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Impact of the
Qur'an on the Muslim Women
Freelance Writer — Pakistan
The Qur'an is indeed a miracle that has
withstood the test of time; not a single letter in it has
changed over 14 centuries. Hundreds of thousands of Muslims
memorize and preserve it in their hearts. It contains amazing
scientific facts confirmed much later after their revelation.
Allah, the Exalted, promised to protect and preserve it. He
says,
(Surely We have revealed the Reminder, and We will most surely be
its Guardian.) (Al-Hijr 15:9)
As a Muslim woman
who has witnessed such a change in numerous Muslim sisters of
different ages and backgrounds after they started to study,
ponder over, and adhere to the commands of the Qur'an, I can
testify to the miraculous phenomenon that this book brings
about.
So flabbergasting
has this effect been that even Prophet Muhammad (peace and
blessings be upon him) was initially accused, by the
disbelievers of Makkah, of practicing sihr (witchcraft)
over the early Muslims, as the unflinching change of their
hearts toward the Qur'an's monotheistic message could not be
attributed to any human cause. In the Qur'an, Almighty Allah
says,
(And they wonder that there has come to them a warner from among
themselves, and the disbelievers say, "This is an enchanter, a
liar.") (Saad 38:4)
It is the same
today. Whenever a Muslim adheres to the Qur'an, reciting it with
understanding, reading its translation or exegesis with deep
reflection, or teaching it to others, he or she undergoes a real
change for the better in his or her lifestyle and habits,
worship, dealings with others, and best of all in his or her
innate spiritual self.
Correcting Belief
and Worship
Knowledge of the
Qur'an improves the Muslim woman's understanding of monotheism,
the Oneness of Allah, in such a way that her Creator becomes the
center of her existence. Her basic beliefs are rectified and her
heart is cleansed from the impurity ofshirk (polytheism),
as she reads in the Qur'an (Serve Allah, and join not any partners with Him) (An-Nisaa' 4:36).
She also
experiences a gradual decline in the reverence of intangible
deities that her heart previously harbored, such as strong love
for the world and its adornments (e.g., fashionable clothes,
jewelry, shoes, interior decor, and luxuries), the human base
self's innate desires, and dependence on physical means and
people (who are among Allah's creation) in achieving ends.
Her attitude
toward taharah(purity) in herself, her home, and her
family also undergoes a radical change, so that she can be seen
focusing more on simple, clean, clutter-free living rather than
lavish opulence and exhibitionist extravagance. That is because
Almighty Allah loves the repentant and the purified. He, the
Exalted, says,
(Surely Allah loves those who turn much (to Him), and He loves those
who purify themselves.)(Al-Baqarah 2:222)
Relinquishing
Useless Pastimes
Knowledgeable
companionship with the Glorious Qur'an removes from a Muslim
woman's life all useless pastimes, such as window shopping,
buying unnecessary possessions, watching soaps or drama on
television, gossiping for hours on the phone, attending
extravagant parties to ascend the social ladder, showing
acquired assets off, and attending gatherings of innovative
religious rituals.
Eventually, the
Qur'an enables her to relinquish social ills such as backbiting,
mingling with members of the opposite sex, and indulging in
impermissible entertainment (like films, music, dating, singing,
and dancing). By refraining from all these ills, a Muslim woman
will have ample time to pursue leisure-time activities and
hobbies that will be more fruitful for her in the hereafter.
Righteous
Activities for Society
Most Muslim girls and women who gain
knowledge of Allah's Book eventually start teaching what they
learned to others or actively start volunteering for social work
on a community level (e.g., feeding the poor, paying off others'
debts, facilitating marriages, counseling those who are
aggrieved, and providing the needy with work).
They also start to
focus more on their family and on building its Islamic
character. The major cause of this shift in focus is, as
mentioned before, relinquishing mundane and time-wasting
pursuits.
Modesty in Dress
and Dealings
The more a Muslim
woman studies the Qur'an, the more she becomes inclined to
chastity, humbleness, and modesty. The Qur'an reconnects her to
her fitrah(intrinsic human nature), and thus she starts
becoming conscious of how she dresses in public, how she talks
to men who are not mahrams (unmarriageable kins), and how she
uses body language outside her house.
In fact, all her
manners undergo a noticeable change for the better: her
dressing, her tone of voice, her conversational style, her sense
of humor, her gestures, and her way of talking with men all
become compliant with Allah's ordainments in the Qur'an:
(And do not display your finery like the displaying of the ignorance
of yore, and keep up Prayer, and pay the poor rate, and obey
Allah and His Messenger.)(Al-Ahzab 33:33)
Better
Relationship With Others
Deep understanding
of the Qur'an leads to a high level oftaqwa, which is
piety, perpetual consciousness of Allah, and fear of His anger.
This makes a Muslim woman extremely careful to give other people
their due rights. This taqwa improves her relationships
with them, making her more patient, tolerant, forgiving mistakes
and shortcomings, and more kind to everyone in general.
The Qur'an makes
her more zealously cherish, obey, respect, and serve her
parents, especially if she is single and free from the
responsibilities of marriage and motherhood. She thus helps out
more with household tasks instead of always going out with
friends. She gives due attention to her parents' advice and
opinions and obeys their decisions regarding her marriage
proposals.
Similarly, the
Qur'an reminds the married Muslim woman of the nature of her
husband's and children's rights, which are her duties toward
them. It is therefore not uncommon to see a husband (who himself
might not be so practicing of the teaching of Islam beyond basic
obligations) singing his wife's praises once she starts studying
the Qur'an.
This is because he strongly feels the
improvement in her overall character and conduct; he notices her
hard work on the moral upbringing of their children and her
increased dedication to her home life. He finds a warmer,
happier home and family awaiting him each evening, so he
openheartedly welcomes this change, which was brought about by
the Qur'an's effect on his wife.
A Tranquil Soul
and a Rancor-Free Heart
In the Qur'an,
Almighty Allah says,
(O humankind! There has come to you a direction from your Lord and a
healing for the (diseases) in your hearts and, for those who
believe, a guidance and a mercy.) (Yunus 10:57)
Last but not
least, the greatest blessing that the Qur'an gives to a Muslim
woman is a heart filled with Allah's love. This heart throbs
with unadulterated faith and is free from any malice, rancor,
hatred, or envy toward others; it is a heart that knows no
despair of Allah's mercy in bleak circumstances and is tranquil
due to complete trust in Allah.
This is the heart
described by Allah Himself as the sound heart:
(The day on which property will not avail, nor sons, except him who
comes to Allah with a sound heart.) (Ash-Shu`araa' 26:88–89)
If the Qur'an can
so positively change hearts, people, and eventually entire
families and communities, would you not want to welcome its
enlightening effect into your life too?
Sadaf Farooqi is a freelance
writer based in Karachi, Pakistan. She has a postgraduate
masters degree in computer science and a diploma in Islamic
education. She has seven years of experience as a teacher of
Islamic education courses for women and girls. She writes for
Hiba Magazine, SISTERS Magazine, and Saudi Gazette. She also
blogs at MuslimMatters.org.
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