Women

Salam!

I hear a lot about strong women. You know powerful, confident, gorgeous, independent, et cetera, et cetera, and this sort of got be thinking. What is a strong woman? So I thought about for a while, and then clear as rain it came to me. My perception of what a strong woman is.

I think we all have these images of what we want to become. A vision of what we think would constitute a perfect “us”. Naturally most of us are aware that to be perfect is to live in a fantasy, simply because there is no such thing as “perfect”. The only One that is such is the One that created us. Subhana’Allah!

However that doesn’t mean that we still don’t set this bar of where we would like to be. Where we think we might be closest to our own definitions of perfect. Everyone, to some extent or another has a different definition of perfection. To some, it may be that they were top of their class in Honors English at university. To others it may be that they are slim, trim, and flawless. Who knows? To each, their own.

I, like everyone else have a goal or image in my mind as to what I believe is close to perfection; my own set bar that I would eventually with time like to reach, though never clear. This image goes hand in hand with what I perceive to be a strong woman.

My biggest inspirations and role models when it comes to growing as a woman are women of the past. Woman held in great esteem in the Qur’aan.

For example;

Mariam to me seems to be the epitome of strength and faith, and I think she spews with femininity, in that she was so pure. It’s just something about her modesty, her willingness to learn and become knowledgeable that really intrigues me. As well as the fact that she gave birth to such a wonderful man, Isa (a.s) by the will of Allah (s.w.t).

I also really look up to many of our Sahabah’s wives and of course the wives of the Prophet, especially Khadijah and Aisha. Two women I truly admire. Khadijah for her strength beside Muhammad (s.a.w.s), as the first follower of Islam, and Aisha for her eagerness to be knowledgeable and therefore to share her knowledge with those around her, as well as her bravery when they went to war.

Then we have Umm Sulaym for her dignity and firm stand, as she didn’t accept Abu Talhah at first because he thought that his material possessions could secure her love alone. Something many women in the present seem to be all about, not all, but many. And then we have Sumayya who didn’t bend even an inch to give up what she so dearly believed in. She stood strong and loyal, and for it was killed. But even though she was badly tortured and later killed she didn’t give up!

I look at these women as just a few examples and I find that together they are just so confident and strong. It has nothing to do with whether or not I bring in a check that has six figures, or have the best Harvard degree, to me it’s all about a greater knowledge, a confidence, purity, and a faith that these women possessed.

Not that women aren’t strong today. No, that’s not what I’m saying because that’s not true. For example, many of our mothers? To be a mother isn’t easy, and if you’re a good one it’s even harder. As we know “Heaven is at the feet of thy mother.”

Which therefore leads me to my image of what I would like to become; a vision of my own semi-perfection.

To me the road to perfection seems to be more about working from the inside out.

This world is riddled with trials, even if that trial seems as small as NOT eating the chocolate bar because we KNOW it will ruin our fight to be healthy, or getting a good mark on that History paper.

I’m not without faults and I will be the first to declare such, but there is this hunger I have to become a better person, a more stronger and knowledgeable Muslim! And so I look to those women who I find have achieved that goal and I pray that one day, maybe I’ll be close to that too.

It’s a high bar to set, and like all things is best to be attacked slowly but there honestly isn’t a women I respect more then one who stands up for her beliefs, who is confident in those beliefs and who humbles herself before Allah knowing that she knows little and that there is always more to learn.

Which means, that in reality our bars should never be made to be cleared, because there is always something in which we can improve. Isn’t there?

I’m sure none of this makes sense, but consider it my brain waves splattered across the screen. As well as a much needed update.

Take care and have a great day.

~Pink Gerbera~