Gateway to Heaven : New,
'A Concise Manual for Muslim Sisters,'
[A5] Paperback - 315 pages,
by Sayyid Shah Ale Rasul Nazmi al-Barkati,
Transl. by Abdul Hadi Qadri,
Published by Sufi Pages.

Description :

The religion of Islam gave women an honourable status and true dignity. Before the advent of Islam, women had no rights of any kind, or an independent identity in any form. The great importance of the Muslim woman’s role – whether as wife, sister, or daughter, and the rights that are due to her and the rights that are due from her – have been explained in the Glorious Qur’an, and further details of this have been explained in the purified Sunnah.
 

The noble author (Shah Ale Rasul) has presented in this book the A to Z rules and regulations for a woman from her birth to her death. The status of Muslim women as defined in Islam is very important because women make up half of society and they are responsible for nurturing, guidance and reformation of the subsequent generations of men and women. It is the female who imbues principles and faith into the souls of the nation. Indeed, the Muslim woman is the architect and initial teacher in building a righteous society of the future.
 

In the Islamic family, the role of men and women is complementary rather than competitive. The Glorious Qur’an makes it clear that the husband has full responsibility for the maintenance of the family. The wife, on the other hand, is responsible for the welfare of the family. Their duties are described as equal in importance, but not identical in substance.


A woman’s responsibility in faith is exactly the same as that of a man. Women are to pray, fast, give charity, perform the pilgrimage and perform other forms of ibadah. A woman is rewarded for this just like a man. A woman must believe in the Oneness of Almighty Allah, the Books of Almighty Allah, the Angels of Almighty Allah, the Prophet's of Almighty Allah, the Day of Resurrection, the Day of Judgment and Heaven and Hell, and Predestination. The issue of feminism in Islam is meaningless. The coming of Islam has brightened the life and future of women, in which Islam has lifted up their level. Islam upholds women to the highest and most respected position. The Holy Qur’an describes women as a symbol of beauty, justice and love.
 

This informative book is a MUST for Muslim women of all ages. They will find this book as a very handy reference and we pray that it inspires and instils in them the desire to follow the correct teachings found herein in sincerity. In sha-Allah!

About the Author :

He is Shaykh Sayyid Shah Al'e Rasul Hasnain miya Nazmi al-Qadiri al-Barkati al-Marehrawi, popularly referred to as 'Nazmi miya.' He was a well known figure in the Ahl al-Sunnah w'al Jama'ah due to his Sayyid lineage and his family affiliations to the zawiya (khanqah) of Marehrah sharif. He was the son of Hadrat Shaykh Sayyid Shah Ale Mustafa al-Husayni al-Barkati, rahimahullah, a renowned and respected figure in the Islamic world.


Sayyid Nazmi miya was proficient in 5 languages and despite being a shaykh of the Silsila Qadiriyya Barkatiyya order, he also had spiritual links to 12 other spiritual orders.





 

Table of Contents :
 

---About the Author,
---Foreword.

---Preface,
---A Point to Note.

---Chapter [1]. Women before Islam,

---Chapter [2]. Women after Islam,
--------Her spiritual and moral status,
--------Her economic rights,
--------Her legal rights.

---Chapter [3]. Four Phases in the Life of a Woman,
--------Women in Childhood,
--------Women in Adulthood,
--------Women after Marriage,
-----------The institution of marriage,
-----------Choosing a husband,
-----------Matchmaking,
-----------Forced marriage is not acceptable,
-----------Witnesses are necessary in Nikah,
-----------Her duties towards the husband,
-----------Polygamy,
-----------How to live happily with the husband,
-----------The best wife,
-----------Conflict with mother-in-law,
-----------How the mother-in-law should behave?
-----------How the daughter-in-law should behave?
-----------How the son should behave?
-----------The rights of the wife,
-----------Conflicts between the husband and wife - divorce,
-----------The woman's right to demand divorce,
-----------The pardah system,
-----------The best husband,
--------Women as Mother's,
-----------Her duties towards children,
-----------How to bring up children,
-----------Children's rights towards Parents,
-----------Treatment towards relations,
-----------Rights towards neighbours,
-----------Duties towards Muslims in general,
-----------Social responsibilities,
-----------General instructions.

---Chapter [4]. Human Rights,
--------The security of life and property,
--------The protection of honour,
--------Sanctity and security of private life,
--------The security of personal freedom,
--------The right to protest against tyranny,
--------Freedom of expression,
--------Freedom oif association,
--------Freedom of conscience and conviction,
--------Protection of religious sentiments,
--------Protection from arbitrary imprisonment,
--------The right to basic necessities of life,
--------Equality before law,
--------Rulers not above the law,
--------Right to participate in the affairs of the state,
--------The Islamic code of conduct.

---Chapter [5]. Some Bad Habits,
--------Anger,
--------Jealousy.
--------Greed,
--------Haughtiness,
--------Backbiting,
--------Lying or false speech,
--------Hypocrisy,
--------Flattery,
--------Obstinacy,
--------Quarrelsomeness,
--------Idle talks,
--------Acquiring money falsely,
--------Gambling,
--------Miserliness.

---Chapter [6]. Some Good Habits,
--------Truthfulness,
--------Modesty,
--------Chastity
--------Generosity,
--------Contentment,
--------Forbearance and Perseverance,
--------Humility,
--------Self-Purification.

---Chapter [7]. Salaah : Five Time Prayers,
--------What is Salaah?
--------Objects of Islamic Prayer,
-------------Direct,
-------------Indirect,
--------Actions which invalidate Salaah,
--------Wudu (ablution),
--------Women's purification,
--------Some movements in Salaah,
--------Times of Salaah,
--------Adhaan (the call to prayer),
--------Iqamah,
--------Mode of prayer,
--------Number of prayers,
--------How to pray,
--------Prohibited times of prayer.

---Chapter [8]. Saum : Fasting,
---------Compulsory fast,
---------Expiatory fast,
---------Compensatory fast,
---------Procedure fast,
---------Sunnah's in fast,
---------Fard duties in fast,
---------I'tikaf.

---Chapter [9]. Zakaah : Charity,

---Chapter [10]. Hajj : Pilgrimage,
--------Chief objectives of the Hajj,
--------Highest training for spiritual advancement,
--------Fosters a brotherhood of mankind.
--------Conditions of Hajj,
--------Fards of Hajj,
--------Wajibs of Hajj,
--------The three modes of Hajj,
--------The Hajj.

---Chapter [11]. The Working Woman,

---Chapter [12]. Dowry : The Curse, Mehr : The Blessing,

---Chapter [13]. Abortion,

---Chapter [14]. Delivery by a Male Doctor,

---Chapter [15]. Birth Control,

---Chapter [16]. Test Tube Babies,

---Chapter [17]. Adoption,

---Chapter [18]. Some Great Women in Islam,
--------Mother of the Believers Sayyidah Khadijah,
--------Mother of the Believers Sayyidah Sawdah,
--------Mother of the Believers Sayyidah Ayesha Siddiqah,
--------Mother of the Believers Sayyidah Hafsah,
--------Mother of the Believers Sayyidah Zaynab bint Khuzaymah,
--------Mother of the Believers Sayyidah Umm Salmah,
--------Mother of the Believers Sayyidah Zaynab,
--------Mother of the Believers Sayyidah Juwayriyah,
--------Mother of the Believers Sayyidah Umm Habibah,
--------Mother of the Believers Sayyidah Safiyyah,
--------Mother of the Believers Sayyidah Maymoonah,
--------Sayyidah Maria Qibtiyah,
--------Sayyidah Zaynab,
--------Sayyidah Ruqayah,
--------Sayyidah Umm Kulthum,
--------Chief of the Ladies of Paradise, Sayyidah Fatimah al-Zahrah,
--------Sayyidah Safiyyah bint Abdul Mut'talib,
--------Sayyidah Umm Ammarah,
--------Sayyidah Umm Ayman,
--------Sayyidah Sumayah,
--------Sayyidah Asma bint Abu Bakr,
--------Sayyidah Rabi'a of Basra.

---Chapter [19]. Conclusion,
--------Words of Wisdom,
-----------Women,
-----------Husband and Wife.

Dimensions: 21 x 14cm (approx.).