Women's Rights
Allah (s.w.t.) says in the Holy Qur'an: "Women shall, in all fairness, enjoy rights similar to those exercised against them." (Qur'an 2:228)
Islam brought many rights to the women of pre-Islamic Arabia. As we can see from the following Qur'an verse, it was a big disappointment for the pagan Arabs when a baby girl was delivered into a family: "And whenever any of them is given the glad tiding of (the birth of) a girl, his face darkens, and he is filled with suppressed anger. He is avoiding all people because of (the alleged) evil of the glad tiding that he has received, (and debating with himself): Shall he keep this (child) despite the contempt (which he feels for her), or shall be bury her in the dust? Oh, evil indeed is whatever they decide."(Qur'an 16:59) Many of them were buried alive. Islam not only put a stop to this, it gave women the right to an education, kind treatment, to inherit, to divorce.
Here are a few of women's rights in Islam:
* A woman's right to education (religious): The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: "Acquiring knowledge is compulsory for every Muslim." (At-Tabarani) . Also as narrated Abu Burda's father: Allah's Apostle said, ''Any man who has a slave girl whom he educates properly, teaches good manners, manumits and marries her, will get a double reward. And if any man of the people of the Scriptures believes in his own prophet and then believes in me too, he will (also) get a double reward. And any slave, who fulfils his duty to his master and to his Lord, will (also) get a double reward." (Bukhari)
* Women have the right to work to earn money if necessary. As long as certain conditions are met such as wearing hijab, not being alone with men and not working in unlawful business (e.g. dealing with alcohol)
* The right to be provided for by their husbands. Allah (s.w.t.) says in the Holy Qur'an, that men are the protectors and maintainers of women. Also the same verse: "Men shall take care of women with what God has bestowed on the former and with what they have to spend of possessions." (Qur'an 4:34)
* The right to obtain divorce from her husband, if necessary.
* The right to keep all of her own money. If a woman earns money herself, then she is not obliged to spend it on her family. If she does then Allah (s.w.t.) will record that as an act of charity that she has done.
* To inherit. Women must be given a share of inheritance. "Men shall have a share in what parents and kinsfolk leave behind, and women shall have a share in what parents and kinsfolk leave behind, whether it be little or much -a share ordained (by God)." (Qur'an 4:7) Women's share is less than a mans but this difference derives from men's obligations to financially support their families.
* Not to be forced into marriage. Allah (s.w.t.) says in the Qur'an "It is not lawful for you to (try to) inherit women against their will; nor should you treat them with harshness that you may take part of the dowry you have given them." (Qur'an 4:19) Also in the hadith (sayings of Prophet Muhammad pbuh) Ibn Abbas (r.a.) reported that a girl came to the Prophet (pbuh) and she reported that her father had forced her to marry without her consent. The Messenger of God gave her the choice . . . (between accepting the marriage or invalidating it). (Ibn Hanbal No. 2469). In another version, the girl said: "Actually I accept this marriage but I wanted to let women know that parents have no right (to force a husband on them)" (Ibn Maja, No. 1873).
* Not to be wrongly accused. Allah (s.w.t.) has made it a punishable sin to accuse women of adultery without having witnesses: ''And those who launch a charge against chaste women, and produce not four witnesses (to support their allegation)― flog them with eighty stripes: and reject their evidence ever after: for such men are wicked transgressors, unless they repent thereafter and mend (their conduct): for Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful. (Holy Qur'an 4:3-5)
Kind Treatment Of Women
There are many verses of the Holy Qur'an and teachings of the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) that order kind treatment of women:
"And among His wonders is that He creates for you mates out of your own kind, so that you might incline toward them, and He engenders love and tenderness between you: in this, behold, there are messages for people who think." (Qur'an 30:21)
"O people Be conscious of your Lord, who has created you out of one living entity, and out of it created its mate, and out of the two spread abroad a multitude of men and women. And remain conscious of God, in whose name you demand (your rights) from one another, and these ties of kinship. Verily, God is ever watchful over you." (Qur'an 4:1)
"They (the wives) are garment for you (husbands), and you are garments for them." (Qur'an 2:187)
"You who believe, it is not lawful for you to inherit women against their will, nor should you treat your wives harshly....Live with them in accordance with what is fair and kind: if you dislike them, it may well be that you dislike something in which God has put much good." (Qur'an 4:19)
"A divorce may be (revoked) twice, upon which the marriage must either be resumed in fairness or dissolved in good manner," (Qur'an 2:228)
"And so, when you divorce women and they are about to reach the end of the waiting-term, then either retain them in a fair manner or let them go in a fair manner. But do not retain them against their will to hurt them: for he who does so sins indeed against himself…And when you divorce women, and they have come to the end of their waiting-term, hinder them not from marrying other men (Qur'an 2:230,231)
The following are a few sayings of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh):
Narrated 'Abdullah bin 'Amr bin Al-'As (r.a.): Allah's Apostle said, "O 'Abdullah! Have I not been informed that you fast all the day and stand in prayer all night?" I said, "Yes, O Allah's Apostle!" He said, "Do not do that! Observe the fast sometimes and also leave them (the fast) at other times; stand up for the prayer at night and also sleep at night. Your body has a right over you, your eyes have a right over you and your wife has a right over you." (Bukhari)
Abu Huraira (r.a.) reported Allah's Messenger as saying: ''A believing man should not hate a believing woman; if he dislikes one of her characteristics, he will be pleased with another.'' (Muslim)
"The most perfect believers are the best in character, and the best of you are the kindest to their families" (Abu Dawud, Tirmidhi)
Men And Women Are Rewarded Equally For Good Deeds
Allah (s.w.t.) says in the Qur'an:
''And as for the believers: both men and women are in charge (or protectors) of one another, they (all) enjoin the doing of what is right and forbid the doing of what is wrong, and keep up prayers and render the purifying dues, and pay heed unto God and His apostle. It is they upon whom God will bestow His grace…." (Qur'an 9:71)
''The works of male and female are of equal value and each will receive the due reward for what they do: Never will I suffer to be lost the work of any one of you, male or female...'' (3:195)
''Whoever does right, whether male or female, (all) such will enter the garden'' (40:40)
"And thus does their Lord answer their prayer: I shall not lose sight of the work of any of you who works (in My way) be it man or women: You are members, one of another." (3:195)
The Blessing Of Daughters
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) told us that "There is no one from my Ummah who takes care of three daughters or three sisters, and is nice to them, except that they will be a veil (protection) for him from the Fire." (Bayhaqi ,Bukhari.)
The Prophet's wife A'ishah (May Allah be pleased with her), said:
"A poor woman came to me carrying her two daughters. I gave her three dates to eat. She gave each child a date, and raised the third to her own mouth to eat it. Her daughters asked her to give it to them, so she split the date that she had wanted to eat between them. I was impressed by what she had done, and told the Messenger of Allah about it. He said, "Allah has decreed Paradise for her because of it," or, "He has saved her from Hell because of it." (Muslim)
Abu Hurayrah (r.a.) reported that the Prophet Muhammad said: "Whoever has three daughters, and shelters them, bearing their joys and sorrows with patience, Allah will admit him to Paradise by virtue of his compassion towards them." A man asked, "What if he has only two, O Messenger of Allah?" He said, "Even if they are only two." Another man asked, "What if he has only one, O Messenger of Allah?" He said, "Even if he has only one." (Ahmad)
Ibn 'Abbas (r.a.) said: "The Messenger of Allah said: 'Whoever had a daughter born to him, and he did not bury her alive or humiliate her, and he did not prefer his son over her, Allah will admit him to Paradise because of her." (al-Hakim)
Wives and Husbands
Husbands and wives mustn't disclose each others secrets: Abu Hurayrah (r.a.), who said: “Among the worst type of people in the sight of Allah on the Day of Judgment is a man who enjoys his wife’s intimate company, and she enjoys his intimate company, then one of them goes and discloses the secret of the other.” (Muslim)
Husbands are allowed to have up to four wives, but only if they are able to treat them equally and fairly. "And if you fear that you may cause the orphans injustice, then marry women of your choice, two, or three, or four, But if you fear that you can not deal justly with them, then only one… That is more likely to keep you from committing an injustice." (Qur'an 4:3)
Husbands and wives should encourage each other to worship and do good deeds:
Allah’s Messenger (pbuh) said: ‘May Allah have mercy on the man who gets up at night to pray and wakes up his wife to pray, and if she refuses, he sprinkles water in her face. And may Allah have mercy on the woman who gets up at night to pray, and wakes her husband up to pray, and if he refuses, she sprinkles water in his face.” (Abu Dawud)
Narrated Abu Huraira: The Prophet (pbuh) said, "A woman is married for four things, i.e., her wealth, her family status, her beauty and her religion. So you should marry the religious woman (otherwise) you will be losers.'' (Bukhari)
The Importance of Mothers
Mothers hold such an important position and are regarded so highly in Islam. Here are some verses of Qur’an that show the importance of mothers:
''And We have enjoined on the human being in (regard to) his two parents the most beautiful conduct. His mother bore him under duress and brought him forth under duress. And his bearing and his weaning was thirty months....(Qur'an 46:15)
''Your Lord and Sustainer has decided for you that you do not worship any but Him, and (He has determined) beautiful conduct to the two parents. If one or both of the two of them reaches the greatness of age, so do not say a harsh word to them, but speak to them generously. And lower the wing of humility, out of gentleness, and say, "My Lord and Sustainer, be gentle to them just as they cherished me when I was small." - (Qur'an 17:23-24)
''O humankind! Be in awe of your Lord and Sustainer, He who created you all from a single soul, and created from it its mate, and from the two of them brought forth many men and women. Be in awe of Allah and of the wombs (that bore you). Surely Allah is watching over you. – ‘’ (Qur'an 4:1)
"And God says: We have enjoined upon a human being goodness toward his/her parents; one’s mother bore him/her by bearing strain upon strain, and the child’s utter dependence on her lasted two years: (hence, O people), be grateful toward Me and toward your parents, (and remember that) with me all journey ends."(Qur'an 31:14)
Here is a beautiful saying of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him):
Narrated Abu Huraira (r.a.): A man came to Allah's Apostle and said, "O Allah's Apostle! Who is more entitled to be treated with the best companionship by me?" The Prophet said, "Your mother." The man said. "Who is next?" The Prophet said, "Your mother." The man further said, "Who is next?" The Prophet said, "Your mother." The man asked for the fourth time, "Who is next?" The Prophet said, "Your father.” (Bukhari)
Here is an incident one of the Prophet's companions, Abdullah Ibn 'Umar (r.a.), who was a great scholar of Islam:
Abdullah Ibn ‘Umar saw a man from Yemen on pilgrimage and he was carrying his mother on his back. The man said "I am like a tame camel for her! I have carried her more than she carried me. Do you think I have paid her back, O Ibn ‘Umar?" Abdullah Ibn ‘Umar replied, "No, not even one contraction!!" (Al-Adab al-Mufrad Bukhârî)
A Few Important Women In Islam
It was narrated that Ibn ‘Abbas (r.a.) said: the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) drew four lines on the ground, then he said, “Do you know what this is?” We said, “Allah and His Messenger know best.” The Messenger of Allah said: “The best of the women of Paradise are Khadeejah bint Khuwaylid, Faatimah bint Muhammad, Aasiyah bint Mazaahim the wife of Pharaoh, and Maryam bint ‘Imraan – may Allah be pleased with them.” (Bukhari, Muslim)
It was narrated from Anas (r.a.) that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said:
“Sufficient for you among the women of the world are Maryam the daughter of ‘Imraan, Khadeejah bint Khuwaylid, Faatimah bint Muhammad and Aasiyah the wife of Pharaoh.” (Ahmad)
Maryam bint Imran (Mary, the mother of Jesus, peace be upon him)
Maryam (r.a.) is the only female who is mentioned by name in the Qur'an. She is mentioned several times and one of the chapters of Qur'an is titled 'Maryam'. Allah (s.w.t.) says: “And (mention) when the angels said, ‘O Mary! Indeed God has chosen you, and purified you, and has chosen you above all other women of the worlds. O Mary! Be devoutly obedient to your Lord and prostrate and bow with those bow (in prayer).’” (Qur'an 3:42-43).
Maryam's mother dedicated her unborn child to the service of Allah while she was still in the womb: "O my Lord! I do dedicate into Thee what is in my womb for Thy special service: So accept this of me: For Thou hearest and knowest all things." (Qur'an 3:35) '' Her Lord graciously accepted her and made her grow in goodness, and entrusted her to the charge of Zachariah.'' (3:37)
Allah sent the angel Gabriel (Jibril) to Maryam:
''And mention in the Book (the Qur'ân, O Muhammad the story of) Maryam (Mary), when she withdrew in seclusion from her family to a place facing east. She placed a screen (to screen herself) from them; then We sent to her Our Ruh (angel Jibrîl (Gabriel)) and he appeared before her in the form of a man in all respects. She said: "Verily! I seek refuge with the Most Gracious (Allâh) from you, if you do fear Allâh." (The angel) said: "I am only a Messenger from your Lord, (to announce) to you the gift of a righteous son.". She said: "How can I have a son, when no man has touched me, nor am I unchaste? He said: "So (it will be), your Lord said: 'That is easy for Me (Allâh): And (We wish) to appoint him as a sign to mankind and a mercy from Us (Allâh), and it is a matter (already) decreed, (by Allâh).' " (Qur'an 19 17-22)
“When the angels said: ‘O Mary! Indeed God gives you glad tidings of a word (His saying, ‘Be’) from Him, whose name is the Messiah, Jesus the son of Mary, held in honour in this world and in the Hereafter, and of those nearest to God. He shall speak to people while still in the cradle, and in manhood, and he shall be from the righteous.’ She said, ‘My Lord, how can I have a son when no man has touched me?’ He said, ‘Even so, God creates what He pleases. When He decrees, He merely says to it, ‘Be,’ and it is. And He will teach him the Book and the Wisdom, and the Torah and the Gospel.” (Qur'an 3:45-48)
Khadijah bint Khuwaylid ( the first wife of Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him)
The Prophets beloved wife Aisha narrated that :"I never felt so jealous of any woman as I felt of Khadija, for Allah ordered him (the Prophet), to give Khadija the glad tidings of a palace in Paradise (for her). (Bukhari)
The following is from Ibn Kathir's book 'Wives of the Prophet Muhammad':
Khadijah had been the first to publicly accept Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) as the Messenger of Allah, and she had never stopped doing all she could to help him. Love and mercy had grown between them, increasing in quality and depth as the years passed by, and not even death could take this love away. The Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) never stopped loving Khadijah, and although he married several more wives in later years and loved them all, it is clear that Khadijah always had a special place in his heart. Indeed whenever 'Aisha, his third wife, heard the Prophet speak of Khadijah, or saw him sending food to Khadijah's old friends and relatives, she could not help feeling jealous of her, because of the love that the Prophet still had for her.
Once Aisha asked him if Khadijah had been the only woman worthy of his love. The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) replied: "She believed in me when no one else did; she accepted Islam when people rejected me; and she helped and comforted me when there was no one else to lend me a helping hand." It had been related by Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) that on one occasion, when Khadijah was still alive, Jibril came to the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) and said, "O Messenger of Allah, Khadijah is just coming with a bowl of soup (or food or drink) for you. When she comes to you, give her greetings of peace from her Lord and from me, and give her the good news of a palace of jewels in the Garden, where there will be neither any noise nor any tiredness." After the Prophet's uncle, Abu Talib, and his first wife, Khadijah, had both died in the same year, the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) and his small community of believers endured a time of great hardship and persecution at the hands of the Quraish. Indeed the Prophet, who was now fifty years old, name this year 'the Year of Sorrow.
Sayyida Fatima (Daughter of Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him)
(the following excerpts are adapted from the book, Biographies of the Women Companions of the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.) published by Darul - Ishaat)
She was the youngest and most dearly loved daughter of the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh). The Prophet said ''Fatima is part of me. Whosoever offends her, he will have offended me.'' (Bukhari) The great love and affection that he had for his daughter took the shape of regard and respect. When she visited him, he stood up and offered his own seat after kissing her forehead.
She very closely resembled the Holy Prophet. Aisha (r.a.) stated: ''The demeanour, speech, accent, the way of sitting and standing of Sayyida Fatima (r.a) was exactly like the Holy Prophet's.'' (recorded by Tirmizi). Her gait was precisely the gait of the Holy Prophet (pbuh). (recorded by Bukhari) Her sense of modesty was so highly developed that, when the Holy Prophet (pbuh) called her on any occasion, she came almost staggering with shame and modesty. Her instructions to cover her dead body also followed this characteristic. When she was 5-6 years of age, Uqbah Bin Abu Mu'eet brought the bowels of a camel and put it round the neck of the Holy Prophet (pbuh) when he was in the midst of prayer. Sayyida Fatima (r.a.) was informed by someone. With passionate grief she ran towards the mosque and removed the bowl from the neck of her illustrious father and scolded Uqbah for his mischief and cursed him. (Bukhari).
One day before his death he [the Prophet Muhammad peace be upon him] sent for her and said something in hears on which she began to weep. He called her again near himself and said something more in the ears, on which she smiled. When Sayyidah Aisha (r.a.) asked her what had transpired between her father and herself, she said: ''The first time he told me that he would be leaving this world as a result of his illness. The second time he told me that i would be the first person to meet him in the world beyond death.'' (Bukhari)
Only a period of six months had passed over the demise of the Holy Prophet, when Sayyidah Fatimah breathed her last. She was then only 29 years of age.
Aasiyah bint Mazaahim (The wife of Pharaoh)
Aasiyah (r.a.) was the wife of Pharaoh. She took the Prophet Moses (Musa) peace be upon him into the household when he was a baby. Prophet Musa's mum had put him in a basket and sent him into a river as Allah says in the Holy Qur'an 'And we inspired the mother of Moses, saying "Suckle him, but when you fear for him, then cast him into the river and fear not, nor grieve. Verily! We shall bring him back to you, and shall make him one of our Messengers" Then the household of Fir'aun picked him up, that he might become for them an enemy and a cause of grief. Verily! Fir'aun, Haman, and their hosts were sinners. And the wife of Fir'aun said: "A comfort of the eye for me and for you. Kill him not, perhaps he may be a benefit to us, or we may adopt him as a son." (Qur'an 28:7-9)
Allah also mentions her in the following verse “And Allah has set forth an example for those who believe: the wife of Fir’awn (Pharaoh), when she said: ‘My Lord! Build for me a home with You in Paradise, and save me from Fir’awn (Pharaoh) and his work, and save me from the people who are Zaalimoon (polytheists, wrongdoers and disbelievers in Allah)’” (Qur'an 66:11)
Aisha bint Abu Bakr (Wife of Prophet Muhammad peace be upon him)
Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) narrated over two thousand sayings of the Prophet Muhamma . After he died, she became a leading source of knowledge of Islam and used to teach others. She was exceptionally bright and renowned for her beauty. It was revealed to Prophet in a dream that he was to marry her: Narrated 'Aisha: Allah's Apostle said (to me), "You were shown to me in a dream. An angel brought you to me, wrapped in a piece of silken cloth, and said to me, 'This is your wife.' I removed the piece of cloth from your face, and there you were. I said to myself. 'If it is from Allah, then it will surely be.' (Bukhari)
She was 18 yrs old at the time of the Prophet's death. He passed away with her holding him, his head in her lap. He was buried where he died in her apartment. Interestingly, Aisha once had a dream that three moons descended into her apartment. Later, her father Abu Bakr (r.a.) and Umar (r.a.) were also buried there next to the Prophet which fulfilled the prophesy of her dream. Narrated by Aisha: "I saw three moons fall into my room, and I related my vision to Abu Bakr as-Siddiq. Then, when the Messenger of Allah died, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, and was buried in my house, Abu Bakr said to me, 'This is one of your moons, and he is the best of them.' " (Maliks Muwatta)
Umm Sulaym (may Allah be pleased with her)
The following is an excerpt from the book “The Ideal Muslimah: The True Islamic Personality of the Muslim Woman as Defined in the Qur’an and Sunnah” By Dr. Muhammad ‘Ali Al-Hashimi (Translated by Nasiruddin Al-Khattab and Revised by Ibrahim M. Kunna and Abu Aya Sulaiman Abdus-Sabur Copyright and published by the International Islamic Publishing House (IIPH), Riyadh, Saudi Arabia in 1999.)
Among the great Muslim women who are known for their strength of character, lofty aspirations and far-sightedness in their choice of a husband is Umm Sulaym bint Milhan, who was one of the first Ansar women to embrace Islam. She was married to Malik ibn Nadar, and bore him a son, Anas. When she embraced Islam, her husband Malik was angry with her, and left her, but she persisted in her Islam. Shortly afterwards, she heard the news of his death, and she was still in the flower of her youth. She bore it all with the hope of reward, for the sake of Allah (subhanahu wa ta’ala) and devoted herself to taking care of her ten-year-old son Anas. She took him to the Prophet (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam), so that he could serve him (and learn from him).
One of the best young men of Madinah, one of the best-looking, richest and strongest, came to seek her hand in marriage. This was Abu Talhah - before he became Muslim. Many of the young women of Yathrib liked him because of his wealth, strength and youthful good looks, and he thought that Umm Sulaym would joyfully rush to accept his offer. But to his astonishment, she told him, ''O Abu Talhah, do you not know that your god whom you worship is just a tree that grew in the ground and was carved into shape by the slave of Banu so-and-so'' He said, ''Of course.'' She said, ''Do you not feel ashamed to prostrate yourself to a piece of wood that grew in the ground and was carved by the slave of Banu so-and-so?'' Abu Talhah was stubborn, and hinted to her of an expensive dowry and luxurious lifestyle, but she persisted in her point of view, and told him frankly: '' Oh Abu Talhah, a man like you could not be turned away, but you are a disbelieving man, and I am a Muslim woman. It is not permitted for me to marry you, but if you were to embrace Islam, that would be my dowry (mahr), and I would ask you for nothing more.'' (Nisa’i)
He returned the following day to try to tempt her with a larger dowry and more generous gift, but she stood firm, and her persistence and maturity only enhanced her beauty in his eyes. She said to him, ''O Abu Talhah, do you not know that your god whom you worship was carved by the carpenter slave of so-and-so? If you were to set it alight, it would burn.'' Her words came as a shock to Abu Talhah, and he asked himself, Does the Rabb (Cherisher and Sustainer) burn? Then he uttered the words: ''Ashhadu an la ilaha ill-Allah wa ashhadu anna Muhammadan rasul-Allah.''
Then Umm Sulaym said to her son Anas, with joy flooding her entire being, ''O Anas, marry me to Abu Talhah.'' So Anas brought witnesses and the marriage was solemnized.
Abu Talhah was so happy that he was determined to put all his wealth at Umm Sulaym’s disposal, but hers was the attitude of the selfless, proud, sincere believing woman. She told him, ''O Abu Talhah, I married you for the sake of Allah (subhanahu wa ta’ala) and I will not take any other dowry.'' She knew that when Abu Talhah embraced Islam, she did not only win herself a worthy husband, but she also earned a reward from Allah (Subhanahu wa ta’ala) that was better than owning red camels (the most highly-prized kind) in this world, as she had heard the Prophet (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) say: “If Allah (Subhanahu wa ta’ala) were to guide one person to Islam through you, it is better for you than owning red camels.” (Fath al-Bari)
(Holy Qur'an 30:21)
