[Muslim Role Models ]    [From Convention to Conviction ]   [Responsibility for Household ]    [Responsibility for Society ]   [Waking up to the Challenges ]   [Search for Knowledge ]   [References ]  References: [1] There are several sources for details on Khadija’s life. Any of the works on the life of the prophet like Martin Ling’s book simply titled, Muhammad and Muhammad Haykal’s Hayatu Muhammad translated into the English by Late Isma’il al-Faruqi with the title, The Life of Muhammad. [2] For details see Abdul Wahid Hamid, Companions of the Prophet, Muslim Education & Literary Services, London, 1985. Vol. 2. P. 127-32. [3] For details see Ibid. P. 75-80. [4] For details see Aliah Schleifer, ‘Muslim Women and Education: Historical Foundations and Twentieth Century Egypt’ in Muslim Educational Quarterly, Vol. 11, No. 3, 1994. The Islamic Academy, Cambridge, UK. [5] For details see A. Kanun, al-Nubugh al-Maghribi fi Adab al-Arabi, Vol. 1, P. 74, Bayrut, 1961. [6] For details see Hafsatu Zanna Laminu, Scholars and Scholarship in the History of Borno, The Open Press, Zaria, 1993. [7] See Jean Boyd The Caliph’s Sister, Frank Cass, London. 1990. [8] See Qur’an (2: 170) "When it is said to them: "Follow what God hath revealed:" They say: "Nay! we shall follow the ways of our fathers." What! even though their fathers were void of wisdom and guidance?" See also Qur’an (5:107) "When it is aid to them: "Come to what God hath revealed; come to the Apostle": They say: "Enough for us are the ways we found our fathers following." What! even though their fathers were void of knowledge and guidance?" [9] Even William Shakespeare had occasion to exclaim thus in his A Midsummer Nights Dream. [10] In several places in the Qur’an Allah warned us against fearing people in His stead. See for example, Qur’an (5:44) "It was We who revealed the law ........... Therefore fear not men, but fear Me, and sell not my signs for a miserable price. If any fail to judge by (the light of) what God hath revealed, they are (no better than) Unbelievers." Qur’an (9:13) "Will you not fight people who violated their oaths, plotted to expel the Apostle, and took the aggressive by being the first (to assault) you? Do ye fear them? Nay, it is God whom ye should more justly fear, if ye (truly) believe." And even to the prophet himself Allah had occasion to say Qur’an (33:37) "........ But thou didst hide in thy heart that which God was about to make manifest: thou didst fear the people, but it is more fitting that thou shouldst fear God ......." [11] Shehu Usman Dan Fodio in his book, Nur al-Albab and his brother Abdullahi is his Lubab al-Madkhal, among their several other works, have both emphatically stressed the necessity of Muslim women to be educated and have attacked the several pretexts under which women are kept ignorant and exploited. [12] Dale O’Leary, Gender: The Deconstruction of Women: Analysis of the Gender Perspective in Preparation for the Fourth World Conference on Women, Beijing, China, September, 1995. P. 28. [13] "And those who strive in Our (Cause), We will certainly guide them to Our paths: For verily God is with those who do right."