In this modern and more than advanced era of technology and science we have failed to master one of the bare essentials of life something as simple as ‘Islamic family values’ which was the primary agenda for the one day ‘marriage workshop’ conducted by the women’s wing of JIH at Jogeshwari on the 29th of Dec 2012.
The first speaker Tanveer Khanam spoke on the importance of the institution of marriage and mentioned that Islam stands out because it enjoins that a believer is one who is modest. Modesty was regarded as a great virtue by the prophet (s.a.w). He said “modesty is part of faith” (Al bukhari) she also mentioned that Islam considers marriage as one of the most virtuous and approved institutions. The second speaker Jabeen Chawdri spoke on the concept of love in Islam and stressed that marriage is the finest purest and permissible relationship that should exist between a male and a female as it shields us from promiscuity, adultery, fornication and gives no room for zina .She further explained the concept by differentiating between Islamic ideology and western ideology by comparing them to a ‘good tree’ and a ‘bad tree’ respectively.
Continuing on the importance of marriage Farzana Iqbal spoke on how and when marriage should be conducted in Islam. she also covered issues like importance of mehr,evils of dowry system and the unislamic customs and rituals practiced during most Islamic marriages and how these days marriages are conducted with great pomp and show in which a great deal of wealth is squandered all of which have no room in Islam. After this there was a panel discussion conducted by Waheeda where the audience were given valuable information about talaq (divorce) and Khula and discussed various aspects concerning it.
Mumtaz Nazir another speaker at the workshop spoke on rights and duties of women in Islam with examples from the lives of the Azwaj-e-mutaherat -wives of the prophet (s.a.w.) the importance of motherhood was also dealt with, the speaker Waheeda mentioned of the unique role mothers have to play in Islam and how important it is for them to discharge this great responsibility (state of motherhood) and to be the kind of person Allah commands her to be. Lastly Jabeen Chawdri spoke once again on how women should strive to establish the shariah in every sphere of their daily lives. To enter the religion of Islam completely and to submit to the will of Allah to succeed in the hereafter.
The workshop was attended by almost 1000 women from different parts of Mumbai. All the topics dealt at the workshop were an eye opener to all and if these values and responsibilities are implemented there would be a stable and truly Islamic society established.