Flowers for the Women Wearing Veils - Volume I — Page 163
! ! 163 His service , but as of yet, we have been un able to show them the means through which to do so. European Women From what I have seen in Europe, if you compare European women to our women in term s of education, it would be like comparing a ma n to an animal. Every woman there is educated. There is not a single woman who is not educated and who does not unders tand the value of education, or how the nation shou ld take advantage of it. I have seen women compete equally with men in practical fields there. They make speeches in the same way men do and are involve d in various socie ties, participating fully in its matters as men would. They are involved in national and government - related issues on a par with men. They become members of parliament and like men, they rationally take part in parliamentary matters. There is not a field in Europe where there are men , but no women. There the women challenge men on why they should n’t work, and they succeed in their demands. In terms of their humanity , men and women are equal. To both, God has given two eyes, two ears, a tongue, and a nose; likewise , both have been given hearts an d hands. In regard to knowledge , if a man can attain it, so can a woman. No doubt , there are things which women c annot take part in, such as war. N evertheless , one finds many historical examples of women, who showed their ability and merit in war also. At one time , the wife of Abū Sufyān did what men could not do. The C hristian army numbered one million, and the Muslim army was only sixty thousand. The Christian attack was so fierce that the Muslims began to flee. The Muslim army was fighting far from Arabia and was in great danger. When the retreating Muslim soldiers reached their women ’ s camp, Hind , who as a disbeliever , had ordered the removal of Hazrat Hamza’s ra nose and ears , now pulled the stakes from her te nt and ordered the women to stop their fathers, brothers, and relatives [from retreating] and tell them to turn back around and fight. Abū Sufyān was retreating as well , but Hind struck the horse with a stick to turn it around and shouted , “I f you run back this way, I will kill you myself. ” The result was that the Muslim soldiers , who