The Third Level: Women and the Struggle for the Establishment of Islam
The third level
involves the struggle for an Islamic Revolution, the peak of all obligations,
for bringing about an Islamic Order "so that Allah’s Word reigns
supreme." At this stage the formation of an organized and dedicated group
of individuals becomes inevitable. Such a group will consist of committed
individuals who will stand united for a single purpose: abolishing tyranny of
the status quo, to set up in its place, the ideal Islamic System of Social
Justice. These individuals will be ready to lay down their lives for this
cause. This is the responsibility that women have been exempted from except in
certain extreme cases.
Some people
falsely assume that women too are required to participate in this highest level
in the hierarchy of our responsibilities. They argue that in the glorious history
of Islam, women did leave their homes and sacrifice their lives. Sumayyiah (RA)
was martyred along with her husband Yasir (RA). Ruqayyiah (RA) migrated to Madinah
just as her husband Usman (RA) did. However, the people who quote these
instances fail to realize that the migration and martyrdom of these women
represent the essence and apex of the first level (not the third) of our building.
It was for the sake of her staunch belief in Tauheed - the
oneness of Allah (SWT) - that Sumayyiah (RA) did not
yield before Abu Jahal. A woman giving her life in order to keep her faith is
the foundation (representing Ihsan), in relation to our building, where there
is no difference in men's and women's responsibilities.
It was a matter
of standing up for what one believes in and remaining steadfast even if one's
life is at stake. It was not a matter of encountering the disbelievers on the
battlefield. Even today, if a believing woman is faced with a choice between
her faith and her life, the best and the most honorable thing is to remain firm
on her faith and not to care for her life. It is however, permissible in Islam to
profess disbelief verbally in such a life threatening situation. Sumayyah (RA)
and Yassir (RA) sacrificed their lives to uphold their faith, whereas their son
'Ammar (RA) saved his life by orally claiming faithlessness.
Similarly, when practicing Islam becomes impossible in
a land then the Muslims should migrate in the way of Allah (SWT). Ruqayyah (RA)
and Umm Habibah (RA) with few other women migrated with their Mahrams because
life in Makkah became unbearable. Migration for keeping the Divine message
alive while abandoning homeland and belongings is actually holding on to faith,
the foundation of the building of Islam. In short, remaining loyal to Faith is
something that applies to both men and women as does migrating in the way of Allah
(SWT).
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