“Those truly fear Allah, among His Servants, who have knowledge”. (Sura 35 Verse 28)
“Seeking knowledge is a duty of every Muslim, man or woman”. (Al-Tirmidhi Hadith 218)
If a daughter is born to a person and he brings her up, gives her a good education and trains her in the arts of life, I shall myself stand between him and hell-fire." (Kanz al-Ummal, reported by Abdullah ibn Mas'ud).
Women’s Empowerment & Economic Position in Islam
Islam has given women the rights to work, to own property and to have wealth. Women can seek employment and work in profession such as medical care, teaching, civil and justice professions. These rights remain the same before and after marriage. Regarding the right to work, Allah says in the Holy Quran;
“And in nowise covet those things in which Allah hath bestowed His gifts more freely on some of you than on others: to men is allotted what they earn, and to women what they earn: But ask Allah of his bounty. For Allah hath full knowledge of all things”. (Sura 4 Verse 32)
In the Islamic history there were no restrictions in women's full participation in the economic, political and social spheres of their society. For example, Seyyida Khadija Raliallahu Anha, the Prophet's first wife was one of the most important merchants of the time, and the Prophet Hazrat Muhammad peace be upon Him himself was her employee. Seyyida Aysha Raliallahu Anha, the Prophet's other wife was one of his most important advisers and consultants. In the early Islamic history women not only participated in various aspects of their society's public sphere, they also had the right to be elected to political offices. For example, Seyyedina Omar Katthab Raliallahu Anhu the second caliph, appointed a woman to oversee the affairs of the marketplace. The women also participated in wars and fought in the battles.
Rifai Thareeqa’s Role in Women’s Education & Empowerment
Rifai Thareeqa considers the women as an integral part of the society. Without education and empowerment of the women, nations cannot get development and progress in a real way.
- Organization promotes women's education and empowerment in the society for the betterment and development of the nations. Women's education and empowerment plays a vital role in the prosperity and development of the nations.
- Rifai Thareeqa is striving to empower the women to make them contributing member of the society,
- Rifai Thareeqa is of the view that if we care about the development and progress of the societies and nations today and into the future, we must work now to ensure that women and girls have equal opportunities to be educated, to participate in government, to achieve economic self-sufficiency and to be protected from violence and discrimination.