Every group of living beings has a particular purpose in life that can only be understood in light of the philosophy of their creation. Allah, the Exalted, created plants for certain purposes, which differ from the objectives behind the creation of animals. Therefore, the meaning of life and vitality in plants is different from that in animals. Similarly, the human being is a living creature whose structure—both outward and inward, physical and spiritual—is distinct from and more complete than that of all other beings. A human can expand the realm of knowledge and understanding to the depths of existence, and he can bring both the physical and metaphysical worlds under his influence. He can harness all of existence to build tools and ladders through which he may attain the ultimate purpose of creation and achieve the pure life, seeking true life in closeness to God and in reaching absolute perfection. This is the interpretation of human life and existence. If a person fulfills this purpose, then he has achieved true humanity.
Thus, the roles of men and women in the family or society must be sought in light of the philosophy of their creation and the essence of their lives. Considering that women constitute half of society, they must play a constructive role and recognize that they are also responsible for fulfilling their designated roles properly.
A woman, due to her unique role in the system of creation, has been endowed with immensely valuable inner resources—qualities that are essential for the growth of human society. One of the most significant of these is emotion (Affection), which has always manifested in glorious forms throughout history and across societies. While this inner inclination exists to some extent in all humans, women have been granted a greater share of this divine gift. This noble tendency prepares women to make all kinds of sacrifices for the sake of life, and like a radiant candle, she illuminates the home. At the same time, she bears the exhausting responsibility of raising the next generation.
In other words, a healthy society requires healthy families. The prosperity and well-being of any society are built within its families—and the radiant candle of the household is the woman. It is the woman who fills the home with love, warmth, and affection, creating an atmosphere where intellectual, cultural, religious, and social discussions flourish. Through their children and spouses, women teach future generations the lessons of compassion, sincerity, and selflessness.
For this reason, women must understand that beyond the daily tasks of life, they bear greater responsibilities in society. If they fall short in fulfilling these responsibilities, they will be held accountable before God on the Day of Judgment. This section highlights some of the important duties of women.
The Role of Women in the Proper Upbringing of the Next Generation
Women have an undeniable role in raising the future generation. It must be noted that the realization of a society’s highest goals depends on the proper nurturing of its future builders. History bears witness that many of the great men and scholars of the world were raised by exemplary mothers.
As Muslims, when we revere personalities like Imam Abu Hanifah, Imam Shafi‘i, Imam Bukhari, and others as great figures of our faith, we must first recognize that they were nurtured in the laps of virtuous and exemplary mothers. The golden pages of history confirm this for future generations. Therefore, it is the duty of women to raise a pious, God-fearing, and faithful generation and to give full attention to the training and moral development of their children. A child is a trust from Allah in the hands of the parents, and they must strive to return this trust to its Owner in the best form through proper upbringing.
Education and upbringing are among the most vital human needs and essential aspects of human life. A person who is not well-raised not only ruins himself but can also become a source of social harm to others. True upbringing means nurturing and activating inner talents toward the perfections that God has designated as the purpose of human creation.
A child’s heart is like fertile soil, ready to receive any seed. The mother’s lap is the greatest school in which the child is raised. What a child hears from the mother is unlike anything heard from a teacher. The child listens to the mother more attentively than to a teacher.
Even in our recent history, we find individuals who are now globally renowned. These great scholars and figures emerged from the laps of exemplary and righteous mothers—women who were sincere servants of Allah. Just a brief glance at the lives of religious leaders and influential figures in the Islamic world—past and present—reveals that many of them were molded into luminaries of their era through the proper Islamic upbringing given by their mothers. Today, the Muslim world takes pride in their names.
One such example is Lady Khayr al-Nisa, the noble mother of Mawlana Abul Hasan Nadwi, a towering figure of the Islamic world. When Nadwi lost his father, his upbringing was undertaken by his elder brother, Allama Abdul Hayy, and his noble mother, Lady Khayr al-Nisa. She devoted herself wholeheartedly to his proper upbringing. As a pious woman and a Hafiza (memorizer of the Qur’an), she constantly encouraged her son in religious learning and took a personal interest in his studies. While everyone else slept at night, she would rise for tahajjud (night prayer), raising her hands in supplication and praying for her beloved son’s success.
Allama Abul Hasan Nadwi said: “I am indebted to my mother’s prayers. It was her nightly supplications that enabled me to attain my scholarly ranks.” Indeed, Abul Hasan Nadwi was raised in the lap of a devout, Allah-conscious, modest, and pure mother—who filled the world with her son’s knowledge and spiritual insight.
Nadwi further stated:
“My mother was known in our family for her kindness and compassion. After my father’s passing, she showed me even more love and tenderness than any mother. Yet, there were two matters in which she was very strict. First, she never tolerated negligence in prayer. If I fell asleep before ‘Isha, she would wake me up, even if I was in deep sleep. She would also wake me for Fajr and send me to the mosque and afterward instruct me to recite the Qur’an.
Second, if I ever mistreated a servant or looked down on a poor child, she would punish me and make me apologize to them and show them humility—even if it made me feel humiliated myself.”
“I greatly benefited from this method of upbringing. As a result, I always feared arrogance, pride, injustice, and oppression. I learned that hurting others, breaking hearts, and humiliating people are grave sins. Confessing my own faults has always been easy for me.”
However, in today’s world, most people focus solely on the material comfort and ease of their children, while neglecting to encourage them to associate with righteous and pious companions.
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