salaam.

I found it pretty funny that certain groups of feminists seem to equate being male with being powerful, anything manly as something positive and to be striven for. Hence their struggle to turn females into males, in looks, occupation, carriage, personality, thinking, career, and everything under the sun, and call this ‘conversion’ success. Women who chose to be women are deemed unworthy, a shame to the cause so passionately fought by her ‘fellow sisters’. Whether consciously or not, these poor dears are admitting - be it true or false - that males are superior to females.

The society is composed of two main branches, the male and the female, who together comprise the One that is harmony and balance materialized. It is not by seeking equality per se and eliminating differences that women are empowered, but by cherishing and celebrating their femininity, and playing their role as preordained by Faith and Nature. And this, by no means suggest that women should be doormats with mindless, quiet obedience. I wonder whether the Islam-bashing feminists and orientalist had ever looked into the seerah to see the industriousness of Ummul Mukmineen Khadijah and the sharp wits of the beloved Ummul Mukmineen Aishah. Or for something closer to the present, the iron-willed Zaynab al-Ghazali al-Jubayli, Maryam Jameelah , Indonesia’s Tjoet Nyak Dhien and Ibu Kartini, or Malaysia’s Ibu Zain and Shamsiah Fakeh.

Who said that women’s roles are limited within the four walls of her house? While we accept that men have more responsibilities outdoors - both to support the family and to do da’wah to the ummah, this does not mean that women are exempted and should be content on cooking, combing the children’s hair and preparing the bedroom to celebrate her hero. While all those tasks should never be ignored and must be completed as perfectly as possible, women also must realise that there’s a whole community of women out there waiting for their well-guided (not misguided) sisters to help them, to educate them, to treat them, to lift them out of misery, to do da’wah to them, tasks that can only be done best by women for women. Not by men for women. So, whose responsibility is these, if not women’s? The same women who should also bear the glorious wifely and motherly duties at the home.

Like Dr Harlina, a Muslimah leader in Malaysia used to say, Muslimah should be the leaders for all women. And cooped-up, narrow-minded wives with bossy husbands who refuse to share the housework and demand 24-7 attention do not look much like leaders.

Well, women should be real women and men should be real men. Better still - and best, actually - women should be real, true Muslimah and men should be the real, true Muslims. Muslim and Muslimah who live for humanity and the Deen without neglecting the basic tasks to their family and kins, at the same time giving allowance for sacrifices to be made.

To each his or her responsibility, to each his or her due of rewards. Justice and fairness does not lie in total, exact equality, but in the celebration of differences and practical, realistic take of responsibilities.
The task of cooking, folks, NEVER lies on the wife only. And not the husband alone have to go out and do da’wah.
And Allah knows best. =)

meow~