Think You’re Just Ordinary? Here’s What Islam Really Says About You, Muslimah
Muqaddimah
Hello, my wonderful friend. Have you ever sat quietly and asked your heart, "What is my true purpose?" As Muslim women, we wear many hats like as a daughter, sister, wife, mother, friend, employee or boss.
But our main purpose, the one that defines us, is to be a true servant of Allah. This book's goal is simple: to help us shape ourselves into a complete Muslimah, beautiful in our akhlaq (character), our modesty and our aqidah (belief).
But before we learn how to walk the path, we must first understand why this path is so special.
WHY Is the Muslimah's Path So Honored? | Your Status in the Quran & Sunnah
Let's be honest. Sometimes, the world makes us feel small. We hear stories from history or even see things today, that make us question our value.
1. The Darkness Before the Light
The book reminds us that before Islam, in the time of Jahiliyyah (ignorance), women were often hated. A baby girl was seen as a burden, sometimes even buried alive. There was no honor, no rights and no voice.
Then, Islam came. And it didn't just give women rights; it demanded that their honor, value and rights be protected.
2. The Great Promise: For Both Men and Women
This is so important. Allah's love and His rewards are not just for men. Allah sees the heart, the piety, and the amal (deeds).
He makes this perfectly clear in the Quran that beautifully summarize this, which comes from a powerful verse:
"Indeed, the Muslim men and Muslim women, the believing men and believing women, the obedient men and obedient women, the truthful men and truthful women, the patient men and patient women, the humble men and humble women,
the charitable men and charitable women, the fasting men and fasting women, the men who guard their chastity and the women who do so, and the men who remember Allah often and the women who do so - for them Allah has prepared forgiveness and a great reward." (Surah Al-Ahzab, 33:35)
Look at that! Allah lists them side-by-side. Our path to Jannah is right there, equal in every way.
3. The Big Misunderstanding: Adam and Hawa (Eve)
Here is a story that Islam corrected. For centuries, people blamed Hawa (Eve) for the "Fall of Man." They said she tricked Adam a.s into eating the fruit and that she was the reason they were kicked out of Paradise.
Islam says: No. That is not what happened.
The Quran is very clear that it was a shared mistake. They both slipped and more importantly, they both repented together. Allah taught them the beautiful dua (prayer) of repentance:
"They said, 'Our Lord, we have wronged ourselves, and if You do not forgive us and have mercy upon us, we will surely be among the losers.'" (Surah Al-A'raf, 7:23)
Islam removed this terrible blame from women. Your existence is not a "curse" or a "mistake." You are and always were, an equal partner.
4. The World's Best Treasure | The Solehah Wife
Not only did Islam give women honor, but our beloved Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) called a righteous woman the greatest treasure in the entire world.
"The world is an enjoyment, and the best enjoyment of the world is a solehah (righteous) wife. If you look at her, she pleases you, and if you go away from her, she guards herself (and your wealth)." (Hadith reported by Muslim and Ibn Majah)
SubhanAllah. Not a house, not gold, not a high-ranking job. You, in your piety, are the best this world has to offer.
5. Your God-Given Rights
Islam is a religion of justice. It didn't just give us a high spiritual rank; it gave us practical, legal rights that the world had never seen. The list so many:
The Right to Learn: You must learn your Fardhu Ain (personal obligations) and are encouraged to learn Fardhu Kifayah (communal obligations) to become a knowledgeable Muslimah who can help build the ummah (community).
The Right to Choose: You have the right to choose your husband, to set your mahr (dowry) and to own that mahr completely. You also have the right to be provided for (nafkah) by him.
The Right to Justice: If a marriage is not working, you are not trapped. You have the right to seek divorce through khulu' or fasakh. If you have young children, you have the right to custody (hadhanah) and to be paid for taking care of them.
The Right to Dignity: Yes, Islam allows polygamy, but it is not a free-for-all. It comes with the heavy condition of being just and fair. It was revealed to protect women (widows, orphans) and prevent the evil of men having affairs.
The Right to Own: You have the right to inherit, to own property, and to invest your own money however you see fit. Your husband cannot touch your wealth without your permission.
This is Islam. A religion that protects, that defends, and that gives us the honor and security to fulfill our real purpose.
Becoming a Woman of Jannah
Okay, so we know our status is high. Alhamdulillah. But now comes the hard part. How do we become that "best treasure"?
1. Intention vs. Action
It's easy to want to be solehah. We all have that desire. But just "wanting" is like wanting to reach the top of a mountain while sitting at the bottom. It doesn't work.
That desire must be followed by effort, sincerity, and sacrifice. It means choosing Allah's pleasure over our own desires (hawa nafs).
2. The Two Wings of a Believer | Knowledge & Action
Here is the most important rule: You cannot have one without the other.
Amal (Action) without Ilm (Knowledge) is useless. You might be praying, but are you praying correctly? You might be fasting, but is your heart free of arrogance?
Ilm (Knowledge) without Amal (Action) is also useless. Knowing all the Hadith about kindness doesn't help if you are still sharp-tongued with your family.
First, we must have Iman, yes...believing in the 6 pillars (Allah, His Angels, His Books, His Messengers, the Last Day, and Qada/Qadar). Then, we must use that Iman. We must worship Allah with ikhlas (sincerity), hoping only for His acceptance.
The 6 Hardest Tests
So, what is the real sign of a solehah woman? Is it just about praying and fasting?
The book says she is someone who is considered "good" by the good people around her. As the Hadith says:
"Whatever the Muslims see as good, then it is good with Allah." (Hadith reported by Ahmad)
She follows the Quran, the Sunnah and the way of the Salafus Soleh (the righteous early generations).
But the book gives 6 major characteristics. These are not easy. These are the "final boss level" of good character. They require real mujahadah (struggle) against our own ego.
1. You are Kind... to Those Who are Unkind to You.
This is the big one. It's easy to be nice to nice people. But what about that person who always makes a hurtful comment? Our nafs (ego) screams, "Be rude back!". But the solehah woman takes a deep breath, controls her anger, and... she is still kind. Why? Because her kindness is not for them; it is for Allah.
2. You Forgive... Those Who Hurt You.
This is the path to peace. Holding a dendam (grudge) is like carrying a heavy, hot rock in your heart. It only burns you. It makes you anxious and sad. The solehah woman knows that this world is too short to carry that rock. She forgives. Not because the other person "deserves" it, but because she deserves peace and Allah loves those who forgive.
3. You Connect... with Those Who Cut You Off.
Oh, this is tough. A family member stops talking to you. A friend "unfriends" you. The easy thing to do is cut them off, too. But the solehah woman tries. She sends the "Salam." She asks, "How are you?" She tries to bridge the gap, all for the sake of Allah. Because she knows the value of silaturrahim (tying the bonds of kinship).
Our Prophet (ﷺ) warned us how serious this is.
The Reward: "Whoever would like his rizq (provision) to be increased and his life to be extended, let him maintain his ties of kinship." (Hadith by Bukhari & Muslim)
The Warning: "The one who severs ties of kinship will not enter Paradise." (Hadith by Muslim)
4. You Trust... Those Who Have Betrayed You.
This sounds scary, doesn't it? This doesn't mean to be foolish or let yourself be abused. It means you don't let one person's mistake make you hate everyone. It means you believe in tawbah (repentance). You believe that a bad person today can be a good person tomorrow. You give people a chance to fix themselves, just as we hope Allah gives us chances.
5. You Speak Kindly... to Those Who Have Ignored You.
This is a test of humility. You see someone who has ignored you or "ghosted" you. Instead of ignoring them back, you are the first to give salam and a smile.
6. You Respect... Those Who Have Insulted You.
This is the ultimate test of knowing your self-worth. When someone insults you, the solehah woman doesn't insult them back. Why? Because she knows her value doesn't come from people; it comes from Allah. She knows a beautiful secret: Only a "hina" (lowly) person tries to "hina" (insult) others. A noble person would never do that. She feels pity for the insulter, not anger.
SubhanAllah. Imagine a world where we all tried to live by these 6 rules. That is the world Islam wants us to build.
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