former American President
Jimmy Carter stated
“The abuse of women and girls
is the most pervasive and unaddressed
human rights violation on earth.”
New Zealand philosopher poet
Terence George Craddock observed
“strange how it was taboo to address
this abusive crime first in families
then in the Roman Catholic Church
now in Saudi Arabia progress
is slow but progress is made”
to the ignorant men abusing the right
of women to work to think to educate
in some powerful Muslim positions
I have to say but a few short things
consider example Prophet Muhammad
at age twenty-five Prophet Muhammad
a working woman his wealthy employer wed
a loving marriage to Khadija the merchant
Prophet Muhammad believed in helping widows
believed in kindness to women respected the rights
of women encouraged women’s empowerment
Prophet Muhammad would be appalled at abuse
of women and girls we can easily prove this?
Prophet Muhammad sought
loyal wife Khadija's advise
after cave of Hira he returned
Archangel Gabriel he first encountered
Khadijia gave her husband help solace
Prophet Muhammad choose a strong merchant
intellectual woman he loved all his life respected
a young girl Aisha was nurtured
in Muhammad's Prophetic household
she worked was indeed entrusted
with carrying forward message
of Islam with intimate details
of Prophet's personal manners
to all future generations of Muslims
responsibility teaching entrusted
was it not Aisha his wife who gathered sacred
scattered sayings of Prophet Muhammad?
Prophet Muhammad approval sought
from his daughter Fatima when her hand
in marriage an esteemed man sought
Prophet Muhammad had
women sent teachers
when women complained
they did not have access
to his Islamic teachings
there can be no doubt Prophet Muhammad
believed in respect for women believed in their rights
Copyright © Terence George Craddock
This poem has not been translated into any other language yet.
I would like to translate this poem