WOMEN IN ISLAM

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WOMEN IN ISLAM

• By
• Seema Khan

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Introduction

• Family, society and ultimately the whole of
  mankind is treated by Islam on an ethical basis.
• Differentiation in gender is neither a credit nor
  a drawback for men or women.
• Therefore, when we talk about status of woman in
  Islam it should not lead us to think that Islam
  has no specific guidelines, limitations,
  responsibilities or obligations for men.
• What makes one valuable and respectable in the
  eyes of Allah, the Creator of mankind and the
  universe, is neither one's prosperity, position,
  intelligence, physical strength nor beauty, but
  only one's God-consciousness and awareness.

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Historical perspectives

• Indian women
• Athenian women
• Roman women
• English women

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Indian women

• Describing the status of the Indian woman,
  Encyclopedia Britannica states
• In India, subjection was a cardinal principle.
  Day and night women must be held by their
  protectors in a state of dependence. The rule of
  inheritance was agnatic, that is descent traced
  through males to the exclusion of females.
• In Hindu scriptures, the description of a good
  wife is as follows a woman, whose mind, speech
  and body are kept in subjection, acquires high
  renown in this world, and, in the next, the same
  abode with her husband.

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Athenian women

• Athenian women were always minors, subject to
  some male - to their father, to their brother, or
  to some of their male kin.
• Her consent in marriage was not generally thought
  to be necessary and "she was obliged to submit to
  the wishes of her parents, and receive from them
  her husband and her lord, even though he were
  stranger to her."

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Romans

• Roman women were minors in the society
• In the Encyclopedia Britannica we find a summary
  of the legal status of women in the Roman
  civilization
• In Roman Law a woman was even in historic
  times completely dependent. If married, she and
  her property passed into the power of her husband
  . . . the wife was the purchased property of her
  husband, and like a slave acquired only for his
  benefit. A woman could not exercise any civil or
  public office . She could not be a witness,
  surety, tutor, or guardian she could not adopt
  or be adopted, or make will or contract.

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According to the English Common Law

• ...all real property which a wife held at the
  time of a marriage became a possession of her
  husband.
• He was entitled to the rent from the land and to
  any profit which might be made from operating the
  estate during the joint life of the spouses.
• As time passed, the English courts devised means
  to forbid a husband's transferring real property
  without the consent of his wife, but he still
  retained the right to manage it and to receive
  the money which it produced. As to a wife's
  personal property, the husband's power was
  complete. He had the right to spend it as he saw
  fit.

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Only by the late nineteenth Century did the
situation start to improve. "By a series of acts
starting with the Married women's Property Act in
1870, amended in 1882 and 1887, married women
achieved the right to own property and to enter
contracts on a par with spinsters, widows, and
divorcees."
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According to the Mosaic Law

• Encyclopedia Biblica states
• The girls consent is unnecessary and the need
  for it is nowhere suggested in the Law.
• As to the right of divorce, we read in the
  Encyclopedia Biblica
• The woman being man's property, his right to
  divorce her follows as a matter of course.
• In the Mosaic Law divorce was a privilege of the
  husband only

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Misconceptions about Women in Islam

• Muslim women are slaves to their husbands/
  inferior to them
• Women are forced by their husbands to cover
• Women are backward
• Women are oppressed in Islam
• Women are completely devoid of spiritual, social,
  economic or political rights

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Women in Islam
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• In the midst of the darkness that surrounded the
  world, the divine revelation echoed in the wide
  desert of Arabia with a fresh, noble, and
  universal message to humanity
• He (God) it is who did create you from a single
  soul and therefrom did create his mate, that he
  might dwell with her (in love)...(Qur'an 7189)
• And Allah has given you mates of your own
  nature, and has given you from your mates,
  children and grandchildren, and has made
  provision of good things for you (Qur'an 1672)

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• The spiritual aspect
• The economic aspect
• The social aspect
• The political and legal aspect

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The Spiritual Aspect

• Women have the same human spiritual nature as men
• "Every soul will be (held) in pledge for
  its deeds" (Qur'an 7438). It also states
• ...So their Lord accepted their prayers,
  (saying) I will not suffer to be lost the work
  of any of you whether male or female. You proceed
  one from another ...(Qur'an 3 195).
• Whoever works righteousness, man or woman, and
  has faith, verily to him will We give a new life
  that is good and pure, and We will bestow on such
  their reward according to the their actions.
  (Qur'an1697, see also 4124).

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Woman responsible for the fall of man?Bible

• "A woman should learn in quietness and full
  submission. I don't permit a woman to teach or to
  have authority over a man she must be silent.
  For Adam was formed first, then Eve. And Adam was
  not the one deceived it was the woman who was
  deceived and became a sinner." 1 Timothy 211-14
• "No wickedness comes anywhere near the wickedness
  of a woman... Sin began with a woman and thanks
  to her we all must die. .." (Catholic Bible,
  Ecclesiasticus 2519,24)

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Woman responsible for the fall of man?Quran

• The Quran does not blame woman for the fall of
  man, nor does it view pregnancy and childbirth
  as punishments for eating from the forbidden
  tree.
• There is no hint that the first woman created by
  God is a creature of lesser worth than the first
  male.
• The Quran deals with the pair with perfect
  equity. Both are equally guilty of sinning both
  are equally punished by God with expulsion from
  the Garden and both are equally forgiven when
  they repent. 

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The Spiritual Aspect (cont.)

• Religious obligations and rewards
• In terms of religious obligations, such as the
  Daily Prayers, Fasting, Zakat, and Pilgrimage,
  woman is no different from man
• If any do deeds of righteousness, be they male
  or female, and have faith, they will enter
  paradise and not the least injustice will be done
  to them. (Quran 4124)
• Lo! Men who surrender unto Allah, and women who
  surrender, and men who believe and women who
  believe, and men who obey and women who obey, and
  men who speak the truth and women who speak the
  truth and men who are humble and women who are
  humble, and men who give alms and women who give
  alms, and men who fast and women who fast, and
  men who guard their modesty and women who guard
  (their modesty), and men who remember Allah and
  women who remember-Allah hath prepared for them
  forgiveness and a vast reward. (3335).
• In some cases, woman has certain advantages over
  man

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The Social Aspect

• As a child and an adolescent
• Despite the social acceptance of female
  infanticide among some Arabian tribes, the Quran
  forbade this custom, and considered it a crime
  like any other murder.
• "And when the female (infant) buried alive - is
  questioned, for what crime she was killed."
  (Qur'an 818-9).
• Criticizing the attitudes of such parents who
  reject their female children, the Qur'an states
• When news is brought to one of them, of (the
  Birth of) a female (child), his face darkens and
  he is filled with inward grief! With shame does
  he hide himself from his people because of the
  bad news he has had! Shall he retain her on
  (sufferance) and contempt, or bury her in the
  dust? Ah! What an evil (choice) they decide on?
  (Qur'an 16 58-59).

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• Among the sayings of Prophet Muhammad in this
  regard are the following Whosoever has a
  daughter and he does not bury her alive, does not
  insult her, and does not favor his son over her,
  God will enter him into Paradise. (Ibn Hanbal,
  No. 1957). Whosoever supports two daughters
  till they mature, he and I will come in the day
  of judgment as this (and he pointed with his two
  fingers held together).

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• Right to education
• The right of females to seek knowledge is not
  different from that of males
• Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said
• "Seeking knowledge is mandatory for every
  Muslim". (AlBayhaqi)
• The Quran repeatedly commands all readers to
  read, to recite, to think, to contemplate, as
  well as to learn from the signs of Allah.
• In fact, the very first revelation to Prophet
  Muhammad (PBUH)) was concerned with knowledge.
• Lectures of the Prophet were attended by
  audiences of both men and women
• By the time of the Prophet's death, there were
  many women scholars. 

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The Social Aspect (cont.)

• As a wife
• The Qur'an clearly indicates that marriage is
  sharing between the two halves of the society,
  and that its objectives, besides perpetuating
  human life, are emotional well-being and
  spiritual harmony. Its bases are love and mercy.
• And among His Signs is this, that He created
  for you mates from among yourselves that you 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. (Quran
  3021)

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Rights pertaining to marriage in Islam

• The female has the right to accept or reject
  marriage proposals
• Her consent is a prerequisite to the validity of
  the marital contract, according to the Prophet's
  teachings
• Right to retain her family name
• Right to a separate home
• Full right to her Mahr marital gift
• Right to be satisfied by her husband
• The husband is responsible for the maintenance,
  protection, and overall leadership of the family,
  within the framework of consultation and
  kindness.
• Right to divorce her husband

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• The Qur'an states
• "...But consort with them in kindness, for if
  you hate them it may happen that you hate a thing
  wherein God has placed much good." (Qur'an 4
  l9).
• Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said
• The most perfect believers are the best in
  conduct and best of you are those who are best to
  their wives.
• Prophet (peace be upon him) instructed Muslims
  regarding women,
• I commend you to be kind to women.

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• Should marital disputes arise, the Quran
  encourages couples to resolve them privately in a
  spirit of fairness and probity.
• Under no circumstances does the Quran encourage,
  allow, or condone family violence or physical
  abuse.

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The Social Aspect (cont.)

• As a mother
• Islam considers kindness to parents next to the
  worship of God.
• Quran says
• "Show gratitude to Me and to your parents to Me
  is (your final) destiny." (Quran 3114)
• Moreover, the Qur'an has a special recommendation
  for the good treatment of mothers
• "And we have enjoined upon man (to be good) to
  his parents His mother bears him in weakness
  upon weakness..." (Qur'an 3114) (See also Qur'an
  4615, 298).

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The Economic Aspect

• In the 19th century European women did not have
  the right to own their own property.
• In Britain, perhaps the first country to give
  women some property rights, laws were passed in
  the 1860's known as "Married Women Property Act."
  
• In Germany the wife was denied any control over
  her property until 1922 by civil law!

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The Economic Aspect

• Islam provides a woman with
• Right to possess personal property- buy, sell,
  mortgage, lease without anyones permission being
  required.
• "Whatever men earn, they have a share of that
  and whatever women earn, they have a share in
  that." (Qur'an 431)
• In Islam the wifes property and earnings are
  under her full control and for her use alone. No
  matter how rich the wife might be, she is not
  obliged to act as a co-provider unless she
  herself voluntarily chooses to do so.
• Right to seek Employment
• Right to Inheritance laws
• Financial security

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The Political Aspect

• Islam provides a woman with
• Right to vote
• Participation in political affairs
• Women can be in leadership positions
• Participation in public affairs
• - During the Caliphate of Omar Ibn al-Khattab, a
  woman argued with him in the mosque, proved her
  point, and caused him to declare in the presence
  of people The woman is right and Omar is wrong.

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Rights of Women in Islam

• Equality of reward for their deeds
• The right and duty to obtain education
• The right to obtain provisions from her father or
  brothers until she gets married
• The right to have their own independent property
• The right to provisions from the husband for all
  her needs and more.
• The right to work to earn money if they need it
  or want it
• The right to keep all her own money
• The right to express their opinion and be heard
• The right to negotiate marriage terms of her
  choice 
• The right to obtain divorce from her husband
• The right to have custody of their children after
  divorce
• And more

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Even with such distorted image of women in Islam
in the West it is worth mentioning that

• The history of Muslims is rich with women of
  great achievements in all walks of life from as
  early as the seventh century (B.C.)
• Out of every 5 Muslim reverts, 4 are women!
• The status which women reached in the west was
  achieved through a long struggle and sacrifice on
  womans part and only when society needed her
  contribution and work, during the two world wars,
  and due to the escalation of technological
  change.
• In the case of Islam such compassionate and
  dignified status was decreed more than 14
  centuries ago, not because it reflects the
  environment of the seventh century, nor under the
  threat or pressure of women and their
  organizations, but rather because of its
  intrinsic truthfulness.

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A Dual sex society rather than a unisex society 

• Western Idea of equality of sexes (Unisex
  society)
• In Islam, men and women are equal but different
  (Dual Sex Society)
• Created differently
• Abilities differ
• Roles and duties differ

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Islamic Dress

• Both women and men are expected to dress in a
  way, which is modest and dignified.
• Men and women are required to dress and appear
  different from each other to maintain their
  identity
• The Prophet cursed the men who appeared like
  women and the women who appeared like men
• The traditions of male and female dress found in
  some Muslim countries are often expression of
  local customs.

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• "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...."
  (2430,31).

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Islamic Dress for Women

• In reference to women, the Quran and the Hadiths
  have mandated various rules in regards to
  behavior and appearance
• This was not to restrict women, but to provide a
  virtuous society where sexual attraction is not
  the main obsession
• The Muslim woman is not forced to display herself
  to be accepted in the society.
• She does not lower herself into competition with
  other women, using her body as a lure.
• She is not a slave to the societal trends

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Hijaab- The covering

• What is Hijaab?
• Why Hijaab?
• Benefits of Hijaab

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What is Hijaab?

• The word itself comes from the Arabic word
  "hajaba" meaning to conceal or hide from view.
• Hijaab is the modest covering of the head and
  body of Muslim women.
• Clothing is only one facet of hijab. It is also
  behavior, manner, and speech. Women who wear the
  hijab do not find it inhibiting, impractical, or
  interfering.

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Why wear hijaab?

• Because Allah, Their creator ordered them to
• "O Prophet, tell your wives and daughters and
  the believing women to draw their outer garments
  around them (when they go out or are among men).
  That is better in order that they may be known
  (to be Muslims) and not annoyed..." (Qur'an
  3359)

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Benefits of Hijaab

• She pleases her Lord and earns blessings from
  wearing it
• Purifies her heart and mind
• Attains nobility
• Protects her honor
• By covering her beauty, she is evaluated for her
  intelligence and skills instead of looks and
  sexuality
• Many women who cover are filled with dignity and
  self-esteem and are happy to be identified as a
  Muslim woman.
• Defines her femininity
• Beautifies her inner and outer appearance
• Expresses her independence and she feels
  liberated.

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