Do Muslims have a reason to celebrate the International Women’s Day?
Every year, the International Women’s Day takes place on March 8. This UN tradition celebrates the achievements made by women in different cultures and regions around the world.
In most cases, the advancement of women's rights is viewed from a western perspective. However, here is a look at some of the contributions made by women in pre-Islamic history, as cited in the holy Qur'an.
The Queen of Sheba
In the Qur'an, the Queen of Sheba was an important example for a woman in a position of leadership and diplomacy.
We learned that instead of going to war with prophet Solomon PBUH, she sent him a gift as a peace offering. The Queen avoided war and thought of her nation’s safety first, which is really important.
Even today, we see many institutions and countries view women as unable to rule, unfit to become leaders, solely based on their gender. The Qur'an, as an ancient and religious text, confirms otherwise through the leadership of the Queen of Sheba.
Women can be very rational, compassionate and concerned about their people’s safety.
Lady Hajar PBUH
According to the Qur'an and Biblical texts, Lady Hajar PBUH is another glowing example of leadership. Allah ordered Hajar’s husband, Prophet Ibrahim PBUH, to leave her in the desert (Mecca), along with their son Ismail.
Lady Hajar searched hard for water. She ran between two mountains (Al Safa and Al Marwa) in her attempt to find water. She did not need a man to find water for her.
Lady Hajar’s determination to find water pushed her to find a well that is running until today, providing Zamzam water (holy water) for pilgrims from all around the world.
Today, Muslims going for pilgrimage walk and run seven laps around the two mountains to remember her struggle. Lady Hajar was the founder of a new society that made Mecca a business hub since pre-Islamic times.
These two figures, though they belong to pre-Islamic history, were significant examples of women leaders. Celebrating this day should not focus only on present or recent events and achievements.
We need to celebrate historical women who have contributed to leadership and social change.
Qatar Living wishes you a happy International Women’s Day.
Celebrate or don't celebrate....respect for women should be the prime consideration
Haha Brit, you have lived up to three things I was fully expecting you to do on this post:
1) make a mention of your Cuban shotputter.
2) make a mention of the pink Kia.
3) like the idea of a national car day.
I actually edited my first comment before posting and left bits out about your shotputter and pink Kia because I knew you would show up and say those things anyway lol :-) and sure, you will have your chance at me and my Camry; just don't expect to win :-))))
There is nothing wrong in celebrating women's day. The problem with us is that we see everything from the perspective of religion. Religion is just a component of one's life. If it really about prohibiting western things, how about giving up their cars, ACs, medicines, aeroplanes, clothes, computers, machines etc...
xD
lmao @ Mahorf
I believe you should consult a scholar before confirming a conclusion, mixed with your opinion, from Quran an important topic like this.
Great idea Mohdata... I can finally pit my souped up Pink Kia against your Camry Turbo
Nothing wrong with marking certain days to honour dads/moms/women/love/sports/health etc but the better goal would be to cherish and honour these things all the time and year round...
As for women, for me they're gods loveliest creation; they are our beloved mothers/sisters/daughters/wives/friends and I'm grateful for them and the world would be a much poorer place without them...i personally don't need a women's day to remember all that is great about women; I appreciate them every day and every time I see one of them :-)
On a side note, since everything from women to poetry has a ' day' I would like to see an international 'car day' too where cars are celebrated... Qatar has a sports day and maybe they can instate a national car day too...what say Shabeb? You're Qatari and surely love cars, so pull some strings and get this done buddy :-)
My Cuban Shotputter looked awesome leading out the athletics team and carrying the flag at an international meeting :O)
whoa whoa, so you mean to say Lady Hajar found the ZamZam well? REALLY?
Well one simple reason to celebrate women's day is our MOTHERS are none but another form of women. We often forget to think about our mothers contribution to our lives so to society and so to the mankind.
Interesting - from a layman's perspective and someone who is NOT a theologian, surely it is a case of context and interpretation..
Having said that, I'll exit stage left!!
Women do have contribution in the society and especially bring up and training the children. The 2 example mentioned here are of pre-ilsam. Can any single example be given during the reign of Rasool ALLAH Muhammad (Sal lal la ho alei hi wassalam) and his 4 Caliphs that the women was appointed as a head of state? or any Ayat/Verse of Holy Quran that woman can be appointed as a head of state?
Two Quranic verses seem to acknowledge men’s leadership over women:
1. Men are in charge of women, because God has made some excel (faddala) some of the others [4:34].
2. And they (women) have rights similar to those (of men) over them in kindness, and men are a degree above them [2:228].
Anyhow please share any guidance from Quranic Ayat/Verse or Sunnah about the women leadership.
We all should celebrate all International Women’s Day and at the same time , not just recognise the achievements , contribution of women, but also look around to see what more can be done to embrace diversity