A Proper View of the Woman in Building the Family

The origin of this present article stems from a brief encounter that I had with a wonderful Baptist Preacher who had allowed me the honor and the privilege of speaking to the people from his pulpit. I was speaking on the need for the reform of Judaism, Christianity and Islam in their view and treatment of the female.

I mentioned that Paul said that the woman should be quiet in the church. This has been taken to mean that in church life she should have nothing to say. In some religious orders in Christianity she is forbidden to come up on the rostrum or to sit in the place where the Pastor sits. I said, "I disagree with Paul. He was a great Apostle, but, he certainly is not Jesus and nowhere in the Gospels concerning the Words and Acts of Jesus do we find justification for the Words of the Apostle."

I said to my Christian family, if Mary, the Mother of Jesus, entered the church would you tell her that she could not come and stand on the rostrum and speak to us�a woman so exalted and revered by Allah (God)? Then, I turned and said to the Pastor, would you tell your mother that she could not come up here? The Pastor quickly said to me, "She could not come up here."

I was shocked. It was then that I realized even more so why there must be reform in our thinking concerning the female. What is so Holy about the rostrum of the church that the mother of him who teaches the Word should not approach such place. Yet, Jesus, in whom was the spirit and presence of Allah (God), would be approached and embraced by those women who closely followed Him. Is the rostrum or the pulpit more sacred than the person in whom is the indwelling spirit of Allah (God)?

Dear and beloved Christians, it was a woman who attended the birth of Jesus, yet, Christianity does not begin at His birth. There were women who ministered unto Jesus�washing His feet, comforting Him and following Him, yet, Christianity does not begin with His Ministry, but Christianity begins at a place called Calvary, where, according to the scripture, this Messiah was put to death. It is there, at that time, at that place, that Christianity begins, and, who was present at that place? Most of His Disciples had run away except John, and he was at a safe distance, but, it was His Mother Mary and another Mary who were at the foot of the cross when Jesus uttered these words, "Woman, behold thy son." It was women at the tomb who saw that the tomb was empty and ran to tell the Apostles that Jesus was risen.

If anyone should have a high place of honor in the life of a Christian, in the life of a Muslim, as well as in the life of a Jew, it should and must always be Mother.

The Pastor and I disagreed on this point, but at the end of the service we hugged each other. We disagreed, but never ever were we disagreeable. I hope that this attitude toward the female among certain segments of the Christian, Muslim, and Jewish family will change.

Prophet Muhammad said, "Heaven lies at the foot of mother."

Prophet Muhammad was asked, "After Allah (God) and His Messenger whom should we honor most?" The Prophet answered, "Your mother." The companion asked who next? The Prophet answered, "Your mother." The companion asked again, and, the Prophet answered, "Your mother." The companion asked a fourth time, and, the Prophet answered, "Your father."

These two sayings of Prophet Muhammad (Peace Be Unto Him), teach us the importance of the female in building a heavenly society, and, the level of honor that should be accorded to our mothers right after honor to Allah (God) and to His Messenger.

There is a scripture in the Bible that raises the question, "How beautiful are the feet of him who publisheth peace?"

When one has been gifted with Divine Revelation and Divine Guidance, submission to Him is a requirement in order to bring about a life of righteousness and peace. Therefore, being at the foot of the Messenger or Publisher of Peace means being in submission to such one, and, it teaches us of the beauty of complete surrender to one who comes directly from Allah (God) to guide us in His Way. Therefore, the Qur�an teaches us to obey Allah (God) and His Messenger. Next to obedience to Allah (God) and His Messenger is obedience and honor to our mothers.

A mother who is in submission to the Will of Allah (God), at her feet, in obedience to her instructions is that which will allow us to build a heavenly life. The female is the corner stone of family life. In my humble opinion, there is not enough honor and respect paid to females. I have found more respect for the female practiced in the Native American culture than I have found practiced in the three branches of the religion of Abraham�Judaism, Christianity and Islam.

Why is this? Ever since Adam�s fall, which according to the Bible was produced by his acquiescence to Eve, the female has had to carry the burden of having been the instrument through whom the devil caused the fall of man. As a result of this, women have had to carry the burden of the thought that she is the natural tool of the devil. Because of this thought, she has been persecuted in most of the societies of the earth, although, not necessarily for the same reason.

Before the coming of Prophet Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him), the Arabs were engaged in infanticide (the killing of female babies). It was thought that having a female child was something of a Divine Curse. In many societies on this earth, there is no rejoicing when a female child is born. In some cases this is tradition. In certain cultures and in other instances, it is due to the misunderstanding of scriptures and the Divine Role that women have as co-workers with Allah (God) in the making of the human being. In order for a new and better understanding of society or world to come into existence, we must have a better understanding of the value and importance of the female in building marriage and family, and, the importance of the female in building a new world order.

The Honorable Elijah Muhammad said to us that, His Mission was the resurrection of a mentally dead nation and the bringing into existence through us, an entirely new and beautiful people. In fact, He said that we would become the most beautiful people that the world has ever known, by the permission of Almighty (God) Allah.

Several years ago, when I made weekly radio broadcasts on behalf of the Honorable Elijah Muhammad and His Teachings, I would say, "My beautiful Black brothers and sisters."

One day, the Honorable Elijah Muhammad said to me, "There is no beauty in one who disbelieves in Allah (God)." So, if we are to be made the most beautiful people that ever lived, it means that we will ultimately become the most obedient to Allah (God) because of our profound belief and trust completely in Him. Also, it will be because we truly love Allah (God) with all our heart, soul, mind and strength. This and this alone is the origin of true spiritual beauty.

The Honorable Elijah Muhammad said to us that, as the earth is 75% water and 25% land, 75% of His Mission is with the female. His words correspond exactly to the saying of Prophet Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him) that, mother is honored three times before father is honored once. Why is this so? It is only when we have produced a reformed female, filled with the love and spirit of Allah (God) that we will be able to produce a superior nation. Likewise, the female is so important because she is the first nurse and the first teacher of the child.

There is a saying, "The hand that rocks the cradle rules the world." If Satan�s hand is on the female that rocks the cradle, then, through that hand, Satan rules the world. The converse is also true. If Allah�s (God�s) hand is on the female that rocks the cradle, then, Allah (God) through that female will bring into existence and rule the new world.

We can see that the present world in which we live is ruled by Satan. All of the efforts to protect the female from Satan�s hand have failed. Therefore, through the female, Satan�s power is shaping the children of the present world order. This is why a knowledgeable, God-fearing, spirit- filled woman is the base of Allah�s (God�s) new world order and the Kingdom of Heaven. For, the Honorable Elijah Muhammad taught us, "Where there are no decent women, there are no decent men. For, the woman is the mother of civilization."

How then can the woman take her proper and rightful place without exposure to that knowledge which will cultivate all aspects of her being. In order for the female to produce a great future for us, she must be filled with the desire for knowledge, specifically the knowledge of Allah (God) and His Word. Any society that deprives the female of the deepest aspect of the study of the Word of Allah (God) is a society that will not approach the potential of its greatness. For, only when we have a highly spiritual and moral woman, educated, cultivated, cultured and refined will she be able to bring into existence a civilization bearing these same fine qualities and characteristics.

In the Qur�an to prove the importance and the value of a righteous woman, it is written concerning Mary, the Mother of Jesus, "And when the angels said: O Mary, surely Allah has chosen thee and purified thee and chosen thee above the women of the world. O Mary, be obedient to thy Lord and humble thyself and bow down with those who bow. This is of the tidings of things unseen which We reveal to thee. And thou wast not with them when they cast their pens (to decide) which of them should have Mary in his charge, and thou wast not with them when they contended one with another. When the angels said: Oh Mary, surely Allah gives thee good news with a word from Him (of one) whose name is the Messiah, Jesus, son of Mary, worthy of regard in this world and the Hereafter, and of those who are drawn nigh (to Allah)." (Sura 3 verses 41-45)

These verses of scripture teach us that Mary was chosen by Allah (God) above all the women of the world to be purified by Him. She was commanded then to be obedient to Allah, humble herself, and bow down with those who bow down. Mary, in being obedient to Allah (God), was purified by Him to bring forth into the world the Messiah that would change the condition of human beings and reconcile a fallen human being once again to our Creator.

This is the value of the female. This is the value of a righteous woman. She is more precious than silver and fine gold. In fact, there is nothing in the earth more valuable than a virtuous woman. This is the value of obedience or coming to the foot of mother for only at the feet of a righteous mother will we learn the heavenly life and bring into existence that which is called the Kingdom of Allah (God).

From this day forward, whenever you look at a female child, you are looking at one who has the potential of bringing into existence a World Saviour. Mary grew up among righteous guardians. The Qur�an teaches us exactly the process by which a righteous child is brought into existence and specifically how Mary was brought into existence.

More next week, if it is the Will of Allah (God).