Islam has not put undue restrictions on women but streamlined their perfect role in the society after granting them maximum rights.
Rubab Khatoon, a keynote speaker, stated this at a seminar titled "Status and role of the woman in Islamic society" arranged by the Cultural Centre of the Islamic Republic of Iran here to mark the birth anniversary of Hazrat Fatima (may Allah be pleased with her), daughter of Prophet Mohammad (peace be upon him).
In her address, the lady from Ustarzai Payan in Kohat district said that both man and woman had their roles which they should play to properly accomplish the tasks assigned to them in the society as per Islamic injunctions. "If man is considered the body of the Muslim society, woman is the soul of the Islamic social fabric," she argued.
Paying tributes to Hazrat Fatima (RA), Rubab said that she was a beacon of light for all the Muslim women. "She set examples for us all to follow. Hazrat Fatima (RA) struggled throughout her life for the sake of truth and became a symbol of steadfastness when the Holy Prophet (PBUH) was confined for three years at Shaab Abi Talib," said Rubab while emphasising on the Muslim women to endear themselves to the Islamic teachings to succeed in this world and the world hereafter.
Speaking about the great role of Hazrat Fatima (RA), Rubab said that she stood by her father in the most difficult days of his life. "After the death of Hazrat Khadija (RA), Hazrat Fatima (RA) carried forward the mission of the Holy Prophet (PBUH). The Holy Prophet (PBUH) loved and revered her so much that he would stand up in respect on seeing her," Rubab said while quoting incidents from the life of the Prophet of Islam (PBUH).
Spotlighting the importance of the 20th Jumadi-us-Sani, the keynote speaker said that this day of the Islamic calendar was in fact the day of emancipation for women from subjugation and ignorance.
"It was the main reason that the leader of the Islamic revolution in Iran, Aqai Imam Khomeini, declared the day as the Women's Day because with the birth of Hazrat Fatima (RA) women came to know of the purpose of their lives in the world," she observed.
Addressing as chief guest, a member of the National Assembly and chairperson of the Jamaat-i-Islami-run Women Aid Trust, Razia Aziz, said that Islam had given more rights to women than any other religion or social system.
The Jamaat leader was critical of the western onslaughts against the Muslim world. "We are facing cultural invasions from the West which is plotting to uproot our values, but I am confident the western propaganda against our religion is bound to fail," she maintained and asked the women to understand the Holy Quran and sayings of the Holy Prophet (PBUH) as therein lay salvation.
About the role of women in the Islamic society, she said that both man and woman had definite roles in shaping a peaceful society. "If a man devises a system for the humankind, a woman provides a civilisation to the world," she said, adding that women had never lagged behind in performing their duties in all the fields of life.
The MNA said that the Muslim women were conscious of their role in an Islamic society and aware of their genuine rights in the light of their Divine religion.
Razia said that Islam had given rights to the woman to play her role in every sphere of life, adding that Quranic verses and sayings of the Holy Prophet (PBUH) clearly explained that.
Throwing light on the traits of Hazrat Fatima (RA), Razia said that she played well her roles as a loving daughter, a faithful wife and a caring mother. "She was a great worshipper and groomed her children in a way that one of her sons, Hazrat Imaam Hassan (RA), earned a name as peace-maker while the other, Hazrat Imaam Hussain (RA), became a symbol of resistance against tyrannical forces," she said and urged women to follow in the footsteps of Hazrat Fatima (RA) who had given an enlightened vision and brilliant concept of life to the Muslim woman.
Earlier, the programme started with recitation from the Holy Quran. An Iranian woman, Fatima Mousavi, read out in Persian the message from Aqai Masood Islami, Director-General of the Khana-e-Farhang-e-Islami Jamhoori Iran. The Iranian cultural envoy quoted sayings of the Holy Prophet (PBUH) to prove the exalted status of Hazrat Fatima (RA).
Two Afghan girls, Khanum Bilqis and Khanum Sakina, read out eulogies to Hazrat Fatima (RA) in Persian language. Qudsia Qudsi, a Hindko/Urdu poet, paid versified tributes to Hazrat Fatima (RA).
A Pushtoon woman rights activist, Samina Qader, used the opportunity to draw the attention of the audience towards the customary practice of Swara through a thought-provoking Pashto poem under the same title. The poem called on the Pashtoons to put an end to this inhuman practice as it was a blot on their glorious traditions.