WOMEN IN ISLAM
In the name of Allah the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful
Islam is the fastest growing way of life in the west with 80% of the converters to Islam in the USA and the majority in the UK being women ( The Times newspaper) if you know little about women in Islam you should ask your self why so many liberated western women want to become Muslim? Why not ask practicing Muslim women about their faith and oppression rather than listen to the propaganda we hear regularly in the media.
THE LIBERATION OF WOMEN
Islam liberated women 1400 years ago and continues to liberate women today. Many people are surprised to find out that Islamic law guaranteed rights for women 1400 years ago that women in Europe and America only obtained recently. For example Islam clearly teaches that a woman is a full-person under the law and is the spiritual equal of a male. They have the right to own property, operate a business and receive equal pay for equal work. They cannot be married against their will, are allowed to keep their own name when married and have the right to divorce. They have the right to inherit property and to have their marriage annulled due to neglect and mistreatment. The right that women received 1400 years ago under Islam were almost unheard of in the west till the 1900s and some of these rights women are still fighting for today…..
Let’s look at some of these right and privileges in more details……
KINDNESS TO THE WIFE
At the time of the emergence of Islam it was socially accepted by most societies to treat women poorly and to favour males. Islam made it a part of faith to treat women well. The prophet Mohamed (pbuh) taught “the most perfect amongst believers in faith is the best in conduct. And the best of you is the best to his wife”
THE IMPORTANCE OF EDUCATION
Islam emphasises the importance of education and bringing up girls well. The prophet (pbuh) said “seeking of knowledge is obligatory on every Muslim”. He (pbuh) also taught that those who educated and provided for 2 daughters or sisters till they became independent the Allah (swt) would grant them paradise.
THE HONOUR OF THE MOTHER
The mother has a very honoured position in Islam. The prophet (pbuh) advised a man who asked “o messenger (pbuh) of Allah who among the people is the most worthy of my good company?” The prophet (pbuh) said, “Your mother”. The man asked, “Then who else?” the prophet said "your mother”. The man asked “then who else?” so the prophet (pbuh) replied again “your mother”. Then the man asked “then who else?” the prophet (pbuh) said “your father”.
This shows that the mother is given three times the likes of kindness and good treatment as the father.
Kindness to both parents is considered in Islam to be next to the worship of Allah (swt).
“your lord has decreed that you worship none save Allah, and that you be kind to your parents”. If one of them or both of them attain old age in your life, say not to them a word of disrespect, nor shout at them but address them in terms of honour”. (Qur’an 17:23).
THE RIGHT TO WORK, EQUAL PAY, INHERITANCE
In Islamic law women have the right to own and inherit property, operate a business and receive equal pay for equal work. Women are allowed to work, especially in positions which are needed by society e.g. nursing, teaching and medicine. However it should be stated first that Islam teaches that a women’s role in society as a mother and a wife are the most sacred and essential. The man in Islam has to provide and maintain his wife, his children and in some cases his needy relative especially the females. This responsibility is not reduced even if his wife is wealthy or she has her own personal income. This variation of financial responsibility between man and women is reflected in the inheritance rights, she inherits less because her financial responsibility is less.
MARRIAGE
Marriage in Islam is based on love and mercy as mentioned the Qur’an (30:21). It is a means to perpetuate human life and is a source of emotional well being and spiritual harmony. The Qur’an emphasises this essential unity of man and women in a beautiful simile: “they (your wives) are your garment and you are a garment for them.” (Qur’an 2:187).
Just as a garment hides our nakedness a husband and a wife, by entering into the relationship of marriage, secure each other’s chastity. The garment gives comfort to the body; similarly the husband gives comfort to his wife and vice verse. The garment is grace, beauty and embellishment of the body, so too is the wife to the husband and the husband to the wife. Instead of being forced to marry against her their will, Muslim women are allowed to play an active part in choosing their husband. And do not (like many people believe) have to marry anyone against their will. Indeed a marriage against the will of the girl is invalid in Islamic law. The status of being an individual partner in marriage is emphasised by the fact the woman keeps her maiden name after marriage. This is the opposite of what occurs in the west which itself is based on the Greco-roman culture, where women took the name of the husband, because the women was considered the property of the men.
THE RIGHT OF DIVORCE
Unlike other religions where women are not allowed to divorce and are considered adulteresses if they marry again (Mathew 5:32). Divorce is allowed in Islam. However it is not encouraged. If it is done, it must be amicable and both parties must speak kindly and with dignity to each other.
THE EQUALITY OF WOMEN
Numerous verses of the Quran make it clear that men and women are equal in the sight of Allah. According to Islam the only thing that distinguishes a person is their level of Allah-consciousness. “For Muslim men and women, for believing men and women, for devout men and women, for true men and women who are patient and constant, for men and women who humble themselves, for men and women who give in charity, for men and women who guard their chastity, and for men and women who engage much in Allah’s praise, for them has Allah prepared forgiveness and great reward” (Qur’an 33:35).
RAPE
The respect in which women and their bodies are held in Islam is emphasised by the punishment men for rape. In this country men can get out of jail in a few years. In the Judaeo-Christian teachings, there is hardly a punishment at all for the man; the suffering seems to be for the girls!!! “If a man happens to meet a virgin who is not pledged to be married and rapes her and they discovered, he shall pay the girl’s father fifty shekels of silver. He must marry the girl, for he violated her. He can never divorce her as long as he lives” (Deuteronomy 22:28-30). However, a man found guilty of rape in an Islamic society could face the death penalty. This indicates the gravity with which Muslims view crimes against women.
POLYGAMY
Polygamy, as a practice has exited for centuries. Interestingly many Jews and Christians criticise Islam for polygamy. However, most of the prophets in the Old Testament had numerous wives. Also Jesus (pbuh) never criticized or cancelled the Jewish law on polygamy, thus implicitly agreeing with it. In the past, polygamy was almost completely unrestricted, men taking as many wives as they wanted, and often abusing and maltreating them Islam, however restricted the practice to a maximum of 4, and men were ordered to deal justly between them. Each wife has rights and must be provided for equally. “Marry women of your choice, two or three or four; but if you fear that you shall not be able to deal justly (with them), then marry only one.” (Qur’an 4:3). Although polygamy is allowed, in Islam, it is unusual to see men with more than 1 wife. However, the practice of polygamy has many benefits. There are more women in the world than men (i.e. women live longer, the extra genetic information in a women’s extra x-chromosome has been shown to protect female babies from death in the womb or soon after birth) and this is worsened in times of war. Therefore, polygamy is a way of ensuring all women can get married. Thus as married women they can be maintained financially and can be a wife & a mother.
CONCLUSION
To understand the status of women in Islam, we need to realise that Islam asserts that although men and women are equal in the sight of Allah (swt), they are inherently different; therefore the laws governing them are different. It is clear that many “Muslims” (often due to ignorance or culture) treat their wives badly, but this is a flaw of the individual and not the religion. The basic reason why Muslims do anything is because we believe that the Qur’an is one of Allah’s (swt) miracles, the word of Allah, in a complete and unadulterated form, and Mohamed (pbuh) is his final messenger, and as such we fol low the divine teachings. Why not find out for yourself if the Qur’an is really a miracle, it is still unchanged today (as prophesised). Check yourself if they are the words of god. Why not find out more about the man Mohamed (PBUH)? Was he really a messenger of god? “and if you are in doubt as to what we have revealed to our servant then produce a chapter like it and call your witnesses or helper beside god if you are truthful, but if you cannot, and of a surety you cannot, then fear the fire whose fuel is men and stones which is prepared for those who reject faith.” Qur’an 2:22-3. You owe it to yourself to find out, after all women are not badly treated in Islam. Maybe Islam is not what you thought it was either….
May allah guide us all.....ameen