womens right in islam

[umair]

this is an excerpt from the speech of an eminent muslim scholar,

plz,plz,plz i would request you to read it fully if you really want an insight knowledge about the topic.


According to the Oxford dictionary, ‘Women’s Rights are the rights, that promote a position of social and legal equality, of women to men’
According to the Oxford dictionary, ‘they are the rights, claimed for the women, equal to those of men, as regards to suffrage that right to vote, as regards to property, etc’.
‘Modernising’, according to the Oxford dictionary means, ‘to make modern, to adapt to modern needs or habits’.
And according to the Webster’s dictionary it means… ‘To make modern, or to give a new character or appearance - e.g., to modernise ones ideas’.
In short, modernising is a process of updating or opting for the betterment of the present status itself - It is not the present modern status itself.
Can we modernise ourselves, to master our problems, and to realize a new way of life, for the whole human race?
I am not concerned about the modern ideas, the conclusions and the categorical statements made by scientists and inexperienced armchair experts, as how a life should be lived by a woman.
I am going to base my conclusions and considerations on truth, which can be proved by experience
Experience and unbiased factual holistic analysis, are the sure test, between the gold of truth, and the glitter of theory.
We have to check our thinking against reality, otherwise many a times, our mental process will go astray - Indeed the great brains of one time, believed that the world was flat.
If we agree with the ‘Women’s rights in Islam’, as portrayed by the Western media, you have no option, but to agree that the ‘Women’s rights in Islam’ are outdated.
The Western talk of women’s liberation, is actually a disguised form of exploitation of her body, deprivation of her honour and degradation of her soul.
The Western society which speaks of upgrading the status of women in Islam, have actually reduced her status to concubines, to mistresses, to society butterflies, which are mere tools in the hands of sex marketers and pleasure seekers, which are disguised behind the colorful screen of art and culture.
Islam’s radical revolutionary support, gave women their due right and status in the days of ignorance… 1,400 years ago.
Islam’s objective was and continues to be, to modernise our thinking, our living, our seeing, our hearing, our feeling and striving for the women’s upliftment and emancipation in the society.
Before I dwell further with the topic, I would like you to make note of a few points.
The first point is that, ‘approximately one fifth of the world’s population, consists of Muslims’
There are different Muslim societies - Some may be close to Islam, some may be far away from Islam
The ‘Women’s rights in Islam’ should be judged according to the authentic sources, and not what individual Muslims do, or what the Muslim society does.

The authentic sources of Islam, are the Qur’an, which is the word of God, and the authentic Sunnah, and the traditions of our beloved Prophet (may peace be upon him).
Point number four - the Qur’an will never contradict itself, nor will the Shahih Hadith contradict itself… neither will these two authentic sources, contradict each other.

Point number five – ‘Sometimes the scholars differ, and many a times, these differences can be removed by analyzing the Qur’an as a whole, and not just by quoting one particular Verse’.
Because if one particular verse of the Qur’an if its ambiguous many a times the answer is given somewhere else in the Qur’an - Some people quote one source and neglect all the other sources.
And the last point is – ‘It is the duty of every Muslim, male or female, to seek the pleasure of Allah (SWT), and to act as His trustee on this world, and not to try and gain fame or satisfy one’s own ego.
Islam believes in equality of men and women – ‘Equality’ does not mean ‘Identicality’.
In Islam, the role of a man and woman… it is complimentary, it is not conflicting - It is that of a partnership - it is not contradictory, so as to strive for supremacy.
Where ‘Women’s rights in Islam’ is concerned, I have divided into 6 broad categories.
The first are ‘the Spiritual rights’, second are ‘the Economical rights’, third are ‘the Social rights’, fourth are ‘the Educational rights’, fifth are ‘the Legal rights’, and last are ‘the Political rights’.
Let us analyze ‘the Spiritual rights’ of women in Islam
The greatest misconception that the West has about Islam, is that they think… ‘Paradise in Islam, is only meant for the male - it is not meant for the female’.
This misconception can be removed by quoting from Surah Nisa, Ch. No. 4, Verse No 124, which says.
(Arabic)...
Which means – ‘If any of you do deeds of righteousness, whether it be male or a female and has faith, they shall surely enter Paradise and not the least injustice shall be done to them’
A similar thing is… a similar thing is repeated in Surah Nahl, Ch.16, Verse No.97 which says… ‘If any of you perform good deeds, be it a man or a women and is a believer, We shall give you good life and We should reward you for all your good works’ .
Just because in Islam, sex is not the criteria to enter Paradise… will you call such rights in Islam as modernising or outdated?
Another misconception is that, which the Western media has, that… ‘The woman has no soul’.
In fact, it was in the seventeenth century, when the Council of wise men… when they gathered at Rome, and they unanimously agreed that the woman had no soul.
In Islam, man and woman have the same spiritual nature, and that was clarified by our young Qari, Brother Ashraf Mohammedy, who recited the Verse from Surah Nisa, Ch.4, Verse No.1.
(Arabic)…
Which that… ‘O humankind reverence your guardian lord, who has created you from a single person and created like nature his mate’ .`
A similar thing is mentioned in Surah Nahl, Ch.16, Verse No.72, which says that… ‘We have made for you companions and mates of your own nature’
Again in Surah Al-Shura, Ch.42, Verse No.11, it says… (Arabic)…
‘He is the one who has created the heavens and the earth and has made for you pairs from among yourselves’
Just because the spiritual nature of a man and woman is the same in Islam, will you call such rights in Islam, as modernizing or outdated?
The Qur’an clearly mentions that… ‘Allah (SWT) has breathed somewhat of His spirit into the human beings’.
If you read Surah Hijr, Ch.15, Verse No.29, it says… ‘When I have fashioned you in due proportion and have breathed into you something of my spirit, fall ye down in obeisance’
A similar thing is repeated in the Qur’an, in Surah Sajdah, Ch. 32, Verse No.9, which says...
( Arabic)…
Means… ‘We have fashioned you in due proportion and have breathed into you something of My spirit’ .
Here, when Allah (SWT) refers to… ‘As something of My Spirit, is breathed into the human beings’ - it does not mean, a sort of incarnation or a pantheistic form.
It means that Allah has given to every human being something of His spiritual Nature, and the Knowledge of God Almighty, and coming closer towards Him
Here it refers to both Adam and Eve (may peace be upon them) - Both were breathed something of Allah (SWT)’S Spirit.
Again we read in the Qur’an, that Allah has appointed the human being as His vicegerent, as His trustee, as is mentioned in Surah Isra, Ch.17, Verse No.70, which says….
(Arabic)…
That… ‘We have honoured the children of Adam and bestowed on them special favours’.
Sorry… Here all the children of Adam have been honoured, male as well as female.
There are some Religious scriptures, for example the Bible, which puts the blame on Eve for the downfall of humanity.
In fact if you read the Qur’an in Surah Araf, Ch.7, Verse No.19 to 27, Adam and Eve (may peace be upon them both) are addressed, more than a dozen of times.
Both disobeyed God, both asked for forgiveness, both repented, and both were forgiven.
In the Bible, if you read Genesis, Ch. 3, only Eve is held responsible (May peace be upon her) for the downfall of humanity.
And according to the doctrine of ‘Original Sin’, because of Eve (may peace be upon her) the whole of humanity is born in sin.
If you read the Bible in Genesis, Ch. 3, Verse No.16, it states that the God of… ‘the Bible’ it is saying ‘Unto the woman you shall bear in conception and in sorrow shall you give birth and your desire shall be of your husband and he shall rule over you’
That means, pregnancy and child birth has been said in the Bible to degrade the women and the labour pain is a sort of punishment.
In fact if you read the Qur’an, pregnancy and child birth have uplifted the women.
If you read Surah Nisa, Ch.4, Verse No.1, it says… ‘Respect the womb that bore you’.
Its mentioned in Surah Luqman, Ch.31, Verse No.14, it says … (Arabic…).
That... ‘We have enjoined on the human being to be kind to the parents, in travail upon travail did their mother bore them and in years twain was their weaning’
A similar thing is mentioned in Surah Ahqaf, Ch.46, Verse No.15…
(Arabic)…
It again repeats, which says… ‘We have enjoined on the human beings to be kind to his parents’.
To be kind to the parents - in pain did their mother bore them, and in pain did she give them birth - Pregnancy in the Qur’an has uplifted the women not degraded her
Just because pregnancy has uplifted the women in Islam will you call such rights in Islam as modernizing or outdated?
The only criteria for judgment in the sight of Allah is ‘Taqwa’, ‘God consciousness’ or ‘righteousness’
It is mentioned in Surah Hujurat, Ch.49, Verse No.13 ‘O humankind, We have created you from a single pair of male and female and have divided you into nations and tribes, so that you shall recognize each other not that you despise each other and the most honored in the sight of Allah, is the one who is the most righteous’.
Sex, colour, caste, wealth has got no criteria in Islam - The only criteria in the sight of Allah it is ‘Taqwa’, neither is sex the criteria for Allah (SWT) to reward or to punish a person.
If you read Surah Imran Ch.3 Verse No.195 it says ‘I will never suffer the loss of any of you, be it male or female, you are companions unto each other’.
I had started my talk by quoting a verse from the Qur’an From Surah Al Ahzab, Ch.33, Verse No.35, which says
‘Innal Muslimeena Was Muslimati’ - ‘For Muslim men and Muslim women’
‘Wal maomineena Wamomiminati’ – ‘For believing men and women’
‘Wa Kaniteena Wakantaati’ – ‘For devout men and women’
‘Wa Saadikeena Wasaadkaati’ – ‘For true men and women’.
‘Wa Sabireena Wa Saabiraati’ – ‘For men and women who are patient and constant’.
‘Wa Musaddikeena Wamusadikaati’ – ‘Or men and women who give in charity’.
‘Wa Saaeemeena Wasaaimaati’ – ‘For men and women who fast and deny themselves’.
‘Wal hafizeena Furoojaheen Wa hafizati’ – ‘For men and women who guard their chastity’
‘Wa Zaakireenallahu Kasuraon Wazaakiraati’ – ‘For men and women who engage much in Allah’s (SWTala’s) praise’
And the verse ends by ‘Aradallahu Wa magfirataon Wa Airframe Azeena’ – ‘That for them Allah has prepared forgiveness and ample of reward’
This verse indicates that the spiritual duties, the moral duties, for the men and women in Islam are the same - Both have to believe, both have to pray, both have to fast, both have to give Zakat, etc, etc.
But the women has been given certain concession in Islam.
If she is undergoing her menstrual period or pregnancy, she does not have to fast - She can keep those fasts later on, when she is more healthy
In fact, during the menstrual period and during the postnatal period, she need not pray also - She has been given the concession, and neither does she have to compensate it later on.
Just because the moral duties of the men and women are equal in Islam will you call such rights in Islam as modernizing or outdated?



Let us analyze the Economical rights - Islam gave economical rights to the women 1,300 years before the West.
An adult Muslim woman can own, she can dispose or disown any of her property without consulting any one, irrespective whether she is married or she is single.
In 1870, it was the first time in England, that the West recognized the rights of the married woman, where she was allowed to own or dispose any of her property without consultation.
I do agree that the women were given their economical rights 1300 years ago - these are ancient rights - but the question is – ‘are they modernizing or outdated?’
A women in Islam, if she wishes to work she can work - There is no text in the Qur’an or the authentic Hadith which prevents or makes it prohibited for a woman to do any work, as long as it is not unlawful, as long as it is within the preview of the Islamic Shariah, as long as she maintains her Islamic dress code
But natural, she cannot take up jobs, which exhibit her beauty and body - Like for example, modeling and film acting, and such kind of jobs.
Many of the professions and jobs which are prohibited for the woman are also prohibited for the man, for example serving liquor.
For example working in gambling dens - For example doing any unethical or dishonest business - All these jobs are prohibited for both men and women.
A true Islamic society requires women to take up profession such as doctors.
We do require female Gynecologists - We do require female nurses - We do require female teachers
But, a woman in Islam has got no financial obligations - The financial obligation is laid on the shoulders of the man in the family - Therefore she need not work for her livelihood.
But in genuine cases, where there are financial crisis in which both the ends do not meet, she has the option of working
Here too, no one can force her to work - She works out of her own, absolute free will.

Besides the professions I mentioned, she can work in the house and take up tailoring, she can take up embroidery, she can do pottery, she can make baskets etc
She is also allowed to work in factories and small scale industries in which, which has been designed exclusively for the ladies.
She can work in places which have got separate sections- gents and ladies, because Islam does not agree with intermingling of the sex
She can also do business, and where it comes to doing transactions, where it involves interaction with a foreign male, with a Na-Mehram, she should do it through a father or a brother or husband or a son
And the best example I can give you is of Bibi Khadija (may Allah be pleased with her) who was the wife of our beloved Prophet (may peace be upon him)
She was one of the most successful business women of her times and she did the transaction through her husband, Prophet Muhammed may (May peace be upon him)
A woman in Islam has been given more financial security, as compared to the man.

As I told you earlier, she… the financial obligation is not put on her shoulder - It is put on the shoulder of the man in the family
It is the duty of the father or the brother, before she is married and the duty of the husband or the son, after she is married to look after her lodging, boarding, clothing and financial aspects of her.
When she gets married, she is on the receiving end.
She receives a gift - she receives a dower or a marital gift, which is called as ‘Meher’.

And it is mentioned in the Qur’an in Surah Nisa, Ch.4 Verse No.4 which says…. (Arabic)…
‘Give to the woman in dower, a marital gift’ .
For a marriage to solemnize in Islam, ‘Meher’ is compulsory.
But unfortunately in our Muslim society here, we just keep a nominal ‘Meher’ to satisfy the Qur’an, say 151 Rupees, or some people give 786 Rupees and they spend lakhs and lakhs of Rupees on the reception, on the decoration, on the flowers, on the lunch parties, on the dinner parties.
In Islam, there is no - there is no lower-limit, nor is there an upper limit for ‘Meher ’ - But when a person can spend lakhs of Rupees on the reception, surely the ‘Meher ’ should be much more.
There are various cultures which have crept into the Muslim societies, specially in the Indo-Pak area
They give a small amount of ‘Meher ’ and they expect the wife to get a fridge, to get a T.V set, they expect the wife to give a flat, to get a car, etc., and a large sum of dowry, depending upon the status of the husband
If he is a graduate, they may accept - they may expect 1 lakh - If he is an engineer they may expect 3 lakhs- If he is a doctor they may expect 5 lakhs.
Demanding dowry… a husband demanding dowry from the wife, directly or indirectly is prohibited in Islam.
If the parents of the girl give the girl something out of their own free will, it is accepted - But demanding or forcing directly or indirectly, it is prohibited in Islam
If a Woman works, which she does not have to - whatever earning she gets, it is absolutely her property.
She need not spend a single penny on the household - if she wants to spend it is her free will.
Irrespective how rich the wife is, it is the duty of the husband to give lodging, boarding, clothing and look after the financial aspects of the wife.
In case of divorce or if a wife gets widowed, she is given financial support for the period of ‘Iddah’ - and if she has children, she is also given child support
Islam gave the right to the women to inherit, centuries ago.
If you read the Qur’an - in several verses, in Surah Nisa, in Surah Baqarah and in Surah Maidah, it is mentioned that a woman irrespective, she is a wife or she is a mother, or a sister, or a daughter, she has a right to inherit - And it has been fixed by Allah (SWT) in the Qur’an.




Let us go further and analyze the social rights of a women in Islam.
Broadly it can be categorized into four sub-headings… Social rights given to a daughter, to a wife, to a mother and to a sister.
Coming to the social rights given in Islam, to a daughter - Islam prohibits, female infanticide - The killing of female children is forbidden in Islam
It is mentioned in Surah Taqveem, Ch. 81, Verse No. 8 and 9, ‘when the female child is buried alive and when she questions you, for what crime was she killed’.
Not only female infanticide has been prohibited, all sorts of infanticides has been prohibited in Islam, whether it be a male child or a female child.
It is mention in the Qur’an in Surah A’nam Ch.6, Verse No.151 that, ‘Kill not your children for want of sustenance for it is Allah that will provide sustenance for you and for children’
A similar thing is mentioned in Surah Isra, Ch.17 Verse No.31 which says… ‘Kill not your children for want of sustenance, for it is Allah that will provide sustenance to you and your children, for killing of children is a major sin’.
In the pre-Islamic Arabia, whenever a female child was born mostly she was buried alive.
Alhamdullillah, after the spread of Islam this evil practice has been discontinued.

But unfortunately it still continues in India - According to a BBC report, in the programe assignment the title of which was ‘Let Her Die’, there was a British reporter by the name of Emily Beckenen, who came all the way from Britain to India to give us the statistics of the female infanticide.

In that programe, it gives the statistics, that every day more than 3,000 fetuses are being aborted on being identified that they are females
If you multiply this figure by the number of days, that is multiplied by 365, you get a figure of more than one million female fetuses are being aborted every year in our country.
And there are big hoarding and posters in states like TamilNadu and Rajasthan, which says spend 500 Rupees and save 5 lakh Rupees
What does it mean? - That spend Rupees 500 on medical examination like Aminocententus or Ultra Sonography, and identify that the child the mother is carrying
If it is a female you can abort it and you’ll save 5 lakh Rupees - How?
The couple of lakhs you spend on upbringing her and the remaining lakhs of Rupees you spend on giving dowry
According to the report of the government hospital of Tamil Nadu – ‘out of every 10 female children that are born, four are put to death’ - No wonder the female population in India is less than the male population
Female infanticide was continuing in our country since centuries - If you analyze the statistics of the 1901 census, for every 1000 males there were 972 females
According to the 1981 statistics and census, it tells you for every 1000 males you have 934 females
And the latest statistics of 1991 tells you that for every 1000 males you have 927 females
You can analyze that the female ratio is dropping every year - And since science and medicine has advanced, it has helped in this evil practice
Just because Islam tells you that you should not kill any children whether it be male or female will you call these rights in Islam as modernizing or outdated?
Islam not only prohibits killing of infant children, it also prohibits, and it rebukes you on rejoicing on the birth of a male child and you getting saddened on the news of a female child.
If you read Surah Nahl, Ch.16, Verse No.58 & 59, it tells you that… ‘when news is brought to one of them of a birth of a female child his face darkens and is filled with inward grief’.
He hides himself in shame from his people because of the news he has received.
Should he let her live in suffering or should he bury her in dust - Ah! what a evil choice they have
Qur’an not only prohibits female infanticide, it rebukes at the thought of you rejoicing at the birth of a male child and getting saddened at the birth of a female child
In Islam, a daughter should be brought up correctly
And according to a Hadith in ‘Ahmed’, the Prophet (may peace be upon him) he said ‘Anyone who brings up two daughters properly, they will be like this to me on the day of judgment’ – Means, ‘will be very close to me on the day of judgment’
And there’s another Hadith which says, that ‘Anyone who up brings 2 daughters properly and takes good care and brings them up with love and affection, they will enter Paradise’
In Islam, there should be no partiality in upbringing of the daughters or the son.
According to a Hadith, of our beloved Prophet it said that, ‘In the presence of the Prophet, once a man kissed his son and placed him on his lap but did not do the same to his daughter.
The Prophet immediately objected and said that you are unjust - You should have even kissed your daughter and placed her on the other lap’.
Prophet Muhammed (may peace be upon him) he did not only speak about justice, he also practiced it.


Let us analyze, the rights of a wife in Islam.
All the previous civilizations, they have considered the women to be an ‘instrument of the devil’.
The Qur’an refers to the women as ‘Mohsana’, that is a ‘fortress against the devil’.
And if a woman, who’s good, marries a man, she prevents him from going on the wrong path and keeps him on the ‘Siratulmustakeem’ – that is the correct path.
There’s a Hadith in which Prophet Muhammed (may peace be upon him) he said that, ‘there is no monasticism in Islam’ .
And again according to Sahih Bukhari, Volume No. 7, Ch. No. 3 Hadith No 4 it says that ‘the Prophet ordained the young men, all those who have the means to marry, they should marry - For it will help them to lower their gaze and guard their modesty.
There is another Hadith related by Anas, in which the Prophet said… ‘Any one who marries completes half his deen’.
Once somebody asked me, that… ‘does it imply that if I marry twice I will be completing my full deen?’
The person misunderstood the message of the Prophet.
When the Prophet said that… ‘When you marry you complete half your deen’ - It means that when you marry it shields you from promiscuity, it shields you from fornication, it shields you from homosexuality, which lead to half the sin in this world
Only when you marry, do you have opportunity to become husband or a wife - Only when you marry do you have opportunity to become a father or a mother
And the duties of the mother and the father and that of a husband and wife are very important in Islam
So it makes no difference whether a man marries once twice or thrice or four times - He yet completes only half his deen.
The Qur’an say’s that… ‘We have put love into the hearts of the husband and wife’ .

If you read Surah Rum, Ch. 30, Verse No. 21 it says that… ‘And amongst our signs We have created for you mates or companions, so that you may dwell in them in tranquillity and we have put love and mercy between your hearts’.
According to Surah Nisa, Ch.4, Verse No.21, marriage is considered as a misaq, a sacred agreement, a sacred contract.
According to Surah Nisa, Ch.4, Verse No.19, it says… ‘You are prohibited to inherit women against their will’ - Means, to marry the permission of both the parties are required.
It is compulsory that the man and women both should agree to marry No one - not even the father can force their daughter to marry against her wishes.
There’s a Hadith in Sahih Bukhari, Volume No. 7, Ch. No. 43, Hadith No. 69, which says ‘that a lady she was forced by her father to marry against her wishes’ - And she went to the Prophet and the Prophet invalidated the marriage’
Another Hadith in Ibn-e-Humbal, Hadith No. 2469, it says ‘that a daughter was forced by her father to get married - And when the daughter approached the Prophet, the Prophet said you can either continue, or if you wish you can invalidate the marriage.
That means, the consent of both the male and the female is required
In Islam, a women is considered as a homemaker - She is not considered as a housewife, because she is not married to the house
Many people use terminology, without understanding what it means – ‘Housewife’ means ‘your the wife of the house’
So I believe, from now onwards the sisters would prefer calling themselves ‘homemakers’, than ‘house wives’, if they are occupied more in the home
In Islam, a woman, she is not married to a master that she should be treated like a slave - She is married to it is equal
And there is a Hadith which says in Ibn-Hambal - Hadith No 736, 7396.
- It says that… ‘the most perfect of the believers are those that are best in character and behavior, and those that are best to their family and their wives’.
Islam gives equal rights to the man and woman and as mentioned by the honorable justice M. M. Kazi, that Qur’an clearly mentions that men and women, husband and wife have equal rights in all aspects.

It is mentioned in the Qur’an in Surah Baqarah Ch.2, Verse No.228.
- It says that… ‘the women have been given rights similar against them on equitable terms but the men have a degree higher’
Muslims have misunderstood this verse, when it says ‘a men have a degree higher’ - As I said we should analyze the Qur’an as a whole.
And its mentioned in Surah Nisa, Ch. 4, Verse No.34 which says - (Arabic…).
‘The men are the protectors and maintainers of the women, for Allah (SWT) has given one of them more strength than the other and they give them their means’
People say the word ‘Kawwam’ means, ‘one degree higher in superiority’ - But actually the word ‘Kawwam’ comes from the root word ‘Ikamah’
‘Ikamah’ means for example ‘when you give the Ikamah before prayers - You stand up’.
So ‘Ikamah’ means to standup - so the word ‘Kawwam’ means one degree higher in responsibility, not one degree higher in superiority.
Even if you read the commentary of ‘Ibne-Kathir’ - He says that the word ‘Kawwam’ means one degree higher in responsibility, not one degree higher in superiority.
And this responsibility, should be carried out by mutual consent of both husband and wife.
It is mentioned in Surah Baqarah, Ch.2, Verse No.187, which says - (Arabic )
Which means… ‘Your wives are your garments, and you are their garments’
What’s the objective of garments - It is used to conceal and to beautify
The husband and wife, should conceal each others faults, and they should beautify each other - Its a relationship of hands and gloves
The Qur’an mentions that… ‘even if you do not like your wife, you should treat her kindly’.
It is mentioned in Surah Nisa, Ch.4, Verse No.19, that… ‘Treat your wives on a footing of equity and kindness even if you dislike her - For you may be disliking a thing for which Allah has made good for you’.
Even if you dislike your wife you have to treat her kindly and with equity
Just because the rights of a wife are equal to those of the husband in Islam, will you call such rights in Islam as modernizing or outdated?



Let us analyze the rights of a Mother
The only thing above respect to Mother, is the worship of Allah (SWT) - It is mentioned in Ch.17, Verse No.28-29
It says that… ‘Allah has ordained for you - that Allah has ordained for you, that you worship none but Him, and to be kind to our parents
And if any one or both of them reach old age do not say a word of contempt or repel them but address them with honour, and speak to them with kindness, and lower your wing of humility and pray to Allah (SWT) -‘My Lord, bless them as they have cherished me in childhood’
Surah Nisa, Ch. No. 4, Verse No. 1 says… ‘Respect the womb that bore you’.
Surah A’nam, Ch.6, Verse No.151, says… (Arabic)…
That… ‘You have to be kind to your parents’.
Again in Surah Luqman Ch.31, Verse No.14
It again says the same thing that… (Arabic)…
‘We have enjoined on the human beings to be kind to his parents
In travail upon travail, did their mother bore them and in years twain was their weaning’
A similar thing is repeated again in Surah Ahqaf, Ch.46, Verse No.15
(Arabic…).
That… ‘We have enjoined on the human beings to be kind to his parents
In pain did their mother bore them and in pain did she give them birth’.
According to a Hadith related in ‘Ahmed’, as well as in ‘Ibn-e-Majah’ - It says ‘Paradise lies at the feet of the mother’.
That does not mean that if my mother is walking on the road and if she steps on muck and filth - that thing becomes Paradise
It means that after you fulfill your basic duties, if you respect your mother, if you are kind to your mother, If you are honorable to your mother, you will Inshaallah enter Paradise.

Another Hadith related in Sahih Bukhari in Volume 8, Ch. No. 2 Hadith No. 2, as well as in Sahih-Muslim - It says that a man asked the Prophet… ‘Who requires the maximum love and respect and my companionship in this world?
The Prophet replied – ‘your mother’
‘Who is next’? – ‘your mother’
‘Who is next?’ – ‘your mother’
The man asked for the fourth time, - ‘Who is next’
The Prophet replied ‘your father’
75% of the love and respect goes to the mother, and 25% of the love and respect goes to the father

Three fourth of the better part of the love and respect goes to the mother – One fourth of the remaining part of the love and respect goes to the father
In short, the gold medal goes to the mother, the silver medal goes to the mother, the bronze medal goes to the mother and the father may be he gets the consolation prize.
I am very happy that my brothers have appreciated it - Otherwise normally I always apologize, that if I have hurt the feelings of my brothers, I am sorry – That is what Islam tells me
But, I’m glad, that my brothers here, they have appreciated Islam,
Al-hamdullillah


Let us analyze the rights of the sisters in Islam
According to Surah Tawbah, Ch. 9, Verse No.71, it says... (Arabic)…
That… ‘The men and the women they are maintainers and supporters of each other’
The word ‘Auliya’ here means ‘supporters’ and ‘maintainers’ - they are sup¬porters and maintainers of each other
In short they are brothers and sisters unto each other, unless otherwise
Prophet Muhammed (may peace be upon him) he said, ‘The women are the ‘Shakat’ -‘Shakat’ means sister’
It also means ‘half’, as humankind has been divided into two halves - men and women - It refers to as ‘half’, also as ‘sisters’
There are so many social rights that we can, that we can speak for weeks together.



Now let us analyze the Educational rights given to the women in Islam
The first 5 verses which were revealed of the Qur’an Shareef were from Surah Alaq, or Surah Iqra, Ch. 96, Verse No. 1 to 5 which says - (Arabic…)
‘Read, recite or proclaim in the name of thy lord, (Arabic…) Who has created the human beings from a congealed clot of blood, a leech like substance
(Arabic…) - Read, thy Lord is most bountiful
(Arabic…) - Who has taught the use of the pen
(Arabic…) - Who has taught the human beings that which he knew-not’.
The first guidance given in the Qur’an Shareef to the humankind was not to pray, was not to fast, was not to give charity - It was read - Islam pays utmost importance to education.

The Prophet ordained the parents, the father and the mother, to see to it that they gave Religious education to their daughter
And after a lady married, it was the duty of the husband to pro¬vide her with the Religious education
If he couldn’t do it himself, and if she wanted, he should allow her to go somewhere else to acquire the education
According to Sahih Bukhari, the women were very enthusiastic to acquire knowledge, and they once told the Prophet… ‘You are usually surrounded by men - why do not you give us one particular day so that we too can ask you questions’ - And the Prophet agreed.
Beside he himself going, he sent many other of his Sahabas to the women, to give them education
Imagine, 1400 years ago, when the women were ill treated and were only used as cattels - leave aside being educated, Islam asked the women to be educated
We have examples of several Muslim women who are scholars
And the best example I can give you is of Bibi Aaisha (may Allah be pleased with her), who was the daughter of Hazrat Abubaker, the first Khalifa of Islam, (may Allah be pleased with him), and the wife of our beloved Prophet Muhammed (may peace be upon him)
She gave guidance even to the Sahabas and to the Khalifas - One of her famous student Urwah-Ibn-Zubair
She said that… ‘I have not seen a greater scholar than Ayaisha in the field of learning of the Qur’an, in obligatory duties, in lawful and unlawful matters, in literature and poetry, in Arab history’
She was not only expert in the Religious field, she had profound knowledge of medicine - Whenever the foreign delegates came to the Prophet and discussed, she used to memorize the remedies
She was well versed in the field of math, and many times the companions came to her to ask problems of ‘Mirath’ that is, ‘Inheritance’ - And how much share could be divide how much share should be given to the each individual
She has - she is said to have guided all the four Khalifas, including the companions.

And she also gave guidance, many a times to Abu Huraira (may Allah be pleased with him) and she herself has narrated 2210 Hadiths.
According to AbuUmm... according to Abu Moosa, who was a famous Jurist, he said that… ‘Whenever we companions had lack of knowledge on a matter, we went to Hazrat Ayaisha (May Allah be pleased with her), and definitely she had knowledge about it’.
She is said to have taught more than 88 scholars - In short, she was a scholar of the scholars.
There are several examples, even of Safiya (may Allah be pleased with her) who was the wife of the Prophet, who was an expert on Fiqah Islamic Jurisprudence.
And according to Imam an Nouvi ‘She was the most intellectual women of that time’.

Another example is Umme - Salma (may Allah be pleased with her) who was the wife of the beloved Prophet
According to Ibn Hajar… ‘She has taught 32 differ¬ent scholars’.
There are several examples - Fatima-Binte-Kais, she is said to have a discussion on Fiqh, for a full day with Hazrat Ayaisha and Hazrat Umar (may Allah be pleased with them both), and still they could not prove her wrong
According to Imam an Nauvi, ‘she migrated in the early days and she had profound knowledge’
Other examples like Umme Salim, who was the mother of Anas - she is said to be very well versed in the field of Dawah.
Other examples are Saeeda Nafisa, who was the grand daughter of Hasan and she also said to have taught Imam Shafi, who was the founder of the one of schools of thought.

There are several examples - Even Umme-Ad-darda, who was the wife of Abul -Ad-darda, she is said be an expert in science
And even Imam Bukhari has said that she was an expert in her field - You can give several examples
At the time when the women were ill treated, at the time when women were buried alive, when they were born, at that time Islam had women scholars, in the field of medicine, in the field of science, in the field of Religion
Because Islam tells that every woman should be educated, - Will you call such women’s right’s in Islam as modernizing or oudated?




Let us discuss the legal rights given to a woman in Islam
According to the Islamic law, men and women are equal - The Shariah protects the life and property of a man and woman both.
If a man murders a woman he too will receive the ‘Hurth’ punishment – That is Capital punishment of ‘Kisas’
According to Surah Baqarah Ch. 2, Verse No.178 and 179, ‘he too shall be killed’.

Like wise if a woman murders, she too will be killed
According to the Islamic law of ‘Kisas’, men and women - irrespective the injury be of the eye, of the nose, of the ear, of the body - both receive equal punishment
And if the guardian of the murderer, even it be a woman - If she says, that forgive the murderer and she accepts ‘Dia’, that is compensation - her opinion cannot be rejected - They have to accept it
And if there’s difference of opinion between the relatives of the person whose murdered - And some say that the murderer should be killed and some say that he should be forgiven and ‘Dia’ should be accepted - people should prevent the relatives from killing that murderer.
And irrespective whether the witness or the opinion is given by a man or woman, it has same weight.
According to Surah Maida, Ch.5, Verse No.30 - It says… ‘As to the thief, whether he be man or a woman, cut off his or her hand as a punishment for his crime, an example from Allah (SWT)’.
Means, if a person robs, irrespec¬tive whether he is a man or a woman his or her hands should be chopped - The punishment is the same
According to Surah Nur, Ch.24, Verse No.2, it says ‘If any commits fornication, be it a man or a woman, flog them with 100 stripes’
The punishment for fornication in Islam irrespective whether it is a man or a woman, it is the same - Flogging with 100 stripes.
The punishment for men and women, is the same in Islam.
In Islam a woman is allowed to give witness
Imagine, Islam gave right to a woman to be a witness, 14 centuries ago
Even now in as late as 1980, the Jewish Rabai, they are considering, they were considering that whether the women should be given a right to act as a witness or not - And Islam gave that right 1400 years ago
Accord¬ing to Surah Nur, Ch.24, Verse No.4, it is said ‘If any of you put a charge against the chastity of a woman, produce 4 witnesses, and if they falter, flog them with 80 stripes’
In Islam for a small crime, you require 2 witness - for a big crime you require 4 witnesses
Accusing a woman falsely is a big crime in Islam, therefore you require 4 wit¬nesses.
Now a days you see in the modern society, you find men abusing women and calling them all sorts of name. They call them prostitutes etc, and what nothing is done
In a Islamic State, if a man calls her a ‘prostitute’ in public or anywhere else, and if she takes that man to court - And if that man cannot produce 4 witnesses or even if he produces 4 witnesses and any one of them falter, all of them will receive 80 lashes each, and in future all their evidence will be rejected
Islam gives utmost importance to the chastity of the woman
When a lady marries, she normally adopts the name of her husband
In Islam she has the option of either keeping her husband’s name, either adopting the name of the husband, or maintain¬ing her maiden name
And maintaining the maiden name is recommend¬ed in Islam - And we find in several Muslim societies that women, even after they get married they maintain their maiden name, because accord¬ing to the Islamic law men and women are equal
Will you call such rights in Islam modernizing or oudated?




Let us analyze the polit¬ical rights
According to Surah Tawba, Ch.9, Verse No.71, which I quoted earlier, which says.
(Arabic…).
Which says… ‘The men and the women they are supporters of each other’.


Supporters not only Socially - even Politically – Politically, men and women should support each other
Islam gives women the right to vote
If you read Surah Al Mumtahina, Ch.60, Verse No.12, it says that… ‘O Prophet when the believing women come to thee with an oath of fealty’.
Here, the Arabic word is ‘Bayan’ - And ‘Bayan’ means much more than our modern, present day election, - because Prophet Muhammed (may peace be upon him), he was not only the messenger of Allah, but he was also the head of the state
And women came to the Prophet and they agreed with him being the head of the state.

So Islam gives the woman even the right to vote
Women can even take part in law making
And according to the famous Hadith in which Hazrat Umar (may Allah be pleased with him), he was discussing with the Sahabas, and considering putting an upper limit on the ‘Meher ’, since young men were discouraged from getting married - a lady from the back seat she objected and said When the Qur’an says in Surah Nisa Ch.4, Verse No.20 that… ‘you can even give a heap of treasure, a heap of gold in ‘Meher’, when Qur’an puts no limit on ‘Meher’, who is Umar to put a limit (may Allah be pleased with him)
And immediately Hazrat Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) he said… ‘Umar is wrong and the lady is right’
Imagine, she was a common lady - If it would have been a famous lady, the name of the lady would be mentioned in the Hadith
Since the Hadith does not mention the name of the lady, we can understand that the lady was a common lady
Means, even a common lady can object to the ‘Khalifa’, the head of the state
And in technical terms it would be called that – ‘she is objecting to the breach of the constitution’,- because Qur’an is the constitution of the Muslims - That means a woman can even take part in law making
Women have even taken part in the battle fields
There is a full chapter in the Sahih Bukhari mentioning women in the battle field - Women gave water - they give first aid to the soldiers
And there is a particu¬lar mention of a woman by the name of Nasiba, who were among the few, who protected our beloved Prophet during the battle of Ohud
Because the Qur’an says ‘Man is the protector of the ‘Woman’
Under normal circumstances, the women should not go to the battle field. It is the duty of the man
Only when required, under necessity are women allowed - and they should go to the battle field - Otherwise no
Otherwise you’ll have the same position as you are having in the USA.
There... women were allowed to join the battle since 1901 but they were not allowed to take active part - They only played the part of a nurse
Later on after the ‘Feminist Movement’ had started in 1973, the ‘Feminist movement’ demand¬ed – ‘Why aren’t women allowed to take active part in the battle field?’

So the American government allowed - After 1976 women, were allowed to take active part in the battle field
And last year according to a report of the defense department, of the defense de¬partment of America, which was released on the 23rd of April, 1993 it said that - ‘90 people were sexually assaulted in a convention, of out which out of which 83 were women and 117 officers were charged with in disciplinary action’ - Imagine in one convention only, 83 women sexually assault¬ed.
What was the crime of those 117 officers?
They made the women run and they snatched at their clothes - They made them parade absolutely nude without even covering the genital parts - They were made to have sex in public
Is this what you call ‘Women’s rights’?
If you think that this is what is ‘Women’s right’, then you can keep your rights to yourselves
We do not want our sisters, our daughters our mothers to be sexually assaulted.
And there was a uproar in the parliament and the President, Bill Clinton - he him¬self had to apologize - publicly apologize and he said… ‘Necessary action will be taken’
And you know when politicians say ‘necessary ac¬tion will be taken, what happens.
So Islam allows women to take part in the battle field only when required
But there also they should maintain their Islamic Hijab and the Islamic ethics, and their modesty.
Before I conclude my talk, I’d like to give an example
As I said in the beginning of my talk, Islam believes in equality between men and women - Equality does not mean identicality.
Suppose in a classroom 2 students, student ‘A’ and ‘B’, during an examination both come out first - Both secure 80% marks - 80 out of 100
Out of the hundreds of students, 2 come out first ‘A’ and ‘B’
When you analyze the question paper, the question paper has 10 differ¬ent questions, each carrying 10 marks.
In question 1 student ‘A’ got 9 out of 10, and student ‘B’ got 7 out of 10 - So in question 1 student ‘A’ was higher than student ‘B’.
In question 2, student ‘A’ got 7 out of 10 and student ‘B’ got 9 out of 10,
- Student ‘B’ was higher than student ‘A’ in question number 2.
In question 3 both of them got 8 out of 10, both were equal
So when we add up the marks of all the ten questions, both student ‘A’ and ‘B’ got 80 out of 100
So in short, student ‘A’ and student ‘B’ are over all equal
In some question ‘A’ is higher than ‘B’, in some question ‘B’ is higher than ‘A’, in others both are equal
In the same fashion, taking the example that since Allah has given man more strength - Suppose a thief enters the house will you tell, ‘I believe in women’s rights - I believe in women’s rights’ - will you tell your mother, your sister and your daughter, to go and fight the thief?’
No, but natural you’ll fight him - If required they may interfere - under normal circumstances since Allah has given you more physical strength, you have to go and tackle the thief.
So here, in physical strength, man is one degree higher than the woman
Let us take another example where… where it comes to giving respect to the -where it comes to respecting the parents - The children are supposed to respect the mother 3 times more than the father.
Here the women have one degree higher than the men - Over all both equal
So Islam believes in equality, not identically - Men and women are over all equal in Islam.


After this what the Muslim society did is different - Many of the Muslim societies did not give the women their rights and they deviated away from the Qur’an and the Sun¬nah.

The Western society is largely responsible for this - because of the Western societies, many Muslim societies have become over protective, over precautions and have gone to one extreme and deviated away from the Qur’an and the Sunnah.
On the other extreme, some of the Muslim societies upgrade with the Western culture, and followed their culture.
I want to tell the Western society that if you analyze the women’s rights in Islam according to the Qur’an and the Sunnah - you will realize it is modernizing and not outdated

Wa aakhirudda-waana Anilhamdulillahi Rabbil Aalamin

[Fallibleone]

A man is allowed to marry more than one wife… why is not a woman allowed to marry more than one husband?
Firstly you should realise, that man is more sexual than the woman. Point number 2… Biologically, a man can perform his duty as a husband, even after he has more than one wife… which a woman, if she has more than one husband, she will not be able to perform her duty, as a wife, enough and satisfactorily. Medical Science tells us that… ‘The lady… during her menstrual period, undergoes certain behavioral and psychological changes… in which she is mentally disturbed and therefore… the majority of the quar¬rels, the majority of the quarrels that takes place… during the menstrual period. Accord¬ing to a report of the criminal record of the women in USA, most of the ladies that committed the crime, was during the menstrual period. Therefore for a wife, if she has more than one husband, to mentally adjust will be more difficult. Medical science also tells us… ‘If a lady has more than one husband, she has chances of acquiring sexually transmitted diseases, as well as venereal diseases - and she can transmit it back to the husband… which is not the case if a husband, has more than one wife.

Have you ever met a woman, umair?

[carolineislands]

Firstly you should realise, that man is more sexual than the woman.

:rofl!!:

Point number 2… Biologically, a man can perform his duty as a husband, even after he has more than one wife… which a woman, if she has more than one husband, she will not be able to perform her duty, as a wife, enough and satisfactorily.

My first inclination was to make a joke out of this and then I realized how very sad it really is. This is just more proof of the damage that Islam does to both women AND men. Sir, you don't know the first thing about female sexuality. And the sad part is that you never will. There are men all over this world that know things you will never know and experience things you will never experience because you tyrannize and mutilate your women to the point that you never have to find the courage it would take for you to see the true power and passion of female sexuality. Consequently, you never fully realize your own.

Medical Science tells us that… ‘The lady… during her menstrual period, undergoes certain behavioral and psychological changes… in which she is mentally disturbed and therefore… for a wife, if she has more than one husband, to mentally adjust will be more difficult. Medical science also tells us… ‘If a lady has more than one husband, she has chances of acquiring sexually transmitted diseases, as well as venereal diseases - and she can transmit it back to the husband… which is not the case if a husband, has more than one wife.

Well Umair, I am so glad you started this thread and have so thoroughly enlightened us as the issue of WOMEN'S RIGHTS IN ISLAM.

[carolineislands]

Firstly you should realise, that man is more sexual than the woman.

:rofl!!:

Point number 2… Biologically, a man can perform his duty as a husband, even after he has more than one wife… which a woman, if she has more than one husband, she will not be able to perform her duty, as a wife, enough and satisfactorily.

My first inclination was to make a joke out of this and then I realized how very sad it really is. This is just more proof of the damage that Islam does to both women AND men. Sir, you don't know the first thing about female sexuality. And the sad part is that you never will. There are men all over this world that know things you will never know and experience things you will never experience because you tyrannize and mutilate your women to the point that you never have to find the courage it would take for you to see the true power and passion of female sexuality. Consequently, you never fully realize your own.

Medical Science tells us that… ‘The lady… during her menstrual period, undergoes certain behavioral and psychological changes… in which she is mentally disturbed and therefore… for a wife, if she has more than one husband, to mentally adjust will be more difficult. Medical science also tells us… ‘If a lady has more than one husband, she has chances of acquiring sexually transmitted diseases, as well as venereal diseases - and she can transmit it back to the husband… which is not the case if a husband, has more than one wife.

Well Umair, I am so glad you started this thread and have so thoroughly enlightened us on the issue of WOMEN'S RIGHTS IN ISLAM.

[Pazuzu bin Hanbi]

Muslims quickly point out the strides Islam made in giving women more rights than they had before. Unfortunately this didn’t prove all that much, as already discussed, and we have to remember that these rights took place around 1,400 years ago!

Step out of the past, man, and look at all the various muslim states and nations we have now: what rights do they accord women?

Muslims continually harp on about past glories. All well and great, but it invariably points to the culture reaching a ندير (nadir) in the here & now.

[Fallibleone]

This is simply one of the funniest things I have ever read. I'd probably be outraged if I could just stop laughing for one second, umair. By the way, were you aware that men sometimes experience mood swings due to their hormones?

http://news.independent.co.uk/health/article17296.ece

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/1844648.stm

It seems that men are often 'mentally disturbed' too. I wonder how many male murderers committed their crimes during one of their 'moods'.

[carolineislands]

This is simply one of the funniest things I have ever read. I'd probably be outraged if I could just stop laughing for one second, umair. By the way, were you aware that men sometimes experience mood swings due to their hormones?

http://news.independent.co.uk/health/article17296.ece

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/1844648.stm

It seems that men are often 'mentally disturbed' too. I wonder how many male murderers committed their crimes during one of their 'moods'.

So far I have heard several defenses of polygany in Islam. One, men are more sexual and need more than one woman to satisfy them. Two, men don't have enough control of their sexuality and must have more than one woman to keep them from committing adultery. Three, women have periods and men are so weak they can't go an entire week without a sex partner (except at hajj where I guess they magically get self control). Four, there are more women than men in the world so men must have 4 wives so there are no left over women out there in the world without a man. Five, women have periods and so they're crazy for a week and a man needs another woman to be around that's not crazy at that time. Six, Mohammad had lots of wives (boy, did he ever!). Seven, the Quran says so. Eight, even though the first wife has no say in whether the man gets more wives, she can always divorce him (but usually has to give up some of her dowry to do it) -- my way or the highway. Of course, it is a long legal process as opposed to the process of a man divorcing a woman which he can do simply by saying "I divorce you." And it's a done deal. She's history.

So far I have heard several defenses of genital mutilation of children in Islam. One, the Prophet allows it. Two, it's not really mutilating... it's "circumcising." Three, its just a little pinprick and doesn't hurt the child. Four, it is honorable for the woman. Five, it's not really a part of Islam (see #one). Six, some girls "need" to have some of their clitoris clipped off because it's too big. Seven, a Muslim girl called her Imam and said she was having sinful feelings because her clitoris rubbed against her jeans while she was riding on the bus (this was given by a real, prominent Imam) and so they had to "circumcise" her. Eight, if a girl doesn't have her clitoris cut when she's little it will grow so large she won't be able to have sexual intercourse.

So far I have heard several defenses of child marriage in Islam. One, a girl that has started her menses is an "adult" and therefore marriageable. Two, the prophet did it. Three, girls that have their menses are capable of impregnating and therefore they are marriageable. Four, it is good to marry girls early so they are already in a marriage when sexual desire starts to raise its ugly head -- keeps them from having sex before marriage and ruining the hymen.

Defenses of hijab. It "protects" the women from lustful men who can't control their urges enough to keep from raping her if they see her hair or neck. It protects her "honor." It protects the men from unbearable temptation.

Defenses of beating women. Women are less intelligent than men and need guidance. The Quran says it is the man's right because he gives her room and board. It only means to tap her with a feather, ever so lightly.

The topic is women's rights in Islam. What rights DO women have in Islam? They can't even go to the mosque and pray with the men. Most mosques have a "woman's room" but they're usually a small room somewhere else in the building, like the basement or something. The large gatherings for prayer and Quranic recitations on Fridays? MEN ONLY. A Muslim woman can't even go to church with her husband, much less walk down the street with the wind in her hair or know that her husband has the decency and integrity to not be taking other women to his bed. Muslim women have nothing to say about whether or not they are "circumcised." They have nothing to say about much of their life at all. Why are we even discussing this? If a Muslim woman refuses to marry the person her father picks out for her she can be killed. And after marrying this man that she did not choose and never loved, she should meet a man that she does, she gets her head bashed in with rocks.

The rights of women in Islam...

[Pazuzu bin Hanbi]

In reference to polygamy, ‘Arabs (and other races/tribes too) used to take many many wives. Islam reduced this to four — so in this sense it didn’t really state you can have as many as four, but sought a reduction. Of course, it never took it the whole way and reduced it one, but then no ‘Arab would have followed Muhammad if he had reduced marriage to monogamy.

And on a bad day, when I feel unforgiving and facetious, I would add that he probably reduced it to four because he wanted more for himself…