Female muslim exemplar for our time: profiling a South Indian figure

• Main Author: Muhsin, Sayyed Mohamed
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Mission Soft Foundation 2023
• Subjects: BP1 Islam
• Online Access: http://irep.iium.edu.my/104582/2/104582_Female%20muslim%20exemplar.pdf; http://irep.iium.edu.my/104582/; https://en.islamonweb.net/female-muslim-exemplar-for-our-time-profiling-a-south-indian-figure

Life is a chain of moments. Moments become treasures when they are dipped in the alchemy of the spirit. The moments that are profoundly merged with the import of our existence on earth. They become magical memories with lasting insights because these vivid flashes carry meaning. One way of diving into resourceful moments is by being in the company of an ‘exemplar.’ Exemplar means “a good example of something” or “a person or thing serving as a typical example or appropriate model.” Usually, examples are used to clarify complex concepts, provide a better understanding, and reduce the chances that an idea is wrongly applied in real-life situations. Good examples can substitute for lengthy descriptions. The beloved Messenger (ﷺ) is introduced as the best example (Uswah) in the Quran. The Muslim sage is an example. He/she converts the deep formulas and theories we read in books into picturesque portraits. It thus eases the process of learning and following in their footsteps. The life of a Muslim sage is an artistic painting. It carries the intrinsic beauty imbued in Islam. It is just another drop, but immensely deep, that bears a sea within. However, they are a rare breed, as the Prophet (ﷺ) said: “Verily, people are only like camels. From one hundred, you will hardly find one suitable to ride.” (Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī 6133). Ṭabaqāt, the genre of Islamic biographical literature, provide a remarkable account of life stories and real life experiences. We have several male and female saints, despite the disproportion in the reporting, narrating, profiling, exploring and analysing the female stories. Female sages are the least explored. Their lives need to be reopened and profiled. Their models are a wholesome reference for many people in the age of fake feminine portrayals and demands for artificial equality, which at times is nothing less than an exploitation of the female soul.