Flowers for the Women Wearing Veils - Volume I — Page 82
! ! 82 two bulls harnessed to a wagon, where by both must obey their Master. This is regarding the importance of a woman in terms of her very existence. A Wife ’ s Influence on h er Husband Another aspect of women’s importance is in the fact that women exert enormous influence over their husbands. It is often said that women are dependent [upon men], but it is true that some men fall into trouble bec ause of women. Women control [men] by way of submissiveness. Ha z rat Adam as was expelled from Paradise because of a woman. The Bible says that [ Ha z rat ] Adam as would not obey Satan , so h e [Satan] then went to Eve and she managed to convince [ Ha z rat ] Adam as. This shows that even though a woman rule s through the power of love and affection , however, it is the case that she exerts her rulership. We have often seen very devout men being deceived by women. W e have also seen women accept Ahmadiyyat first and then persuade the ir husbands to join. If women are committed, then their men will be more active in serving their religion. Occasionally, women use the power of love in dangerous ways. For example, w omen are often the cause behind the taking of bribes. W hen they pester their husbands to acquire one item or the other for them , the husbands are forced to make money in an illegal manner. This is the influence of wome n. Many of the world’s ills are the result of men being un able to fulfill women ’ s needs. Are we not then under the control of women? D ue to them, men either lose th eir faith or they find religion. This effect is discernible , yet women can also exert a more covert influence. For example, when it is time to give c handa they begin to remind their husbands of this or that need , so that they will be deterred from giving chanda. The result of this is i mperceptible. Just as women exert a negative influence, they can also exert a positive one. Once, a companion [of the Holy Prophet sa ] was expecting a guest. The man said, “What should we do [in serv ing him] ?” His wife said, “Why do you worr y ? We have food for just one person, which we will serve him. ” The woman put their children to bed [hungry] and put the food before the guest. It was customary in Arabia that a guest