Woman Between Islam and Western Society
5. Position of Woman in the Islamic Shari‘ah
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have Him in his thoughts and will always have His
name on his lips.
The 66th chapter of the Qur’an, entitled
“Prohibition,” mentions three more qualities of
believing men and women: penitence, devoutness
and obedience.
TAWBAH means feeling penitent about having
committed a sin and then turning away from
sinfulness. This is a very special attribute of
believing men and women. In this world of trial one
does make mistakes from time to time —
dominated as one is by the self — but the effect of
one’s wrongdoing will not be irreversible if one at
once turns to God and repents one’s misdeeds. This
repentance acknowledges God’s greatness as
compared to man’s insignificance. Those who are
truly repentant find the greatest favor in God’s
eyes.
IBADAH (worship). This is the act performed to
acknowledge supernatural exaltedness. It is
familiarly known as worship, and its object should
be none other than the Almighty. Believing men
and women worship God and God alone.
