Women Rights in Islam

Many people think that women in Islam have no rights. They think that Islam oppressed women and didn’t treat them as human beings. In this article this misconception shall be discussed and answered.

Islam considers women as members who play a very important role in the Islamic society. A woman raises the children, builds generations of youth and brings them to the society to help building it. Islam recognizes this important role, and recognizes the effort a mother performs to take care of her child from his birth till his marriage, and even after his marriage. That’s why when a man came to Prophet Muhammad and asked him about who among the people most deserves his fine treatment, the answer of Prophet Muhammad was: “your mother”. The man asks Prophet Muhammad: “Then who?”, Prophet Muhammad says:”your mother”, Then the man asks again. The Prophet says for the third time: “your mother”. The man asks again, Prophet Muhammad says:”your father”. Prophet Muhammad says that Heaven lies under the mothers’ feet.

Prophet Muhammad tells that a man who has daughters and raises them well shall enter Paradise. He tells that seeking knowledge is mandatory for every Muslim male and female. This answers the misconception among non-Muslims that Muslim women are not allowed to be educated in Islam. Actually it is mandatory for them to be educated. Women are even consulted in Islam. This was clear during the life of the Prophet Muhammad when he consulted his wife in the affairs of the Islamic state. Aisha the wife of Prophet Muhammad used to teach people about what she learned from him, and people used to ask her and consult her.

Islam orders a husband to treat his wife well that the Prophet (Peace be upon him) said that the best of Muslims are the best to their wives. The Quran orders the husbands to treat their wives with kindness. In Islam, a husband should pay a gift to his wife and it is a main condition in the marriage contract. A woman in Islam is not asked to spend a cent on her house but it is actually the sole responsibility of the husband. The main responsibility of a woman is to take care of her house. So even if a woman works and gains money, she is not asked to spend on the house. She has the right to save all the money for herself.

Islam recognizes that there are differences in nature between a man and a woman, that’s why each has different responsibilities. Although the man is the leader of the house, this leadership means that he has greater responsibilities. God shall account him on what he did and if he fulfilled his duties or not. A woman has less responsibility because she is generally weaker in nature and because she is generally driven by her emotions. That’s why Islam is concerned with justice not with equality. Men and women don’t have the same nature as a man is generally stronger and his mind overcomes his emotions. So he naturally should have more responsibilities. This is not an oppression of women but it is a mercy to women as this won’t load them what they cannot bear.

For more information regarding Islam you can take help of Islamic books in English and Hindi and you can go for Quran audio as well which is widely available on the Internet.

Women’s Rights in Islam

Over fourteen hundred years ago, Islam gave women rights that women in the West have only recently began to enjoy. In the 1930’s, Annie Besant observed, “It is only in the last twenty years that Christian England has recognized the right of woman to property, while Islam has allowed this right from all times. It is a slander to say that Islam preaches that women have no souls.” ( The Life and Teachings of Mohammed, 1932).
Men and women all descended from a single person – the Prophet Adam (peace be upon him). Islam does not accept for either of them anything but justice and kind treatment.
Below are some women rights in Islam :
Equal Reward & Equal Accountability
Men and women in Islam worship Allah in the same way, meaning they worship the same God (Allah), perform the same acts of worship, follow the same scripture, and hold the same beliefs. Allah (the Arabic word for the One true God of all creation), judges all human beings fairly and equitably. Allah emphasizes the just treatment and reward due to both men and women in many verses of the Holy Book Quran :
“Allah has promised to the believers, men and women, gardens under which rivers flow, to dwell therein, and beautiful mansions in gardens of everlasting bliss.” Holy Book Quran 9:72
“Never will I allow the loss of the work of any worker amongst you, male or female; you are of one another.” Quran 3:195
These verses show that reward is dependent upon one’s actions and not one’s gender. Gender does not play any part in how a person is rewarded and judged.
Equal Right to Knowledge
Both men and women in Islam are equally encouraged to seek knowledge. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said, “Education is compulsory for every Muslim.”
Also, great female Muslim Scholars existed at and around the time of the Prophet (peace be upon him). Some were from his family and others were his companions or their daughters. Prominent amongst them was Aisha, the wife of the Prophet (peace be upon him) through whom a quarter of the Islamic law has been transmitted.
Equal Right to Choose a Spouse
Women in Islam are honored 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.
Equal yet Different
While men and women in Islam have equal rights as a general principle, the specific rights and responsibilities granted to them are not identical. Men and women have complementary rights and responsibilities.
It would be foolish to treat both genders the same and to ignore their differences. Islam teaches that men and women have complementary, yet different, roles because it is best suited to their nature. God says:
“And the male is not like the female.” Holy Book Quran 3:36
“Does not the One who created, know? And He is the Most Kind, the All Aware.” Quran 67:14
The Family Unit
God created men and women to be different, with unique roles, skills and responsibilities. These differences are not viewed as evidences of superiority or inferiority, but of specialisation. In Islam, the family is of central importance. The man is responsible for the financial well-being of the family while the woman contributes to the family’s physical, educational and emotional well-being. This encourages cooperation rather than competition. By fulfilling their mutual responsibilities, strong families are created and hence strong societies.
Lofty Positions of Mothers & Daughters
A mother has the greatest influence on a child especially in the earlier years through her affection, care and love. Undoubtedly, the success of a society is due to mothers. Therefore, it is only right for Islam to honour and raise their status.
Allah says in the Holy Book Quran:
“And we have enjoined on man to be dutiful and kind to his Parents, His mother bears him with hardship and she brings him forth with hardship.” Quran 46:15
The Prophet (peace be upon him) was once asked, “O Messenger of Allah, who among people is most deserving of my good treatment?” He said, “Your mother.” The man asked twice more, “Then who?” and was given the same response. Only until the fourth time did the Prophet responds, “Then your father.” Reward is not only given to the good and kind treatment towards mothers. In fact, Islam has designated a special reward for raising daughters that is not granted for raising sons.
Conclusion
Before Islam, women were considered shameful, female children were buried alive, prostitution was rampant, divorce was only in the hands of the husband, inheritance was only for the strong, and oppression was widespread. Islam came and abolished these practices. Even now, in “developed countries”, women are not granted respect, dignity and honour, let alone equal pay for equal work. Islam, however, regards women as precious and valuable, not to be disrespected or disgraced. The mistreatment of women in some Middle-Eastern countries or Muslim families is due to cultural factors that some Muslims wrongly follow, not because of Islam.