Women in Islam
One of the main areas where Islam is most
maligned is the area of women. The opponents of Islam claim that Islam
segregates against women, that it depreciates them and deals with them unjustly.
Is it true that the status of women in Islam is much inferior to that of men?
How does Islam look at women? Is it true that women are next only to slaves and
minors under the banner of Islam? Does Islam uphold a policy of isolating women
and depriving them of all rights of a human being? Is it true that under Islam
women suffered from negligence, ignorance, and absolute isolation? Does Islam
favour men and prefer them to women?
In this brochure "Women in Islam", we shall
discuss all these and other related issues. We shall see how the Qur'an, the
Holy Book of Islam, looks at women. This last scripture of God states very
clearly that God has created men and women from the same source, and that they
are equal couples that complement each other so that happy life is unimaginable
for one of them without the other. To start with, the Holy Qur'an states very
clearly that men and women are absolutely equal in humanity. It declares:
"O mankind! We have created you from a
single pair of a male and a female, and made you into nations and tribes so
that you may know each other" (The Qur'an: 49-13)
In another verse the Qur'an says:
"O mankind! Fear your Guardian Lord who
created you from a single person, created his mate of like nature and from
them both scattered countless men and women" (The Qur'an: 4-1)
At a time when the whole world questioned the
humanity of women and some people confirmed that they are creatures without
souls, and if they have souls they must be akin to those of devils, Islam
declared the full humanity of women. Islam honours women in all their
capabilities as mothers, sisters, wives, and daughters.
As mothers, Islam confirms that Paradise is
under the feet of mothers. This means that the only gate to Paradise and to the
pleasure of God, for that matter, is through gaining the pleasure and
satisfaction of mothers. This is the meaning of one tradition of the Prophet
Muhammad peace be upon him.
Not only this but in another tradition, the
Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) says that he who brings up three daughters and educates
them well, his reward will be Paradise. The Prophet was asked: suppose they were
only two daughters, he said yes even if it was only one daughter. Thus Islam
does not deprive women of any of their rights. As a matter of fact, it was only
under Islam that women restored their full humanity. It was under this religion
that women regained their rights to life, education, and property.
Islam produced the most honourable examples of
women that can be leaders of women liberation even for the fair sex of
contemporary times. In many cases women were, in fact, teachers of religion for
thousands of men. How then can the opponents of Islam claim that women suffered
ignorance under Islam?
Does this mean that Islam establishes the
absolute equality of both sexes so much so that it eliminates all differences
between them and exposes them to all that is available to men? Here Islam is, in
fact, unique. While establishing the absolute humanity of women, it does not
require them to do all that men are expected to do. In other words, Islam
acknowledges the physiological differences between men and women. It confirms
that they are pairs that complement each other. Life in Islam is unimaginable
for one sex without the other. That is why Islam has its own reservations to the
absolute equality of the two sexes.
What about polygamy in Islam? Why is it that
Islam allows a man to have four wives? If Islam believes in equality, why does
it allow more that one wife for a husband? Is not this a clear proof of
depreciation and dishonour as far as women are concerned? Look also at the
example given by the Prophet of Islam. We are told that he got married to more
than ten wives in addition to concubines. How then can you, as Muslims, claim
that Islam treats women well?
This important misconception is propagated by
the enemies of Islam. In point of fact, the great majority of Muslims, both
modern and old, got married to one wife only. The legislation of polygamy is
there in Islam to solve certain problems and to face certain circumstances.
Islam believes in the purity and chastity of the society. It does not allow sex
outside marriage. Instead of the secretaries and girlfriends, Islam allows a
second marriage for those who are not satisfied with one wife and they are the
exception and not the rule.
As for the numerous marriages of the Prophet of
Islam, if we compare him with other prophets of God, particularly those whom we
read about in the Bible, we find that the Prophet Muhammad had very few wives.
Take for instance the Prophet David who had hundreds of wives.
If we review the stories of each and every
marriage of the Prophet of Islam, it will be crystal clear that out of all his
wives only one wife was virgin. The rest of his wives were both widows and
mothers of orphans. Not only this but until the age of 51 the Holy Prophet
stayed with one wife only during which time he was indeed the ideal husband and
the best protector of women's rights. And even after he had several wives he
dealt with them justly. He made those marriages for legislative, educational,
political, and social reasons and far from sensual gratification.
Some opponents of Islam try to distort the
image of this religion by claiming that Islam favours men at the expense of
women. They cite the example of testimony where Islam treats each two women to
be equal to one men. This, they say, is degrading. Why does Islam do this and on
what grounds? In this connection Islam takes into consideration the nature of
each of the two sexes. Doubtless that women are more sentimental and emotional
than men. This is because being the natural mothers their best resource is their
feelings and emotions. Thus when it comes to giving testimony there is always a
risk of their being moved by their feelings which may affect their judgments. It
is only to establish justice that Islam takes this step. It has no derogatory
effect on the status of women in Islam.
The same opponents would also refer to one
tradition of the Prophet where he says: Women are lacking in religion and
reason. When he was asked to explain this, he said: Is not the women's testimony
half that of men? The attendants said "yes". The Prophet then said: That is due
to her lack of reason. Then he added: When a woman has her monthly period,
doesn't she stop praying? Those present said "yes indeed". The Prophet then
said: This is due to her lack of religion. As a matter of fact, Islam does not
look at women as inferior to-men but rather appreciates their condition and
provides them with an excuse, an advantage rather that a disadvantage.
When we discuss the topic of woman in Islam, we
have to refer to the issue of veil stipulated by Islam on women. Some modem
secularists claim that this is another obstacle on the way of women's aspiration
for freedom. Contrary to the basic philosophy of Islam aiming at the chastity
and purity of the Muslim society, these secularists say that Islam, by this
veil, imposes hard time on the fair sex. The veil is part of the Islamic
measures to keep sex inside marriage. This is because Islam respects the honour
of women and regards them as precious jewels that should not be prey to the lust
of men. Free sex of modem times which transformed women into white slaves is
compltely alien to Islam. In the same spirit Islam prohibits the free mixing of
the two sexes.
The issue of the share of women in inheritance
is also exploited by the opponents of Islam who cite it as another example of
the so called injustice of this religion towards women. Islam indeed gives women
in inheritance half the share of men. Is it true that this is a clear injustice
to them or that there is a contrary view if only we contemplate this carefully?
If we think for a moment we will discover that a woman has the greatest share of
inheritance in Islam simply because whatever she takes is only for her
personally while men have the responsibility to provide for women and children.
Men take more, this is true, but they spend much more with the result that
women's savings are far greater than those of men.
If the reader wants to know more about other
related issues like the following: To what extent does Islam allow women's
education? Does she have the right to higher education? What is the attitude of
Islam towards women's work? Is it true that Islam shuts women in and does not
allow them to work outside? Why does Islam not allow women to be the President
or the Head of the Muslim State? These and many other important issues can be
best answered by referring to one or more of the following books:
- Purdah in Islam by Maulana A. Mawdoodi.
- Women in Islam by Prof. Khurshid Ahmad.
- Family Structures in Islam by Hammooda Abdul
Ati.
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