Women rights in Islam
The issue of women in Islam, is topic of great misunderstanding and distortion due partly to a lack of understanding, but also partly due to misbehavior of some Muslims which has been taken to represent the teachings of Islam. We speak here about what Islam teaches, and that is that standard according to which Muslims are to be judged. As such, my basis and source is the Quran--the words of Allah, and the sayings of the Prophet, his deeds and his confirmation. Islamic laws are derived from these sources. To facilitate our discussion we can discuss the position of women from a spiritual, economic, social, and political standpoint.
Holy prophet (S.A.W) said,
“Among you the most respectable is the one who respects women and the most disrespectable is the one who disrespect the women.”
The above instruction of holy prophet (S.A.W) declared the ground of honor and respect for a person in Deen-e-Islam .Islam gave women an honorable life and ignite the light of rights in her life. Before Islam women were extremely deteriorated by the society. Arabs used to bury their daughters alive, wives were harshly beaten, step mother became legacy of eldest son and the sisters were given as a compensation for any sin of her family. Islam abolished all these dark practices and made the paradise under the feet of mother, guaranteed paradise to a father who brought up her daughters with love, assured paradise to the husband who care her wife and made sisters partners in the inheritance. Today Muslim woman is facing problems not because of lack of her rights in Islam but due to the male driven and illiterate society. Islam promised women respect, honor and safety before and more than any other religion, civilization and moderation. Islam gave women all rights to women before 15 centuries which any one can expect in today’s highly modern world.
The Conditions of Women in Arabia Before Islam
In those days before Islam, women were treated like slaves or property. Their personal consent concerning anything related to their well-being was considered unimportant, to such a degree that they were never even treated as a party to a marriage contract.
Women were used for one purpose, and then discarded. They had no independence, could own no property and were not allowed to inherit. In times of war, women were treated as part of the prize. Simply put, their condition was unspeakable.
In addition, the birth of a daughter in a family was not an occasion for rejoicing, but was regarded with humiliation. The practice of killing female children was uncontrolled.
With the advent of Islam came the verse from the Quran condemning those who practiced female infanticide:
"And when the news of (the birth of) a female (child) is brought to any of them, his face becomes dark, and he is filled with inward grief! He hides himself from the people because of the evil of that whereof he has been informed. Shall he keep her with dishonor or bury her in the earth? Certainly, evil is their decision."
(An-Nahl 16:58-59)
And as part of a description of various events on the Day of Judgment, the Quran mentions:
"And when the female (infant) buried alive (as the pagan Arabs used to do)
shall be questioned. For what sin she was killed? (At-Takwir 81:8-9)
Hadiat
Starting from the social, holy prophet (S A W) said
“Education is mandatory for men and women.”
The above hadith does not discriminating gender that means it is not only mandatory for men but also for women. Therefore no body restricts her from getting education. Its her right to get same education as her brother gets.
Holy prophet (S A W) said
“You have to get education even its available in China.”
Again there is no discrimination of gender in above hadith. If a boy can get education by traveling long distance then girl can also. She has right to go to school and mosque. If women had right to go to mosque for getting education and offer prayers during the period of holy prophet (S A W) and Caliphate than why not she has this right in today’s modern world. Hazat Ayasha(R.A) was the teacher of 8000 companions and she was expert of history, medicine, hadith, literature and law.
Once a lady came to Holy prophet (S A W) and said that she was forcefully married
by her father and she is not happy with her husband, the Holy prophet (S A W)
dissolved her marriage then and there and emphasizes for marrying couples by their consent.
AL-Quran saya
Al-Quran
“You and your wives are dresses of each other.”
Therefore it is women right that she should be entertained by her husband.
Once Holy prophet (S A W) said to one of his companion
“Why not you get marry so that you can play with your wife and she can play with you.”
Holy prophet (S A W) said,
“The person who shared his wife bed relations with anybody, he is the worst man and he cannot get even the smell of paradise.”
Similarly, when conflict between husband and wife became bone of contentions and seems unsolvable. In this case if wife no more wants to live with her husband then she has right to get diverse. In case husband is not willing to give diverse she can consult court for getting diverse.
Islam considers a woman to be equal to a man as a human being and as his partner in this life. Women have been created with a soul of the same nature as man’s. Allah (SWT) says in the Quran:
"O mankind! Be dutiful to your Lord, Who created you from a single person (Adam), and from him (Adam) He created his wife (Eve), and from them both He created many men and women and fear Allah through Whom you demand your mutual (rights), and (do not cut the relations of) the wombs (kinship). Surely, Allah is Ever and All-Watcher over you." (Al-Nisa 4:1)
And in the words of the Prophet Muhammad (SAW),
"Assuredly, women are the twin halves of men." (Sahih reported by Abu-Dawud (RA)
Muslim Women Have the Right to Go Outside of Her Home
Muslim women are not forbidden from going out in the community, working, or visiting relatives and female friends, if there is no objection from their guardian/husband and they are covered and behave and speak according to Islamic guidelines and, if necessary, escorted by their Mahram (a close male relative). However, a woman’s home should be the main base that she works from. Allah (SWT) instructed the wife’s of the Prophet (SAW):
"O wives of the Prophet! You are not like any other women. If you keep your duty (to Allah), then be not soft in speech, lest he is whose heart is a disease (of hypocrisy or evil desire for adultery, etc.) should be moved with desire, but speak in an honorable manner. And stay in your houses, and do not display yourselves like that of the times of ignorance, and offer prayers perfectly (Iqamat-as-Salat), and give Zakat and obey Allah and His Messenger. Allah wishes only to remove Ar-Rijs (evil deeds and sins, etc.) from you, O members of the family [of the Prophet (SAW)], and to purify you with a thorough purification." (Al-Ahzab 33:32-33)
Further rights of women (wife)
When Allah almighty created Eve (R.A) for Adam (R.A) .
Adam (R.A) was attracted towards Eve (R.A) and wanted to touch her.
At that time Allah almighty said to Adam (R.A) that
He should not touch her without paying her dowry.
One more thing needs attention here that Islam did not fix any maximum limit of dowry. Husband can give whatever maximum he can give to his wife.
In region of Hazrat Ummer(R.A) he forward a bill in the parliament for fixing the maximum limit of dowry. That bill was challenged by a female parliamentarian and she said nobody can fix the maximum limit of dowry if Allah himself did fix it. Hazrat ummer(R.A) asked her that why it couldn’t be fixed.
She quoted the holy Quran
“If husband gave her wife bundles and bundles of wealth as dowry even then he cannot demand anything after diverse.”
Hazrat ummer (R.A) said that she is right and today men made a mistake and women corrected him.
Holy prophet (S A W) said,
“Anyone who brought her daughters with full care and then merry them. He is as close to me as my two fingers.”
Rights of woman
EQUALITY:
Islam established a woman's equality in her humanity with men. In the Qur'an,God says,
"O mankind! Be careful of your duty to your Lord Who created you from a single soul and from it its mate and from them both have spread abroad a multitude of men and women."
Freedom of Choice:
Woman in Islam has been given the basic freedom of choice for the benefit of recognition of her own personality.Women has been allowed to use a free will in the selection of her religion.As Quran says,
"There is no compulsion in religion. Right has been made distinct from error."
SOCIAL IMPORTANCE:
The Prophet (PBUH) said,
"Seeking knowledge is a mandate for every Muslim (male and female)."
This means that the acquisition of knowledge is granted essential not only for men but alos for women.It has been regarded as their obligation for the promotion of good attitude concerning all aspects of life. For Muslim women the gain of education is conceived to be vital as it can help them in the performance of their duties towards tehri families,as a daughter,as a wife,as a mother and as a significant memebr of the society.
For women education and learnign can be of primary importance for recognising of their individual roles and also for acquiring of the basic skills which can make them strong both economically and socially accpetable.
The biggest and the formost obligation of woman is to play a role of a good mother as she can be responsible for building up a strongly based society because of her teachings that she imparts to her children.The importance of motherhood can be realized from the saying of Holy Prophet(PBUH) as
"Heaven lies under the feet of mothers"
. This implies that the success of a society can be traced to the mothers that raised it. The first and greatest influence on a person comes from the sense of security, affection, and training received from the mother. Therefore, a woman having children must be educated and conscientious in order to be a skillful parent.
ECONOMIC SIGNIFICANCE:
The Qur'an states:
"By the creation of the male and female; Verily, (the ends) ye strive for are diverse."
In the above mentioned verse we see that God has created men and women to be different, with unique roles and seperate skills.Similar to a society,there is a division of responsibility for each member. Islam is of the view that women are entrusted with the nurturing role, and men play a role of a guardian,the protector.. Therefore omen have been awarded the finacial support by God.As Allah says,
Men are maintainers of women because Allah has made some of them to excel others and because they spend of their wealth (for the support of women)."
The issue of women in Islam, is topic of great misunderstanding and distortion due partly to a lack of understanding, but also partly due to misbehavior of some Muslims which has been taken to represent the teachings of Islam. We speak here about what Islam teaches, and that is that standard according to which Muslims are to be judged. As such, my basis and source is the Quran--the words of Allah, and the sayings of the Prophet, his deeds and his confirmation. Islamic laws are derived from these sources. To facilitate our discussion we can discuss the position of women from a spiritual, economic, social, and political standpoint.
Holy prophet (S.A.W) said,
“Among you the most respectable is the one who respects women and the most disrespectable is the one who disrespect the women.”
The above instruction of holy prophet (S.A.W) declared the ground of honor and respect for a person in Deen-e-Islam .Islam gave women an honorable life and ignite the light of rights in her life. Before Islam women were extremely deteriorated by the society. Arabs used to bury their daughters alive, wives were harshly beaten, step mother became legacy of eldest son and the sisters were given as a compensation for any sin of her family. Islam abolished all these dark practices and made the paradise under the feet of mother, guaranteed paradise to a father who brought up her daughters with love, assured paradise to the husband who care her wife and made sisters partners in the inheritance. Today Muslim woman is facing problems not because of lack of her rights in Islam but due to the male driven and illiterate society. Islam promised women respect, honor and safety before and more than any other religion, civilization and moderation. Islam gave women all rights to women before 15 centuries which any one can expect in today’s highly modern world.
The Conditions of Women in Arabia Before Islam
In those days before Islam, women were treated like slaves or property. Their personal consent concerning anything related to their well-being was considered unimportant, to such a degree that they were never even treated as a party to a marriage contract.
Women were used for one purpose, and then discarded. They had no independence, could own no property and were not allowed to inherit. In times of war, women were treated as part of the prize. Simply put, their condition was unspeakable.
In addition, the birth of a daughter in a family was not an occasion for rejoicing, but was regarded with humiliation. The practice of killing female children was uncontrolled.
With the advent of Islam came the verse from the Quran condemning those who practiced female infanticide:
"And when the news of (the birth of) a female (child) is brought to any of them, his face becomes dark, and he is filled with inward grief! He hides himself from the people because of the evil of that whereof he has been informed. Shall he keep her with dishonor or bury her in the earth? Certainly, evil is their decision."
(An-Nahl 16:58-59)
And as part of a description of various events on the Day of Judgment, the Quran mentions:
"And when the female (infant) buried alive (as the pagan Arabs used to do)
shall be questioned. For what sin she was killed? (At-Takwir 81:8-9)
Hadiat
Starting from the social, holy prophet (S A W) said
“Education is mandatory for men and women.”
The above hadith does not discriminating gender that means it is not only mandatory for men but also for women. Therefore no body restricts her from getting education. Its her right to get same education as her brother gets.
Holy prophet (S A W) said
“You have to get education even its available in China.”
Again there is no discrimination of gender in above hadith. If a boy can get education by traveling long distance then girl can also. She has right to go to school and mosque. If women had right to go to mosque for getting education and offer prayers during the period of holy prophet (S A W) and Caliphate than why not she has this right in today’s modern world. Hazat Ayasha(R.A) was the teacher of 8000 companions and she was expert of history, medicine, hadith, literature and law.
Once a lady came to Holy prophet (S A W) and said that she was forcefully married
by her father and she is not happy with her husband, the Holy prophet (S A W)
dissolved her marriage then and there and emphasizes for marrying couples by their consent.
AL-Quran saya
Al-Quran
“You and your wives are dresses of each other.”
Therefore it is women right that she should be entertained by her husband.
Once Holy prophet (S A W) said to one of his companion
“Why not you get marry so that you can play with your wife and she can play with you.”
Holy prophet (S A W) said,
“The person who shared his wife bed relations with anybody, he is the worst man and he cannot get even the smell of paradise.”
Similarly, when conflict between husband and wife became bone of contentions and seems unsolvable. In this case if wife no more wants to live with her husband then she has right to get diverse. In case husband is not willing to give diverse she can consult court for getting diverse.
Islam considers a woman to be equal to a man as a human being and as his partner in this life. Women have been created with a soul of the same nature as man’s. Allah (SWT) says in the Quran:
"O mankind! Be dutiful to your Lord, Who created you from a single person (Adam), and from him (Adam) He created his wife (Eve), and from them both He created many men and women and fear Allah through Whom you demand your mutual (rights), and (do not cut the relations of) the wombs (kinship). Surely, Allah is Ever and All-Watcher over you." (Al-Nisa 4:1)
And in the words of the Prophet Muhammad (SAW),
"Assuredly, women are the twin halves of men." (Sahih reported by Abu-Dawud (RA)
Muslim Women Have the Right to Go Outside of Her Home
Muslim women are not forbidden from going out in the community, working, or visiting relatives and female friends, if there is no objection from their guardian/husband and they are covered and behave and speak according to Islamic guidelines and, if necessary, escorted by their Mahram (a close male relative). However, a woman’s home should be the main base that she works from. Allah (SWT) instructed the wife’s of the Prophet (SAW):
"O wives of the Prophet! You are not like any other women. If you keep your duty (to Allah), then be not soft in speech, lest he is whose heart is a disease (of hypocrisy or evil desire for adultery, etc.) should be moved with desire, but speak in an honorable manner. And stay in your houses, and do not display yourselves like that of the times of ignorance, and offer prayers perfectly (Iqamat-as-Salat), and give Zakat and obey Allah and His Messenger. Allah wishes only to remove Ar-Rijs (evil deeds and sins, etc.) from you, O members of the family [of the Prophet (SAW)], and to purify you with a thorough purification." (Al-Ahzab 33:32-33)
Further rights of women (wife)
When Allah almighty created Eve (R.A) for Adam (R.A) .
Adam (R.A) was attracted towards Eve (R.A) and wanted to touch her.
At that time Allah almighty said to Adam (R.A) that
He should not touch her without paying her dowry.
One more thing needs attention here that Islam did not fix any maximum limit of dowry. Husband can give whatever maximum he can give to his wife.
In region of Hazrat Ummer(R.A) he forward a bill in the parliament for fixing the maximum limit of dowry. That bill was challenged by a female parliamentarian and she said nobody can fix the maximum limit of dowry if Allah himself did fix it. Hazrat ummer(R.A) asked her that why it couldn’t be fixed.
She quoted the holy Quran
“If husband gave her wife bundles and bundles of wealth as dowry even then he cannot demand anything after diverse.”
Hazrat ummer (R.A) said that she is right and today men made a mistake and women corrected him.
Holy prophet (S A W) said,
“Anyone who brought her daughters with full care and then merry them. He is as close to me as my two fingers.”
Rights of woman
EQUALITY:
Islam established a woman's equality in her humanity with men. In the Qur'an,God says,
"O mankind! Be careful of your duty to your Lord Who created you from a single soul and from it its mate and from them both have spread abroad a multitude of men and women."
Freedom of Choice:
Woman in Islam has been given the basic freedom of choice for the benefit of recognition of her own personality.Women has been allowed to use a free will in the selection of her religion.As Quran says,
"There is no compulsion in religion. Right has been made distinct from error."
SOCIAL IMPORTANCE:
The Prophet (PBUH) said,
"Seeking knowledge is a mandate for every Muslim (male and female)."
This means that the acquisition of knowledge is granted essential not only for men but alos for women.It has been regarded as their obligation for the promotion of good attitude concerning all aspects of life. For Muslim women the gain of education is conceived to be vital as it can help them in the performance of their duties towards tehri families,as a daughter,as a wife,as a mother and as a significant memebr of the society.
For women education and learnign can be of primary importance for recognising of their individual roles and also for acquiring of the basic skills which can make them strong both economically and socially accpetable.
The biggest and the formost obligation of woman is to play a role of a good mother as she can be responsible for building up a strongly based society because of her teachings that she imparts to her children.The importance of motherhood can be realized from the saying of Holy Prophet(PBUH) as
"Heaven lies under the feet of mothers"
. This implies that the success of a society can be traced to the mothers that raised it. The first and greatest influence on a person comes from the sense of security, affection, and training received from the mother. Therefore, a woman having children must be educated and conscientious in order to be a skillful parent.
ECONOMIC SIGNIFICANCE:
The Qur'an states:
"By the creation of the male and female; Verily, (the ends) ye strive for are diverse."
In the above mentioned verse we see that God has created men and women to be different, with unique roles and seperate skills.Similar to a society,there is a division of responsibility for each member. Islam is of the view that women are entrusted with the nurturing role, and men play a role of a guardian,the protector.. Therefore omen have been awarded the finacial support by God.As Allah says,
Men are maintainers of women because Allah has made some of them to excel others and because they spend of their wealth (for the support of women)."
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