The Fragrance of East

ISLAM GRANTS EQUAL RIGHT TO

BOTH MEN AND WOMEN
(Anis Ahmad Nadwi)

Islam is a complete religion, a permanent civilization which provides

guidance for all human beings in every aspect of life, irrespective of their races,
caste, creed, colour and position. To blame that Islam is only for Muslims is
baseless allegation which had been propagated against it to malign its clean
image. No doubt Islam is for whole universe, for entire mankind and for all races
and places of the world. It is a universal religion.
A cursory glance at women's status in pre-Islamic history, civilizations and
religions, will tell you clearly that the women were the most oppressed and
suppressed class of society. They were denied of all rights, deprived of
ancestral properties, were bought and sold like goods, were treated like slaves,
were burnt alive with the dead bodies they were the most harassed tortured and
deprived lot. There was no hope of any betterment in their position.
People of those civilizations considered the existence of women itself,
ominous. Their mentality and psychology had been portrayed by the Holy
Our'an. "When if one of them receiveth tidings of the birth of a female, his face
remaineth darkened and he is worth inwardly. He hides himself from the folk
because of the evil of that where of he hath had tidings, (asking himself): Shall
he keep it in contempt, or bury it beneath the dust. Verily evil is their
judgement". 58, 59 Nahl.
Islam came with its message of peace, brotherhood, justice, equality, amity, co-
existence and offered the world a very grand culture and civilization. Islam
granted equal rights to all men and women without any discrimination between
the two genders. The Holy Our'an says, "whosoever doth right, whether male or
female, and is a believer, him verily, we shall with good life, and we shall pay
them a recompense in proportion to the best of what they used to do". 97 Nahal.
Prophet Mohammad (MPBBUH) says, "you are from Adam and Adam was
created from clay". Equal religious rights and status were provided to men- and
women without any discrimination unlike other religions.
*Faculty member, Nadwa, Lucknow

The noble status which had been granted to women by Islam and role it
played in building world's societal life is very great and marvellous, literate
people know them very well. It offered such doctrines and tenets that when they
were practised, the exemplary society came into existence. When the teachings
of different religions and system of the world are compared with that of Islamic
teachings and the role which the latter played in the restoration of women's
status in society, one thing becomes clear that it had treated every human being
especially women with respect and regard.
Islam has played very important characteristic, distinctive and decisive role
in the restoration of women's respect and regard in society as well as in
emancipating them from oppressions. It provided them equal rights in society
making them secure from oppressive rules and traditions of religion, 'provided
them security from men's selfishness, arrogance and apathy. If you think over
those marvellous achievements of Islam certainly you will love it much more. The
great scholars admire the respectful status which had been bestowed on the
woman folk by Islam.
The rights which have been granted to women in Islam are many but we
mention here a few of them: rights of ownership and heirship of properties.
Rights of purchase and sell. Rights of estrangement from her husband (If it may
be necessary). Rights of cancelling the engagement (If she is not agreed with
her would be groom). Right of taking part in both Eid prayers, Jumah as well as
daily congregational prayers.

Family is the first unit of society comprising both life partners that are
husband and wife in which it is necessary to accept one of them superior to the
other. Men, on account of their accountability, earning power, physical structure
are superior to women. That's why they had been made sustainer and
responsible authority of the family. To run the home, to earn livelihood, to fulfill
all the needs of wife and children are their utmost and foremost duties. Allah
says in the Holy Qur'an, "Men are in charge of women because
Allah hath made the one of them to excel the other and because they spend of
their property" (For the support of women) (AI Nisa 34)

While women due to their body compulsions, capability to bear child, and to
breed them as well as on account of frailty of their mind and body, have been
made subordinate to
men and had been ordered to stay at home looking after the responsibilities of
their husband, children, and home.
If they succeed in bringing up a generation into good, pious, virtuous and
responsible citizens then they in fact performed their duties very well.