WOMEN IN RAMADAN
Perhaps, in no other month of Hijrah calendar are the roles of Muslim women (especially wives) as pronounced as in the month of Ramadan. Like in other months, responsible Muslim sisters display the roles of wives and mothers as well as those of the custodians of matrimonial homes. But much more than in other months, they mostly double or even triple the exhibition of their spiritual dedication in Ramadan.
In that sacred month Muslim women fast like their men counterparts. They observe Salat five times daily like their male counterparts except if they are engaged in menstrual condition. They also join their male counterparts in observing Tarawih after the Iftar every evening. Some of them even attend Tafsir and public lectures during the days. Yet, they carry out their normal occupational functions like their male counterparts either in offices, shops, or farms. Yet, they never relent in carrying out their matrimonial duties.
Even as some of them assist their husbands financially in maintaining the homes, they still take care of those husbands as well as their children and relatives domestically. At the time of the day when the husbands are knocked out or ‘locked down’ by fatigue arising from fasting, the wives are still busy in the kitchen preparing Iftar for the household. And at the time in the night when some husbands are engaged in Tahajjud, or are snoring in beds, the wives are already up in the kitchen preparing the Sahur for the family.
Some of these women are carrying pregnancy. Some are suckling their children while some others may have issues with peculiar ailments. And, among them are those who are knowledgeable enough to do the Tilawah (recitation of the Qur’an) like their husbands. Some of them are even rich enough to finance the home fully or partially.
And, yet, in all these activities, they never feel tired. Where and when they feel tired, they never show it. If any month has ever depicted the virtues of women in terms of strength and dedication, it is Ramadan. Well brought up women and responsible wives are the live wire of the matrimonial homes just as their husbands are the transformers through which the homes are powered with discipline. Prophet Muhammad (SAW) was quoted as saying that “The best amongst you (men) are those who are best to their wives in treatment….”
Therefore, if only for the reason of their matrimonial activities during the month of Ramadan, wives deserve tenderness and dignified treatment in the hands of their husbands. And, on the other hand, husbands should be further encouraged by their wives to groom the homes with comfort as a template for the future matrimonies of their children.
Ramadan Karim!