Ladies and gentlemen, today I want to talk about a truth that has been buried under centuries of misunderstanding: the Truth about women in Islam.
A truth that is not only beautiful, but also powerful. Not just spiritual, it is revolutionary. Now close your eyes for a moment and imagine a world 1400 years ago where baby girls were buried alive. Where women had no rights, no voice, no name in society. And then came Islam. Like a storm of mercy and light, it said no more. No more silence, no more injustice, no more invisibility. It raised the status of women from shadows to stars. The first Muslim was not a man; it was a woman. Khadija (RA), not only a believer but a businesswoman, a pillar, a partner in prophethood. And let me tell you something, ladies, Islam did not. Wait for a feminist movement to tell women they matter. Islam already knew that the Prophet Muhammad said the best of you are those who are best to their women. He didn't say the richest. He didn't say the most powerful. He said the best are those who treat women with dignity, with love, with honor. Now I know we live in a time where people try to tell Muslim women to take off the hijab to be free, be more like the West, to be empowered.
But I ask you, is empowerment really about exposure? Or is it about purpose? Because Islam gave women the right to own, the right to speak, the right to choose, and the right to lead before anyone else ever dreamed of it. And when I see a Muslim woman walking confidently, proudly. Modestly, I don't see oppression; I see strength, I see royalty, I see faith. Walking to every woman listening today, you are not less, you are not secondary. You are not defined by trends. You are defined by truth. So, walk with your head high, your heart firm, and Faith stronger than you, because in Islam, you are not just respected, you are honored, you are empowered, you are chosen. Islam empowered women spiritually, socially, and legally long before modern movements could even envision such rights in the world. Where women were often treated as property, buried alive at birth, or denied basic dignity, Islam introduced the paradigm shift that recognized them as full human beings with intellect, soul, and purpose equal to men.
Over 1400 years ago, Islam proclaimed a message of justice and equity, granting women the right to own property, inherit wealth, and seek knowledge. Express opinions and participate in community matters. The Quran directly addresses women not as silent observers but as active participants in their spiritual journey. Verses such as indeed the Muslim men and Muslim women, the believing men and believing women. Allah has prepared for them forgiveness and a great reward. Quran 33.35 Make no distinction in the value of a woman's faith or deeds. In fact, Islam placed immense responsibility on the building of a just society. Their roles as mothers, educators, and moral anchors were elevated, not minimized, the Prophet Muhammad once said. Paradise lies at the feet of your mother, signifying the unmatched honor given to motherhood not merely as a biological function, but as a spiritual and societal leadership role. Socially, Islam shattered norms of patriarchy by giving women the right to say no to forced marriages, the right to divorce, the right to be heard in courts, and the right to lead in fields of knowledge and wisdom.
A shining example is Aisha, the wife of the Prophet, who was a scholar, teacher, and narrator of over 2000 hadiths. Men would travel long distances to learn from her. Another example is Umm Salama (RA). Who gave political advice to the prophet himself during a tense time after the Treaty of Hudibiya, and did he follow it? These were not silent figures in the background. They were empowered, vocal, and respected. Legally, Islam gave women financial independence at a time when they were treated as dependent extensions of men. A woman's dowry, Mar, was her personal right. Her earnings were hers alone. She was not obligated to spend on her husband or children, yet men were obligated to provide for her; she could inherit from her parents. Husbands and children in her share, while sometimes different from men's, were part of a deeply balanced system. Where financial responsibility primarily rested on men. In all of this, what stands out most is that the empowerment Islam gave women was not reactionary. It was divinely revealed, rooted in purpose, not protest. It did not arise from pressure or rebellion.
But from a vision of what humanity looks like when every soul is valued, Islam gave women their God-given rights long before the world caught up. And in doing so, it built a legacy that still inspires, corrects misconceptions, and reaffirms the strength and status of women to this day. The first person to embrace Islam was not a man but a woman, Khadija bin Khuwailid (RA). She was not just any woman; she was a powerful, respected, and successful businesswoman in a male-dominated society. Her role in the earliest days of Islam. Stands as a symbol of how deeply women are rooted in the foundation of the Islamic message. When the Prophet Muhammad received the first revelation in the Cave of Hira, shaken and uncertain, it was Khadija who comforted him and embraced him. And believed in his mission without hesitation. Her faith, strength, and unwavering support gave the Prophet the emotional and financial backing to take the first step in his prophetic journey.
She was not just the first Muslim; she was the first pillar of support. In the divine movement of Islam. Khadijah`s life represents everything that is often overlooked in conversations about Muslim women. She was intelligent, independent, and influential. She managed a vast trading empire, employed men to work under her, and conducted trade with integrity and success. Yet despite her wealth and power, she carried herself with humility. Grace and deep spirituality. She chose Mohammed, a man younger than her and not yet wealthy, because of his honesty and character. This decision alone challenges the modern stereotype that women in Islam are passive or voiceless. Khadijah's voice mattered. Her choices were her own, and her leadership was natural and respected. She didn't just stand behind the Prophet; she stood beside him. When he was mocked, she encouraged him. When he was isolated.
She reminded him of his worth. She did not need a title to be significant. Her character gave her honor. The Prophet never forgot her. Long after her passing, he would speak of her with tears in his eyes, recalling how she believed in him when no one else did. He would send gifts to her friends. Memory of her and say she believed in me when people disbelieved, she supported me when no one else would, and she comforted me when there was no one else. Her influence went beyond the home. She financed the early dawah propagation of Islam. Used her resources to protect the Prophet and endured the painful boycott in the valley of Abu Talib, eventually passing away due to its hardships. Her death marked a moment of deep sorrow for the Prophet, so much so that that year is known in Islamic history as UM AL HUSAIN, the Year of Sorrow. Khadijah's story tells us that women in Islam were not bystanders in history. They were leaders, visionaries, and game changers. Islam didn't just allow women to participate; it elevated them to foundational roles. The strength of Khadija (RA) is not just a chapter in Islamic history.
It is a blueprint of empowerment, leadership, loyalty, and faith, a legacy that every woman can be proud to inherit. Islam granted women the right to education, ownership, inheritance, and dignity in a time when these concepts were unheard of. In most parts of the world in the 7th century Arabia, women were denied basic human rights, treated as property, and often discarded by their societies. But with the revelation of the Quran, a revolution in justice and equity was born, one that recognized women. As full, intelligent, and dignified beings, Islam did not just speak of rights and theory; it implemented them in practice, laying the groundwork for a just and balanced society. One of the most profound rights Islam gave women was the right to education. The Prophet Muhammad said that seeking knowledge is obligatory upon every Muslim, male and female. This was groundbreaking in a world where women were denied access to learning. Islam made it mandatory. Female companions of the Prophet, such as Aisha (RA), became teachers and scholars. She taught thousands of men and women alike, including scholars and jurors.
Her knowledge of the Quran, which has its medicine and history, is unparalleled. She corrected men when they made mistakes in the religious ruins test. Deep understanding and intellectual leadership, Islam also gave women the right to own property and manage their finances independently. This was not subject to male oversight. A woman could run a business, invest, earn, and spend as she pleased. Her wealth was hers. And no one, not even her husband, had the right to take it without her permission. This financial independence is a crucial part of women's empowerment, and Islam made it a core principle 1400 years ago. When it comes to inheritance, the Quran specifically outlines women's shares in various familial relationships. Surah Nisa, the 4th chapter of the Quran, dedicates a significant portion to detailing the inheritance rights of women.
Though their shares may differ from men in certain cases, this was a massive step forward in a society where women inherited nothing. And Islam did not stop there. Who protected widows and orphans, ensured they received their due, and made misappropriating their share of serious sin? Beyond legal and financial matters, Islam restored the dignity of women. The Quran speaks to women with direct address, not through men, not as a side note, but with intentional clarity. It presents women as individuals with their own faith, choices, and accountability. The mother of Maryam praises Allah for her unborn child, and Allah accepts her prayer and honors Maryam as a chosen woman, the only woman named in the Quran, and. a Symbol of piety and purity. Allah says. Indeed, Allah has chosen you, purified you, and chosen you above all the women of the worlds. Quran 3.42 All of these rights and honors were granted to women not because they fought for them, but because Allah ordained them. That is the beauty and strength of Islam. It gave women their rights, not as a favor. But as a matter of justice rooted in divine wisdom, these rites are timeless, unapologetic, and still stand firm in the face of cultural distortions and modern-day misconceptions.
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