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Status of Women in Islam (2)

Khaled Fahmy

Published On: 5/3/2017 A.D. - 6/6/1438 H. Visited: 4222 times

Close acquaintance with the teachings of Islam repudiates the false charge, that the Prophet is responsible for the degradation of woman. The Prophet saw the weak points of woman’s character, as well as its strong points. He regarded woman as physically and intellectually inferior to man in general, but richer in nobler emotions of the heart, in tenderness and delicacy of feeling. Allâh said: “and live with them honourably. If you dislike them, it may be that you dislike a thing and Allâh brings through it a great deal of good.” [4:19]

The Prophet neither desired that woman should be bond–slave of her husband, nor did he tolerate the idea, that woman should be so far free as to overstep her proper limits and encroach upon the sphere of her husband.

On the principle of division of labour, Islam assigns to each a particular scope of work, on the faithful discharge of which depends the happiness of family life and home. Woman, in her capacity of a good mother and a devoted wife, is the queen of her home, while the husband is to protect her from all danger and temptation, earn his bread by the sweat of his brow in the open world, and provide for the maintenance of the family. In connection with this setting apart of scopes of work with regard to the nature constitution mental habitude and position of the person concerned, the Prophet of Islam said: “Each of you is a shepherd and each of you is responsible for his flock. The ameer (ruler) who governs the people is a shepherd and is responsible for his flock. A man is the shepherd of the members of his household and is responsible for them. A woman is the shepherd of her husband’s house and children and is responsible for them. A slave is the shepherd of his master’s wealth and is responsible for it. Each of you is a shepherd and each of you is responsible for his flock.” [Al-Bukhari, 7138; Muslim, 1829]

The ruling idea in the teachings of Islam with regard to man and woman, is that the husband and the wife should supplement each other, call into play the distinctive excellence of their respective character, in mutual confidence, strive to work out their united happiness. Woman is to exercise her beneficent, humanizing influence over husband, soften the hardness of his nature and level down stiffness of his character; while man, for his part, is to educate her mind and help her to realize those womanly qualities, in which she by her very nature excels. This is wifehood conception which the Prophet of Islam favoured, as is inferred from his teaching. “A woman is married for four reasons.” said he, “either in consideration of her wealth, or her noble parentage, or her beauty, or her piety. Succeed then in getting a woman of piety for your wife, for she is to her husband a helper in life and she remains content with little.” [Sahih Muslim 3457]

Once again, he was heard praising women of Quraish, ‘because’, said he, “they are the kindest to their children while they are infants, and because they keep a careful watch over their husbands belongings.”

In another instance the Prophet of Islam said: “There are four things, such that if a person is endowed with any one of these, it is as if the blessings of both worlds were showered upon him: first, a heart that is grateful; second a tongue that utters constantly the name of God; third, a mind that is patient and calm amid troubles; fourth, a wife that is never guilty of a breach of trust either in respect of her own person or in respect of her husband’s property.”

I will now give some further sayings of the Prophet Muhammad, on the question under discussion, which I hope will shed more light on the position assigned to women in Islam.

1) “The best among you is he who is the kindest to his wife, and I am the kindest of you all to my wives.” [Saheeh Al-Tirmidhi, 3895]

2) “What are the rights that a wife has over her husband?” asked Moawiyah; and the Prophet forthwith replied: “That you should feed her when you feed yourself, clothe her when you clothe yourself, you should not hit her on the face, you should not curse her and you should not forsake her except in the house.” [Abu Dawood 2142]

3) “Verily of the believers he has the most perfect faith who has the best manners, and shows the greatest kindness to his wife and children.” [Sunan Abu Dawood]

4) “O People, it is true that you have certain rights over your women, but they also have rights over you. Remember that you have taken them as your wives only under Allâh's trust and with His permission. If they abide by your right then to them belongs the right to be fed and clothed in kindness. Treat your women well and be kind to them, for they are your partners and committed helpers.” [Hafiz Ibn Hibban reported in al-Sahih 11/203/4862]

5) Once the Prophet portrayed an ideal wife in the following words: “She is the ideal wife who pleases you when you look at her, obeys you when you give her direction; and protects her honour and your property when you are away.” [Al-Tirmidhi 278]

6) “The world is full of provision, and the best provision is a righteous woman”. [Sahih Muslim 1467]

7) “Seeking of knowledge is obligatory upon every Muslim” [Ibn Majah]