‘Only they can bring peace, harmony’

“Only by educating Muslim women can we ensure peace, harmony, and love in society,” said Maulana Shakir Ali Noorie, president of the Sunni Dawat-e-Islami, on Friday.

About one lakh women from Mumbai, Thane, Bhiwandi, and Nashik had gathered at Azad Maidan on the first day of the three-day Sunni ijtema, an annual religious congregation of the community.

The Sunni Dawat-e-Islami has been holding the congregation for the past 19 years. The Dawat is an international non-political religious organisation founded in 1991 with the objective of spreading the message of prophet Mohammed. 

Speaking at the meet, Noorie talked about the status and responsibilities of women in Islam. “It is important for women to communicate properly. They are responsible for the family as they are the teachers in the house. Future generations learn from them.
“If there is bitterness between the mother and daughter-in-law or the husband and wife, proper communication can ensure that peace, harmony, and love are maintained.”

Noorie also stressed the need to empower Muslim women. “While it is important for the community to ensure that women get a formal education, it is also vital that Islamic education is imparted to them through an Islamic scholar. This is to ensure that family values are also instilled in them.”

Several prominent scholars and clerics spoke at the event. But the men were separated from the women with a white screen across the stage.

Among other issues that were discussed were the final day of judgment and humans and the use of natural resources. A question-and-answer session was held so that women could discuss the problems they face in performing religious rituals.