The woman is a mother and it is said that “Paradise lies under her feet”. A woman is also a daughter and sister, a woman is also a wife who is a source of comfort for her husband. Women make up half of society and they are responsible for the nurturing, guidance and reformation of the subsequent generations of men and women. It is the female who imbues principles and faith into the souls of the nation. A woman also has to study the Islamic teachings for her own personal guidance the same as the male. Allah says:
وَعَدَ ٱللَّهُ ٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ وَٱلْمُؤْمِنَتِ جَنَّتٍۢ تَجْرِى مِن تَحْتِهَا ٱلْأَنْهَرُ خَلِدِينَ فِيهَا وَمَسَكِنَ طَيِّبَةًۭ فِى جَنَّتِ عَدْنٍۢ ۚ وَرِضْوَنٌۭ مِّنَ ٱللَّهِ أَكْبَرُ ۚ ذَلِكَ هُوَ ٱلْفَوْزُ ٱلْعَظِيمُ
“God has promised the believers, men and women, Gardens with flowing rivers and nice homes in the Gardens of Eden. But the greatest pleasure is God’s continuous approval of them. That is the ultimate victory.” (Surah At-Tubah 9:72)
A woman’s responsibility in faith is exactly the same as that of a man. She is accountable for her
belief in Allah and the Prophet (SAW) even if her closest of kin, like her father, husband or brother disagrees with her in this. She must also call for the good and forbid evil in addition to being responsible for the well-being of the Muslim community. We must not forget that the woman has a noble and significant task entrusted to her by Allah, child-bearing and motherhood. Allah says:
يَٓأَيُّهَا ٱلنَّاسُ إِنَّا خَلَقْنَكُم مِّن ذَكَرٍۢ وَأُنثَىٰ وَجَعَلْنَكُمْ شُعُوبًۭا وَقَبَآئِلَ لِتَعَارَفُوٓا۟ ۚ إِنَّ أَكْرَمَكُمْ عِندَ ٱللَّهِ أَتْقَىٰكُمْ ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ عَلِيمٌ خَبِيرٌۭ
“O mankind! Lo! We have created you male and female, and have made you nations and tribes that ye may know one another. Lo! the noblest of you, in the sight of Allah, is the best in conduct. Lo! Allah is Knower, Aware.” (Surah Al-Hujurat 49:13)
Islam has given dignity and respect to Muslim women in society and in religion Islam that didn’t give in any other religion. Women have always played a vital role in human development, but a role that has largely been unsung and unrecognized. In very few cultures, until relatively recently, have women been acknowledged as having an equal role with men, and as having equal rights to participate in all social spheres.
Role of the Muslim woman in the social life of the community:
- A woman has equal access to public places and employment
- A woman has no discrimination on the basis of sex alone
- A woman certain rights cannot be suspended
- A woman participating in all spheres of life
- A woman has the right to have a property
- A woman has all the protection of the law
- A woman has the right to raise children
- A woman has the freedom of religion
- A woman has the right to freedom
- A woman has the right to security
- A woman utilize natural resources
- A woman has the right to health care
- A woman has the right to employment
- A woman has the right to live and exist
- A woman has all necessary for social life
- A woman has the right to seek knowledge
- A woman has the right to choose a spouse
- A woman has the right to opinions and beliefs
- A woman has the right to participate and associate
- A woman has the right to live in the presence of laws
Islam assigns a position of great honour to a mother. In the west, the common picture of a Muslim woman is the stereotype of a woman hidden behind a veil, a voiceless, silent figure, bereft of rights. It is a picture familiar to all of us, in large part because this is invariably how the western media portrays women in Islam. Allah says:
لِّلَّهِ مُلْكُ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ يَخْلُقُ مَا يَشَاءُ يَهَبُ لِمَن يَشَاءُ إِنَاثًا وَيَهَبُ لِمَن يَشَاءُ الذُّكُورَ
“To Allah (belongs the) dominion (of) the heavens and the earth. He creates what He wills. He grants to whom He wills females, and He grants to whom He wills [the] males.” (Surah Ash-Shura, 42:49)
In Islam, women have all sorts of rights. Considering women as lesser beings or subjugating them is not to be proven from any aspect of the Quran or hadith, rather they have rights that allow them to be a productive part of the society and be a practising Muslim as well.
Allah Almighty says in the Holy Quran:
- “God loves those who are kind.” (Quran 5:13)
- “And the male is not like the female.” (Quran 3:36)
- “Every soul will be (held) in pledge for its deeds.” (Quran 74:38)
- “They are your garments, and you are their garments.” (Quran 2:187)
- “Islam regards both men and women as equal in the sight of God from the spiritual side of view.” (Quran 4:124 )
- “Does not know (the One) Who created? And He (is) the Subtle, the All-Aware.” (Quran 67:14)
- ”Whoever does right, whether male or female, (all) such will enter the garden.” (Quran 40:40)
Women make up half of society and they are responsible for the nurturing, guidance and transformation of successive generations. Islam is the first religion that settled the rights of women as wives and associated the element of giving respect to them. Allah says:
قُل لِّلْمُؤْمِنِينَ يَغُضُّوا۟ مِنْ أَبْصَرِهِمْ وَيَحْفَظُوا۟ فُرُوجَهُمْ ۚ ذَلِكَ أَزْكَىٰ لَهُمْ ۗ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ خَبِيرٌۢ بِمَا يَصْنَعُونَ
“Tell believing men to lower their gaze and guard their private parts. That is purer for them. God is acquainted with what they do.” (Surah An-Nur 24:30)
Islam asserts the equality of men and women in their creation. Woman as mother commands great respect in Islam. Islam has an extensive tradition of protecting the civil liberties of women based on the guidelines set forth by Allah (SWT) and his beloved Prophet (SAW). Women are empowered with many rights and protections under Islamic law and are honoured with a dignified stature in society.
The True Importance of Women in Islam:
- She is entitled, as a wife, as sister and as a daughter
- She is entitled to inherit in her position as mother
- She has perfect liberty to choose her husband
- She can make any contract in her own name
- She is an esteemed member of society
- She can take part in politics
- She can have roles in the government
- She can enjoin the seeking of knowledge
- She can remain observant of her religion’s teachings
- She has the right to decide to say yes or no to marriage
- She has values in Islam and makes contributions in all field
Despite misconceptions, the status of women in Islam is that of a beloved equal. In the midst of a deeply sexist historical context, the Prophet (saw) preached boldly on the importance of women; celebrating their unique contributions to family and society, condemning the ill-treatment of women and campaigning for their rights. Allah says:
مَنْ عَمِلَ صَلِحًۭا مِّن ذَكَرٍ أَوْ أُنثَىٰ وَهُوَ مُؤْمِنٌۭ فَلَنُحْيِيَنَّهُۥ حَيَوٰةًۭ طَيِّبَةًۭ ۖ وَلَنَجْزِيَنَّهُمْ أَجْرَهُم بِأَحْسَنِ مَا كَانُوا۟ يَعْمَلُونَ
“Whoever does good deeds, whether man or woman-and is a believer, they will live a good life and will surely receive their reward in according with the best they have done.” (Surah An-Nahl 16:97)
Islam is the only religion that first gave the clear concept of the woman’s honour and the right place in front of the world, and the fortune of all the ignorant and brutally rituals that honour the woman And it was against the human position that the Shariah conservative described the woman’s supreme respect and respect for the importance of religion. Allah says:
إِن تُبْدُوا۟ خَيْرًا أَوْ تُخْفُوهُ أَوْ تَعْفُوا۟ عَن سُوٓءٍۢ فَإِنَّ ٱللَّهَ كَانَ عَفُوًّۭا قَدِيرًا
“Whether you reveal any good or hide it, or pardon any evil, God is Pardoning, Capable.” (Surat An-Nisa 4:149)
Allah has bestowed women with rights that are in perfect harmony with their natural attributes, capabilities, and physiology. There is no alternative ideology or man-made concept of women’s rights that can match the perfection of the rights that God, the Creator of everything, bestowed upon women. Allah says:
يَٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ ٱتَّقُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ وَكُونُوا۟ مَعَ ٱلصَّدِقِينَ
“Believers, remain mindful of God and be among those who are truthful.” (Surah At-Tubah 9:119)
Islam gives men and women the same treatment in attending congregational worship, celebration and gatherings. Islam sets the relationship between men and women in a form of fraternity and not in a form of strife or struggle as it was set in some of the feminist movements of today. Every Muslim, man or woman, should do his or her utmost to help their brothers and sisters. Allah says:
فَضْلًۭا مِّنَ ٱللَّهِ وَنِعْمَةًۭ ۚ وَٱللَّهُ عَلِيمٌ حَكِيمٌۭ
“(It is) a bounty and a grace from Allah; and Allah is Knower, Wise.” (Surah Al-Hujurat 49:8)
Muslim women should understand the rights and roles that Islam has given to them and then in light of those rights and roles, they must perform all the social and Islamic roles with absolute dedication and commitment. Islam is the complete way of life and a divine religion that is not lacking in any sense, let alone upholding women’s rights.
