"Not Like the Other: Women in the Quran" - Ramadan Reflections 2023 - Episode 1

On the first day of Ramadan 2023/1444, we introduce the theme of "Not Like the Other: Women in the Quran. In the Quran, when speaking about the lead-up to the birth of Maryam binte Imran we are told that her parents had made an oath to dedicate their child, whom they were expecting would be a boy, to be a servant in the temple. In Sūrah Ale Imran (3), Verse 36, Allah says: "Then when she delivered her [child Maryam (Mary)], she said: 'O my Lord! I have delivered a female child,' - and Allah knew better what she delivered, 'And the male (child she expected) could not be like the female (that Allah blessed her with), and I have named her Maryam (Mary), and I seek refuge with You (Allah) for her and for her offspring from Satan, the outcast.'" However as history would show, Maryam binte Imran would become an unparalleled woman in history, giving birth through a miraculous conception to one of the greatest Prophets, Isa ibn Maryam – a Prophet that will return at the end of time to assist Imam al-Mahdi. Unfortunately in our era, we have seen a radical shift in the roles of men and women in society. Yes at one level, we need to get away from stereotypes and cultural practices IF they are going against religion. However one of the downfalls of the rapid ‘progress’ if you want to call it that, is the redefinition of what it means to be a woman. We live in an era in which many women feel that in order to be considered as ‘equal’ to men, they should do and want to do everything men do in society. This is not only in the “West” but also the “East”. It is a global phenomenon that we must all be aware of. As an example, some of the topics which we will cover this month include: • Emergence of Islam and a Revolution in the Status of Women: Creation of Women • Spiritual Status of Women and Men in Islam • Men and Women: Similar Spiritual Traits and Rewards • Men and Women: Similar Punishments in the World to Come • Women: Right to Choose when it Comes to Marriage • Women: Right to Encourage Good and Forbid Evil • Women: Right to be Defended against False Accusations • Women: Differences with Men in SOME Areas (Blood Money, Testimony, and Inheritance) • Women: The Hijab: Quranic Perspectives From the second half of the month, we will look at examples of women in the Quran that Allah speaks about and that we can learn from. The Quran is replete with stories of righteous women like wives of Prophet Ibrahim, the mother and sister of Prophet Musa, the wife of the Pharaoh, Umm al-Momimeen Khadijah, Fatima az-Zahra and others – and we will be spending a day or two on each of these and other noble, respectable women. There are also women that led less than a respectable, righteous life and were reprimanded by Allah in the Quran – women like the wife of Prophet Lut and also the wife of Prophet Nuh and of course, two of the wives of Prophet Muḥammad – Ayesha the daughter of Abu Bakr and Hafsa the daughter of Umar and how Allah speaks about them in Sūrah al-Tahreem. Join us every day in Ramadan 2023/1444 as we review a new and interesting topic from the Quran under the theme of: NOT LIKE THE OTHER: WOMEN IN THE QURAN.