Empowering women through Holy Quran

Dr Farhat Hashmi, renowned scholar from Pakistan and Chief Executive of Al Huda Institute, has been causing waves among the Urdu-speaking community in the UAE.

Indians, Pakistanis and Urdu-speaking locals are gathering in huge numbers in Dubai to attend her Ramadan Quran course.

Gulf News spoke to her about this lofty undertaking.

What is the significance of this Ramadan Quran course?
It is the month in which the Holy Quran was revealed and every Ramadan, the Prophet (PBUH) would recite to the Angel Gabriel all of the Holy Quran that had been revealed to him.

In accordance with this, we devised a programme called Fahm Al Quran in which one para (chapter) is taught with translation and brief explanation on a daily basis. In this way, a large number of women can be taught the entire Holy Quran on basic level within the month of Ramadan.

Why did you choose Dubai?
There is a huge Urdu-speaking community here in Dubai, both Muslim and non-Muslim, that I can reach out to. Also, for quite some time, a lot of women have expressed an interest to bring the course to the UAE.

What is the Al Huda Institute?
Al Huda is a non-sectarian educational and research institute based in Pakistan, which my husband and I founded in 1994. We are trying to promote true Islamic teachings through reviving its humanitarian spirit.

Al Huda has had tremendous success all over the world with thousands of women listening to your tapes and attending your lectures. Why do you think this is?
It never ceases to amaze me that wherever I go in the world, I see an intense desire for Muslim women to educate themselves about their religion.

Women recognise how liberating and empowering religion can be but the problem is they haven't had the means of acquiring this knowledge. Also I think there is an urgent need to deal with women's issues and they find it easier to relate to a woman.

Why has there been no access to religious education for women?
Women have specific educational needs in the 21st century and we simply don't have the institutions that cater to them. For example, the majority of Muslims outside the Arab world don't speak Arabic so they can't understand the Holy Quran without relying on translations.

Through our one-year diploma course at Al Huda, and the word-for-word translations available on audiotape, they will learn to understand the Holy Quran directly.

Once you learn to read, recite and understand the Holy Quran properly, you develop an impenetrable bond with the Book - it is then that you can find guidance to change your life - and this is the basis of Islamic education.

What kind of change do you mean?
Men and women have to become dynamic, vibrant human beings. We have to actively engage in creating a just and fair society where we have freedom to worship our Creator in the light of the Holy Quran and Sunnah. Over the last century, women have instead fallen into a domestic trap.

Although I believe that the woman is in charge of the domestic arena, I don't think it should limit you as a productive member of society. By this, I don't necessarily mean going out to work for wages but in fulfilling our responsibilities as outlined in the Holy Quran.

For example, every human being has the responsibility to educate themselves and others. We have the responsibility to provide our children with spiritual, intellectual and emotional nourishment.

We have responsibilities towards our parents, our neighbours and our communities. We don't have time to spend in trivial pastimes.

How do we bring about this change?
Through acquiring knowledge of the Holy Quran and Sunnah and learning to implement it in your life in a practical way and very importantly, uniting as an Ummat with love and harmony. We are too preoccupied with trivialities. We have to accept and work together in spite of our differences.

What is unique about Al Huda?
Character building is a very important aspect of Islam. I teach skills such as behavioural change through self-analysis, anger and time management and positive thinking - all from the Holy Quran and Sunnah.

This might sound like modern self-help terminology but it has been part of Islam for the past 1,400 years. I also have an excellent multi-media department to enhance the impact of lectures and students are given the opportunity to study the Quranic Ayats in-depth relating them to modern scientific discoveries. I use both modern and traditional teaching methodologies to maximise effective learning.

What kind of environment were you brought up in?
My upbringing was very different from most Muslim women today. My father was a deeply religious man so I was exposed to Islam and Islamic education from a very young age.

He taught us to exert ourselves for Allah and always helped, advised and supported me in my work.

He was extremely eager that I continued my education and he took care of my children for three years whilst my husband and I went to the UK to study for our PhDs. I am extremely grateful for the opportunities he gave me.

What are some of the sacrifices you have had to make to reach this far?
My time, my loved ones, some comforts. But nothing really. It's nothing compared to what those before us sacrificed. The Prophet (PBUH) and his Companions all underwent severe hardships, injustices and oppression to uphold the message of truth, but they were always grateful for the opportunity to serve their Lord.

Anyone who wants to strive in Allah's way - for a just, equitable and peaceful society - has to sacrifice something.

What message would you like to give to our readers?
I would say to every individual, whether Muslim or non-Muslim, to read and engage with the Holy Quran at least once in their lives.