Addressing Ahmadi ladies at Germany Jalsa Salana 2003 Huzoore Anwer (may Allah be his Helper) drew their attention towards their responsibilities and said:
“A woman is the guardian of her husband’s home. She looks after it and is responsible for keeping it clean, tidy and well-presented. She runs the household expenses and tries to do this within the money her husband gives her for this purpose. It is amazing how some ladies are very thrifty and run homes extremely well on very little money. If they receive extra money, they spend some of it with flair, like buying some fine item for the house or they use it to get something for their daughters’ dowry. It is amazing when on their daughters’ marriages such mothers prepare fine dowries in spite of having small income. Contrary to this, there are women who appear to have holes in the palms of their hands. No matter how much money is handed to them, it’s puzzling where the money goes! Their income is reasonable but their homes are sparse and their children appear like beggars. Children of such mothers suffer from inferiority complex and gradually reach a stage where they are simply beyond parental control and expressing regret is pointless at this juncture.
“Thus, the Prophet of God has warned you that if you will not be a proper guardian of your husband’s home, you will be answerable and accountable for this. Just as I said earlier, the result of this also becomes evident in this world. Therefore this is a cause for concern for you; every woman should pay attention to her home! Women who set high standards of guardianship of their husbands’ home, look after the children, look after the needs of the husband and listen to him, they have been declared by the Prophet of God as deserving of the same reward as that of a man who worships God and makes sacrifices in the way of God, moreover, the glad-tiding of Paradise is given.
“A Hadith relates: ‘A woman who offers five daily Prayers, keeps fasts during Ramadan and protects herself from bad deeds and is obedient to her husband and listens to him has the right to enter Paradise from whichever door she wishes.’ (Majma’ul Zawa’id, Kitabul Nikah, Babu Fi Haqe-Zawje ‘ala al Mar’ah)”
(Address delivered to ladies on 23 August 2003 at Jalsa Salana Germany. Published Al Fazl International 18 November 2005)
Addressing ladies on 31 July 2003 at Jalsa Salana UK Huzoore Anwer (may Allah be his Helper) drew their attention towards their responsibilities and said:
“The following Hadith expounds what the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) said as regards women who protect their homes, are loyal to their husbands and bring up the children well: An Ansari woman Asma Bint Yazid came to the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) and said: 'May my parents be sacrificed for you! I have come to you as a representative of Muslim women. May my life be sacrificed for you! Women of the east and the west all agree with my view that Allah the Exalted has sent you with the truth for men and women and for us to accept you and also accept the God Who sent you. We women have been confined to homes. We facilitate the fulfilment of their [men’s] wishes and look after their offspring. You men have the advantage over us of attending Friday Prayers, congregational Prayers, visiting the ailing, attending funerals and going to Hajj. Above all you also go to Jihad. When any of you goes to Hajj, Umra or Jihad, we look after your property, spin cotton for garments and nurture your children. O’ Prophet of Allah! Are we still not equally deserving of reward along with men? The Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) turned his blessed countenance towards the Companions and said: ‘Has any of you ever heard anyone express themselves as finely as this woman regarding an issue of faith?’ The Companions submitted: O Prophet of Allah! We never thought that a woman would have such (deep) thinking. The Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) turned to her and said: ‘O woman, return and inform every woman that for a woman to be a good wife, to be compliant to her husband and to carry on according to his wishes is equal to all the virtues of men. The woman returned delighted raising the words of:
“‘There is none worthy of worship except Allah’ and ‘Allah is Great!’ (Tafseeru Durre Manthour)
“It is stated that the reward of the wives who are cooperative, who run their homes well and are good wives is equal to their husbands who worship and who perform Jihad for the sake of God! Observe the glad-tiding of how great rewards were given to women while staying at home by Allah the Exalted and Prophet of Allah!”
(Address delivered to ladies on 31 July 2004 at Jalsa Salana UK. Published in Al Fazl International 24 April 2015)
At another occasion Hazrat Khalifatul Masih V (may Allah be his Helper) advised ladies with reference to the Holy Qur’an and said:
“Allah the Exalted states:
“‘…So virtuous women are those who are obedient, and guard the secrets of their husbands with Allah’s protection…’ (4:35) Virtuous women safeguard matters that Allah the Exalted has enjoined even in private. Only that person can be obedient and only that wife can safeguard her husband’s secrets who has belief in Allah the Exalted and has His fear in heart.
“Care and upbringing of children of one’s husband is also included in what has been commanded to safeguard in private. It should not be, that as soon as the husband goes to work the wife picks up her bag and whilst leaving children at home, she goes out to meet her friends or does not pay proper attention to the upbringing of the children. Indeed, upbringing of children is a huge responsibility on a woman. She cannot be counted among salihaat (
–virtuous) or qanitaat (
–obedient) women without fulfilling it. And she cannot fulfil the dues of safeguarding the next generation either, a responsibility given to her by Allah the Exalted. The Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) said that a woman is the guardian of her home and will be held accountable for it.’ (Sahih Bukhari, Kitabul Istiqradhe wa ada’e duyoon, Babul ‘Abd ra’en fi mal sayyedehe, Hadith number 2409)”
(Address to ladies delivered on 25 June 2011 at Jalsa Salana Germany. Published in Al Fazl International 13 April 2012)