Based on Oprah Winfrey's speech on Women's Sexual Abuse: 9th January, 2018

Based on Oprah Winfrey's speech on women's sexual abuse:

SEXUAL HARASSMENT & ABUSE

Back to basics!

The word ‘reminder’ is defined in the Merriam-Webster Dictionary as: "something that calls a memory or thought to the mind". 

Divine guidance by God is declared a ‘reminder’. Quran (76:29): "Indeed, this is a reminder, so he who wills may take to his/her Lord’s way".

God claims in the Qur’an (91:8): "...by the soul and Him that moulded it and inspired it with knowledge of sin and piety: blessed shall be the one who has kept it pure, and ruined one that has corrupted it"! The human race is born with an innate sense of good and bad. On top of that God's guidance comes as a ‘reminder’. 

The Qur’an (24:30) reminds us: "Enjoin believing men to turn their eyes away from temptation and to restrain their carnal desires. This will make their lives purer. God has knowledge of all their actions". Here God is reminding men to restrain their eyes from lewdness (Note: The menfolk are addressed first). God reminds He is All-Seeing and All-Knowing of their actions. 

‘Reminder’! Quran (4:32): "And covet not the thing in which Allah hath made some of you excel others. Unto men a fortune from that which they have earned, and unto women a fortune from that which they have earned. (Envy not one another) but ask Allah for His bounty. Lo! Allah is ever Knower of all things". Men and women differ in their attributes. That is why God reminds us not to envy each other, but to ask God for His bounty. 

The Qur’an’s ‘reminder’ for the pondering minds (5:100): "Say, "Not equal are the evil and the good, although the abundance of evil might impress you." So fear Allah, O you of understanding, that you may be successful". The 'abundance of evil might impress us. God reminds us to fear Him.

In addition to our inborn sense of morality, the Qur’an (7:33) reminds us: "Say: the things that my Lord hath indeed forbidden are: shameful deeds, whether open or secret; sins and trespasses against truth or reason; assigning of partners to Allah, for which He hath given no authority; and saying things about Allah of which ye have no knowledge". These are five aspects of our lives forbidden by God. The first is 'shameful deeds, whether open or secret'! An apt ‘reminder’ for oft-forgetful human beings!  

The question is why does the human race require 'reminders'? Simply because they are a forgetful race! It happens to us all irrespective of our status in society! Reminders serve exactly as their meaning implies - "something that calls a memory or thought to the mind". 

Human guidance requires constant reminders. That is the reason in Divine religions there are weekly congregational rituals. Judaism have the Sabbath. The Christians go to weekly church and the Muslims have their weekly congregational Friday prayers. God’s ‘reminders’ are reminded weekly which serves as an optimum level for humans to remain cognizant of our duties towards God. The Qur’an describes itself as a ‘reminder’.

Let me quote an example of women's triumph. Two Hollywood movies I watched lately; both made in Hollywood, both true stories, were 'Hidden Figures' and 'Saving Mr. Banks'. Both are the most profound true stories. 

The movie 'Hidden Figures' has three black women in the America of the sixties, when America was competing with Russia in the space race. These three black women helped America put the first man on the moon! This is an era where only white men were designers and engineers in the space race. The black ladies were not abused in their work.

The other movie 'Saving Mr. Banks' has a British lady Ms. Pamela Lyndon Travers. She is the author of the famous 'Mary Poppins Series'. The movie shows Mr. Walt Disney flying to England to implore Ms. Travers to return to Hollywood to finish work on her characters and finish his movie. This lady was not abused in any way (sexual) throughout her work. 

Let the men of the world - producers, directors, actors, CEOs, and promoters pay heed to the ‘reminders’ ascribed by God mentioned above. Let them endeavour to be true servants of God; so that they stand blessed in the life in this world and in the eternal life to follow. 

Let the women of the world - young aspiring entrepreneurs, actresses, models, lawyers, and fashion designers also pay heed to the ‘reminders’ ascribed by God mentioned above. Let them endeavour to be true servants of God; so that they stand blessed in the life in this world and in the eternal life to follow. 

An ending note to these ‘reminders’. God most graciously and affectionately mentions seeking forgiveness of the past deeds in the Qur’an (39:53): "Say, "O My servants who have transgressed against themselves [by sinning], do not despair of the mercy of Allah. Indeed, Allah forgives all sins. Indeed, it is He who is the Forgiving, the Merciful." The Qur’an (25:70-71): "Except for those who repent, believe and do righteous work. For them, Allah will replace their evil deeds with good. And ever is Allah Forgiving and Merciful. And he who repents and does righteousness does indeed turn to Allah with [accepted] repentance."

Men and women (including myself) who have wronged their souls; lend me your ear! Seek God's forgiveness and forgiveness from the people who were affected by our misdeeds. 

God's Book - the Glorious Qur’an, serves as a ‘reminder’ (only to people who pay heed) in all facets of human dealing. 

Regards, Aamir Yazdani