This refers to Rubina Kausar's rejoinder dated 10th June, 2005, to my letter on the subject. It is unfortunate that many people, instead of admitting misdeed, express various excuses and arguments. It is a false statement of Rubina that females working at the gasoline station hold cash dealings only.
Here, I invite her attention to a photograph published in a local newspaper dated 22nd May 2005 where a female worker was seen filling gasoline in a bus.
It is my basic right to raise objection on any activity against the Islamic injunctions. Sayyidna Abu Saeed Khudri (RA) has narrated that Rasulallah (PBUH) has said that whosoever amongst you encounters anything which is bad and against Islamic teachings, then it is imperative for him to stop it (physically) if he has the courage to correct it.
And if he cannot stop it physically, then he should try to change it through his tongue (by speech or writing). And if he does not possess even that much courage, then he should at least regard it as a bad thing in his heart; and this is the lowest degree of Iman.
The present deplorable condition of the Muslims is not because they are weak but they have ignored the power of their ideological and cultural identity. Consequently they are deprived of the symbols of Islamic culture like beard, veil, dress and other cultural entities.
Rubina requested to arrange a few jobs for deserving families. I can suggest the girls working at petrol pumps to switch over themselves at utility shops inside the petrol pumps as cashiers or sales executives which will definitely raise their level.
There are many other respectable jobs for girls like teaching, nursing etc. Last but not the least, I would suggest Rubina to have patience for bearing criticism as she and other likeminded girls will have to face numerous challenges on joining such odd jobs and wrong decisions in their future career as well as in personal life.