When we discuss Islam, there
are many misconceptions among non-muslims and muslims. The basic reason is that
many muslims do not understand the authentic sources – the Quran and the
authentic Hadith. They usually concern with less-qualified people regarding
every matter about Islam but not with high qualified scholars. This creates many
misconceptions usually. Some people understand Islam – the religion of
complexities. But actually Islam is not the religion of complexities. Islam is
the religion of peace. The word Islam come from the arabic word “Salam”, which
means peace. It is also derived from “Silm”, which means to submit your will to
Almighty God. So Islam in short means “peace acquired by submitting your will to
Almighty God”. And this word occurs in the golorious Quran and several authentic
Hadiths of Prophet peace be upon him.
Allah in the Quran in Sureh Maidah, Ch. 5, Verse 3 says,
"This day have I perfected your religion for you, completed My favour upon you,
and have chosen for you Islam as your religion".
There are many misconceptions, especially when the women are concerned in Islam.
Islam secures women's rights. In islam, men and women are overall equal, but
equality does’nt mean identicality. Let me give you an example; if in a class of
students, two students – Student ‘A’ and ‘B’ came out first, and both obtained
80 marks out of 100. But if we analyse the answer sheet, there are 10 questions,
each carrying 10 marks. In the first answer, student ‘A’ gets 9 out of 10 while
student ‘B’ gets 7 out of 10. Thus in question 1, student ‘A’ has a degree of
advantage than student ‘B’. In question 2, student ‘B’ gets 9 out of 10 while
student ‘A’ gets 7 out of 10. Thus in question 2, student ‘B’ has a degree of
advantage than student ‘A’. In the remaining 8 questions, both get 8 out of 10,
and if you total the marks of both the students, both get 80 out of 100. So, if
you analyse, both students ‘A’ and ‘B’ are overall equal. But in the answers to
some questions, student ‘A’ has a degree of advantage. In answers to some
questions, student ‘B’ has a degree of advantage, but overall, both are equal.
Similarly, in Islam, men and women are overall equal, but equality does’nt mean
identicality. In some aspects, the women have a degree of advantage; in some
aspects, men have a degree of advantage.
An intresting example to clarify the concept:
For example, if a robber enters my house, I will not say that I believe in
women’s right, I believe in women’s liberation, and therefore, my sister, my
mother and my wife should go and fight the robber. Because, I know that
naturally men have been given more strength than the women.
Men have been given more strength than the women:
Allah in the Quran in Sureh Nisa, Ch. 4, Verse 34 says, ‘Allah has given men,
more stregth than the other’ – that is, men have more strength than the women.
So, where strength is concerned, the men have a degree of advantage. Hence ,
since they have been given more strength, it is their duty to protect the women.
Where love and companionship is concerned and where children should give to
their parents, the women have a degree of advantage.
Mother gets three times more respect and companionship than the father:
Here, the women have a degree of advantage. And according to a Hadith which is
mentioned in Sahih Bukhari, Vol. 8, in the Book of Adab, Ch. 2, Hadith 2…’A
person came to the Prophet Mohammad peace be upon him and asked him: ‘Who is the
person who deserves the maximum love and companionship in this world?’ And the
Prophet said, ’Your mother.’ The man asked: ’Who the next?’ The Prophet said,
‘Your mother.’ The man asked: ‘After that who?’ The Prophet repeated for the
third time, ‘Your mother.’ The man asked: ‘After that who?’ Then the Prophet
said, ‘Your father.’
In short 75% of the love and companionship of the children are due to the
mother. 25% of the love and companionship goes to father. In short, the mother
gets the gold medal; she gets the silver medal, as well as the bronze medal
while the father has to be satisfied with a mere consolation prize. These are
the teachings of Islam.
Equality of Men and Women as regards Religious Obligations and Retribution:
In this spiritual regard, Islam makes no distinction between men and women. Both
have a soul, both were created for the same purpose in life (i.e to worship
Lord), both have a duty to fulfill their religious obligations, both will be
judged by the All-Mighty, and both will be rewarded or punished according to
their individual actions. Whenever the Quran mentions those fortunate beings who
will enter the Gardens of Bliss because of their piety and good deeds, it
mentions men and women together.
Allah in Sureh Nisa, Ch. 4, Verse 124 says, “And whoever does righteous good
deeds, male or female, and is a (true) believer , such will enter Paradise and
not the least injustice, even to the size of Naqira (speck on the back of a date
stone), will be done to them.”
In short men and women are overall equal but not identical. Equality does’nt
mean that men should adopt the dress code of women and women should adopt the
dress code of men. Equality does’nt mean that women can fulfil the specific
responsibilities of men and men can fulfil the specific responsibilities of
women in perfect way. Both have to follow the teachings of Quran and authentic
Hadith to become a faithful believer.