Download audio version of lecture here.

The Question:

People (non-Muslims) usually ask why Islam has gender-specific roles (Hijab, inheritance, etc.). How are we to respond to people claming that Islam is sexist?

Traditional Answers: (i.e. the ones that don’t work)

Inheritance, Polygamy (man has more financial obligations, etc.)

Example from the past

This isn’t the first time that Muslims have had to deal with other styles of living that try to impose their ways and beliefs onto Muslims and disprove Islam.

When Muslims first encountered Greek philosophy, the philosophy was seen, at the time, as superior to religious philosophy. Quickly, when Muslims encountered this, there were three groups that arose out of this interaction:

1. “Islamic Philosophers”
   1. They took the Greek philosophy and changed the words (no Islam).
      1. They believed in no Akhirah, Allah not as creator
      2. they re-interpreted each Qur’anic Ayah to work to fit their beliefs.
      3. claimed that Prophets only spoke of Akhirah to get people to be pious.
2. “Mu’tazilites” – selectively took the best (they thought) of the Qur’an and the philosophies. They’re known as the “free thinkers of Islam”.
   1. They forced their version of Islam onto people.
   2. They died out (don’t exist today).
   3. They said Allah has no attributes because:
      1. that means Allah and His mercy are eternal – i.e. 2 Gods
      2. Allah, His mercy, and His grace are eternal – i.e. 3 Gods
      3. So therefore, they saw each attribute as a god itself. (So they believed Allah didn’t have these attributes).
   4. No Qadr (not everything is pre-destined)
3. “Muslims”, as in they stubbornly refused Greek philosophy
   1. They said that Allah sent the Qur’an and Sunnah, He didn’t say any guidance will come from other sources.
   2. Islam is already complete (no need for philosophy).
   3. When you have something divine and perfect, don’t mess with it.

Why is this relevant?

“The stakes have changed, but the game is the same.” (YQ)

“The tokens have been modified, but the board is exactly the same.” (YQ)

The times may have changed, but Muslims having to defend our beliefs against opposing societies, which feel their views are superior, is nothing new.

Why are people now interested in women’s roles?

People are now interested in the role of women due to events outside of Islam. Different cultures have changed certain aspects of gender roles. In recent times, Western women have been asking for more and more rights (rights that Muslim women already have). They want to “reach men” and go beyond. When they finally went beyond in their rights, it gave them the luxury to look down at the Muslim women (who’ve had rights for centuries).

Why are the regular answers wrong?

When someone asks why Muslim women wear the Hijab, often the answer might deal with them being judged on their “inner beauty”, and it’s supposed to cover their beauty so they can save it for their husbands (and family). It’s to eliminate the attraction from other men to that sister. However, what if a man tells you that he likes the Hijab? What if he said he finds it even more attractive?

There’s a problem here.

We only say these types of answers to appease another group. When we’re playing their game, we’ll never win.

The traditional answers we use are wrong because:

• 1. We answer questions on women, hijab, etc. and other minor issues, but we DON’T teach real (fundamental) Islam (i.e. Tawheed, the oneness of God, La ilaha ilallah)
• 2. Other people have invented this “oppression of women”, and this whole game. If we are fighting with their tools, we’ll definitely lose.

Differences between the West & Islam

(For the sake of these notes, the ‘West’ is just a general term to represent modern societies).

Morality

Islam says: there is one standard for what is right, and one standard for what is wrong (since Prophet Muhammad).

West says: what’s right and wrong fluctuates. (examples: premarital relations, before was detested, now accepted; homosexuality, before was rejected, now is more common)

Authority

Islam says: The only one that can tell me what to do is Allah!

West says: No one tells me what to do. (entered hedonism (self-pleasure) and humanism (philosophy focusing on the self))

Worthiness

Islam says: Taqwa and piety is what measures how much I’m worth

West says: my education level, degree, economic status, ability to get a job, etc. is what defines me.

Equality (this is a big one, we’ll put West first)

West says: A man and a woman are equal if they have the same job, earn the same money, have same rights, etc.

Islam says: A man and a woman are equal in terms of their Taqwa and spirituality.

______________________________________________________________________________

Let’s discuss equality further.

Islam says this:

• Men and women were created each to play different roles
  • Allah gave a role to men that they are more capable of doing
  • Allah gave a role to women that they are more capable of doing
• Men and women are different.
  • You can’t compare apples to oranges. Yes, they’re both fruit, but they’re still different.
  • in the Olympics, men and women don’t compete with each other.
  • at the beach, men and women cover differently.
• Because they are different, there can’t be equality in their roles.
  • A man can’t be a mother. He can’t provide that emotional love and nurturing that a woman can.

Another reason traditional answers don’t work

There will always be an inferiority complex between the Muslims and the West if we continue this method. We’ll feel that we have to prove ourselves to fit their criteria, despite the fact that we have the best way of living ever to have been conceived by mankind. This inferiority complex leads to things like a woman leading the Jumu’ah prayer (which actually happened). Because it shows that Muslims are conforming to their standards, the West loves that type of thing. We’ve “proven ourselves” to what they want. When we do this, we will end up changing our views and corrupting the message of Allah.

True Equality

True equality is this:

If I do a good deed, and you do that same good deed, then we will both receive the same reward!

We are judged and seen by Allah based on our knowledge and actions, NOT our gender (nor our race, color, or nationality for that matter).

So, what’s the correct way to answer misconceptions?

• Our job as Muslims is to convey Islam.
• Be proud and firm in Islam. Invite the people to the fundamental beliefs of Islam.
• Think about how the conversation might go:

Questioner: Why do your women have to wear that veil thing?

Muslim: Because Allah has told us that they must do so. If you believed that there was One who created you, talked to you (through the Qur’an), sent Prophets down to guide you, and has unmatched mercy over you, would you question Him?

Questioner: Uhhh…probably not. But why do you believe in Allah?

Muslim: *goes on to explain the concept of Tawheed and other Aqeedah*

In this scenario, the Muslim has taken the questioner out of his playground (his possible assumptions about the Hijab being oppressive), and brought him into the Muslim’s (dealing with really important issues). He’s playing by the Muslim’s rules now.

We CANNOT underestimate the power of La ilaha illallah! (There is no deity worthy of worship other than Allah!). How can someone argue with that?

When we allow them to enter our playground, we eliminate their offensive, and now they’re on defense.

Yasir Qadhi speaks in this lecture about his old college roommate, who’d questioned him regarding Hijab. Shaykh Yasir says how he spent the entire school term telling him the rationale behind Hijab, and how it really makes sense, and by the end of that term, the roommate finally understood it. One day, he said that it really does make sense. Shaykh Yasir reflects on the fact that he could’ve been stressing the message of Tawheed to his roommate, and he might’ve converted to Islam, rather than just know a minor concept in Islam.

Final Story from the Past

Salman al-Farsi was once approached by a Jew. The Jew questioned him harshly, “Has your prophet taught you every nitty-gritty aspect of life, even how to wash yourself after you defaecate? (Though, he used a much more vulgar Arabic word than just ‘defaecate’.) Modern Translation: Islam dictates everything to you, even how to clean your privates?

Salman al-Farsi confidently said strongly, “Na’am! (Yes!)”, and a continued paraphrased version is “You have a problem with it?”. It was as if he was saying, “You can’t even wash yourself cleanly, and you’re making fun of me?” His attitude was complete confidence in Islam and its every aspect. He wasn’t embarrassed, rather he was proud of the matter in Islam.

Call to Islam

(don’t call to Hijab, or to the “benefits of polygamy” or other minimal issues).

Islam lies in the complete submission to the will and order of Allah.

If you truly love somebody, wouldn’t you love to know everything about them?

• Think of Michael Jordan, you know:
  • his jersey number, what team he played for, what cereal he ate (wheaties), what UNDERWEAR he wears! (hanes?)
• So, if you loved the Prophet (SAW), wouldn’t you want to study everything about him?

Why should we study Seerah?

• The Prophet (SAW) came into a society that not much different than ours (in the west):
  • Vices like obscenity, drinking, and disrespect is widespread
  • Islam is misunderstood, and not established here
• So, to deal with those around us now, in our lives, we should observe the best example: our Prophet Muhammad (SAW)

Chapter 1: Makkah, the blessed land

Taken from an awesome study book made by Qabeelat Tayybah.

Forefather of the Prophet (S)

• Ibraheem (AS) and Sarah
  • happily married
• Evil pharaoh, saw Sarah, “who’s that woman?”
  • Ibraheem, “she’s my sister” (to keep king from getting her)
    • the believers are brothers (and sisters)
  • The king tried to get close, but always failed, scared Sarah was supernatural
  • He stopped trying, and out of fear, gave her Hajar (as a slave)
• Ibraheem (AS) and Sarah had no children together, so she offered him to marry Hajar
• Hajar had Isma’eel with Ibraheem
  • Ibraheem happy, Sarah was jealous (FAMILY FEUD)
• So, Allah commanded Ibraheem to take Hajar & Isma’eel to Makkah (a barren desert)
  • He left them there (no food, no internet, no connection), imagine Ibraheem’s iman.
  • Hajar: What’s going on?; Did Allah command you to do this?
    • Ibraheem: “Yes” and walked away
    • That’s all Hajar needed to know. (look at the level of Iman).
  • Then, Ibraheem made a special du’a (Surah Ibraheem, 14:35-37) (to make Makkah a peaceful city, a city where Islam will be established, and make it a town of fruits so people will be thankful).
    • This was answered. (Imagine fruits in a desert, no trees, but there’s still fruits!)
  • Hajar went around looking for water so her son could survive.
    • In a panic, ran between two mountains, Saffa and Marwa, (went up on mountain to look for any caravan, animals, water, etc.) 7 times.
    • Then, she saw the water trickling out from around Isma’eel (AS).
    • Angel Jibra’eel came, struck his wing on the land, and water gushed out.
    • Hajar ran to the water and tried to fill her leatherskin with the water.
    • Jibra’eel: “Do not be afraid, this is the house of Allah”
    • The water kept going and flowing, so she began saying “Zam, Zam” (“stop, stop” in her language).
      • Hadith states that if she had not stopped it, it would have flowed until Judgement Day
  • Then, a caravan came, Jurham, (originally from Yemen), and asked if they could stay there (they needed water).
    • Hajar agreed to let them stay, as long as she (and her family) would be in charge of the water.
      • This allowed her lineage to keep control of the land.
• Later on, Isma’eel married of the Jurham tribe (family ties are the strongest).
• Ibraheem comes years later to visit, and he meets Isma’eel’s wife,
  • she began complaining and speaking of problems, (to a complete stranger to her)
  • Ibraheem said, tell Isma’eel Salaam, and to change his doorstep
  • Isma’eel heard, understood, and divorced his wife (and re-married)
• Ibraheem visited again, and met Isma’eel’s new wife
  • she spoke well and thankfully,
  • Ibraheem said to send his Salaam’s, and for Isma’eel to keep his doorstep.
• Years later, Ibraheem and Isma’eel built the Ka’bah (with the White stone, which came down from Jannah)
  • the stone is the Black Stone today, because of our sins
• Then, Ibraheem made another du’a: Surah Baqarah [2:127-129],
  • Send onto them a messenger from among themselves and:
    1. Make him recite the book
    2. teach the book
    3. teach wisdom (from the scriptures)
    4. and purify
• Allah made it so!

Future study sessions will come InshaAllah!

During the Prophet’s time, there was a man and an orphan that both had gardens next to each other. They’d both loved their gardens, but there was a problem. There was a tree between the gardens and there was a debate on whose tree it was. The orphan loved that tree and wanted it. They went to the Prophet (SAW) to rule on it. After all the measurements and such were made, it was ruled that the tree actually was part of the man’s garden.

The orphan was so sad as he’d loved that tree. The Prophet (S) had a moment of sympathy and told the man that if he would give that little orphan the tree, then he would make du’a to Allah to give the man a garden in Jannah.

In the moment, the man wanted the tree so much, in his  arrogance he refused the offer and kept the tree.

While this was happening, another companion, Abu Darda (R) overheard this and immediately began seeking that garden in Jannah. He asked the prophet (S) if that offer was still up, if he could get that tree for the orphan, would he have that du’a for the garden in Jannah? The prophet said yes.

Abu Darda immediately seized that opportunity and asked the man that if he gave him his own garden, filled with date palm trees and such, would give him possession of that one tree? The man agreed and said he didn’t need that tree, and an extra garden is what he’d rather have.

Abu Darda came home to his garden, where his child was eating dates from the tree and he came frantic saying to drop everything, this isn’t our garden, I’VE SOLD IT TO ALLAH! I’VE SOLD IT TO ALLAH!

That man who’d lost out on the opportunity chose a garden on Earth over a garden in Jannah. Subhanallah, if you noticed, he’s “the man” while the person that seized that opportunity is who refer to as “Abu Darda”. The man’s name wasn’t recorded or remembered, though we remember Abu Darda. This is because he was the one who’d tried to take every opportunity he could to get to Jannah. Are you seizing all of your opportunities?

NOTE: This was only one story of the khutbah, the rest of it was about being thankful to Allah for Ramadan and generally taking a more deep interest in our deen.

SOURCE FOR THE STORY (as referenced by the speaker).

The brother was visiting from an Islamic institute in Chicago.

Imagine a large and wide room. It’s filled with a whole set of desks. And sitting at each of those desks are students. And in front of those students are papers. And in each of their hands, are pencils. And they are writing on the paper with a great fury and focus. They are all taking a test. This test is of such a great magnitude that it will determine each of their futures and the rest of their lives.

Now imagine yourself as one of those students. And all that you can muster to write down is your name. After that, you can’t understand any of the questions at all. And you’re stuck, alone.

And all of a sudden, you feel a hand on your shoulder, and you hear the voice of a person who says that they will help you. They will not only help you, but they will give you the correct answers. Not only that but this person says they’ll make sure that you will succeed even after this test. Would you refuse this person’s help?

Many ‘Ulamah classify this test as, the Dunyah (world). And the person coming to your aid is none other than the Nabi (prophet) of Allah, salallahu ‘alayhi wasallam (peace and blessings be upon him). He has received the answers straight from Allah and provides it to you with his sunnah. Will you refuse this answer key to life? Will you neglect it and fail your test? Allahu ‘Alam.

Tafseer Talk before Isha on September 13, 2009 at Masjid Jama’at Al-Mu’mineen. Notes were taken on an iPod touch =D

When Quraish’s youth came to kill the Prophet (S) in Makkah, and they surrounded his home, with ‘Ali (R), he picked up a handful of dirt (or dust), then recited the first few ayaat of Surah Yaseen, and then blew the dust into the air. Those particles of dust went in the eyes of the attackers, and temporarily blinded them allowing Muhammad (S) to walk right past them without them seeing him. Those verses protected the Prophet (S) from death and allowed him to escape to Madinah.

What do you think?

[Update: the source for this story is in Ibn Hisham, Vol. Pp. 480-83]