I was sitting in class today . . .

. . . when my professor gave examples of women as symbols. The article we were discussing at the time mentioned Eve and Martha, but he said,

Let's use the names of real-life people, not mythical ones.

And so he substituted "Kharija" and "'Aisha" (the Prophet Muhammad's first wife and most favored wife, respectively) for "Eve" and "Martha."
In my personal opinion, if one may believe that Kharija and 'Aisha were "real-life people," then may one not also believe that Eve and Martha were also "real-life people?"
I bet he loves the signature that's attached to the bottom of all of the e-mails I send through my school e-mail -- "Many are the plans in a man's heart, but it is the Lord's purpose that prevails." Praise the Lord for freedom of speech.