By Waseema Hameed Qureshi

Men and women have been endowed differently. Male and female gender qualities don't match. Although a woman can function as the breadwinner, while being both the bearer as well as caretaker of the family offspring, a man is constituted only to meet the requirements of the tough outdoor life. For the special responsibility a physically enabled female shares with nature in the grand task of procreation, a male has to, as Allah's vicegerent, carry out this delegated responsibility of providing, protecting and comforting his marital partner to the best of his ability.

Let there be no mistake in understanding that Islam has not in any case allowed violence against the weak and least of all against women. Allah has indeed, been highly Gracious and Merciful in issuing mankind the Book which instructs us through our difficulties in life.

Every word of His Message means to direct us towards righteousness in the present life and better rewards for the Hereafter. Indeed, mistaken are those who misinterpret Qur'aanic verses as word of permission to execute violence against women such as when it quotes:

'Men are the protectors and maintainers of women because Allah has made one of them excel over the other, and because they spend out of their possessions. Thus, righteous women are obedient and guard the rights of men in their absence under Allah's protection. As for women of whom you fear rebellion, admonish them, and remain apart from them in beds, and beat them. Then if they obey you, do not seek ways to harm them. Allah is Exalted, Great.' (4:34)

All human societies set up courts in one form or the other which are allowed to function by social consensus, to warn, punish with hard labour or imprison social offenders. Even doting mothers often use corporal punishment to admonish children who refuse to obey rules of discipline.

When warnings and reasoning cannot pump sense into an adult, other options have to be tried to help secure the survival of family life. Methods may vary according to needs. But the core purpose is to firmly safeguard the interests of all concerned persons.

It doesn't matter if some degree of harshness is used to restore marital unity and harmony, but it definitely is devastating when acts of defiance should fall on deaf ears and be allowed to disrupt family life, render the system nonfunctioning and in turn, rob the self-esteem and confidence of those young ones who, God has trusted us with to nurture and protect.

Marital disputes, no doubt, are best resolved within the privacy of home, particularly when the repute of modesty (a woman) is at stake. It is all the more preferable if one of the two partners-in-relationship is to act as a mediator, for they are better known to each other than outsiders.

In this respect, the husband, as provider has been chosen for the task of straightening up of household matters whenever things start getting out of hands.

In fact, this is a tough to put into practice, for in case of misuse of his position Allah has warned of grievous punishment for injustice. The Almighty surely did not intend to encourage marital violence, as some people do misinterpret, because He has categorically declared: 'Those who annoy believing men and women undeservedly, bear (on themselves) a calumny and a glaring sin.' (33:58) So, the above decree was issued undoubtedly, with the high purpose of protecting the sanctity of home-life.

Here we also find, how the above verse distinctly restricts the degree of authority Allah, the most Merciful, places in a man to act as a reformer in marital matters. A reformer cannot reform others before placing himself into the frame of reform first.

Any true believer, who imagines living in the omnipotent presence of the Lord, cannot possibly dare take advantage of his position to make another person's existence subject to difficulty. If a man resorts to violence using lame excuses, he should know that:

'Those who slander chaste, indiscreet and believing women are cursed in life and in the Hereafter: For them is a grievous Chastisement on the day when their tongues, their hands and their feet will bear witness against them as to their actions.'

Before claiming to act as Allah's vicegerent to reform women-folk, therefore, a man must give himself a thorough check up. He has to see that the rebellious attitude of his wife is not a result of and hence a silent protest against his own waywardness.

Allah doesn't intend women into slavery of men by disallowing them an equally active part in the outdoor side of this material life. Allah, nowhere in his Book excludes females from the right to use own discretion and free will. His Limits are for the best interest of mankind and both men as well as women have to comply with those limits, not under social pressure but through a wholehearted acceptance of Allah's commands.

Things, we know, don't work with half-hearted commitments. In case of defiant behaviour, a man can use a can for his wife, yes, but Allah, the oft-forgiving, the most Merciful, hasn't left women unshielded against injustice. He quotes: 'And those who launch a charge against chaste women, and produce not four witnesses, flog them with eighty stripes and reject their evidence ever after: For such men are wicked transgressors.' (24:4)

This is a serious notice to the people who choose to abuse women emotionally and physically without adequate and ample evidence to support their views. Allah has indeed proposed very terse physical sentence and public humiliation as a reward for the perpetrators of violence in the present life and an everlasting grievous punishment for the Hereafter.

It is for this very reason that despite the decree, nowhere in the Sunnah of our Prophet Muhammad (Sall Allaho alaihe wasallam) or his followers in Islam, one finds a single example of wife-beating or marital violence in general. Discussion, reasoning and intervention by family members were always the preferred methods used to put family matters in order.

Islam believes in free expression of opinion. An Islamic ruler serves the subjects with true spirited fear of God. The burden of sovereignty humbles him down to being self-critical about personal character and possessions.

The caliphs of Islam took public criticism with exemplary humility and apology, where necessary. They were wise and self-conscious about human erring. They faced the world with fortitude to self-correct. Their deeds outline the unique character, a role model would need to adapt as Allah's servant, begging for His forgiveness every step of the way, as they did.

The code of practice attached with a decree of this nature is so frighteningly strict and burdening that there is, of course, no room for some fool to gratify himself by readily offering to hold the reigns of His jurisdiction only to serve personal whims.

The domestic unit, therefore, could not be exempted from a universally accepted necessity, which demands someone at the top management seat to run the household affairs under one command.

There has to be a captain for each individual vessel just as there has to be a leader to direct a unit of soldiers towards a goal. This being an acknowledged fact that two managers cannot be appointed in the same rank, only one could be chosen to become the head.

Allah as Creator has the best knowledge of His creations and hence if He decreed a male to be the captain of the domestic ship, his marital partner should have no qualms in accepting His command whole-heartedly. We must realise that this is to ensure the social and moral welfare and security of human race, within the means of how we have been constituted.

There is much talk about 90 Muslim million youth of Pakistan under 25 years being riddled with many problems. Who carry a bleak outlook, no vision to shape the future, lack of income, insecurity and constant agitation of the sexual instinct. Who often resort to crime, idleness, delinquency and who lack in moral values, which shape a healthy society. Who find a secular system run by twisted mentalities, disregarding the agenda of Allah (swt) and instead promoting the agenda of Western norms and values.

A freelance journalist working for an NGO in Pakistan stated in March 2001 "The potential of our youth needs to be channeled in the right direction. Education alone can do this. Gender discrimination ought to be discouraged, as the boys of today would be husbands and fathers of tomorrow. More recreational, entertainment and employment opportunities need to be created for them to reduce their frustrations and feeling of uselessness... The hooliganism that took place during the recent(World Music) festival in Lahore is ample proof of the fact that our youth need more such opportunities to get used to the idea."

Dangerous concepts from one representing a dangerous organisation indeed!

Whose only solution would be for our youth to taste more of this filthy KUFR. In which freedom of choice allows our youth to shamelessly dance on a platform under the banner of pop culture, alcohol and drugs. Where gender discrimination is promoted in an environment that nurtures lewdnesses and agitates the sexual urges where even men target men under the spotlight of liberty.

The issue that more education needs to be parted is a cover to promote the agenda of the kuffar, so that they maintain a physiological grip over the minds. One does not need eyes to observe that the majority of the participants were youth groomed at the best educational institutes in Pakistan and abroad. So, what type of education is the author presenting? The education that promotes free mixing with a hint of deliberate match making! Where the social atmosphere that is available clearly demonstrates flirtatious gestures and the attainment of material prestige as the only outlook in life.

Due to the onslaught of secularism, young people in the Western world became the advocates of the sexual revolution. Aided by the government, the birth control pill was introduced and later the legalization of abortion. Family values deteriorated, marriage became outdated. Childbirth decreased and the divorce rate accelerated. "Egg freezing" became a service enabling women to pursue careers without having to sacrifice their natural craving for children. Today every Western university promotes the gay and lesbian culture through a society who proudly call others to join them. We need to ask ourselves "Is this the direction we would like our youth to take?"

It is true that every system in society has a magical effect upon the people, to influence their thinking and behaviour. Today in Pakistan, we need not judge our youth in a superficial light deeming them to be the cause and effect of all the evils in society. When things go terribly wrong and the society becomes plagued with illegitimate children, alcohol abuse, homosexuality and selfishness like the society in the Western world, ask any parents " Did you teach your child all these things?" They will most certainly answer "no". So the question arises "Then who did?"

The promiscuousness and misadventure, which run loose in our youth, are merely the result, the outcome of a deliberate attempt by the Western policy makers through our rulers to enshroud this Ummah with their way of life. So that the youth, (our future) become lame empty vessels drained from the energy to carry Islam, burdened with the joys of indulgence. As mentioned by Allah (swt) "O you who believe! Take not into your intimacy those who are outside your ranks! They will not fail to corrupt you. They only desire your ruin. Rank hatred has already appeared from their mouths, but what their hearts conceal is far greater. We have made plain for you the signs, if you have wisdom" (TMQ 3:118).

It is no wonder that every Internet cafe is packed with chat line dating and access to explicit materials. And that every educational institution becomes a playground for romance. All this so that we never realise our own purpose in this life, being to implement Islam and guide the rest of mankind to the Deen of Allah (swt). Allah (swt) stated "Judge between then by what Allah has revealed and follow not their vain desires but beware of them lest they seduce you from some part of that which Allah has revealed to you" (TMQ 5:49). Therefore, our rulers should beware and fear Allah (swt) the next time they give permission to such like events at Al Hamra. What was it that seduced them away from ruling by what Allah (swt) has revealed. Don't they realise that one-day they will have to answer to him.

In one hadith Muhammad (saw) said that this Deen of Islam is carried on the shoulders of the youth, and we saw the glory of that era where the early Muslims embraced Islam in it's entirety because the Islamic State was able to lift the intellectual level of those new Muslims. This developed in them the Islamic Aqueeda, which became an ideological basis upon which all concepts were founded. As a result, Islam took them from ignorance to the firm rational belief, from the declined behavior to the refined actions, which were pleasing to Allah and his Messenger (saw) and broadened their horizons not only for their day and age but also up to the Day of Judgment. Islam made them believe in the hereafter and led them to imagine it with conviction and concern, firmly establishing the concept of reward and punishment emanating from actions. So they conceived it as being the real life and this led them to acquire a true meaning of life and a real value to live it knowing the path to another happier and eternal life was looming over the horizons.

They held life with open arms and did not neglect it. They took its means and enjoyed the pleasures and the wealth that Allah (swt), the one who set up this life and who determined its criteria and true perceptions. Before Islam their criterion of life was based on benefit, this benefit was the only motive and the main aim of their actions. Then the criteria of their actions changed and came to be based on what is halal and what is haram. These criteria became the driving force behind their actions, and its guidelines were according to what Allah (swt) has commanded and prohibited. The aim of directing their actions was to obtain the pleasure of Allah (swt). Islam gave the people a true meaning of happiness, because true happiness means total and permanent peace of mind and this can never be achieved merely through satisfying the material pleasures and desires. It can only be achieved through obtaining the pleasure of the Lord of the Universe.

Selected by Arafat Nadeem