Half

The Muslim world is lagging behind,
In almost every area you'll find.
From infrastructure to inventions,
With constant political tensions.
This wasn't the case in the past,
But now we're working at half mast.
Half the population staying inside,
Women uneducated, pressured to hide.
How have the Muslims come to that?
It wasn't the case with the Sahabiyat:
They tended livestock and date palm trees;
Worked as doctors and had businesses.
Khadijah was a rich business woman,
Hafsah was entrusted with the Quran.
They're lives were active and full;
Not claustrophobic, never dull.
They kept their dignity and modesty;
Were what they wanted to be.
No wonder we're getting behind,
We're wasting half of our human kind;
Telling them, "Stay at home and cook,"
Rarely studying an academic book.
We'll never get out of second gear
Until we get rid of this foolish fear.
There will be much less corruption
Without homes with satellite television.
Making the women bored, staying in;
Can lead to more influences and sin.
Useless to society and low in iman;
isn't the role of the woman.
Allow jobs apart from wife and mother;
Yes of course wear hijab and cover.
Lets return to the Prophet's way-
Let the women have their say.
Maybe then Muslims will start to prosper,
Please get rid of these fears you foster.
Of course being modest must remain;
That's not too hard to maintain.
This situation causes psychological harm,
It can be hard for women to stay calm.
What if children are grown and move on?
What if a women is single or barren?
Should she stay home feeling useless?
Or go study and work in modest dress?
Stop wasting this vital human resource;
It'll help to change the Muslims course.

By Umm Arif