The Sunday Mail
Desire Ncube
WOMEN of Muslim faith gathered in the capital last Sunday to celebrate national Women’s Day in honour of the birth of Fatima Zahra, Prophet Muhammad’s daughter.
Muslims commemorate their national Women’s Day and Mother’s Day on the 20th day of the lunar Islamic month of Jamadi al-Thani, which marks the birthday anniversary of Fatima Zahra.
The event was held at Fatima Zahra College in Hatfield and was attended by the wife of the ambassador of Iran, Mrs Elaheh Aminnejad.
Mrs Aminnejad presented gifts to the women who attended the annual celebrations.
This year’s commemorations began with the recitation from the Quran, followed by speeches from Muslim women who included Mrs Hawa Yusuf, Mrs Jamila Yasin and Mrs Shaista Tresha Chindandari.
Speakers highlighted the role and qualities that Fatima Zahra exhibited as a perfect model for a woman.
“The virtues learnt from Fatima Zahra are what makes a Muslim woman of today an admiration of society,” said Mrs Yusuf.
“She (Fatima) was the ideal lady of Islam and excelled all ladies in worship, manners and morals.
“For her husband, she was the best wife and for her children, she was the best mother,” said Mrs Chindandari.
Furthermore, Mrs Chindandari urged women not to make demands that they know their husbands cannot meet, saying it hurts marriages.
“During Fatima’s lifetime, she never made undeserving demands to her husband or caused him any hardship.
“We read that Imam Ali (her husband) used to say, ‘By God, I never did anything in all my life which made Fatima unhappy or angry, and Fatima, too, never did anything which made me unhappy or angry.”
The head of Fatima Zahra College, Mrs Hajira Makwinja, gave an insight into the lessons that can be learnt from the life of Fatima and how Muslim women can be role models for a pure Muslim woman as shown by the Prophet’s daughter.
She urged all Muslim women to be proud of their beliefs.
“As a Muslim woman, you must always put on a Hijab to cover your head, this is more appropriate so that people may know that you are a Muslim.
“Hijab contributes to the stability and preservation of marriage and family by eliminating the chances of extra-marital affairs,” said Mrs Makwinja.
She added that Hijabs are to the advantage of women as it compels suitors to focus on their real personality instead of their physical beauty.
In her presentation, Mrs Yasin said Fatima Zahra cultured her children with Islamic morals, manners and etiquette and brought up her children to be the best.
This year’s celebrations were punctuated by poems and music from Fatima Zahra College students.
Fatima Zahra was born in the fifth year of Mohammad’s Prophethood. Her father was the Holy Prophet Mohammad who started the Islam religion and her mother was Khadija.
