OCCASION OF REVELATION (VERSE NO. 195)

      OMME SALAMA, the prophet's wife asked him that: ``In the Holy Qurän, men's fight and strive, emigration and self - sacrifices, are widely appreciated, but what about the women! Can they have any portion or share in such affairs? The verse was revealed to this effect, and to answer her.

THE RESULT OF WISE MEN'S PROGRAMME

      The result of what men of understanding and wisdom have strived on and done, is God's merciful answering: ``So their Lord answered their prayers and supplications.''

      But in order that the God's answer might not be mistaken by them, and the connection between man and his deeds be not disconnected; immediately after His answering their prayer Allah says:

      ``I will not waste the work of any worker among you be it male or a female; the one of you is as the other.''

      This implies that the favour and Mercy of Allah through His rewards is in equity divided and according to deservances, so that one may not say; Islam is the religion of man and has nothing to do with women, or that women are excluded from all Islamic affairs! As a matter of fact, in Islam, the equal status of the sexes is not only recognized, but insisted on. If there be any distinction between man and woman, it is that of their nature and creation, and not in their rights, duties, responsibilities, rewards or punishments.