(Friday sermon] International Women’s Day?

By Imam Murtadha Gusau

In the name of Allah, the Most Merciful, the Bestower of Mercy

All praise is for Allah, we praise Him, we seek His help, we ask for His forgiveness, and we seek refuge with Allah from the evils of our own souls and the wickedness of our actions, whoever Allah guides, there is none that can lead him astray, and whoever Allah allows to go astray, there is none that can lead him to the right path.

I testify and bare witness that there is no deity worthy of worship in truth but Allah, alone, without any partners. And I testify and bare witness that Muhammad (Peace be upon him) is His Servant and Messenger. As for what’s after:

Dear brothers and sisters! The international day of women is a celebration which was invented to commemorate the movement of women’s rights. It was first celebrated on the 8th March 1910. Before that the European women where humiliated and disrespected when Islam came to uplift them and give them a high status more than 1400 years ago. Unfortunately, some of our dear sisters who perhaps do not know the importance Islam gave them are seduced by this celebration and take part in this. So what does Islam say about this festival?

Respected servants of Allah! To answer this question, I will use some speech and verdict of our late Shaykh Muhammad Ibn Salih Ibn Uthaimin (may Allah have mercy on him) about celebrating Mother’s Day. He says:

“All celebrations which differ from the Eids prescribed in Islam are innovated festivals which were not known at the time of the righteous predecessors (the Salaf). They may also have come from the non-Muslims, in which case as well as being an innovation (bid’ah) they are also an imitation of the nonbelievers. The festivals which are prescribed in Islam are well known to the Muslims: they are Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha, and the weekly “Eid” of Jumu’ah. There is no other festival in Islam apart from these three. All the festivals that have been invented apart from these are to be rejected because they are innovations and are false according to the laws of Allah, because the Prophet (Peace be upon him) said:

“Whoever introduces anything into this matter of ours that is not part of it will have it rejected.”

Meaning: It will be thrown back at him and will not be accepted by Allah Almighty.

According to another version:

“Whoever does any deed that is not part of this matter of ours will have it rejected.”

Once this is clear, then it is not permissible to show any of the signs of festivity on the celebration mentioned, namely International Women’s Day and Mother’s Day. It is not permissible to show joy and happiness, or to offer gifts, and so on.

The Muslim should feel proud of his religion and adhere to the limits set by Allah and His Messenger (Peace be upon him) in this religion, which Allah has chosen for His servants, and he should not add anything or take anything away. What the Muslim should also do is not to follow every new idea that comes along, rather his character should be in accordance with the Shari’ah of Allah so that he will be a leader and example, not a follower, because the Shari’ah of Allah – praise be to Allah – is complete in all ways as Allah Almighty says:

“This day, I have perfected your religion for you, completed My Favour upon you, and have chosen for you Islam as your religion.”

A women’s or mother’s right wallahi is greater than having just one day in the year to be honoured, rather the mother’s right over her children is that they should take care of her and obey her, so long as it does not involve disobedience towards Allah, at all times and in all places.” [Majmu’ Fatawa of Shaykh Ibn Uthaimin, vol. 2, page 301]

The Prophet (Peace be upon him) said:

“The worst of matters are those which are newly-invented (in religion), and every innovation is a going-astray.” [Narrated by Muslim and al-Nasa’i]

Al-Nasa’i’s report adds the words:

“And every going astray will be in the Fire.”

Moreover, this innovation has come to us from societies in which bad and evil manners are shown to women. So they think that honouring their women folk for one day will erase their evil treatment towards her during the rest of the year. But we Muslims have been commanded to honour our mothers, sisters, wives and daughters. Honouring one’s mother or wife does not come to an end even when she dies, for she is honoured in life and in death. That is done by offering the funeral prayer for her, praying for forgiveness for her and honouring her family and friends. Let us adhere to this great religion and follow its etiquettes and rulings, for in it is sufficient guidance and mercy. Abdullah Ibn Umar said:

“The Prophet (Peace be upon him) said: “Whoever imitates a people is one of them.” [Reported by Abu Dawud]

Shaykhul Islam Ibn Taimiyyah (may Allah have mercy on him) said:

“This at the very least indicates that it is haram (prohibited) to imitate them, although the apparent meaning is that the one who imitates them is a kafir (nonbeliever).” [Iqtida Siratal-Mustaqim]

We are therefore forbidden to imitate the non Muslims and we must differ from them in every and any way possible. We do not take anything from their ways especially in Aqidah (belief), Ibadah (acts of worship) and Eid (celebrations).

This is about the actual Islamic ruling about this. Even the reality of the matter tell us there are no benefits in taking part in this, especially in the African context where we see women falling into sins towards their husbands. Just for one day, some of our sisters and mothers would force their husbands to clean the house, go to the market and cook, claiming they have been doing that throughout the year. We ask them, are you also willing to do your husband’s job for one day? They will make problems and disrespect their husbands because they want the uniform of the festival, some of them go to extreme until we heard of women applying glue to their private parts so that their husband won’t have intimate relations with them. And Allah’s help is sought.

It may also be that the man himself doesn’t know and recognise the rights that his women folk has on him and maybe this is the reason his female relative make it a big deal to celebrate this. Allah the Most High said:

“And they (women) have rights (over their husbands as regards living expenses) similar (to those of their husbands) over them (as regards obedience and respect) to what is reasonable, but men have a degree (of responsibility) over them. And Allah is All-Mighty, All-Wise.”

The Messenger of Allah (Peace be upon him) said:

“The best of you are those who are the best to their wives, and I am the best of you to my wives.” [Reported by at-Tirmidhi and Ibn Majah]

In another Hadith He said:

“You never spend anything but you will be rewarded for it, even the morsel of food that you lift to your wife’s mouth.” [Reported by al-Bukhari and Muslim]

Aisha, the wife of the Prophet Muhammad, was asked:

“What did the Prophet use to do in his house?” She replied, “He used to keep himself busy serving his family and when it was the time for prayer he would go for it.” [Reported by Al Bukhari]

Respected brothers and sisters! Islamic Shari’ah honours women and raises them to a lofty status, with the aim of protecting them and preserving their dignity. Thus, a woman’s guardian or husband is obligated to provide for her, support her, answer to her needs and live honourably with her. Allah Almighty states:

“…and live with them honourably.”

It has been also confirmed that the Prophet (Peace be upon him) stated that:

“The best of you is the best to his family and I am the best to my family.”

Moreover, Islam grants a woman all the appropriate rights and legal responsibilities. Allah the Most High states:

“And they (women) have rights (over their husbands as regards living expenses) similar (to those of their husbands) over them (as regards obedience and respect) according to what is reasonable, but men have a degree (of responsibility) over them. And Allah is All-Mighty, All-Wise.”

In addition, a woman is obligated to carry out the same acts of Ibadah (worship) and commands that men are, such as Taharah (ceremonial purification), Salah (Prayer), Zakah (obligatory charity), Sawm (Fasting), Hajj and many other forms of worship.

However, Shari’ah grants a woman half the share of man’s inheritance since she is not obligated to provide for herself, her household or her children, contrary to the man. Add to this that a man’s wealth is liable to reduction by means of entertaining guests, paying blood money, paying compensation and the like. In some cases, the testimonies of two women equal the testimony of one man, since women are more prone to forget than men due to their special nature.

They have the menses, they become pregnant, they give birth and raise children. All of these things can affect a woman’s ability to remember accurately. That is why, evidence from Shari’ah makes it necessary for two woman to bear witness together to be sure. On the other hand, there are some issues that are solely related to women when it is enough for one woman to testify, such as cases of suckling, marital problems and the like.

Furthermore, women and men are rewarded equally for their belief (Iman) and righteous deeds, in enjoying the life of this world, and in being recompensed greatly in the Hereafter. Allah Almighty states:

“Whoever works righteousness – whether male or female – while he (or she) is a true believer (of Islamic Monotheism) verily, to him We will give a good life (in this world with respect, contentment and lawful provision), and We shall pay them certainly a reward in proportion to the best of what they used to do (i.e. Paradise in the Hereafter).”

This proves that women have rights and duties just as men have rights and duties. Some matters suit men better and that is why Allah charges men with them, while other matters suit women better and that is why Allah charges women with them.

May Allah grant us success. May peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and Companions.

In conclusion, although many other things can be mentioned, I advice our sisters to learn about the rights their Lord, Allah Almighty and their Prophet have given them and to let then non Muslims women waste their time and energy for something they would have if they came to Islam.