Voice of British Muslim Women

Nadia Nauman, Bolton

In today’s world, when life is full of all sorts of distractions, the struggles of an Ahmadi Muslim woman are challenging. These struggles are the battles fought on a daily basis. Not the battles on the ground. Rather, the battles with one’s own self. Today is the time for jihad (striving) against one’s ‘nafs’ (the self).

When we refer to distractions, the point to ponder is what are these pulling forces? Forces that pull us away from our reason of creation – ibaadat (worship of God). Foremost amongst these forces is social media that has crept so silently into our homes. We allow our children to use it in the name of staying abreast with technology. At other times, it is the most accepted form of social interaction with their friends. This often leads to peer pressure from schools and children and their parents have to struggle over it.

Once this initial struggling period is over, these very gadgets invade our homes. Parents then find it easier to keep their children engaged with all sorts of gadgets. This turns out to be an easy way out of parenting responsibilities, where both parties involved are happy. It becomes difficult to really recall when exactly these gadgets invaded our dining tables, our living rooms, and even our bedrooms. Most of our time gets consumed over the use of social media, games, and online entertainment programmes. At the end of the day, many real tasks go into the pending list. And we remain ever complaining that we do not get the time for more fruitful things in life.

These forces have created invisible walls within families. Our dining tables have gone quiet as everyone is engaged with the gadget in hand. Sitting in the same room, members of the family are no more interactive with each other. Focus is on the people on the screen, not those sitting right beside us. This is creating all sorts of problems in adult relationships too.

This vicious circle has to stop. And the time for this is now. This is the time for internal jihad. The Ahmadi Muslim woman has to play her part. Not only does she herself need to deal with and repel these pulling forces of her ‘nafs‘, she also has to safeguard her family against this.

This gigantic task can only be achieved through prayer and a close connection with the community. It is very easy to get lost in the worldly affairs. The struggle is to bring ourselves back on the righteous path every time we move astray. It is imperative for an Ahmadi woman to create the environment within her home that fosters peace and tranquillity. She is responsible to inculcate in each and every member of the family the love to offer the five daily Prayers. The weekly Friday sermon should be listened to as a family, with complete respect for that one hour.

The rule of ‘no gadgets on the dining table’ will be enforced only if the parents also abide by it. The Ahmadi Muslim woman has to be a role model for her children. This is possible only when she subjugates the worldly desires of her own ‘nafs’. She has to create a balanced and spiritual life in the modern world. She has a responsibility towards this, for which she will be questioned on the Day of Judgment. May Allah enable us to fulfil our responsibilities in the best possible manner, ameen.