Flowers for the Women Wearing Veils - Volume II — Page 47
47 they could very well run both a girls and a boys middle school. Then from middle, they can proceed to a high school. A Just D emand from the W omen of the Jama'at The demand of the women of the Jama'at is a just demand. If the Jama'at does not have a girls school of its own, they cannot bring up their girls in the right manner. The women are correct when they say that currently , when school - age girls are more educated than us , we do not possess the capacity to draw them towards religion. If we have our own school, then not only will our girls remain steadfast in the ir religion , but they will teach us (mothers) religion as well. Men dare not be unmindful of religion in those homes in which women are religious. Women belong to a class considered to be subordinate and enslaved, but in reality , they are the ruler s and the master s. A woman ’s authority manifests itself in a remarkable manner. E veryday there is an uproar that wom e n are en slave d and oppressed. H owever, take a look at your neighbors. H ow many women among them are treated as slaves ? There is no doubt that there are some men who physically abuse their women, but even among them , the majority will b ow before their wi ves the rest of the tim e. Moreover, there are such people who believe that the only people worthy of their appreciation who s e con sultation sh ould be accepted , and the one person who should be listened to , is their wife. Once women have acquired religious education , then it is inevitable that they will draw men towards religion. A wise person cannot accept that the large Jama‘a t which sits here , certain sections of which are large enough to offer congregational prayers at their own places, would not be able to run a middle school for their women. This is just a self - made excuse. In my opinion, if we put our minds to work , we can run the schools for both boys and girl s for free. It will cause a financial hardship only for a year or so. Thereafter, it c a n be carried on without any difficulties. Th us , to question where we will find land [f o r the school] reflects negligence on the part of the Jama'at. The Paighami s opened a school after the riots, so why d o you not try? You did not try o nly because you were not mindful of the need. Nevertheless, a middle school for our girls should be established so they too can foster a love for their religion. ( Al - Fazl , 21 August 1949, p p. 3 - 5)