Pre-eminence status of women in Islam — 15
Religion Thursday, August 26th, 2010‘Allah has created every living being in pairs, male and female’ (51:49).Islam was introduced 1400 years back in the deserts of Arabia, to light the darkness of ignorance that civilizations in that era dwelled in. an era where ill mannerisms and immorality were the hallmark of that society. Drinking, gambling, looting, cheating were common. Amongst the many vices a very prevalent practice by Quraysh of Makkah was that girl children were buried alive as they were considered to be a burden and a bad omen. Amidst all of this Islam came as a ray of guidance. Apart from shunning the ills already practiced, it vehemently opposed the abhorrent practice of female infanticide. The primary factor attributable to this was, that Islam holds a very revered stature for womenfolk.
The following verse was revealed upon the ignorant Arabs as the most eloquent message to be pondered upon, “O Mankind, keep your duty to your Lord who created you from a single soul and from it created its mate (of same kind) and from them twain has spread a multitude of men and women” (Quran 4: 1). The Quran provides clear-cut evidence that a woman is completely equated with man in the sight of God in terms of her rights and responsibilities. Contrary to the popular belief in Islam that women are subdued and are subservient to their male counterparts, women enjoy a very liberated and empowered stature in Islam in all capacities; as a mother, as a wife, as a daughter, as a sister. Each role carries its own significance. This can be validated especially with the position a woman as a mother holds. Allah Subhanahu Taala has entrusted the heavens beneath the mother’s feet. As quoted by the Prophet (Pbuh) a mother is most deserving of the kind attitude of a believer. Moreover, Women are considered as Allah’s ‘Rehmat’ (blessing) whereas Men are considered as Allah’s ‘Naimat’ and as mentioned in the Holy Quran, every ‘Naimat’ shall be made accountable for. Prophet (Pbuh) has mentioned on several occasions that an individual who has two or more daughters, has educated them and gets them married off shall be as close to him on the Day of Judgment as close are the index finger and the middle finger of our hands.
Islam denounces in unequivocal terms the pre-Islamic inhumane custom of female infanticide and commands people to love and cherish their daughters even more than their sons. The Holy Qur’an says that on the Day of Judgment, the female infant who was buried alive will be questioned: “For what crime wast thou murdered?” [Qur’an 81:8,9] Thus before the Almighty, the victim herself will be able to give evidence against those who killed an innocent creature of Allah simply for the sake of satisfying their vanity.
Allah again commands humanity: “Kill not your children for fear of want. We shall provide sustenance for them as well as for you. Verily, to kill them is a great sin. [Qur’an 17:31] Fatimah was the youngest daughter of the Holy Prophet Mohammed (peace be upon him). In dealing with her, he set an example of fatherly love which is a model for mankind. “Fatimah,” he would say, “is a part of my being; whosoever annoys her annoys me” (Mishkat-ul-Masabih, XLIV: S) He also emphasized preferential treatment towards the female sex and said “When you bring anything for your children for distribution, begin with the girls first because the girls love their parents more than the boys.”
The importance of a woman in society cannot be over-estimated. She is the mother of humanity. She brings up the child in her womb for nine months, feeds him for at least two years and is mainly responsible for his training till he or she reaches a mature age.the lap of a mother, is the cradle of civilization. According to the Quran man and woman are two units of a pair. When both are taken independent of each other, there are certain obvious vacuums in the mental, physical and emotional personalities of each. God has created the two in such a way that they complement each other in different ways, so that these vacuums are generally removed to a great extent. For this very purpose, God gave different mental, physical and emotional qualities to the male and the female. These different mental, physical and emotional qualities, on the one hand complement man and woman and on the other establishes for them different spheres of activity in their interpersonal relationships.
The Holy Quran on many instances narrates the importance of many women who have played an integral role in the Islamic history. The Virgin Mary is the most important female character in the Qur´an. The nineteenth sura of the Qur´an is named after her, the only female name the Qur´an mentions. The other women whose stories are narrated in the Qur´an are never mentioned by name, rather they were called the wives of their respective husbands. Among them are: Eve, the wife of Imran (Sura Al Imran 3:35), the wife of the governor (Sura Yusuf 12:30), Pharaoh’s wife (Sura al-Qasas 28:9), Lot’s wife (Sura al-Tahrim 66:10), Abraham’s wife (Sura Hud 11:71), and Noah’s wife (Sura al-Tahrim 66:10).
Islam sees a woman, whether single or married, as an individual in her own right, with the right to own and dispose of her property and earnings without any guardianship over her (whether that be her father, husband, or anyone else). She has the right to buy and sell, give gifts and charity, and may spend her money as she pleases. She can dispose of her earnings and property as she wishes within the bounds of halal (lawful) and haram (unlawful). Islam has given women a right to inheritance.
We have within our religion the best of women as examples to follow, which includes the likes of Hazrat Khadijah al Kubrah, Hazrat Fatima az Zahra, Hazrat Zainab, Hazrat Aisha as Siddiqa, their lives is a testimony to the fact that a woman can be far more learned than men and that she can be the teacher of scholars and experts. Their lives is also a proof that a woman can exert influence over men and women and provide them with inspiration and leadership yet at the same time be entirely feminine and a source of comfort to their husbands. How can therefore anybody, in this Islamic Republic of Pakistan, defend the burying alive of women, in the most heinous interpretation of the word “honor”. The most despicable act- equated with ‘honor’! Oh! Allah pardon and forgive us.
Sirajuddin Aziz
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on Aug 26 2010. Filed under