Muslim group seeks gender equality in Islam

Ukpono Ukpong, Abuja

A faith base organization, Sisters of Jannah, has called on Muslim women to rise up and take their rightful position in the society.

The founder of the group, Hajia Ramat Aliyu, made the call yesterday at the 2019 Post-Ramadan lecture held in Abuja with the theme: “Grooming the all round Muslimah”.

She noted that the place of a woman in no longer in the home thus, charging them to equip themselves so as to be able to support their families as well as contribute to the general development of the society.

“Gender equality is what we all need to sensitize and educate ourselves about. Women should rise up to their responsibilities and make sure that they are empowered economically so that they can support the family and the home.

“It’s high time we realize that our places are no longer at home. Our places are Both at home and out there, to make sure we contribute positively to the development of our nation, Nigeria.

“The importance of women in the society can never be emphasized because without the women the men cannot succeed.

Today the women are no longer behind as against the popular adage that says, “Behind every successful man, there is a woman”. Now we are at the forefront. We are forefront runners.

“Let also emphasize, gender equality does not mean that women should be relegated to the background.

“Women should be out there empowering themselves economically and take their rightful positions in the society.

Similarly, a Psychotherapist, Hajia Hauwa Bello, in her lecture said everyone is equal before the eyes of God.

While advising women to be comfortable with their gender she also called on them to learn more about their religion to avoid been influenced by people to accept a cultural practice in the name of religion.

“God in the Holy Koran said that he created us equal so that we will worship him. He gave us same purpose.

We are equal in his eyes. Of course our roles are different depending on what an individual chooses for himself but if we are equal before God then we should be seen to be equal before man.

“Women should be comfortable with their gender. Because you are a female, it does not means that you are weak, a second class citizen and then learn about your religion.

It’s because most times, women don’t know much about their religion, that’s why they take everything that has been told to them hook line and sinker based on culture and not the real Islam.” She said