Project Women Empowerment

Women’s Empowerment through Education, Training and Skill Building

Abstract

Education and training of girls and women is a human right and an essential element for the full enjoyment of all other social, economic, cultural and political rights. The Millennium development goals (2000), txhe EFA and Dakar goals (2000), and the Beijing Platform have consistently placed emphasis on the importance of education in promoting gender equality and the advancement of women

Education is an essential element of the empowerment of girls and women. A good quality education, designed on the basis of women and girls' immediate and strategic needs, builds women's capacities and prepares them to seize opportunities in the public and private domains. The empowerment of women is crucial to change some of the societal attitudes and behaviors that discriminate against girls and women. The empowerment of women is therefore linked to the development of the nations and the societies.

Women’s Rights in Islam

Islam is a perfect code of life. Islam has given men and women equal rights in every aspect of life.
The rights of Muslim women were given to us by Allah (SWT), who is All-Compassionate, All-Merciful, All-Just, All-Unbiased, All-Knowing and the Most Wise. These rights, which were granted to women more than 1400 years ago, and were taught by the perfect example of the Prophet Muhammad Peace be upon Him, were given by the one Who created us and Who alone knows what rights are the best for our female natures.

Islam considers a woman to be equal to a man as a human being and as his partner in this life. Women have been created with a soul of the same nature as men.

Allah (SWT) says in the Quran;

"O mankind! Be dutiful to your Lord, Who created you from a single person (Adam), and from him (Adam) He created his wife (Eve), and from them both He created many men and women and fear Allah through Whom you demand your mutual (rights), and (do not cut the relations of) the wombs (kinship). Surely, Allah is Ever and custodian over you." (Al-Nisa 4:1)

And in the words of the Prophet Muhammad (SAW);
"Assuredly, women are the twin halves of men." (Abu-Dawud)

Women’s Position in Islam in the Idea of Creation

Islam in theory has given men and women equal rights in every aspects of life. Islam gives men and women equality in the idea of Creation of human beings. Concerning the idea of Creation the Qur'an states;

"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 Fear Allah, through Whom ye demand your mutual (rights) and (reverence) the wombs (that bore you) For Allah Ever watches over you" (Al-Nisa 4:1)

Women's Spiritual Status in Islam

Not only in the idea of creation Islam has granted equality to men and women, but also women are given the same spiritual status as men. Quran states this in the following way;

" For Muslim men and women For believing men and women, For devoted men and women, for true men and women, for men and women who are patient and constant, for men and women who humble themselves, for men and women who give in charity, for men and women who fast (and deny themselves), for men and women who guard their chastity, and for men and women who engage much in Allah praise for them has Allah prepared forgiveness and great reward." (Sura 33 Verse 35)

At another occasion Allah says in Quran;
“Every soul will be (held) in pledge for its deeds.” (Sura 74, Verse 38)

Women’s Education in Islam

The Qur'an and Hadiths of the Holy Prophet Peace be upon Him both obligate Muslim men and women to acquire knowledge and education. It is a duty for every Muslim. For example, concerning knowledge and education the Qur'an states as follows;

“Those truly fear Allah, among His Servants, who have knowledge”. (Sura 35 Verse 28)

Prophet's Hadiths repeatedly emphasizes the acquirement of education and knowledge for every Muslim male and female.For example, one Hadith states that;

“Seeking knowledge is a duty of every Muslim, man or woman”. (Al-Tirmidhi Hadith 218)

Holy Prophet Hazrat Muhammad Peace Be upon Him again said;
"If a daughter is born to a person and he brings her up, gives her a good education and trains her in the arts of life, I shall myself stand between him and hell-fire." (Kanz al-Ummal, reported by Abdullah ibn Mas'ud).

In early stages of Islamic history there were many women scholars who had very significant roles in the Islamic world. For example Ayesha, the Prophet's wife was one of the most famous Muslim scholars. Not only was she very intelligent, she had an exceptional memory. That is why she was considered one of the most important sources of Hadith. It has been stated in some Islamic reports that the Prophet of Allah Hazrat Muhammad peace be upon Him told the Muslims to go to Ayesha for guidance and learning of religious duties. The Prophet Hazrat Muhammad peace be upon Him also told the Muslims to trust Ayesha's teachings and guidance.

In the Islamic world, at the beginning of Islam, there were no restrictions or prohibitions towards women to seek knowledge and education. There were many women scholars in the fields of religion, literature, music, education, and medicine. For example, a woman named Nafisa who was related to Ali, the fourth caliph, had a vast knowledge of Islam and was an expert on the Hadiths of the Holy Prophet Hazrat Muhammad Peace be upon Him. Many famous Muslim scholars of the time, such as Imam Shafi-ai participated in Nafisa's scholarly discourse and learn from her.

Women’s Empowerment & Economic Position in Islam

Islam has given women the rights to work, to own property and to have wealth. Women can seek employment and work in profession such as medical care, teaching, civil and justice professions. These rights remain the same before and after marriage. Regarding the right to work,

Allah says in the Holy Quran;
“And in nowise covet those things in which Allah hath bestowed His gifts more freely on some of you than on others: to men is allotted what they earn, and to women what they earn: But ask Allah of his bounty. For Allah hath full knowledge of all things”. (Sura 4 Verse 32)

In the Islamic history there were no restrictions in women's full participation in the economic, political and social spheres of their society. For example, Khadija, the Prophet's first wife was one of the most important merchants of the time, and the Prophet Hazrat Muhammad peace be upon Him himself was her employee. Ayesha, the Prophet's other wife was one of his most important advisers and consultants. In the early Islamic history women not only participated in various aspects of their society's public sphere, they also had the right to be elected to political offices. For example, Omar the second caliph, appointed a woman to oversee the affairs of the marketplace. The women also participated in wars and fought in the battles.

Helping Hands’ Role in Women’s Education & Empowerment

Helping Hands considers the women as an integral part of the society. Without education and empowerment of the women, nations cannot get development and progress in a real way.

• Organization promotes women education and empowerment in the society for the betterment and development of the nations. Women education and empowerment plays a vital role in the prosperity and development of the nations.
• Helping Hands is striving to empower the women to make them contributing member of the society,
• Helping Hands is of the view that if we care about the development and progress of the societies and nations today and into the future, we must work now to ensure that women and girls have equal opportunities to be educated, to participate in government, to achieve economic self-sufficiency and to be protected from violence and discrimination.
• Helping Hands is running different women Education and Empowerment Projects in Pakistan.

Female Computer Training centre in Village Bijar, Post Office Bijar, District Khushab, Punjab Pakistan.

Helping Hands established a Computer Training Centre for females in Bijar District Khushab, Punjab Pakistan in September 2005. Females are taught a Diploma in Computer Sciences- 6 month’s course in this centre.
View Report

Razia Baigum Sewing School, Feroz pur Road, Awan Market near Shahzeb PCO Basement Lahore, Pakistan

Razia Baigum Sewing School is providing free vocational training to the women. In this school, students learn different aspects of stitching, designing and embroidery work. View Report

Helping Hands' Sewing School-India 1A/1, Street No. 5, Chanakya Place, New Delhi-110059

Helping Hands established a sewing school in western Delhi- India to provide free vocational training to the unprivileged and backward women of this area.

Majority of the People of this area are poor and illiterate. They don't have a permanent source of income and economically they are living in a miserable condition. View Report