has handed you the key to you r mind, and in the matter of truth , neither your husband nor your brother has any authority over it. There are thousands of women who do not accept the truth even after it has been revealed to them , and they do not accept the faith simply due to the fear of their parents , th ei r husband or someone else. A woman once came to the Holy Prophet sa and said, “ O Messenger of Allah! My husband stops me from giving sadaqa. C an I give sadaqa in secret?” The Holy Prophet sa replied, “Yes. ” Therefore, in such matters a wom a n ha s the right to spe nd from her husband’s money without asking him. Thus , be aware of the rights , which God Almighty has granted you and be thankful for the favors H e has bestowed up on you , so that you may progress. Now I would like to refer to the address [which was initially