IIUM Journal of Human Sciences Vol. 1, 2019, 30-42 Asiyah, Maryam and Khadijah as Role Models for Contemporary Muslim Women Rehnuma Bint Anis International Islamic University Malaysia ABSTRACT Islam envisions a society which is built upon individuals’ contribution and mutual co-operation towards a greater goal. Its aim is the achievement of piety at personal level and the establishment of the creed of Islam at a societal level. This is how the role of the individual is visualized in the Quran and the Ahadith of the Prophet (PBUH) as a part of the greater picture. Women, consisting at least half of the population, must work in conjunction with their male counterparts to achieve the overall aim. But there is much confusion among the women today as to the nature of this cooperation. This article discusses the examples of three great ladies of Islam, shedding light on how this confusion may be resolved. Keywords: Islamic vision, Muslim women, personal achievements, contributions to the family, contributions to the society. INTRODUCTION What is the goal of life for a Muslim woman? How can she fulfil the goal? What is the ideal role for her in an age where the gender roles have become muddled and at times reversed over the previous centuries? How can she fulfil her responsibilities towards her family and towards her society at a time when the roles of women have become diversified to an enormous extent? How does she balance between her spiritual, familial and societal duties under these circumstances? Is she to secure her place as a productive member of the society in competition with her male counterparts or in collaboration with them? What should be the nature of her relationship with the male members of the society? These are some of the questions that trouble the minds of the Muslim women today, especially among those who are trying to strike a balance between their spiritual and their worldly existence. This paper attempts to find an equitable solution for these questions in the light of the examples presented in Islamic sources, keeping in mind the perspectives of the modern times. With this purpose in focus, this article strives to highlight the examples of three women from various periods in the history of Islam who played crucial roles at critical moments to provide support and shelter to three major prophets. The three ladies are Asiyah Bint Muzahim, Maryam Bint Imran and Khadijah Bint Khuwailid. The first was the wife of the Pharaoh of Egypt, the second was a descendant of the noble house of Imran, the third was a powerful businesswoman of Makkah. Nevertheless, their stature and honour in Islam is not based on their social positions or personal achievements, but for their roles in protecting 30 Asiyah, Maryam and Khadijah as Role Models for Contemporary Muslim Women and nurturing three prophets of the highest calibre – Musa (PBUH), Isa (PBUH) and Muhammad (PBUH) respectively. They epitomised how women can utilize their potentials not only for personal gain but also to create a better environment in the world, in collaboration with their male counterparts. Their examples can provide a guideline for modern women as to how Muslim women today may achieve spirituality while contributing effectually towards the betterment of the family and the society they live in. METHOD In searching for the best examples for the modern Muslim women to emulate among their Islamic predecessors, this paper wishes to focus on the most consummate paradigms instead of esoteric examples of various women in order to be able to derive a completer and more harmonious picture of the virtues, qualities and characteristics that enable a Muslimah to strike an appropriate balance between spiritual fulfilment and worldly success in their lives. In analysing the chosen precedents, this paper will concentrate more on those attributes that resonate with the lives and problems of the women today. For information about the paragons this paper wants to highlight, this paper will explore the authentic Islamic sources, primarily the Quran and its translations and explications. Secondly, this paper will look into the Ahadith and Sunnah of Prophet (PBUH). In cases where not much information is available in the first two sources, this paper will peruse the biographies of the selected ladies written by Islamic authors. After collecting all relevant information, this paper will sift through them, analyse them and strive to construct an integrated set of guidelines for modern women to follow in order to live spiritually fulfilling lives while being productive members of their families, communities and societies. THE BEST EXAMPLES When we search for role models for modern women to emulate in the Islamic world, the following ahadith from the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) can serve as a guide: Narrated Abu Musa Al-Ash`ari: Allah's Messenger (PBUH) said, “Many amongst men attained perfection but amongst women none attained the perfection except Mary, the daughter of Imran and Asiya, the wife of Pharaoh. And the superiority of Aisha to other women is like the superiority of Tharid (i.e. an Arabic dish) to other meals.” (Sahih al- Bukhari 3769, Book 62, Hadith 116). The Prophet (PBUH) said: “Sufficient for you among the women of the world are Maryam the daughter of Imraan, Khadeejah bint Khuwaylid, Faatimah bint Muhammad and Aasiyah the wife of Pharaoh.” (Jami at- Tirmidhi, 3878, Vol 6). The question arises as to what the word “perfection” indicates in the first hadith. It simply denotes the attainment of the highest level of the ideal characteristics and virtues of a 31 IIUM Journal of Human Sciences Vol. 1, 2019, 30-42 Muslim woman in order to achieve success with their Creator. The question that naturally follows is, how is success measured in Islam? Two examples should suffice to clarify it. Firstly, in Chapter Tahrim, verse 6, Allah says: Believers, guard yourselves and your families against a Fire fuelled by people and stones, over which stand angels, stern and strong; angels who never disobey God’s commands to them, but do as they are ordered: Secondly, in Chapter Mu’minun, verses 1 and 10-11, Allah declares: [How] prosperous are the believers! Who will rightly be given Paradise as their own, there to remain. Success, according to Islam, is the ability to save oneself and one’s family from humiliation on the Day of Judgment and instead receive a reward from the Creator by earning His pleasure. It is beneficial for Muslim women to look into the lives of the women mentioned by Prophet (PBUH) to find examples that can guide them towards success in the life of this world as well as the life hereafter. In the following passages, I intend to discuss the examples of Asiyah Bint Muzahim, Maryam Bint Imran and Khadijah Bint Khuwailid that are pertinent to the issues of the modern day Muslim women to provide a guideline to achieve personal success as well as earn the pleasure of Allah. Lessons from the Life of Asiyah Wife of the Pharaoh Allah has immortalized Asiyah Bint Muzahim by mentioning her in the Quran in Chapter Tahrim, verse 11, as the one who uttered the following prayer: “My Lord, build for me near You a house in Paradise and save me from Pharaoh and his deeds and save me from the wrongdoing people.” The character of Asiyah is summed up in the Quran when, in the same verse, Allah Himself bears witness that she was a believer in spite of having been married to a non-believing man and what a man he was! Scholars speculate that the Pharaoh mentioned in this verse was Ramses II, the proud and mighty Pharaoh of Egypt who remained defiant even after Musa (PBUH) was sent to him with the divine message. He is certified by Allah Himself as the one who “was a tyrant who exceeded all bounds.” (Chapter Dukhan: Verse 31). Egypt had been systematically submerged in ignorance and prejudice over the previous centuries in an attempt to subjugate its people to the tyrannical Pharaohs without the possibility of rebellion. The Bani Israil were the only people who still held on to some semblance of knowledge. Pharaoh held them in slavery. But he could not altogether disregard the appeal of knowledge and married Asiyah, a lady from Bani Israil, against her will. She had no escape because everything and everyone in Egypt belonged to Pharaoh. So, she sought refuge in the shelter of Allah from the evil tyrant and all his misdeeds. She could have had all the palaces and wealth the powers of a tyrant ruling over a vast kingdom could procure, if she had willed. But she did not want any part of it. Rather, she begged for a house in Paradise “near” her Lord where she would be able to devote herself to her Lord unhindered. This was the person Allah placed in the palace of the Pharaoh to protect Musa (PBUH). 32 Asiyah, Maryam and Khadijah as Role Models for Contemporary Muslim Women The Background of Bani Israil A little bit of history is required to understand the background in which Asiyah lived. Bani Israil were a noble family descended from a long line of prophets. It began with Ibrahim (PBUH). His second son Ishaq (PBUH) had a son, Yakub (PBUH), who was nicknamed Israil. Yusuf (PBUH), the eleventh son of Yakub (PBUH), became the ruler of Egypt through a number of events. He, then, invited his father and his eleven brothers to settle in Egypt. Their descendants formed the twelve tribes of Bani Israil. In time, they deviated from the true message of Islam. As a result, Allah overwhelmed them by humiliation and torment.