Blood shed and violence in Kashmir

                                           Blood shed and violence in Kashmir


The Kashmir dispute started from 1947. The partition of the Indian sub-continent along religious lines led to the formation of India and Pakistan. Kashmir was independent till October 1947 till that time India and Pakistani forces thus fought their first war over Kashmir in 1947-48. India referred the dispute to the United Nations on 1 January. In a resolution dated August 13, 1948, the UN asked Pakistan to remove its troops, after which India was also to withdraw the bulk of its forces.

Once this happened, a "free and fair" plebiscite was to be held to allow the Kashmiri people to decide their future. India, having taken the issue to the UN, was confident of winning a plebiscite, since the most influential Kashmiri mass leader, Sheikh Abdullah, was firmly on its side. An emergency government was formed on October 30, 1948 with Sheikh Abdullah as the Prime Minister.

In 1957, Kashmir was formally incorporated into the Indian Union. It was granted a special status under Article 370 of India's constitution.

So form 1 January, Kashmirs are asking for the plebiscite, so they remain as independent country. However from last more then 70 years so many things have been changed. The Kashmir was know as Heaven on earth. Most of the Bollywood pictures was pictured in Kashmir. So many people left Kashmir due to bad atmosphere. No one is willing to visit Kashmir. Every day we see blood shed in Kashmir.

So many people religious scholars have been killed by unidentified gun mans. Schools, Colleges Brides and hospitals have been burnt. People always seek peaceful environment. They want to live peacefully.

I think to  end this blood shed and violence Kashmir, Kashmiri themselves have to work, as a starter they have to just stop hosting flags of Pakistan and ISIS. This is a political and social problem blood shed will not get the solution.Guns, War is not solution. Action of Pelting stones at security forces will only catalyse a reaction of Pallets. Killing people will not bring any peace full solution in Kashmir. Huriyat or PDP  or Center Government, Pakistan or any other parties, if they want peace and good life for people , they have to come together and they themselves have to take initiative to solve this problem not for today but for the generations to come otherwise two, three generations have already suffered and God knows how many.

I request all Indian citizens. Please do not play politics on Kashmir issue. Do not look it as Vote bank, come with clean heart. Leave politics aside, come together and solve Kashmir issue. Whole world will appreciate  you and you can show the World.... Yes! we are the world' great democratic country.
Otherwise will go down the gutter in the lust of Power and Money.

New Delhi to Katra

                                        How to reach New Delhi to Katra

Katra is the known beautiful place in Jammu and Kashmir. Always very good and nice weather.. Katra or Katra Vaishno Devi, as it is popularly known, is a small town in Reasi district of Jammu and Kashmir situated in the foothills of the Trikuta Mountains, where the Shrine of Vaishno Devi is located. It is located 42 km from the city of Jammu.

Katra has a thriving tourism industry that offers plenty of hotels, guest houses, restaurants, dhabas, fast-food joints that fit all kinds of budgets. Free accommodation is provided by some registered trusts in the form of Sarais for the poor.


Over the years, a lot has changed, but one should not miss the opportunity to walk through the main bazaar (market) for buying  souvenirs, Dry fruits, woolen garments, hosiery, leather jackets, etc.


The town has been connected by roads and state highways for a long time but recently it has also been connected by Indian Railways. Jammu Udhampur Srinagar Baramulla Railway Link connects the Katra railway station of Northern Railways to the rest of Indian railways network.

Below are the trains available from New Delhi to Katra.

New Delhi to Katra Train list

New Delhi to Kashmir by Bus

                               How to reach New Delhi to Kashmir by Bus


You love to visit such place. It is surely heaven on earth. To see the real beauty of Kashmir travel by bus and you will enjoy a lot.

The bus services are available form New Delhi to Srinagar directly, You don't have to change.  Jammu & Kashmir tourism is only who provides direct bus service from New Delhi to Kashmir. Please do not go to any travel agent located near by Red Fort or some other area. They will cheat you. They give you reservation till Jammu and then you again have to change. They don't have any services available form Jammu.

Please see the below list of buses available form New Delhi to Srinagar.

You can do online reservation through JKSRTC website. 

Help line number:- 0191-2577475

Office and pickup location:- Tees Hazari Metro Piller Number 50.

New Delhi to Srinagar by Air

                           How to reach New Delhi to Srinagar by Air!

There are no direct trains between New Delhi to Srinagar.The convenient and fastest way to reach from New Delhi to Srinagar is to take flight form IGI Airport from New Delhi to Srinagar.The cheapest way to reach Srinagar from New Delhi by Air and you will save your time and money.

Below mentioned are the daily flights from IGI Airport New Delhi to Sheikh-Ul-Alam International Airport Srinagar.

Air Fare not gurenteed.

See some of my personal pictures taking while travelling by Air form IGI Airport New Delhi to Sheikh-Ul-Alam International Airport.

Air view Kashmir-RAFEEQ AHMAD MIR

Air View Kashmir-RAFEEQ AHMAD MIR

Air view Kashmir-RAFEEQ AHMAD MIR

Air View Kashmir-RAFEEQ AHMAD MIR

Hope you like it. Please post comment and ask for more information.

New Delhi to Kashmir by Train

                                How to reach New Delhi to Kashmir By Train.

It is very easy to travel from Delhi to Srinagar by Train. We list below mentioned trains, so that you can reach the destination. As of now there are no direct trains available from Delhi to Srinagar. The best option is to book train form New Delhi to Udhampur Railway Station. At Udhampur Railway station you will get Cabs to Srinagar directly or you can get Cab till Bahnihal Railway Station to reach Srinagar by train from Banihal. See the list of below trains available form New Delhi to Jammu/ Udhampur.

Train Route Map-Courtesy Google Map 

New Delhi to Jammu/Udhampur train list

New Delhi to Udhampur train list

New Delhi to Udhampur Direct trains.

New Delhi to Udhampur

Udhampur Railway Station:-


It is very easy to get the taxi services from Udhampur Railway station to Srinagar. The minimum amount will be Rs 500/ Person.

Route Map-Google Map

The Next option is get taxi till Banihal Railway Station. From Banihal Railway Station it is very easy to reach Srinagar by Train. You don't need any advance reservation from Banihal to Srinagar. You can easily get ticket form counter.

Train Route Map-Google Map

Below is the train list and timings.

Banihal Railway station to Srinagar

Kashmir Rail-Courtesy JK Railway

Have a safe and nice journey!

Please share and like this. If need more information. Please comment.We will get back to you ASAP.

Thank You!

Heaven on Earth Kashmir

Kashmir is the Heaven on Earth. The Best Romantic Destination in world. Kashmir is located mostly in the Himalayan mountains, and shares borders with the states of Himachal Pradesh and Punjab to the south. Jammu and Kashmir has an international border with China in the north and east, and the Line of Control separates it from the Azad Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan in the west and northwest respectively. The Kashmir valley is famous for its beautiful mountainous landscape, "Cherish forever the Wonderland of Kashmir, Snow capped Mountains, Sunny Gardens, Romantic Houseboats, you will never want to go back." Kashmir throughout the ages has remained another name for Paradise. Cradled in the lap of majestic mountains of the Himalayas, Kashmir is the most beautiful place on earth. On visiting the Valley of Kashmir, Jahangir, one of the Mughal emperors, is said to have exclaimed:"If there is paradise anywhere on earth, it is here, it is here, it is here."

                                                Seasons in Kashmir

Kashmir has four distinct seasons, each with its own peculiar character and distinctive charm. These are spring, summer, autumn and winter.

Spring:- Spring, which extends roughly from March to early May, is when a million blossoms carpet the ground. The weather during this time can be gloriously pleasant at 23°C or chilly and windy at 6°C. This is the season when Srinagar experiences rains, but the showers are brief.

 

Almond Tree

 Summer:- Summer extends from May until the end of August. Light woolens may be required to wear out of Srinagar. In higher altitudes night temperatures drop slightly. Srinagar at this time experiences day temperatures of between 25°C and 35°C. At this time, the whole valley is a mosaic of varying shades of green - rice fields, meadows, trees, etc. and Kashmir with its lakes and waterways is a heaven after the scorching heat of the Indian plains.

 Autumn:- The onset of autumn, perhaps Kashmir's loveliest season, is towards September, when green turns to gold and then to russet and red. The highest day temperatures in September are around 23°C and night temperatures dip to 10°C by October and further drop by November, when heavy woolens are essential.

Winter:- Through December, to the beginning of March is winter time, which presents Kashmir in yet another mood. Bare, snow-covered landscapes being watched from beside the warmth of a fire is a joy that cannot be described to anyone who has not experienced 

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Woman as Mother in Islam

Islam was born in the Arabia Peninsula, now Saudi Arabia, in the seventh century AD. The pre-Islamic era dates back to more than 1400 years ago. Many cultures, nations and countries, other than Arabia, existed during that time. Let’s begin with a review on the Arabian culture. In that era, in the tribal culture of Arabs, women were not equal to men with respect to many social and personal conditions and systems, such as marriage, inheritance or education, among other areas. Women did not have businesses, own property, or have independent legal rights. Even though we read about Khadijeh (who later became a wife of the Prophet (saw), and the first Muslim woman) who owned her own business, which is an indication that there are always exceptions in any recorded history. In Arabia, female infants were often abandoned or buried alive; and the practice of polygamy was common. The position of women, in countries other than Arabia, in the 7th century, was not much different. In Europe, it was not until the turn of the century (13 centuries later) that French women became legally able to sell property without the permission of their husbands. In many nations, sons would inherit the name, wealth and position of the family and daughters were hoped to marry rich. In many western or eastern countries, women could not chose their husbands, and, widows were expected to mourn for their husbands until the end of their lives (still practiced in some countries).

A man once consulted the Prophet Muhammad about taking part in a military campaign. The Prophet asked the man if his mother was still living. When told that she was alive, the Prophet said: “(Then) stay with her, for Paradise is at her feet.” (Al-Tirmidhi) On another occasion, the Prophet said: “God has forbidden for you to be undutiful to your mothers.” (Sahih Al-Bukhari)

 As a mother the status of woman has been raised by Islam to such an extent that nothing higher is conceivable.The Holy Qur'an says: 

"Your Lord has commanded that you shall worship none but Him goodness to your parents. If either or both of them reach old age in your life, say not to them a word of contempt, nor repeal them but address them in terms of honour. And make yourself submissively gentle to them with compassion and say: O my Lord! Bestow on them compassion even as they cherished me in my childhood"  (XVII: 23, 24).

 The Prophet is reported to have said when questioned by a disciple as to who should be revered most after the great Prophet himself: "your mother". When questioned "Who, after the mother?" The Prophet said "your mother". He was again asked: "and, then, who after the mother?" He again replied: "Your mother". The man put the question a fourth time and the Prophet then answered "your father". This tradition shows that the position of the mother in the eyes of her sons and daughters should be three times higher than that of the father.

It is reported that once a disciple came to the Prophet and said: "O Prophet of God! On the hot days in the desert of Arabia, in the sunny noon when the stones and sands were burning like fire, my mother I were travelling on foot without my shoes.  I carried my mother on my shoulders so that she may not suffer the pain of walking bare-footed on the hot-sands and stones. Could I pay the reward of the pains she had to bear in bringing me up?" The Prophet replied: "No, not even a fraction of the pain she suffered at the time you were born".

In Islam the best action is the performance of the pilgrimage to Mecca, i.e., the Hajj, and the reward to a person who performs the Hajj properly is that all his past sins are pardoned and he receives a high rank in the estimation of God. But, in expressing the dignity of the mother, the Holy Prophet said: "One who looks at the face of his mother with sentiments of reverence and love once, is rewarded as if he had performed a Pilgrimage". People asked him, what if he looked twice, to which he replied: it is as if he had performed two Pilgrimages, and so on".

In this respect, the Prophet himself set a model for the world. Once Halimah, the lady who nursed him in his childhood, came to see him. The Prophet was sitting with his disciples. As soon as he saw her, he stood up with reverence and spread his mantle on the floor and requested his foster-mother to take her seat there.

 It is quite evident from the above that the respect which a mother receives from her children in Islam is the highest to which no other worldly relationship can aspire.

Your Purpose of Life Should be

Most of those who reflect or think about life in any detail will consider and ponder these questions. There are as many different answers to these questions as there are people asking the questions. Some would hold that the purpose of life was to acquire wealth. Yet suppose they were to acquire millions of dollars, what then would they claim is their purpose after doing so? 
If the purpose of life is to become wealthy, there would be no purpose after becoming wealthy.
The fact is that when people approach their purpose here in this life from the aspect of only gaining wealth, after collecting the money they have dreamed of their lives loose purpose and then they live in restless tension suffering from a feeling of worthlessness.
How could wealth then be considered as the aim of life?
Could the acquisition of wealth guarantee happiness? Of course not.
When we hear of millionaires or members of their families committing suicide, how could we consider the purpose of life would be to gain great wealth?
A child of 5 years would obviously prefer a new toy to a deposit slip for a million dollars.
A teenager does not consider millions of dollars in the bank a substitute for movies, videos, pizza and hanging out with his friends.
A person in their 80s or 90s would never consider holding on to their wealth in place of spending it to hold on to or regain their health.
This proves that money is not the main purpose at all the stages of one's life.
Wealth can do little or nothing to bring happiness to one who is a disbeliever in Almighty God, because regardless of what he or she would gain in this life they would always live in fear of what will happen to them in the end. They would wonder what would become of them and how they would end up.
Wealth and its accumulation as a purpose would be doomed to a temporary success at best and in the end it would only spell out self destruction.
So, what is the use of wealth to a person without belief? He would always fear his end and would always be skeptical of everything. He may gain a great material wealth but he would only lose himself in the end.
Worship of the One True Almighty God of the Universe as a primary goal or aim in life provides a believer with everything he needs to succeed in both this life and the Next Life.
The word for total surrender, submission, obedience, purity of heart and peace in the Arabic language is "Islam". To a Human the whole purpose of life is "ibadah" or worship to the One True Almighty God on Terms and under His Conditions.
The term "worship" to a Human includes any and all acts of obedience to Almighty Allah.
So his purpose of life is a standing purpose; Worshipping Allah by accepting Allah's Will over his own.
This act of ibadah [worshipping, thanking and extolling the Greatness Almighty Allah on His Terms and Conditions] is for the Human, throughout his whole life regardless of the stage. Whether he is a child, adolescent, adult or aged person, he is seeking after the Will of the Almighty in all these stages.
His life here on earth although short, is full of purpose and is totally meaningful within the complete framework of total submission .

Similarly, in the Next Life as well, his faith, intentions, attitudes and good deeds will all be weighed into his account as favorable putting him in high esteem with his Creator and Sustainer.

Because Islam teaches that this life is only a test or trial for the individual to show him his true nature it is only natural that he would accept death as not so much an ending to everything but more as a beginning of the final and lasting life in the Hereafter.

Before entering into either of the final lodging places i.e.; Heaven or Hell, there must needs be a Day of Judgment or showing of one's true self to make them aware of their own nature and thereby understand what they have sent on ahead during the life here on the earth.

Every person will be rewarded [or punished] according to their attitude, appreciation and efforts during this stay on earth. None will be asked about the actions and beliefs of others, nor will anyone be asked regarding that which he was unaware of or incapable of doing.
As the life here is considered as an examination for the individual, the death stage is considered as a resting period after the test. It could be easy for those who were faithful and dedicated or it could be grueling and horrible for the wicked.
Reward and punishment will be in direct proportion to each person and it is only Allah, alone who will be the Final Judge over us all.
So in the teachings of the True Surrender, Submission, Obedience, In Sincerity and Peace to the Almighty One God , the line of life and its purpose is logical, clear and simple:
The life in the grave is a resting or waiting place before the Day of Judgment. The Day of Judgment brings about the clear understanding of what will now happen to the individual based on his own desires and actions. 
The Permanent or Afterlife will either be spend in luxurious splendor or miserable punishment .
First of all, he has no doubt in his mind that:
he is only created by Allah
he is going to spend a period of time in this material world.
he knows he will die
he knows he will spend time in the grave, either pleasant or difficult depending on his own choice of attitude and actions
he knows he will be resurrected for the Day of Judgment
he knows he will be judged according to the most fair of standards by Allah the Almighty, the All

Knowing he realizes his attitude and actions are going to come under very close scrutiny
he knows that this short life compared to the Eternal Life was in fact, only for a test

This life is very meaningful and purposeful to the Believing Human, as he realizes that it will determine is outcome and permanent position in the Next Life.

The Muslim's permanent purpose is to Surrender, Submit, Obey, in Purity and Peace to Allah the Almighty, carrying out His Orders and staying in some form of worship to Him as much as possible everyday.

This includes the orders of Allah in His Book, the Holy Quran and His final Messenger and Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him as follows:

Believing and declaring that "There is no god throughout all the Creation of Allah that is worthy of worship, all worship is due only to Allah, alone and He has no partners or helpers nor does He share His Lordship with any of His creations. And Muhammad, the son of Abdullah ibn Abdul Mutallib (1450 years ago) is the last and final messenger and servant of Almighty Allah, and is the culmination in a long line of prophets sent to mankind throughout man's history, including Adam, Noah, Abraham, Moses, David, Solomon, Jesus Christ, may Almighty Allah's Peace and Blessings be upon them all."  
For a disbeliever the purpose of this life is to collect and amass great wealth, money, power and position. Over indulging in eating, drinking, drugs, sex and gambling are a high priority to them. But all of this will not avail them anything good in the grave, on the Day of Judgment or in the Next Life. Eventually he will be faced with the question:
Now what?
What's Next?
Where am I going?
What will happen to me? 
He will come to know. For sure he will come to know. But then what will the knowledge avail him?
Look how Islam solves the mystery of the puzzle of life. It provides the answers to the questions and concerns of the human beings on all levels and in every aspect. It is really quite simple.
The purpose of life as understood by the Believing Muslim can be simply stated in only two (2) words:
Obey God.
Our only purpose and salvation lie in these two words.
We must come to know our Creator, Sustainer and Ultimate Judge. We must learn to believe in Him, thank Him, praise Him, honor Him and worship Him, alone without any partners from His Creation. We must learn about His Messengers and Prophets, peace be upon them, and the message with which they were all sent. We must learn the Word of God as was directly revealed, preserved and memorized and passed down by memory throughout all the generations of Muslims to the present day.

Those who are in search of truth, having open minds and hearts will recognize this as a message in truth and sincerity. Open your heart and your mind now and ask the Almighty God of the Universe [Allah] to guide you now to His True Way. And then be ready to accept your true purpose in life.

Daughters are blessing from Allah, Not Burden!

Children are a great gift from Almighty Allah to all parents. Parents must think of their children as such treasures that the all the wealth and material resources are worthless as when compared to ones children. We, as parents, should thank Almighty Allah for blessing us with children whether they are boys or girls. Today, it is quite disheartening to see that some parents rejoice when the newborn child is a male and show their dissatisfaction when the child is a female. But, this should not be the attitude. Islam does not condone this type of behavior, as such was the manner of the parents in the time of ignorance.

Daughters are without doubt a great blessing from Almighty Allah. They are a means of salvation and a path to Jannah for their parents. The Holy Prophet (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) has stated that when a boy is born, then he brings one Noor (light) and when a girl is born, then she brings two Noors. It has been narrated in a Hadith that the Holy Prophet (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) has stated that if parents are kind and generous towards their daughters, then they will be so close to the Holy Prophet (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) in Jannah, like one finger is to the next. The Holy Prophet (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) has also stated that the person who is faced with hardship due to his daughters, and makes Sabr (is patient), then his daughters will be a Purdah (curtain) between him and Hell.

The crux of one narration states that one who loves his daughters and withstands the hardship of grooming and getting them married, then Almighty Allah makes Jannah Waajib (compulsory) on him and keeps him protected from the Fire of Hell.

Hazrat Khwaja Uthman Haaroni (radi Allahu anhu), the Peer-o-Murshid of Khwaja-e-Khwajegaan, Hazrat Sheikh Khwaja Ghareeb Nawaaz (radi Allahu anhu), states: "Daughters are a gift from Almighty Allah. Those parents who are kind towards them, then Almighty Allah is generous towards such parents. Those who are merciful to their daughters, Almighty Allah is Merciful towards them." The great Saint also said, "When a girl is born to a family, then between the parents and Hell, there shall be a distance of five hundred years."

It has been stated that when parents rejoice at the birth of a daughter, this is greater than making Tawaaf of the Kaaba seventy times. Muslims should also remember that the family of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) is from his beloved daughter Sayyidah Fatima Zahra (radi Allahu anha).

Dear brothers and sisters, rejoice on the birth of your daughters, love and guide them and give them that which is due to them from your belongings. Do not deprive them of their inheritance as they also have say in this. Remember! Daughters are a blessing and not a burden.

Woman in Quran!

We will discuss the Woman in the light of Holy Qur’an. The Almighty Allah said about Woman in Qur’an,

“O ye who believe! Guard your own souls: If ye follow (right) guidance, no hurt can come to you from those who stray. the goal of you all is to Allah. It is He that will show you the truth of all that ye do.”

(Qur’an 5:105)

The Qur’an serves as a moral guideline to humanity and is, therefore, a moral history. It proposes moral values, which are ‘extrahistorical.’ The Qur’an is selective about historical details which help to fulfil its purpose of universal guidance. It promotes the application of the precepts exemplified by those characters mentioned in the verses rather than merely gives a record of the events themselves. In reviewing the characters introduced in the Qur’an, we see that women comprise a significant portion of individuals who serve as models. There are approximately twenty-four female characters in the Qur’an. Their roles can be divided into two categories:

(1) Those characters with no independent significance who are slightly mentioned or alluded to. The role is generally included in order to bring coherence to a story or event. There are approximetly 18 women in this category. An example of such a reference is Elizabeth, wife of Zakariya, where Zakariya states “O my lord! How shall I have a son seeing I am very old and my wife is barren?” (Qur’an 3:40).

(2) Those character who are used to illustrate a moral point. They serve as examples of good character from which the seeker can learn and model oneself. There are five women in this category: Hawaa’ (Eve), who is a symbol of equality, Umm-Musa (the Mother of Moses), who exemplifies the nurturing spirit, Biqlis (Queen of Sheba), who is cunning and wise, Hannah (Anne, Mother of Mary), who is of noble birth, and Maryam (Mary), who is the essence of virtue. Of these two categories, I shall focus on women in the second category, who serve as models to the devout Muslim.

Hawaa’ –Eve

“O mankind! reverence your Guardian-Lord, who created you from a single person, created, of like nature, His mate, and from them twain scattered (like seeds) countless men and women;- reverence Allah, through whom ye demand your mutual (rights), and (reverence) the wombs (That bore you): for Allah ever watches over you.”

(Qur’an 4:1)

Here, the message of equality is clear. The first creation is neither male of female, but a person. In addition, the person’s ‘mate,’ or matched pair, is equal in nature. Moreover, each has been disseminated across the lands equally, like seeds. The role of women in creation is greatly acknowledged here as the process of pregnancy and birth is venerated. This message of equality is heard again when, after Allah created Adam and Iblis, the Qur’an declares:

“O Adam! dwell thou and thy wife in the Garden; and eat of the bountiful things therein as (where and when) ye will; but approach not this tree, or ye run into harm and transgression. Then did Satan make them slip from the (garden), and get them out of the state (of felicity) in which they had been.”

(Qur’an 2:35-36)

Thus, in contrast to the Biblical rendition of creation, there is no sense of Eve’s inferiority: either having been produced from the rib of Adam or tempting Adam to follow Satan. Rather, both Adam and Eve has been in a state of grace but fell into temptation and from the garden.

Umm-Musa –Mother of Prophet Moses (pbuh)

Moses’ mother is inspired by Allah to save Prophet Moses (pbuh) when she judges he is at riske of being slaughtered by Pharaonic decree.

“So We sent this inspiration to the mother of Moses: ‘Suckle (thy child), but when thou hast fears about him, cast him into the river, but fear not nor grieve: for We shall restore him to thee, and We shall make him one of Our apostles.’ ”

(Qur’an 28:7)

As with Mary later on, Allah consoles Umm-Musa that Allah will return him safely to her – not undermining her nurturing instinct in light of the priority to save Prophet Moses (pbuh). In addition, it is left to her judgement to decide when it is time for Moses to be saved, thus Allah trusts His will with her. In a reference to Umm-Musa later on, we read:

“Behold! We sent to thy mother, by inspiration, the message: ‘Throw (the child) into the chest, and throw (the chest) into the river: the river will cast him up on the bank, and he will be taken up by one who is an enemy to Me and an enemy to him.’ ”

(Qur’an 20:38-39)

What is especially significant about this account is that Umm-Musa receives wahy (or communication from Allah), thus making her a muhaddas (an individual to whom Allah speaks). As these verses indicate, women as well as men are recipients of wahy. In addition, this elevates the actions of Umm-Musa: her belief in the words of Allah were so strong that she acted upon them despite her nurturing instinct.

Biqlis –Queen of Sheeba

Biqlis is introduced in the Qur’an as a wealthy ruler, and here gender is not emphasized as a novelty.

“I found (there) a woman ruling over them and provided with every requisite; and she has a magnificent throne. I found her and her people worshipping the sun besides Allah. Satan has made their deeds seem pleasing in their eyes, and has kept them away from the Path,- so they receive no guidance.”

(Qur’an 27:23)

As she is a pagan ruling over pagan worshippers, Solomon sends her a letter inviting her to submit to Allah (in Qur’an 27:28). This demonstrates the religious, social, and political importance of gaining her allegiance to Islam. Upon receiving Solomon’s letter, she states:

“Ye chiefs! here is delivered to me – a letter worthy of respect.”

(Qur’an 27:29)

Thus, she recognizes the nobility of the letter and the truth of the Divine message. In responding to the letter, she is extremely tactical and diplomatic. Initially, she sends Solomon a gift (in Qur’an 27:36) to appease him while consulting with her wazirs (in Qur’an 27:29) in order to avoid bloodshed and maintain peace. Here, Biqlis is better than the norm, as she opts not to fight, unlike many of her male contemporaries, to pursue peace. After consultation and personal reflection, Biqlis is moved by the contents of the letter and decides to visit Solomon. Solomon hears of her visit and prepares a test to see if she is one who is guided by truth.

“He said: ‘Transform her throne out of all recognition by her: let us see whether she is guided (to the truth) or is one of those who receive no guidance.’ So when she arrived, she was asked, ‘Is this thy throne?’ She said, ‘It was just like this; and knowledge was bestowed on us in advance of this, and we have submitted to Allah (in Islam).’ ”

(Qur’an 27:41-42)

Biqlis passes the test and informs Solomon that she accepted Islam prior to her visit with him. Again, she is better than the norm because she accepts Islam and monotheism although all that she has known thus far as been paganism.

Hannah –Anne, Mother of Mary

In the Qur’an, Hannah’s virtuous lineage (from the House of ‘Imran) is emphasized alongside her dedication to Allah when she was pregnant.

“Behold! a woman of ‘Imran said: ‘O my Lord! I do dedicate unto Thee what is in my womb for Thy special service: So accept this of me: For Thou hearest and knowest all things.’ ”

(Qur’an 3:35)

This account is significant for Maryam (Mary, Mother of Jesus) as well as for Hannah. She had been expecting a son when she dedicates what is in her womb to the service of Allah. Instead, Allah gives her a daughter.

“When she was delivered, she said: ‘O my Lord! Behold! I am delivered of a female child!’- and Allah knew best what she brought forth- ‘And no wise is the male like the female. I have named her Mary, and I commend her and her offspring to Thy protection from the Evil One, the Rejected.’ ”

(Qur’an 3:36)

Hannah is better than the norm as she is pleased to discover that she has given birth to a girl despite the fact that in pre-Islamic culture female infanticide was practiced. In addition, although Jewish law at the time forbid women to be devoted to the Temple, Hannah trusted God’s promise that Maryam would live a life of service.

Maryam –Mary, Mother of Prophet Jesus (pbuh)

While the aforementioned women are significant models of morality, Maryam has a special and esteemed placed in the Qur’an and in Islam, where a sura (or verse of the Qur’an) is named after her and Allah chooses her above all women.

“Behold! the angels said: “O Mary! Allah hath chosen thee and purified thee- chosen thee above the women of all nations.”

(Qur’an 3:42)

Maryam is given several honorific titles in the Qur’an: as the ‘sister of Aaron’ (in Qur’an 19:28) and as ‘one of the devout servants.’

“And Mary the daughter of ‘Imran, who guarded her chastity; and We breathed into (her body) of Our spirit; and she testified to the truth of the words of her Lord and of His Revelations, and was one of the devout (servants).”

(Qur’an 66:12)

Her relationship to Aaron is significant because it refers to her noble lineage as a daughter of ‘Imran and likens her service Prophet Jesus (pbuh) to Aaron’s service to Prophet Moses (pbuh). By labelling her a devout servant, or qanitin, this shows that Maryam had true faith in the words of Allah and His messengers. The nobility of Maryam is also emphasized in Qur’an 19:34, where Prophet Jesus (pbuh) is referred to as the son of Mary, breaking with the pre-Islamic tradition of identifying individuals through their male ancestors. More importantly, this places emphasis on the point that Prophet Jesus (pbuh) was created in Maryam’s womb by Divine decree rather than biology.

“She said: ‘How shall I have a son, seeing that no man has touched me, and I am not unchaste?’ He said: ‘So (it will be): Thy Lord saith, ‘that is easy for Me: and (We wish) to appoint him as a Sign unto men and a Mercy from Us’:It is a matter (so) decreed.’ ”

(Qur’an 19:20-21)

In stating that Prophet Jesus (pbuh) is not the son of God, the Qur’an does not question Maryam’s chastity or virtue. During her delivery, Maryam experiences significant pain and Allah provides consolation for her.

“But (a voice) cried to her from beneath the (palm-tree): ‘Grieve not! for thy Lord hath provided a rivulet beneath thee; And shake towards thyself the trunk of the palm-tree: It will let fall fresh ripe dates upon thee.’ ”

(Qur’an 19:24-25)

Allah provides food, drink, and comfort to Maryam during the pain of childbirth, similar to Umm-Musa. Thus, the priority of delivering Prophet Jesus (pbuh) safely is not at the expense of Maryam’s well-being. In addition, it is especially significant that Maryam receives wahy (or communication from Allah), thus making her a muhaddas (an individual to whom Allah speaks) like Umm-Musa. As these accounts emphasize, Maryam’s virtue, nobility, and devotion is not confined by her gender and she serves as an example for all mankind.

Conclusion

After reflecting on the women in the Qur’an, it seems most appropriate to end with a quote from Seyyedeh Dr. Nahid Angha, a leader in the defense of universal human rights:

“One cannot emphasize enough the influence of the teachings of the Prophet [Mohammad] (swa) and the verses of the Qur’an upon the advancement of civilization. In the history of humankind, none worked so much to protect human rights, especially women’s, with such integrity, strength, strategic genius, beauty and divinity, or to honor humanity, by freeing it from the chains of prejudice, manipulations, personal and social injustice.”

(from Sufism: An Inquiry)