When Safa Nagar at Kuttipuram in South Kerala, the venue of the Jamaat-e-Islami Kerala State Women’s Cponference, stood witness to the legendary event in the history of Kerala women, by the boundless grace of Allah, the Malayalees across the globe had mixed feelings about an event planned, promoted and organized by women. Since the announcement of the conference at Tiruvananthapuram on October 4, 2009, the whole of Kerala was awash with calls by women activists of Jamate-e Islami Hind for social revolution. The wide recognition Kerala society gave to the theme of the conference-‘Woman power for social revolution’- is a testimony to the widespread perception that a women-centered social revolution is the need of the hour.
The run-up to the conference proved beyond all doubt that if need be, walls can lend themselves to be painted and written on by female hands as well. During the campaign phase of the conference, various programmes like seminars, symposia, public meetings, courtyard get-togethers, motor rallies, personal encounters and press conferences, apart from  and cultural programmes, were organized to take the message of the conference to the public at large. The result was the ceaseless stream of women that thronged the conference venue at Kuttippuram. The promotional campaign was made such a resounding success by thousands of women with grit and confidence to take up social responsibilities alongside the familial obligations. The women in Kerala had all along been on the look-out  for a place to unload the burden of miseries on their heads. When their minds and bodies had been grimy with the soot and agony of miseries, the call to Safa was a breath of fresh air and gave not little confidence to them. That was precisely the reason why over one lakh female servants of Allah came to the bosom of the Nila to get a glimpse of the seamless vista of liberation and freedom they wanted to attain.
The women who had started reaching the venue in the morning of Sunday itself soon turned the banks of the Nila into a veritable sea of women by noon. The walk through the sands on the way to the venue recalled Hazrat Hajras running through Safa and the nearby river Nila floating calmly brought to one’s mind the miraculous spring of Zamzam. The hot sun and the beastly heat did not shake the enthusiasm and determination of the delegates. Faces that radiated the strength of faith and the light of hopes.

Mindless of age and maladies they found seats for themselves far in advance on hot sandy banks of the Nila. One could almost hear them whispering to themselves, “we will not draw back”.

Safa Nagar witnessed a disciplined and orderly assembly of women, thanks largely to the dedication and strength of character displayed by female volunteers and meticulous planning devised by them. With the select few male volunteers, having contributed their mite into the arrangement, having already left by Sunday morning itself, the entire proceedings of the conference right from reception to food stalls, including water , cleaning , stage, announcement, photography, video and various other items fell into the hands with bangles that executed them with exquisite grace and characteristic dexterity. Many volunteers, it’s remarkable, risked their lives and limbs to make arrangements as convenient and comfortable for their sisters. With designated reception facilities for dignitaries ,an exhibition hall got up by GIO workers which strung together a wide range of events from Thekady disaster to campaigns for the conference and ladies’ items like bags, purses, key chains , and plates with logo of conference stamped on them, Safa was a novel chapter in the history of Kerala women.

With Jamaat-e-Islami delegates from as far as Karnadaka, Thamil Nadu and Maharashtra and sympathizers and well-wishers from as far as Chennai, Bangalore and America, the audience were full of enthusiasm and looked a content lot.  There was a file of women snaking through the sands of Safa until the sun spread its crimson glow in the western horizon. The cradles hung in the Pandal were a reminder that family was part of and not apart from the social revolution these womenfolk wanted to effect. The rare moments which proved that not only cradles but even video cameras and walkie-talkies were as appropriate in those hands.  The facilities and arrangements in the pandal, using cutting edge technologywere at such a level that even the whole women of  Kerela could feel proud about. We are accustomed to seeing women audience being sidelined at the conference venues of even secular progressive parties. This women’s conference with its orderly , disciplined and above all egalitarian female audience was the culmination of years of efforts taken by Jamaat-e-Islami asking women to break free from ignorance superstitions and unIslamic customs that had been binding them for long.

The women announcers with their lucidity of language, proper and well-constructed sentences and determined voices were remarkable in many ways.  The programme began at 4 ‘O clock just on; something of a history in our land where people are far too often kept waiting for ministers and VIP guests to turn up before meeting can began.  Amidst the allegation that women can keep time these meticulous punctuality was nothing short of amazing.

The only male speaker in the midst of women speakers seated on the majestic dais was the Ameer, Jamaat-e-Islami, Kerala chapter. To borrow a sentence from Ameer , “only one female voice was heard on the stage at Hira conference a decade ago and only one male voice is heard on the stage now”. The women speakers who spoke on a range of subjects from welcome speech to concluding words were symbols of strong female leadership groomed by the movement over all these years. All speeches were rich with profound thoughts , powerful language and lucid vision and could stand on a par with any seasoned male speakers that we know of.

 The absence of Sister Yvonne Ridley who was to inaugurate the conference and was denied entry to the country by the Indian Embassy in London caused inexpressible sense of loss among the audience. They were all eagerly waiting to listen to the brave journalist delivering words of wisdom and determination.  Her presence, however, through video conferencing had the audience in obvious excitement.

It’s not hard to see why a rights activist who speaks truth to power and strongly responds to all instances of the violations of human rights and denial of justice was denied access to this epic assembly of women. To quote the sister herself “It’s my dress of dignity that makes them jittery”. Let’s feel ashamed and hang our heads in disgrace at the sad fate of our country that not only does not disallow semi-naked and flimsy clothed promiscuous women and WAGS to the country but even gives green signals to blatant exhibitionisms at beauty pageants and on hoardings.  Besides, it has even the cheek to prevent a brave journalist like Ridley from coming to the country simply on the grounds of her dress. We Indians have had more than our own fair share of human rights violations and travesties of justice. Why, then, could our powers that be not recognize and accept the towering personalities of new age that stand for truth and justice? The words of Ridley delivered via video conferencing mentioned her resentment with the decision of Gandhi’s nation to deny entry to a person who has adopted Gandhi’s method of resisting violence. The audience listened in rapt attention to Ridley who called upon the sisterhood to stand the  more upright, the heavier the pressure to put them down.  Her determined face was beamed to the audience through four gigantic screens put up at the venue. The world stood witness to the Muslim women exploring the avenues of technology to take the voice of justice and truth beyond borders. Sister Ridley was eloquent about agonies and sorrows of women and children displaced by war and conflicts

 The presidential speech delivered by K.K Zuhra the President, Jamaat-e-Islami Hind, Women’s Wing, Kerala Chapter was noteworthy for its robust words and firm stand on issues that mattered.  She dwelt at length on the crucial role to be played by the government and religious leaders in grooming matured and sober sisterhood. She also reiterated how important it was that women found their own convictions and  expressions. P.K.Rahmabi who elaborated on the theme of the conference, ‘Woman Power for Social Rrevolution’ , expressed hope that the conference would help reform and ameliorate the womenfolk who are increasingly turning into victims of degenerate and debauched culture.  The keynote address delivered by T.K. Arifali, Ameere Jamaat-e-Islami Hind, Kerala was both  calm in delivery and powerful in substance. He listed numerous strides taken by women in Kerala and pointed out that everybody was duty-bound to take the basic Islamic tenets of Monotheism, Prophethood and Life-after-death to the masses.  Islam, the religion of mercy would spread a protective shade the world over, he said.  Ameer’s words sent a powerful message that this mission would be accomplished, however heavy the odds.

The satisfaction afforded by Magrib-isha prayers in a congregation of thousands of women was beyond words.  The rarest of rare moments. For many, such an experience was the first of its kind.  The Quranic recital of Imam V.P. Safiya was so sonorous as to soothe even the ceaseless streams of the Nila to stillness.   When the waves of faith soared in the hearts of the faithful , their heads bowed in absolute submission to their Lord. An immense debt of gratitude to Allah who made the conference a grand success, in spite of occasional glitches. 

Athiyya Siddiqa , Ameera, All India Jamaat-e-Islami Women’s Wing called upon the womankind to fortify themselves with knowledge.  Adv.Noor Bina’s speech seasoned with witticisms and wise humour was a feast of sorts to the audience.  Sauda Padanna (Back to Faith), Safiya Sharafiya (Towards Allah) and K.K.Raheena (To Students) also spoke. 

Four resolutions adopted by the conference (Dowry, Reservation for Women, Muslim Personal Law and Ethics) were quite befitting by any standards and sought to open the eyes of the authorities. The conference convener E.C. Ayisha’s concluding words were remarkable for their grandeur and roused a profound sense of duty among the audience ; a loud and clear message that this caravan, fortified and much enlarged by the sea of women gathered at Safa, would proceed with hopes that reach the sky for a better world. She highlighted the paradoxical nature of society that would never tire of alleging that Islam is in the way of freedom for women, while questioning the freedom of a woman to move freely by denying entry to a woman of international repute to the country.  She declared that no such high handed tactics would not force this caravan to budge an inch from its mission. Her robust words full of flame that rises the higher the more you try and put it out, brought the radiance of confidence and determination to thousands of faces. 

With conference having ended, the audience began to disperse in small groups, with a profound sense of gratitude to Allah for having helped them make this conference a historic event.They bid adieu to Safa with a sense of contentment that the Movement succeeded in ensuring women’s presence in all activities following the footsteps of the Prophet. One feels confident that society has come forward to recognize the initiatives taken by the women workers of Jamaat-e-Islami, in the midst of stiff opposition from and calumny spread by vested interests; a confidence boosted by the fact that many have already started streaming in to the fold of this Islamic Movement.

Now, tireless days await the workers.  When they left their conference venue, they shouldered the responsibility to continue to import strength and courage to over one lakh sisters assembled there and constructively intervene in matters of concern to them “So when you have finished (with your immediate task), still strive hard, (then toil)”, (Quran:94:7) That was why a new wing was formed after the conference. The coming days are going to be marked by relentless efforts to fulfill various schemes and initiatives announced as mementos of the conference.

The conference that sought to show a new vista of liberation to women trampled upon and sidelined for ages was not meant to be a mere assembly of women.  More that half of those congregated at Safa had no conception of the extent of freedom granted by Allah to His female servants. Who are to give a vision and a sense of direction to those who have just woken up and who are there to wake up those who are bound by shatters of servitude or lie in voluntary or forced sleep? Except, of course, those who have been privileged to to know the majestic message of our Lord. 

May Allah grant strength our feeble hands enough strength and our heart enough courage to bear these multiple responsibilities. The currents of and sands on the Nila that marked a heavenly dream of revolution do not become just a part of history but creates history; something no one in Kerala, even the so-called radical feminists, can lay claim to.

RESOLUTIONS ADOPTED BY THE  CONFERENCE

I.  Reservations, Reservation for women: Reform Essential
India is rich with the diversity of multi-religious, multi-ethnic, multi-linguistic and multi-cultural society.  To be sure, this incredible diversity is the essential charm of India.  The strength of our nation lies in the unity we uphold in the midst of our distinct identities.

Nevertheless, these diversities have practically lent themselves down the years to various forms of domination of some class and subjugation of others.  Those who were made backward due to religious and historic reasons were exploited and discriminated against. They were kept away from all social spheres and the avenues of power.

The architects of our constitution had good grasp of these facts while framing our constitution. This realistic sense led them to guarantee reservation to various sections of society designated as SCs, STs , OBCs and religious and linguistic minorities so that these sections can also partake of the benefits of education and government.

Reservation for women was a revolutionary step in this direction. Reservation of 33 percent quota in civic bodies was raised to fifty percent this year. The bill that proposes to allocate 33 percent reservation for women in assemblies and Parliament has been tabled in Parliament.

Womenfolk that form half the population of India face several forms of discrimination in all spheres. At such a juncture, it’s gratifying to see genuine attempts to empower the women and bring them to the main stream.

Kerala State Women Conference of Jamaat-e-Islami proposes the following suggestions in order to make reservations really meaningful.

1.  Provisions for sub-reservations for backward and minority communities must be made in the bill that proposes the reservation of 33 percentage of seats for women in Assemblies and Parliament.

2. Provisions for sub-reservations for backward and minority communities must be made in the bill that reserves fifty percentage of seats in civic bodies. 

3. Attempts to scuttle the system of reservation by incorporating economic criterion to the system must be prevented.

4. The recommendations of Justice Ranganath Mishra Commission formed to look into the problems of religious minorities must be implemented forthwith.  Attempts must be soon made to implement the recommendations of the Sachar and Paloli Commissions.

II. Codify Muslim Personal Law and Solve Anomalies

  One of the unique features of Indian Constitution is that it guarantees rights to all religious sections to practise their own personal laws.  The Constitution gives rights to Muslims to decide matters of marriage, divorce and inheritance according to Sharia laws.

Yet, because Sharia laws have not been properly codified in these matters, things often get awry.  Sometimes, courts appropriate to themselves the right to interpret the Quran and Hadith without understanding their spirit and total message.  At other times, tendencies to transgress the limits of Sharia so as to fall in line with public laws are also seen.  The codification of Sharia laws is the only way out.

Many proceedings that contravene the commandments of the Holy Quran and Hadith are considered valid in Muslim Personal Law.  The misuse of polygamy, unfair divorce, Mutua’ marriage and Mutalaq are a few instances of such non-Islamic provisions in it.   These practices obviously run counter to public values as well as the teachings of the Quran and Hadith and disfigure the image of Muslim community in front of the society.  This conference calls for a recodification of Muslim Personal Law in such a way that it will be in harmony with spirit and teachings of Allah and His Prohet.

This conference requests Muslim legal experts, Islamic scholars and above all Muslim Personal Law Board to find a workable compromise on matters pertaining to various schools of thoughts in Islamic jurisprudence and recast Muslim Personal Law in tune with genuine Islamic tenets and without errors and defects.

III. Strive to Combat Dowry

Family is an institution that makes biological and social life possible for humankind.  Secure family relations are the key to family life. Only a conjugal relation built on the twin principles of love and kindness will lead to a stable family and thereby the formation of a secure society.

Kerala society has already started experiencing the agonies resulting from the replacement of spiritual values that should light up family life, with greed and gross economic considerations which have begun to dictate human relations.

The rising dowry rates, according to rise in stock market values, is an open declaration that women are just another commodity in the market. In addition, the soaring standards of luxury and profligacy associated with wedding parties are turning the dreams of many girls in impoverished families into hellish nightmares.

The number of unmarried girls past marriageable age is alarmingly rising. The family disintegration, divorce rate and abandonment of young women even without pretentions of ceremony of divorce are also on the increase.  These are not just some signals of miseries faced by women alone but unmistakable symptoms of a society that is fast degenerating. 

Even as all religions extol the sanctity of family relation and the nobility of womanhood, it’s a matter of deep shame and pain that our own society that has such deep influence of a religion on it is going through such a shameful phase as this.  This conference calls for special attention to be paid to this issue. Revolutionary youth and youth organizations are obliged to be role models in this regard and give a proper sense of direction to the society
Women should be the first to come forward to put an end to the miseries of women. This conference calls upon every sister to pitch in to put an end to all non-Islamic practices associated with marriages and be involved in the fight against dowry system by  creating practical examples through one’s own sons and brothers.

IV Regain Moral and Ethical Values

Ethics are the foundations of human culture. One of the distinguishing features of humans is their capacity to select and live by certain standard and limits of morality. Such limits of morality both civilize the individual and make the inevitable coexistence possible. History is witness to the fact that moral degeneration inevitably leads to the fall of human civilizations.
The current moral state of affairs in our country is such that we wonder if we hare on the brink of such a fall. Lewdness and promiscuity have become the order of the day. Perversities like homosexuality are given philosophical preteces and legal protections. The government gives all support to the free reign of alcohol in society, which leads to the disintegration of family values. The statistics of the amount spent on liquor during festival seasons is an unmistakable measure of the social tragedy we are faced with. The strong grip of Capitalism that takes market possibilities as the only criteria of right and wrong and Postmodern thoughts that give embellishments to social evils on the pretext of cultural diversity aggravate the tragedy. Only religious spiritual and moral values that both accept human greatness and see the forces of good in human heart as the basis for building a secure society can solve e this crisis. This conference gives a serious call to the whole of Kerala society to be ready for such reconsiderations before greater catastrophe strikes us.

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