Drawing attention to the important responsibilities of Ahmadi Muslim women, Hazrat Khalifatul Masih V (may Allah be his Helper) said:
“We should try to adopt in our lives all the changes that the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) wants to bring in us. There are numerous commandments given by Allah the Exalted in the Holy Qur’an. In places just the term ‘O, Believers! Act upon this commandment!’ has been used. In other places commandments are given addressing believing men and believing women separately. Wherever the term ‘O believers! Do this!’ is used both men and women are addressed. Further it is also elaborated that all commandments in the Holy Qur’an are for believing men and believing women both; therefore, try to implement them all and if you act upon these good deeds Allah the Exalted will bestow upon you eternal life-giving rewards. Such rewards will fill blessings in your life in this world as well as in the Hereafter.”
Huzoore Anwer further stated: “The Holy Qur’an is a perfect teaching; learn it and act accordingly. Do not suffer from any inferiority complex. Rather, as I have mentioned, practice this teaching and call the world to it. Demonstrate such actions that seeing your high moral standards other women may seek guidance from you. The women of the world may come to you with this question: ‘Though we are advanced in worldly knowledge, and apparently we are spending our lives freely, but still we cannot obtain peace of mind and heart’s content. There is dissonance within us, and our families are at odds and after some time the gulf of disparities between husbands and wives increases. This affects the children and they cannot live a happy and focused life. Meanwhile, the atmosphere in your homes appears to be different than that of our homes. We see peace in your homes, and we consider you as role models. Tell us, how can we find this contentment?’ This is the question others should be asking you. Then you should tell them that they are forgetful of the purpose for which Allah the Exalted created humanity! Neither men nor women are fulfilling this purpose which is the worship of God and the carrying out of good and righteous deeds. Indeed, you will find this practice only in the true Islam.”
(Address delivered on 29 July 2006 at Jalsa Salana UK)
Huzoore Anwer said at another occasion:
“A Hadith relates that a husband is rewarded even for putting a morsel of food in his wife’s mouth in order to seek Allah’s pleasure. The significance here is not of simply feeding a morsel of food but denotes nurturing one’s wife and children and fulfilling their needs. It is the duty of a man to undertake the responsibilities of his family. If he undertakes this obligation with the intent of fulfilling his wife’s rights, who leaves her parents’ home for him, and to fulfil his children’s rights because Allah the Exalted has placed the responsibility on him and he fulfils it for Allah’s sake, fulfilling this obligation becomes a reward for him. Doing so is also a form of worship. If every Ahmadi has this mind-set the present-day family conflicts, arguments and estrangements caused by trivial matters can be avoided. A wife will have her reward when she appreciates her responsibilities of serving her husband and honours his rights and does so for the sake of Allah the Exalted. The Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) told both parties that if they followed this for the sake of attaining the pleasure of Allah the Exalted, their acts will be a form of worship and they will be rewarded. These matters should be pondered over; it is these small matters that can make some homes resemble paradise.”
(Friday sermon delivered on 13 March 2009 at Baitul Futuh, London. Published in Al Fazl International 3 April 2009)