Women’s Rights Are Not Charity: Rufaidah Panni’s Bold Statement

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Jun 26, 2025
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We offer countless thanks to Almighty Allah, the Lord of the Universe, who has granted our women the opportunity to take part in such a beautiful congregation today. In general, women's participation in our national and economic activities is quite limited. Various excuses are made to hinder our involvement. We thank the Hezbut Tawheed movement for creating such an opportunity for women.
 
This was stated by Rufaydah Panni, the Central Women’s Affairs Secretary of Hezbut Tawheed, in an interview after performing Eid prayers at Hezbut Tawheed’s largest Eid congregation in Chashirhat, Noakhali.
 
She said, “When women take part in Eid or Friday congregational prayers, especially when they attend with their children, a sense of social connection is built. They can hear the message of the Deen (religion), and it helps develop courage and a spirit of struggle. But typically, we see that Muslim women have been deprived of social and economic activities for centuries.”
 
“In the Hajj grounds, millions of men and women endure the harsh desert of Arabia, the scorching sun and heat, running together between the hills of Safa and Marwah, performing Tawaf of the Kaaba, and standing united in Arafat — no one raises objections there. Yet in our country, objections are made when women participate in Eid and Friday prayers.”
 
Rufaydah said that during the time of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), women had this freedom. Hezbut Tawheed has revived that freedom. For this, the movement has faced much harassment, false accusations, and humiliation.
 
The female leader of Hezbut Tawheed added, “I believe this is a right for women, not anyone’s charity. The Messenger of Allah (pbuh) granted us these rights. Rights must be claimed through struggle, protest, and resistance. This involves sacrifice and giving. Every movement has proven this. Even the movement of '24 has proven that rights cannot be achieved without sacrifice.”
 
“Women had to come forward in the struggle for this right. Yes, to achieve any right, a proper program is necessary. The good news is — we have that program. Strong leadership is also required — and we have that too, Alhamdulillah.”
 
“To achieve the goal, some may have to give their lives, shed blood; only then will women ultimately regain their rights, Insha’Allah. Just as the female companions of the Prophet (pbuh) fought for their rights, today the women of Hezbut Tawheed are fighting on that same path,” she said.
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Panni considers the participation of women in Eid congregations to be a major step — or the beginning of a step — in the journey to achieving women’s rights.
 
She concluded, “We will know we have succeeded when a woman can travel alone for thousands of miles in the darkness of night, and no one will dare to harass, assault, catcall, or violate her. Women will be able to take part in national, social, and political activities with dignity, without fear or worry, and their knowledge, capabilities, and strength will be recognized by society.”
 
“That day will mark a new awakening — a revolution. The first step of that revolution is the freedom of Hezbut Tawheed’s women to participate in Eid congregations.”

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