Does Islam oppress women? Do they have no rights? What is their status? Their only purpose is to serve family? And so many other questions are asked regarding the women in Islam. There are many misconceptions about it. Have you ever picked up the Quran and read what Allah says about women? No----then why blindly believing on media and/or scuttlebutt.
Before going further, I would like to tell that women liberation was not started by radical political groups unlike the women liberation movement in 20th century. But in 7th century women was given the rights by Allah and it was revealed to Muhammad (saw).
Quran and Sunnah clearly talks about the rights of women along with certain duties.
A woman is a mother and it is said that "Paradise lies under her feet" (reported by Al Tabarani).
In an authentic hadith the Prophet (peace be upon him)(SAAS) was asked by a man: 'Who is the one most worthy of my care?'. The Prophet replied: 'Your mother'. The man asked: 'Then whom?'. He replied: 'Your mother'. The man further asked: 'Then whom?'. He replied: 'Your mother'. The man asked: 'Then whom?'. And in this fourth time the Prophet replied: 'Then your father.' This shows the status Allah has given to women. They are given the rights as a sister, a mother, a daughter, and a wife.
Quran about mother.
Allah says: {Your Lord has decreed that you worship none but Him and that you be kind to parents. When one or both of them attains old age in your life, say not to them a word of disrespect, nor repel them but address them in terms of honour.} (Surat Al-Isra' (17), ayah 23). A woman as a mother has equal status of a man as a husband.
Quran about daughter.
“A woman is also a daughter and sister and like their male brothers, are born of the same lineage and from the same womb: {He bestows female (offspring) upon whom He wills, and bestows male (offspring) upon whom Him wills.} (Surat Al-Shura (42), ayah 49).”
“The Prophet (SAAS) says: 'Women are the (equal) sisters of men.”
Quran about wife.
“A woman is also a wife who is a source of comfort for her husband as he is to her: {And among His signs is this, that He created wives from among yourselves, that you may dwell in tranquillity with them, and He has put love and mercy between your (hearts)} (Surat Al-Rum (30), ayah 21). Allah also said: {They are like a garment to you and you are like a garment to them} (Surat Al-Baqara (2), ayah 187)”.
Furthermore, Prophet Muhammad (saw) respected women beyond the words. He (saw) used to stand up on arrival of His (saw)’s daughter Fatima (RA) in her respect.
He (saw) would often say: “Fatima is of my flesh, he who angers her, angers me” (Bukhari & Muslim). That tells the respect women were given. Additionally, prophet Muhammad (saw) loved His wife Khadijah (RA) exceptionally. Even after the death of His wife, Messenger of Allah (saw) used to send gifts to her friends. Khadijah (RA) was a business woman and she did not stop working even after the marrying with Rasool Allah (saw). He even helped her in her business. That is self explanatory that Islam gives women even right to own a business and work. He (saw) said once, “She believed in me when no one else did.” He (saw) completely adore her and respected her.
Now for having better insight status of women in Islam, we should preview the status of women before the Islam.
Under the Roman Empire, women had no rights and were dictated by their men. It was a male dominated society. They were even legally allowed to kill their wives or daughters. They had no voting rights, no rights to become senators, lawyers, judges, governors, etc. Similarly, women had no rights to own property in Athenian dynasty. Additionally, under Aryan civilization, women were given their rights and their status was same as men. Unlikely, Athenian and Roman Empire, they even had rights to own property. But later on, during the Medieval era, women status got lowered and practice like Satti took place. (It is the practice of women dying with their husbands at the funeral pyre). Also, Jauhar started under this time period. Where wives were immolating themselves, if they got to know that their husbands were going to die from their enemies.
Later, Islam became the first official religion to give women their rights. Women and men are very often addressed in same passage in Quran.
Here's an example from the Quran,
"For Muslim men and women, for believing men and women, for devout men and women, for true men and women who are patient, for men and women who humble themselves, for men and women who give in charity, for men and women who fast, for men and women who guard their chastity, and for men and women who engage much in Allah's praise - For them all has Allah prepared forgiveness and great reward." (33:35).
Moreover, Islam even gives women rights to own property, work, and financial securities.
Allah says in Quran,
"From what is left by parents and those nearest related there is a share for men and a share for women, whether the property be small or large, a determinate share." (Surah 4, Ayah 7).
Furthermore, women even fought the holy wars along with men. Nusayba b. Ka‘b al-Anṣārīyya who was also known as Umm ‘Ammara. She was a very prominent lady of the time. She participated in one of the most important holy war in Islam, Battle of Uhud.
Khawla b. al-Azwar, another woman who fought one of the important battle, Battle of Yarmuk It was against the Byzantines.This participation of women in wars explain their status. They were not oppressed rather given the equal status as men.
Oppression cannot make someone a writer, scholar, political figure, or anything. There are countless ladies of Islam, who hold on to these titles. Following are the few famous women of Islam; Lubna of Cordoba, she was a great poet and writer. Al-Malika al-Ḥurra Arwa al-Sulayhi, a queen of Yemen and ruled Yemen very well. Fāṭima b. Abī al-Qāsim ‘Abd al-Rahmān b. Muhammad b. Ghālib al-Ansārī al-Sharrāṭ, she was jurisprude and theorist.
Razia Sultan, she ruled the Sultanate of Delhi. And most importantly, Ayesha (RA). Wife of prophet Muhammad (SAW). She played a major role in Islam after the death of Prophet (saw). She also played a vital role in politics as well as Islamic teachings. Also, one of the major narrator of Hadith. That is just a glimpse of the role of women in history.
All these facts are self explanatory about the status of women in Islam. Islamic history is rich with great achievements of women and few I mentioned above. Mistreatment towards women is not justified in any cost. No one is allowed or even dare to cancel, take away, or even reduce the rights of women given by Prophet (saw) and Allah or in other words given in Islamic law. All in all, status of women near Allah is very honorable and noble as well as in in Islamic law.
Throughout history, the role of Muslims women played is totally admirable. Lastly, the purpose of this piece of writing is just to break the stereotypes of gender inequality in Islam.
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