Girl Guides and strong women
Tuesday, November 13, 2007
CHIEF among the reasons for educating our girls is to develop "strong women".
In today's speak they would be women who know their true worth as human beings, despite what the cosmetics and pharmaceutical companies' commercial messages say about how women should be. They would be women who respect themselves, speak up for what they believe in, have the courage to defend their interests and those around them, and are not afraid to make choices. In today's speak, they would be called "assertive" or even "liberated" women.
In Islamic speak, they would be Muslim women who know that their true worth lies in their faith, in their closeness to Allah, and their courage to defy commercially-distorted messages about what or who women are and what they want. Allah has not determined separate characters for men and women, and calls on mankind to strive to attain the same Islamic character. This would be the person who fears and respects Allah, seeking Allah's pleasure and to win the Hereafter. An Islamic education would serve as a lifelong school for women to develop to the best of their abilities, a training ground that would turn girls into women that Prophet Muhammad shallallahu 'alahi wasallam (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) wished for Muslims to raise.
The Prophet and his companions gave the best example about raising girls into strong women. All physical activities such as running, swimming, horsemanship, archery and even fighting with swords were available to women and girls during the Prophet's time. Indeed, physical agility and sports skills all help towards instilling strong self-confidence on women. The other aspects of girls' education were never neglected either. The early Muslim women enjoyed much of the intellectual challenges that their male counterparts enjoyed, which is why the history of Islam has recorded at least 8,000 female scholars or 'alimah. Another aspect of women's education, namely the cultivation of the emotional side of their personality was equally respected as shown in many hadith. This is because Islamic education strives to develop a wholesome, God-fearing Muslim personality, paying equal attention to the development of their 'aql (intelligence), syu-ur (emotions), jism (physical qualities) and ruh (spirituality).
Any association for girls, such as the Girl Guides, should be the training ground for girls to grow up into those kind of women. The Brunei Times' report yesterday "Girl Guides seek more meaningful role" discussed the wish of some members of the Girl Guides Association of Brunei Darussalam to have their membership expanded so as to include women over 20 years. The association, which has Her Majesty Raja Isteri Pengiran Anak Hajah Saleha as its royal patron, has noted how members stop positive activities, such as volunteer work, as soon as they marry or have children.
With the understanding that education is something that should continue for life, and that most women in today's societies are actually facing threats to the integrity of their true selves well into old age (think about anorexia nervosa, bulimia as well as a host of other disorders fostered by the commercialised concept of what beauty is), the Girl Guide actually has its job well cut-out.
It should open as many doors as possible to involve women of all ages, as long as they provide more women with all the benefits of the training that Girl Guides provide, with strong Islamic values added.
The group now how some 1,700 members. We hope the number will grow each year, and we pray that each and every one of those of girls will grow into strong women who contribute their best abilities for the ummah and the country.
In today's speak they would be women who know their true worth as human beings, despite what the cosmetics and pharmaceutical companies' commercial messages say about how women should be. They would be women who respect themselves, speak up for what they believe in, have the courage to defend their interests and those around them, and are not afraid to make choices. In today's speak, they would be called "assertive" or even "liberated" women.
In Islamic speak, they would be Muslim women who know that their true worth lies in their faith, in their closeness to Allah, and their courage to defy commercially-distorted messages about what or who women are and what they want. Allah has not determined separate characters for men and women, and calls on mankind to strive to attain the same Islamic character. This would be the person who fears and respects Allah, seeking Allah's pleasure and to win the Hereafter. An Islamic education would serve as a lifelong school for women to develop to the best of their abilities, a training ground that would turn girls into women that Prophet Muhammad shallallahu 'alahi wasallam (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) wished for Muslims to raise.
The Prophet and his companions gave the best example about raising girls into strong women. All physical activities such as running, swimming, horsemanship, archery and even fighting with swords were available to women and girls during the Prophet's time. Indeed, physical agility and sports skills all help towards instilling strong self-confidence on women. The other aspects of girls' education were never neglected either. The early Muslim women enjoyed much of the intellectual challenges that their male counterparts enjoyed, which is why the history of Islam has recorded at least 8,000 female scholars or 'alimah. Another aspect of women's education, namely the cultivation of the emotional side of their personality was equally respected as shown in many hadith. This is because Islamic education strives to develop a wholesome, God-fearing Muslim personality, paying equal attention to the development of their 'aql (intelligence), syu-ur (emotions), jism (physical qualities) and ruh (spirituality).
Any association for girls, such as the Girl Guides, should be the training ground for girls to grow up into those kind of women. The Brunei Times' report yesterday "Girl Guides seek more meaningful role" discussed the wish of some members of the Girl Guides Association of Brunei Darussalam to have their membership expanded so as to include women over 20 years. The association, which has Her Majesty Raja Isteri Pengiran Anak Hajah Saleha as its royal patron, has noted how members stop positive activities, such as volunteer work, as soon as they marry or have children.
With the understanding that education is something that should continue for life, and that most women in today's societies are actually facing threats to the integrity of their true selves well into old age (think about anorexia nervosa, bulimia as well as a host of other disorders fostered by the commercialised concept of what beauty is), the Girl Guide actually has its job well cut-out.
It should open as many doors as possible to involve women of all ages, as long as they provide more women with all the benefits of the training that Girl Guides provide, with strong Islamic values added.
The group now how some 1,700 members. We hope the number will grow each year, and we pray that each and every one of those of girls will grow into strong women who contribute their best abilities for the ummah and the country.
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