Assalamualaikum,
Phew the previous article was really formal! Anyway it is not going remain that way... That was just an introduction to this young and youthful and lady-like blog (which i hope won't shunt you away due to the complexity of the language).

To put everything back in a more relaxed manner, we would like to share everything about woman with everybody else out there. Of course, sophisticated and beneficial stuffs, eventhough they are not going to be presented in a sophisticated way...=)

Anyway, have you all checked out all the links put in this blog? Well, if you haven't, don't be left behind in reading those COOL blogs! (Well, i am not sure whether they are cool or not, but one thing for sure, I like them..=)

Looking forward responses from you!!!

Feminism. Feminism is the belief that woman should have the same rights and opportunities as men. It as well suits with the definition ‘a movement that works to achieve equal rights for woman’.

Once, the subject ‘gender equality’ was considered as ex’clusion zone. Nobody was allowed to discuss this as it was a taboo. Even worse, when few liberated ladies tried to bring up this issue, our community would blindly turn their back against them, thinking they were trying to excoriate the men. A big thanks to tajdid (revival) movement in religion (Islam) and globalization, women started to wake up from this lengthy nightmare.

Misunderstandings of Islamic teachings smeared with some ridiculous Malay tradition were forced to relinquish their grip on women’s freedom. It should not be hesitated that Islamic teachings is comprehensive, practical and balance in nature. Similarly, Malay tradition carves its own beauty and uniqueness in our culture. It was of no doubt that these impurities were created by some so-called andro-intelligentsia with the intention of limiting the capabilities of women to completing household chores only.

Before diving further into the ocean of confusion and treading the web of mayhem in search of certainty in the matter of gender equality, this concept should be interpreted first. Well, we cannot simply say that equality is dividing things into two. God created things in pairs. The concept of ‘pair’ does not mean two of a kind. Rather it means two different yet similar things which complement each other. A man is contributed with physical strength but a woman is bestowed with emotional sensitivity and caringness. Gender equality is achieved when a state of harmony is established between a person with his/her natural disposition.

To further deepen our understanding on how Islam views the gyny of homo sapiens species, let us take a glance in Islamic history pertaining to women. When the disbelievers attacked Muslims during battle of Uhud, Umm ‘Ammarah shielded the prophet with her body and warded of enemy with her sword as well as her bow and arrows. She fought against Mussailamah Kaththab until she lost an arm and suffered a dozen wounds. Safiyyah displayed brilliant military strategy in handling Jewish attack during the Battle of al-Ahzab. She succeeded in slewing one of the Jews. Umm Salim set out to attack her enemy with her sword in Battle of Hunain. Battle of Yarmouk witnessed the extraordinary valor of Asma’ bint Yazid when she killed 9 enemy soldiers. Umm ‘Atiyah took part in 7 battles and fought during the rule of Caliph Umar al Farooq. Sahabiyat played a prominent role in politics as well. Caliph Umar so valued Shifaa’ bt Abdullah for her political intelligence and insight that he very often consulted with her. He often gave her the responsibility of running the affairs of state relating to trade and commerce.

It is extremely surprising to learn all these. Nobody ever propagated in our society before, how the women in the era of the prophet were highly appreciated. Their contributions in fields which were thought suitable for men solely were professionally recognized.

Back to the current settings, feminism led by Sisters in Islam steal the limelight in liberation trend. This scenario is viewed as a positive revival of women, antagonistic to previous stasis state. Women should fight for their right if the need arises. However, maybe due to deficient and destitute in understanding of Islamic teachings as well as the concept of gender equality, they somehow accidentally and unintentionally (I hope) overstep the boundary of social justice.

This blog serves to paint a clear view of several misunderstood concepts pertaining to gender equality issue. It will also focus on other women issues, covering the whole aspect of woman life. It ranges from reminders (tazkirah), knowledge (kuliyyah), current issues, and more! InsyaAllah. We WELCOME ANY ARTICLES related to woman, be it from Islamic and non Islamic perspective. Any discussion is warmly welcomed and we will celebrate each question posed to us. Malay or English, both are acceptable. Of course we will try our best to answer. We look forward sharing things with all the women out there.

Assalamualaikum..