The rights of women in Islam

In Arab society, in the age of ignorance before the advent of Islam, Girls were buried alive at their birth. Islam made the girl a blessing and a symbol of peace for the home… When the era of Islam dawned, women were saved from the darkness of oppression. Islam rescued women from humiliation and treated them with dignity and honour. The dark age ritual of female infanticide come to an end.

It is Islam that gave women the rights equal to men and strengthened the status of women. Islam gave women equal rights, protection of dignity, share in inheritance, Haq mahr (Bridewealth), right to get Khula (divorce) right to education and training right to keep children in case of separation, right to vote and rights to counsel etc.

Even if a woman has a source of income, Islam has not asked her to support her children. This responsibility rests with the father.

As a mother, sister, daughter and wife, Islam has given the right of inheritance to a woman in every relationship.

Almighty Allah further said in Quran:

Whoever works righteousness, whether male or female, while he is a true believer. Verily, to him, We will give a good life, and We shall pay them certainly a reward in proportion to the best of what they used to do.

(Al-Nahel: 97)

Apart from the Holy Quran, several Hadiths also mention the rights and duties of women and their importance in society. The beloved Rasool (SAWW) said:

Whoever brings up two girls, will enter Paradise along with me as close to me as my two fingers near to each other.

(Sunan Al Tirmizi:1913)

Prophet Hazrat Muhammad ﷺ also said that:

A man is expected to be the “guardian of [his] family,” whereas a woman is expected to be the “guardian of her husband’s home and his children.

Sahih Bukhari (9:89:252)

Islam is a religion that has not only dignified women but has also provided them protection in the form of a veil and four walls. In a hadith, the Holy Rasool (SAWW) said ;

Fear Almighty Allah in matters relating to women.

According to the fundamentals and principles of Islam, A woman is not “an instrument of the Devil (Satan)”, Indeed the Holy book Quran has called her “Muhsana” – One who is a fortress against the devil (Satan). That is because a good woman, by marrying a man, helps him keep to the path of rectitude in his life. It is for this reason that marriage was considered by the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ as a most beautiful and virtuous act of life.

He (PBUH) said:

When a man marries, he has completed one half of his religion.

He enjoined matrimony on Muslims by saying:

Marriage is part of my way and whoever keeps away from my way is not from me (i.e. is not my follower).

1) The Incident of Hazrat Hajra (A.S) & the rights of women in Islam

a) The incident of Hazrat Hajra (A.S) is a prominent example depicting the status of women in front of Almighty Allah. Her act of running between Mount Safa and Mount Marwa to ask for Almighty Allah’s help to provide food and water for her baby Hazrat Ismail (A.S) pleased Almighty Allah so much that he immortalized this act by declaring running between Mount Safa and Mount Marwa as one of the essential components of Hajj. This incident clearly depicts the importance and position of women in Islam.

b) Woman as mother commands great respect in Islam. The Noble Qur’an speaks of the rights of the mother in a number of verses. It enjoins Muslims to show respect to their mothers and serve them well even if they are still unbelievers. The Prophet states emphatically that the rights of the mother are paramount.

Abu Hurairah reported that a man came to the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) and asked: “O Messenger of Allah, who is the person who has the greatest right on me with regards to kindness and attention?” He replied, “Your mother.” “Then who?” He replied, “Your mother.” “Then who?” He replied, “Your mother.” “Then who?” He replied, “Your father.”

2) Trade center of Hazrat Khadijah (R.A)

Hazrat Khadijah (R.A), the first wife of Hazrat Muhammad (SAWW) as a wealthy lady in the Arabian peninsula. She (R.A) was the owner of a trade centre in Makkah and handled the business herself. Her merchandise was exported to far-away markets like Syria.

3) Living Examples Before Oppression

Hazrat Fatimah (R.A), Hazrat Aisha (R.A) and Hazrat Zainab (R.A) are examples of those very renowned women who remained steadfast during times of distress and guided Muslim women through difficult times.

4) Fundamental Rights Of Women, Servants and Orphans in Islam

After the bestowal of Nabuwwat, the Holy Rasool Hazrat Muhammad (SAWW) highlighted that the most important component of the struggle for social reforms is the provision of basic rights to the distressed and oppressed classes of the world and Arabia particularly the women, servants and orphans.

5) Equal rights in Islam to choose A spouse

Islam has honoured women by giving them the right to choose a spouse and keep their original family name once married. Additionally, many have the impression that parents force their daughters into marriage.

This is a cultural practice and has no basis in Islam. In fact, it is prohibited.

At the time of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), a woman came to him and said, “My father has married me to my cousin to raise his social standing and I was forced into it.” The Prophet sent for the girl’s father and then in his presence gave the girl the option of remaining married or nullifying the marriage. She responded, “O Messenger of Allah, I have accepted what my father did, but I wanted to show other women (that they could not be forced into a marriage).”

6) Women As Daughter in Islam

The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said,

Whoever Allah has given two daughters and is kind towards them, they will be a reason for him entering Paradise.

Islamic education suggests that women is completely independent in her thinking and deciding the best of her self. She can make any contract or bequest in her own name. She is entitled to inherit in her position as mother, as a wife, as sister and as daughter.

Women in Islam has compelete liberty to choose her husband. The pagan society of pre-Islamic Arabia had an irrational prejudice against their female children whom they used to bury alive. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ firmly stood against of this act of brutal society and overturned it and suggested ummah to not oppose it as well.

He (PBUH) showed them that supporting their female children would act as a strong wall or shield for them against the fire of Hell.

It is narrated by the Prophet’s wife, ‘A’isha, that a woman entered her house with two of her daughters. She asked for charity but ‘A’isha could not find anything except a date fruit, which was given to her. The woman divided it between her two daughters and did not eat any herself. Then she got up and left. When the Prophet (peace be upon him) came to the house, ‘A’isha told prophet about what had happened and he declared that when the woman was brought to account (on the Day of Judgment) about her two daughters they would act as a screen for her from the fires of Hell.

The worst calamity for a woman is when her husband passes away and, as a widow, the responsibility of maintaining the house finances and taking care of children is paved upon her. In the Eastern World, where a woman does not always go out to earn her living, the problems of widowhood are indescribable.

Prophet Muhammad ﷺ upheld the cause of widows. Most of his wives were widows. In an age when widows were rarely permitted to remarry, Prophet (PBUH) encouraged his followers to marry them. He was always ready to help widows and exhorted his followers to do the same.

Abu Hurairah reported that the Prophet said: “One who makes efforts (to help) the widow or a poor person is like a mujahid (warrior) in the path of Allah, or like one who stands up for prayers in the night and fasts in the day.”

Once Mu’awiyah asked Prophet ﷺ, “What are the rights that a wife has over her husband?” The Prophet replied,

Feed her when you take your food, give her clothes to wear when you wear clothes, refrain from giving her a slap on the face or abusing her, and do not separate from your wife, except within the house.

Once a woman came to the Prophet with a complaint against her husband. He told her:

There is no woman who removes something to replace it in its proper place, with a view to tidying her husband’s house, but that Allah sets it down as a virtue for her. Nor is there a man who walks with his wife hand-in-hand, but that Allah sets it down as a virtue for him; and if he puts his arm around her shoulder in love, his virtue is increased tenfold.

Islam is the complete and comprehensive code of life which covers all aspects of human life from cradle to grave. Allah has created both males and females and they are commanded to play a distinct roles in society.

7) Conclusion

This article concludes that Islam is only the religion that does not discriminate between the gender, race, colour, skin, or culture. All individuals are equal, men and women both are equal and have distinct roles to play in society. It also does not allow the domination of men over women. In Islam, there is no superiority to men on grounds of morality. It is equal for both men and women.