Women in Islam
Islam teaches us ethics and humanity. Family, society, and even humankind is measured on the ethics scale. Differentiation in the gender is neither the drawback nor the credit for both genders. Before exploring the status of women in Islam, we should not forget that even men have guidelines, obligations, prosperity, and respect in Islam. Also, position, gender, status, intellectual level, beauty, and prosperity doesn’t make one respectable in Allah’s eyes. In Quran, Allah clearly says, “Verily, the most honorable of you with Allah is that (believer) who is at higher ranks of Taqwa.”. So. Taqwa is the ultimate way to gain respect and value in creators’ eyes.
You may also like to learn; Quotes from Quran.
Women- Before and After Islam
Before Islam, women had no respect. They were treated worse than animals. The Arabs used to burn their daughters alive. Women had no rights. They used to dance naked in Arab’s annual fairs. Women had no position; they were treated as objects. But Islam and the teaching of the Quran Kareem were revolutionary. Unlike other religions, Islam retrieved the rights of women. Islam teaches us those men and women are equally created from the single soul. In Quran, Allah says, “O humankind! revere your Guardian-Lord, who created you from a single soul, created, of like nature, its mate, and from the two, scattered (like seeds) countless men and women; – revere God, through whom ye demand your mutual (rights), and (revere) the wombs (That bore you): for God ever watches over you”. [Surah 4 Verse 1]
Rights of Working Women in Islam
In Islam, like men, women have various responsibilities. On the one hand, where men are responsible for earning the bread of the house, women are responsible for looking after the family and household chores. They are supposed to perform all the household chores, but that doesn’t mean women cannot work outside the house. There are even rights of working women in Islam. Women have the freedom to choose their profession and support their families financially. But while choosing the profession and working, they must remember that there are certain limitations to their safety. According to the situation and need, husband and wife can change their roles. Islam sheds light on spending a peaceful life and individuals fulfilling their responsibilities. Although Prophet Muhammad (P.B.U.H.) assigned all the inner tasks to his daughter Fatima and outer tasks to his son-in-law Ali, that doesn’t restrict women from working outside the house. Women are allowed to work outside in the profession of their own choice under different circumstances.
Women can work to support their families financially and even without any financial issues if they fulfill all the house responsibilities. Women have equal rights in business, commercial and financial fields. They have no restrictions, mainly because of being women. Working and earning money is promoted in Islam without discriminating between men and women. In Quran, Allah says, “To men is allotted what they earn, and to women what they earn, but ask Allah of His bounty.” [Qur’an, The Women (An-Nissa); 32]. In a nutshell, this is the misconception that women are not allowed to work outside in Islam. Women are allowed to work under various circumstances and limitations, and there are rights of working women in Islam.
What Is the True Importance of Women in Islam in Light of Sunnah and Hadith?
Inheritance
Before Islam, women were treated as objects. Women were not entitled to inheritance. A mother, daughter, sister, and wife didn’t have any right to inheritance. But Islam established the rights of women in inheritance. As per Islamic principles, six classes of persons have rights in the inheritance. Among these six classes, their classes are of men, who are father, husband, and son, and the other three are of women, which are daughter, wife, and mother. Women have the right to inheritance, and there are proper property distribution rules as per Shariah. Even parents can distribute equal property among men and women. Islam is the only religion that gives women the right to inheritance.
There is a hadith regarding the property’s share of a daughter, “We went out with the Messenger of Allah (S.A.W.) and came to a woman of the Ansar in al-Aswaf. The woman brought her two daughters and said: Messenger of Allah, these are the daughters of Thabit ibn Qays who was killed as a martyr when he was with you at the battle of Uhad, their paternal uncle has taken all their property and inheritance, and he has not left anything for them. What do you think, Messenger of Allah (S.A.W.)? They cannot be married unless they have some property. The Messenger of Allah (S.A.W.) said: Allah will decide regarding the matter. Then the verse of Surah an Nisa was revealed: Allah (thus) directs you as regards your children (inheritance). Messenger of Allah (S.A.W.) said: Call to me the woman and her husband’s brother. He then said to their paternal uncle: Give them two-thirds and their mother an eighth, and what remains is yours.”
Marriage
Allah has created men and women in pairs to reproduce and spend peaceful life together. In Quran, Allah says, “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. Undoubtedly in these are signs for those who reflect.” (30:21) Marriage is the right of all men and women as it preserves the future generation and satisfies sexual pleasure. Since having sexual pleasures is the instinct in biology. In Islam, women can choose their spouses by following the proper code of conduct. Even Hazrat Khadija married Prophet Muhammad (P.B.U.H.) as per her wish. Holy Prophet (P.B.U.H.) said, “The world and all things in the world are precious, but the most precious thing in the world is a virtuous woman. He once told the future khalif, ‘Umar: “Shall I not inform you about the best treasure a man can hoard? It is a virtuous wife who pleases him whenever he looks towards her and who guards herself when he is absent from her.”
Others
- Women have the right to take Mehr from their husbands at the time of marriage. The Mehr can be any property or money that a woman is entitled to.
- Before Islam, only men had a right to divorce. But under understated circumstances, women are allowed to take Khulah from their husbands. If all the practices to bring husband and wife together go vain, they are allowed to separate from each other. Holy Prophet (P.B.U.H.) said, “Of all things that Islam has permitted, divorce is the most hated by Allah.” (Abu Da’ud).
- Women have a right to seek and acquire knowledge.
- Women have a right to participate in political activities like men.
- Women have a right to choose their residence. And the husband must provide her wife with proper residence according to her wish.
What Quran says About the rights of women in Islam?
Let’s discuss what Quran says about the rights of women in Islam. Quran has given essential importance to women. To state women’s rights, Allah sent the whole Surah titled Surah e Nisa, talking about the rights and duties of women. Quran has clearly stated that men and women are born with the same soul. And upon doing good, both will enter heaven. In Quran, Allah says, “Enter into Paradise, you and your wives, with delight. (43:70)
Conclusion
Wrapping up, Islam protects women. There is a proper status of women in Islam. Women have been given equal rights as men but not identical. Before Islam, women had no respect. But Islam safeguarded women’s rights their status. From Quran, Sunnah, and Hadith, we can see the importance of women’s rights in Islam.