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Muslim Women Making a Difference

I have been a Muslim for about twelve years and when I came to Islam in the UK there was hardly anything for new Muslims in the form of services – really there wasn’t very much organized at all for Muslim women in general.

There was one study circle for reverts to learn about Islam and these lessons covered basic topics and offered some form of socialization for the sisters. Usually the sisters had dinner together after the lesson. From this study circle I made some friends.

There was no financial aid or housing help and such help is often needed by reverts because often they lose their family’s support and find themselves with nowhere to stay. After I’d been a Muslim for a few years I began aerobic classes for sisters and general classes in good health. I found that most of the Muslim women were unfit and some suffered from depression. I thought that if they got more physical activity and had more chances to socialize they would improve. There was no such thing organized for sisters at that time and this adversely affected the Muslim youth who found themselves with no place to go to see their Muslim friends and be active in some sport or beneficial activity.

Most times reverts led active lives before accepting Islam but many found that once they became Muslim they found themselves at home most of the time and isolated from family and friends. I wanted to help them.

Generally the Muslim community, especially the women, responded positively toward my programs but some of the men held different opinions.

I wrote over one hundred letters to mosques asking if the sisters could use the mosque facilities for the aerobics classes. These mosques had facilities for sports but few even replied even though I sent a second letter and made follow up phone calls. In the end, no one helped us.

We approached the mosques first of all because we wanted the sisters to be safe and secure but in the end we hired a church hall. The people there were happy to have women only classes and were very helpful. Many husbands of the sisters were happy their wives had a place to go to but some others were afraid of inspiring and empowering the women. Some sisters had to come to the classes for the last time and tell us they couldn’t come anymore because the husband didn’t agree. I couldn’t understand what was wrong with teaching Muslim women how to be fit and healthy. But all was not lost. Other women imitated our programs and activities and soon all kinds of activities sprang up like women’s only swimming, gym, and eventually a whole center opened for women.

At that time the men who ran the mosques had a peculiar attitude. They did not acknowledge that the women needed help – they simply thought that their place was at home. I told them that the women have to be fit and strong to look after the next generation and that women need to socialize and feel refreshed but their needs were ignored by the mosque committees. At the same time there was a lot of sports available for men. Some brothers in the mosques were sympathetic and encouraging but when it came to the committees they didn’t see women’s health or social needs as a priority.

Around this time a toddlers group was organized by Muslim women where mothers could take their young children to a sister’s house (it was done in turn) so the children could play together and the sisters could meet and socialize. When numbers increased and the sisters approached the mosques, again they ended up in the church hall.

Things have improved in the last few years. Mosques are becoming increasingly sensitive to the rights of Muslim women and the importance of them having lessons, activities, and the ability to organize programs for the children and youth. Many mosques have their own women’s committees and from these spring children and youth programs. The Muslim community is becoming more and more aware of the needs of the youth and how we must work together to provide programs and activities for them. Women are now active in initiating programs and committees and are paving the way for social change.

We even have counseling sessions run by women for women who have marital problems. These sessions started in a house but now the sister has her own center and the support of the Muslim community. Qualified people teach sisters about nutrition, parenting, and dealing with marital problems. Most mosques now cater willingly to women and youth and are becoming more and more active. Many even have bookshops and sell Islamic clothes and accessories.

The following is some advice I would like to give to Muslim women:

• It is tempting these days to isolate ourselves from society because things are difficult at times but we must reach out and try to help each other in the Muslim community and in the wider community as well because Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) was sent as a mercy for all mankind.

• Some women when they get married or when they start to practice Islam or when they revert to Islam – close the door on the world thinking they’re practicing Islam. But isolation deprives the young people of assimilating and sharing the good things they have. It is important for the young people to be active in their community along with their parents. It’s not enough to know your religion, you have to practice it too.

• No one will take care of you but you! Start to develop your family by developing yourself. If you can’t motivate yourself for yourself then motivate yourself for your children.

A friend of mine went around Muslim schools giving a questionnaire and health test to the young people. The results were disappointing. She found that most Muslim young people are unfit and this affects them academically, socially, physically, and mentally. The young people are in this condition because their parents don’t think it is important to be developed in this way. Teenage girls have very little activity except walking in the school grounds. But don’t our bodies have rights over us?

Likewise Muslim women get married and have children and are physically unfit and this affects their minds and habits. Many people are crying out for help but there are often restricted by the attitudes of the husbands who are traditional and cultural in their thinking. There needs to be more awareness among the men which could be done through the Friday sermon urging the men to encourage their wives and girls to be active in the community and keep themselves fit and healthy.

Islam is a way of life. It is not just reading, reciting, praying and so on even though these are essential activities. A part of being a Muslim is to reach out to others, to develop ourselves, to overcome obstacles, and to organize and help our young people. We need to educate ourselves and others to be fit, healthy, and active in doing good deeds which includes making programs for women and youth to keep them productive and to channel their abilities in a good way. May Allah open the way for all of us to improve ourselves in every aspect of life.  

Read Also:

• Why Women Are Coming to Islam

• Muslim Women Reclaim Their Original Rights

• Decolonizing the Mind

• Women in Islam: Oppression or Liberation?

• Empowering women

* Anthea Davis has worked for many years with the youth in the UK and can be contacted at youth_campaign@iolteam.com