Islam: A blessing for Women

Women have always had an influential role in the prosperity and growth of any community.
These roles have varied depending on the time period, geography and race of the people.

WOMEN IN COLONIAL AMERICAL 1700-1800

During the 18th century, the womens role and work was extremely difficult, exhausting, and society was unappreciative. Married women had no control of their earnings, inheritance, property, and also could not appear in court as a witness nor vote.

 Although womens organizations had begun to appear in the late 1600s, it wasnt until the mid 1700s that these organizations involved politics. The Revolutionary War brought women into many new causes.

Global Issues of Women in Todays World

UNICEF Report Page 4-5 The State of the Worlds Children 2007 examines the discrimination and disempowerment women face throughout their lives and outlines what must be done to eliminate gender discrimination and empower women and girls

Discrimnation at various Stages of Life

Foeticide and infanticide UNICEF notes that Where there is a clear economic or cultural preference for sons, the misuse of [pregnancy diagnostic tools] can facilitate female foeticide.

Female Feoticide
As John-Thor Dahlburg points out, "in rural India, the centuries-old practice of female infanticide can still be considered a wise course of action. (Dahlburg, "Where killing baby girls 'is no big sin'," The Los Angeles Times [in The Toronto Star, February 28, 1994.])

Middle years
A principal focus of the middle years of childhood and adolescence is ensuring access to, and completion of, quality primary and secondary education. With a few exceptions, it is mostly girls who suffer from educational disadvantage. REF: UNICEF REPORT 2007

Adolscence
Among the greatest threats to adolescent development are abuse, exploitation and violence, and the lack of vital knowledge about sexual and reproductive health, including HIV/AIDS.

Motherhood and Old age

These are two key periods in many womens lives when the pernicious effects of both poverty and inequality can combine.

The Practice Of Sati

The act of self-immolation of widows on their husbands funeral pyre . Some Hindus believe the act of selfimmolation by a widow facilitates the attainment of spiritual salvation for her dead husband. The woman who commits Sati is also revered as a goddess.

Some Facts About Sati

Although the practice of Sati has been virtually non-existent elsewhere in India after the British banned it in 1829 About forty cases have taken place since Indias independence in 1947. Twenty-eight of these cases have occurred in Rajasthan, mainly around the Sikar district (Oldenburg 1994: 191).

Last Case Of Sati

An 18 yr old girl married for 8 month committed Sati on Sept 4 1987 in Rajasthan In fact, just few years ago in 1997, police in Northern India prevented a widow from committing sati (The Daily News).

IN COMPARISON

LET US SEE WHAT QURAN SAYS ABOUT WOMEN 1400 YEARS AGO

WHAT DOES QURAN SAYS ABOUT WOMEN

The Qur'an has much to say both ABOUT women, and TO women. Clearly defining her rights and duties
One Surah is called `Women', another is named after Maryam the mother of Jesus (pbuh).

Women appear in many other parts

Hawwa (Eve) the wife of Adam
Wife of Nuh (Noah) (pbuh) who betrays her husband Wife of Lot as an example of a disbeliever (66:1011). Wife of Ibrahim (AS), who at the age of 90 mocks at the news given to her by Angels of birth of righteous son . (11: 71-73)

 The wife of Pharaoh, who saves the infant Musa (Moses) (pbuh) Maryam,(AS) mother of Jesus(AS), is one of the two female examples of the good believer held up in Surah 66:10 & 11.

The wife of Aziz, who tried to seduce Yusuf (Joseph),

 These examples are pointers to their individual identity rather than stereotyped meak and submissive roles of women.

PROPHETS WORDS REGARDING WOMEN.

The Holy Prophet has stated : The best amongst you is the one who is the best towards his wife. (Tirmidhi, Ibne-Majah, Dasimi.)

On another occasion the Prophet stated: Paradise lies under the feet of mothers. (Bukhari)

THE FIRST PERSON TO ACCEPT ISLAM

Was not a man, but it was a woman. Hazrat Khadija the wife of the Prophet.

Gender Equality in Islam

The rights and responsibilities of women are equal to those of men but they are not necessarily identical.
This difference is understandable because men and women are different, in their physiological and psychological make-up.

Gender Equality in Islam

Thus it is perhaps more apt to refer to the Islamic approach on gender relations, as one of equity rather than the commonly used word equality, which could be misunderstood to mean equality in every minute aspect of life, rather than overall equality.

HOW ARE WOMEN CREATED

Is she just a part of Adam and an afterthought? This is what it says, in the first ayah (verse) of Surat an-Nisa The Women:

O Mankind, be conscious of your duty to your Lord Who created you from a single soul, and from it created its mate (of the same kind) and from them twain has spread a multitude of men and women.Qur'an 4:1

 They are made of the same soul as men. Their capacity for good and evil is identical with that of men.

Lets See Women As a Whole

1) Spiritual Aspect 2) Social Aspect a)Education and Freedom of Speech b) Status of women as a Mother and daughter c) Marriage 3) Economic Aspect

SPIRITUAL ASPECT
In the Islamic tradition, a woman has an independent identity. She is a responsible being in her own right and carries the burden of her moral and spiritual obligations. Indeed the noblest of you in the sight of Allah is the most pious. Quran 49:13

SPRITUAL ASPECT

Islam refuted the idea that Eve tempted Adam to disobey God, and thus caused his downfall. The Quran says that they both disobeyed, and negates the idea that women are a source of evil.

Spiritual Aspect
Never will I waste the work of a worker among you, whether male or female, the one of you being from the other. [Al-Qur'an 3:195]

SOCIAL ASPECT
Right to Education:
Almost fourteen centuries ago, Prophet Muhammad (p)1 declared that the pursuit of knowledge is incumbent on every Muslim, male and female. This declaration was very clear and was largely implemented by Muslims throughout history.

Right to Education
Women can be educated by men. The Prophet sent Umar Ibn al-Khattab to teach the women of the Ansar.
And women taught men too, not only the wives of the Prophet but many others later were teachers of men, e.g. Aishah bt. Sa'id Ibn Abi Waqqas, who taught the first compiler of Hadith, Malik;

Right to Education
The Prophet's wife Aishah(ra) was one of the foremost transmitters of Hadiths and, like other wives and Companions of the Prophet was often surrounded by students wanting to learn from her

To the extent that

One of her pupils, Urwah Ibn az-Zubayr said:
I did not see a greater scholar than Aishah in the learning of the Qur'an, obligatory duties, lawful and unlawful matters, poetry and literature, Arab history and genealogy.

Freedom of Speech
The Qur'an, however, specifically mentions that those seeking information from the Prophet's wives were to address them from behind a screen (33:53).

Freedom of Speech
Furthermore, women were accustomed to question the Prophet (SAW) while men were present. Neither were they embarassed to have their voices heard nor did the Prophet (pbuh) prevent their inquires.

Quranic examples of freedom of speech

Another Qur'anic example of a woman speaking publicly is that the daughter of the Shaykh mentioned in the Qur'an in 28:23.

The Qur'an even speaks favourably of the Queen of Sheba and the way she consulted her advisors, who deferred to her good judgement on how to deal with the threat of invasion by the armies of Solomon. (Qur'an 27:32-35):

Prohibitions
Women are prohibited to modulate their tone of voice being sexy and flirtatious so that people in whose heart is a disease will be moved by desire. And the same ayah ends with encouragement of speaking justly. Ref Quran 33:32

Freedom of Speech
It is reported in the Quran and in history that women not only expressed their opinion freely but also argued and participated in serious discussions with the Prophet (p) himself as well as with other Muslim leaders. They were not shut behind iron bars or considered worthless.

Status as Mothers and Daughters

Elevated the status: Islam elevated the position of women in society and treated them on an equal footing with men, and in some cases, as a mother for instance, clearly gave them precedence over men.

Hadith on Mother
A man came to the Prophet and said, O Messenger of God! Who among the people is the most worthy of my good companionship? The Prophet said: Your mother. The man said, Then who?' The Prophet said: Then your mother. The man further asked, Then who?' The Prophet said: Then your mother. The man asked again, Then who?' The Prophet said: Then your father. (Bukhari, Muslim).

Women as daughters
With Prophet Muhammad (saw) came the status of welcoming the daughters, and raising high the importance of their upbringing with words to delight the hearts of the believing fathers and bring joy to their souls.

Hadith regarding raising daughters

Whoever has three daughters or sisters, or two daughters or two sisters, and lives along with them in a good manner, and has patience with them, and fears Allah with regard to them will enter Paradise." (Reported by Abu Dawud, Al-Tirmidhee and others) And in another Hadith: "They will be a shield for him from the Fire." (Reported by Ahmad and Ibn Maajah)

SOCIAL ASPECT
Marriage A woman has the right to accept or reject marriage proposals, and her consent is a prerequisite to the validity of the marriage contract The husband is responsible for the maintenance, protection and overall leadership of the family within the framework of consultation and kindness.

Rights of Wife
. Prophet Muhammad (p) helped with household chores, although the responsibilities he bore and the issues he faced in the community were immense.

Hadith
Rasulullah said: "By assisting your wives in their household matters you men receive the reward of sadaqah

*The religion of Islam has encouraged men to assist their wives by promising them rewards for this service. In this way Islam has secured the comfort of women.

Rights of women as a Wife

If the husband wilfully fails to maintain his wife, she has the right to divorce him in court. In cases of divorce, the mother has first claim to custody of the young children, followed by other female members of her family. If she remarries or is unable to look after the children. The right reverts to the husband's family only after the children reach an age of greater independence, which varies according to the school of law, and then the wishes of the child must be taken into consideration

Rights of women as Wife

Women are not even obliged in all cases to suckle their own children. If a divorcing couple mutually agree, they can send the baby to a wet-nurse and the husband must pay for the suckling. If the mother decides to keep the baby and suckle it herself, he must pay her for her trouble! (2:233):

Rights of Women as a Wife

Not only are they are allowed to divorce their husbands, rather than live apart and unable to remarry, but they are also protected from scandalmongers. People making such accusations against chaste women must produce four eye witnesses to the act or suffer a flogging themselves and have their evidence rejected ever after. (24:23)

MARRIAGE AS DESCRIBED IN QURAN

And among His signs is this: that He created for you mates from among yourselves, that ye may dwell in tranquility with them, and He has put love and mercy between your hearts, verily in that are Signs for those who reflect. Qur'an 30:21

They are your garments and ye are their garments Qur'an 2:187

What is a marriage for?

Love, mercy, intimacy and mutual protection and modesty are the qualities expected of an Islamic marriage.

What basis does all this leave for the male attitude that women are only fit for maternal and household duties?

WOMEN IN ALL WALKS OF LIFE

First wife of the Prophet, mother of all his surviving children, was a businesswoman who hired him as an employee, and proposed marriage to him through a third party; Women traded in the marketplace, and the Khalifah Umar, not normally noted for his liberal attitude to women, appointed a woman, Shaff'a Bint Abdullah, to supervise the market.

WOMEN IN ALL WALKS OF LIFE

Other women, like Laila al-Ghifariah, took part in battles, carrying water and nursing the wounded. Suffiah bint Abdul Muttalib even fought and killed the enemies to protect themselves and the Prophet (SAW) Umm Dhahhak bint Masoud were rewarded with booty in the same way as the men.

ECONOMIC ASPECT
Islam grants women equal rights to contract, to enterprise, to earn and possess independently. Islam has given women a share of inheritance Women are exempt from all financial liabilities. Husband has no right to expect her to support herself, let alone support his children or him. If she does contribute to the household income this is regarded as a charitable deed on her part.

ECONOMIC ASPECT
She is free to retain, after marriage, whatever she possessed before it, and the husband has no right whatsoever to any of her belongings.

If she wishes to work or be self-supporting and participate in handling the family responsibilities, she is quite free to do so, provided her integrity and honor are safeguarded.

ECONOMIC ASPECT
Women are thus well provided for: their husbands support them, and they inherit from all their relations

EXCEMPTIONS FROM DUTIES

Fasting when they are pregnant or nursing or menstruating, Praying when menstruating or bleeding after childbirth, and The obligation to attend congregational prayers in the mosque on Fridays. They are not obliged to take part as soldiers in the defence of Islam, although they are not forbidden to do so. Even when they are menstruating, on special days, like the two Id festivals, they are still allowed to come to the Id prayers, and menstruating women can take part in most of the actions of the Hajj pilgrimage.

LAWS OF MODESTY
The Qur'an lays down the principle of the law of modesty. Hijab for Men is mentioned prior to Women. The Qur'anic view of the ideal society is that the social and moral values have to be upheld by both Muslim men and women and there is justice for all.

QURANIC VERSE
Say to the believing men that they should lower their gaze and guard their modesty...And say to the believing women that they should lower their gaze and guard their modesty; that they should not display their beauty and ornaments except what ordinarily appear thereof; that they should draw their veils over their bosoms..." (Quran 24:30,31).

 Hijab is not merely a covering dress but more importantly, it is behavior, manners, speech and appearance in public. Dress is only one facet of the total being. The basic requirement of the Muslim woman's dress apply to the Muslim man's clothing with the difference being mainly in degree.

 For both men and women, clothing requirements are not meant to be a restriction but rather a way in which society will function in a proper, Islamic manner.

On the subject of attraction

That which exists within a woman is the desire to show herself off, it is a part of her nature. That which exists in a man is an inclination towards looking, not just looking but flirting and receiving pleasure from it.He can be stimulated by a mere look

Both of these things exist

HENCE

How clever Islam is to adopt hijab in society! So it completely conforms with the innate natures of mankind!

WHY IS MODESTY IMPORTANT

O Prophet, tell your wives and daughters and the believing women that they should cast their outer garments over their bodies (when abroad) so that they should be known and not molested" (Quran 33:59). This is the whole point, modesty is prescribed to protect women from molestation or simply, modesty is protection. Thus, the only purpose of the hijab in Islam is protection

HIJAB IN ISLAM
The hijab, is not a sign of man's authority over woman nor is it a sign of woman's subjection to man. The hijab, is not a sign of luxury and distinction of some noble married women. Hijab is not just a piece of cloth. It is obeying God in a difficult environment. It is courage, faith in action, and true womanhood

Womens Veil
Hijab" (womans veil) speaks loud for the Muslim womens freedom of choice. It services first as a reminder for the soul, as an inner code and a standard, and only second as a physical statement, by keeping their bodies only for their husbands and not for others

Some statistics, published in a pamphlet issued by the Dean of Women's office at Queen's University Canada:
In Canada, a woman is sexually assaulted every 6 minutes, 1 in 3 women in Canada will be sexually assaulted at some time in their lives, 1 in 4 women are at the risk of rape or attempted rape in her lifetime, 1 in 8 women will be sexually assaulted while attending college or university, and A study found 60% of Canadian university-aged males said they would commit sexual assault if they were certain they wouldn't get caught.

Is Modesty needed?
A culture of modesty is desperately needed, modesty in dress, in speech, and in manners of both men and women, otherwise, the grim statistics are likely to increase and unfortunately, women alone will be paying the price.

GREATEST IRONY
It is one of the great ironies of our world today that the very same headscarf revered as a sign of 'holiness' when worn by Catholic Nuns, is reviled as a sign of 'oppression' when worn for the purpose of modesty and protection by Muslim women.

Women of Faith.

CONCLUSION: ISLAMIC SOCIETY HAS GUARANTED WOMEN

Personal respect. Respectable married status. Legitimacy and maintenance for their children. The right to negotiate marriage terms of their choice. To refuse any marriage that does not please them. The right to obtain divorce from their husbands, even on the grounds that they can't stand them.

CONTD
Custody of their children after divorce. Independent property of their own. The right and duty to obtain education. The right to work if they need or want it. Equality of reward for equal deeds. The right to participate fully in public life and have their voices heard by those in power and much more besides.

 WHAT OTHER RELIGION, POLITICAL THEORY, OR PHILOSOPHY HAS OFFERED SUCH A COMPREHENSIVE PACKAGE?