Flowers for the Women Wearing Veils - Volume I — Page 502
! ! 502 َز ۡو َﺟ َﻬ ﺎ ِﻣ ۡﻨ َﻬ ﺎ َﺧ َﻠ َﻖ [ “ … created therefrom its mate … ” ] (Holy Qur’ān, Ch. 4: V. 2 ) By stating this, t he Holy Qur’ān eradicates these differences and tells us that women have the sam e responsibilities as men, they have the same sentiments as the other and both are answerable to God Almighty for their deeds. It is another matter that men have different responsibilities and women have different responsibilities. However, we cannot say that women cannot comprehend men’s obligations. Even men are engaged in different jobs and occupations. There are some who are revenue collectors, some are police inspectors, and others are doctors. Despite their differing professions, men share the same feelings and emotions, which have no bearing on their responsibilities. Therefore, just as their various professions makes no difference upon their feelings and their sentiments, women’s assignation of a different role makes no difference upon her feelings or her sentiments. The only difference is in the division of labor. Certain tasks are assigned to men and other s to women , but both are held accountable. The Holy Prophet Muhammad sa said: Z W ﻠ o p W ْﻢ َر ا ع r َو s W ﻠ o p W ْﻢ َﻣ ْﺴ ُﺌ ﻮ ٌل َﻋ ْﻦ َر ِﻋ ﻴ ﱠ ِﺘ ِﻪ [ Each one of you is a guardian and will be questioned regarding his dependents. ] That each one of you will be asked regarding his own duties and his own responsibilities. Just as a shepherd tends to his sheep with care and attention , similarly each man and woman is responsible for his or h er duty. If a woman is en trusted to take care of her children, her husband’s home and finances, she will be answerable for these duties. If the man is responsible to provide for the welfare of his children, he will be held accountable for these duties. By the same token, a household servant or a caretaker is accountable for the job assigned to him. Consequently, it is wrong for men t o presume that women are incapable of offering sacrifices or participating in religious activities and that they are created as playthings for them. It is also wrong for women to believe that they are unable to participate