WOMEN RIGHTS IN ISLAM
"It's Time For Implementation!"
Today I will discuss specifically, “Women Rights in Islam”. So, let’s discuss them under different heads such as social, economic, legal and political.
Starting from the SOCIAL, Holy Prophet (S.A.W.W) said
- Education is mandatory for men and women
- You have to get education even its available in China
The above hadith does not discriminating gender that means it is not only mandatory for men but also for women. If a boy can get education by traveling long distance then girl can also.
- Once a lady came to Holy prophet (S A W) and said that she was forcefully married by her father and she is not happy with her husband, the Holy prophet (S A W) dissolved her marriage then and there and emphasizes for marrying couples by their consent.
Above hadith validating the consent of females before marriage and made it compulsory for all Muslim parents.
Islam stresses on the kind treatment to wives. Following ahadith are highlighting Holy Prophet (S.A.W.W)’s very kind treatment to his wife.
· Once hazrat Aysha (R.A) showed desire to see the ongoing circus in the street. Holy prophet (S A W) happily replied to her that she can hide herself at the back of holy prophet (S.A.W) and then watch the circus. Aysha(R.A) did this and enjoyed the circus as long as she can stand there when became tired she went back to home. The Holy prophets (S A W) stand there more than an hour for her entertainment.
· Once an Iranian companion of Holy Prophet (S.A.W.W) who was a very good cook cooked some food and came to Holy Prophet (S.A.W.W) house for inviting him. Holy Prophet (S.A.W.W) asked “can Aysha (R.A) also come with me.” Because of any reason companion replied” no she can’t.” Holy Prophet (S.A.W.W) also replied “then I also cannot”. Companion invited Holy prophet (S A W) three times and got same answer from the Holy Prophet (S.A.W.W). At last companion said “yes she can also come with you” then Holy Prophet (S.A.W.W) accepted invitation and brought her for dinner along him. Therefore bringing wife to dine out is not only encouraged but also SUNNA of Holy Prophet (S.A.W.W).
In addition, to demand separate house for living is also right of wife from his husband. If she does not like to live with the family of her husband then she has complete right to live with her husband in a separate place. Furthermore, Islam is not binding women to cook food to do crockery or to wash clothes of her husband. If she refuses to do all this then its not making her guilty in the eyes of almighty ALLAH. But yes, she might be very guilty in the eyes of her husband who brings her for doing all these services for him. Many of Muslim women love to do all these services for their husbands, so their husbands must be thankful for their wives.
Adding to it, growing age of fashion makes many minds ultra-modern. Now husband wants to look his wife as a model and he forced her to wear dresses according to fashion. In this case Muslim women has right to wear all these dresses which are according to Islamic dress code while going out of house. If her husband forced her to do so she can refuse to her husband to wear any vulgar dress which is against the teachings of Islam.
ECONOMIC RIGHTS
Before Islam there was no concept of inheritance for women. Islam gave right to women in the inheritance. Women have half of the part as men have in parent’s properties. This does not mean she has half right than man. But as she does not have any financial responsibility to fulfill as the men have. Therefore she can save or invest her part of the property for her future and making profit. It is also very clear in Islam that her husband can demand a single penny from her wife and she not bound to give anything to anybody.
In addition to she can buy property on her own name as a legal person. She can possess property without anybody’s interference. She has complete right on her property as she can sale it, rent out it and can give it to anyone as a gift.
Furthermore, wife has right to get dowry from her husband before establishing matrimonial relations. Husband is bound to give her wife dowry at the time of marriage. One more thing needs attention here that Islam did not fix any maximum limit of dowry. Husband can give whatever maximum he can give to his wife.
· In region of Hazrat Ummer(R.A) he forward a bill in the parliament for fixing the maximum limit of dowry. That bill was challenged by a female parliamentarian and she said nobody can fix the maximum limit of dowry if Allah himself did fix it. Hazrat ummer(R.A) asked her that why it couldn’t be fixed.
She quoted the holy Quran
“If husband gave her wife bundles and bundles of wealth as dowry even then he cannot demand anything after diverse.”
Hazrat ummer (R.A) said that she is right and today men made a mistake and women corrected him.
Subsequently, maintenance is also on the shoulder of men at her stages of life. Father, brother, husband and son has to give her food clothes and other needs of life respectively. Maintenance of x-wife is also husband responsibility during the period of Iddah. Some of Islamic scholars agreed that husband has to fulfill his x-wife’s maintenance until her second marriage. In case if any children from her x-husband then it is also responsibility of child’s father.
· Holy Prophet (S.A.W.W) said,
“Anyone who brought her daughters with full care and then merry them. He is as close to me as my two fingers.”
Moreover, she has right to seek employment. If she wants to do a job and if society needs her then Islam give her full right to seek employment. But if she doesn’t want to do the job then nobody can force her to seek employment. Similarly she has the right to do business and to trade things in order to earn finance.
Hazrat Khadija(R.A), Wife of Holy prophet (S A W) said, was the famous business lady at that time.
LEGAL & POLITICAL SECURITIES
In the eyes of law she is as legal person as a man. she can be witness but her witness is half of man. It is not because she has half right as an human but due to her sensitive and shy nature. In fact God made her half responsible than man in all legal witnesses.
Similarly she has right to vote from first election of Islam.
After the election result of hazrat usman(R.A).Hazrat usman(R.A) and hazrat Ali (R.A) got equal votes. Therefore Hazrat abur Rahman bin Auf was appointed as a chief polling agent and assigned the task to get votes of men and women. He did this work three days and ultimately hazrat usman (R.A) elected.
Above event proved that women were having the right to vote from the beginning of Islam.
Adding to it, women used to work at different legal positions from the start of Islam. During the period of Holy prophet (S A W) women worked in different sectors such as in wars and in hospital.
-Hazrat Ummer (R.A) appointed hazrat Shifa(R.A)as an administrator and account officer for the market.
-Hazrat Usman(R.A) made hazrat umm-e-kulsoom an ambassador and sent her to Room.
Women has right to be consulted as other family members have right to be consulted. Many people believe that it is folly to act or listen women advise in fact they themselves are disbelievers and unaware to the sunna of Holy prophet (S A W).
At the event of Hudabiya Holy prophet (S A W) have consulted hazrat umm-e-Salma and acted on her advice to move on.
By summing up the whole discussing it can be said that Islam is the first sun that embrace women with light of all social, economical, legal and political rights before 15 centuries. It is very unjust if anybody is blaming Islam for the present state of suppresses women. In fact it is not Islam to be blamed it is because of forgetting the teachings of Islam.
In khutaba hijtul Weda, the Holy prophet (S A W) said,
“O, people fear from Allah in the matter of women, treats them carefully and fairly as Islam teaches you."
IQRA MAQSOOD
