Women's Status Today And In The Past

(Rameez Ahmad Taquee, Delhi)

Women are generally considered to be most beautiful and divine gift for human society. Nothing is more attractive blessing besides women in this world. Women's affection is the reflection of Allah's divine mercy, hence a man needs peace and prosperous life in the world and there is no complete relief except the lap of the women in the world,

Despite these beautiful attributes the women of society has been oppressed since centuries. Here it may strike your minds that a thing which is an apple of the eyes of a society, how could it be a mote of the eyes? For instance, in China it was believed that women are spooks and due to them the conflicts are spreading in society. Japanese behaved with them as they are half-human and have nothing to do with the reality and minds, which causes evil in human societies.
Jews used to behave with them as they would with animals and they had always maintained distance from then in their menstrual periods and they separated their food and beds during those days, as if they were lifeless or useless things. As far as Hinduism is concerned, it was their custom to cremate the women with their husband's crops and if anyone did not do so, they were considered sinful, in another word in Hinduism they were considered as they have no existence except for their husbands. It was a great challenge to the society and its self-made laws for women to get married or men to marry widows.

These communities have framed self-made laws to oppress women in every period of human history. Women were being considered un-lucky in Arabia in pre-Islamic times. They would be buried alive, and they had no rights on their fathers’ property and it was very shameful act to adopt any one as a daughter-in-law, rather than they had not been just a thing for men’s lusts. Even today the women survive in abominable conditions and they are treated as they are mere commodities for men’s interest. They are raped physically and mentally and their decency and reputation are in tatters.

In fact whenever a man became far away from Allah's divine orders, these unnatural things occur in society, and it is a grim fact that when Islam came out, it wiped out all these revolting things and revived women’s status. It breathed peace and contentment in the shade of Islam. Hence Islam says, if woman is your sister, she is your reputation, if she your daughter, she is your decency, if she is your mother, paradise is under her feet, she is your colleague, life partner and close friend if she is your wife; Allahu Akbar, Allah is the Greatest!

Once Hazrat Ayesha (ra) reported that the prophet of Allah (saws) said: " The person who was tested with the birth of a daughter and he would be patient with her, they will be protected from Jahannam (Hell)".

Hazrat Saeed Al-Khudri said that the prophet Muhammad (saws) said: "Whoever has three daughters, or three sisters, or two daughters, or two sisters and he keeps good company with them and fears Allah regarding them, then Paradise is for him".

Also Abu Bakr bin 'Ubaidullah bin Anas bin Malik narrates from Anas Bin Malik that the Messenger of Allah said: "Whoever raises two girls then I and he will enter Paradise like these two." And he indicated with his two fingers.

(All These three narrations reported by Imam Tirmizi, Chapter: What Has Been Related About Spending on Daughters And Sisters)

Can you imagine that what Islam gave the status to women in the society? Is there any thought or ideology that can match Islamic views regarding women? And is there anything bigger than what Islam has announced that the Paradise lied under mother's feet. He said: “The best of you are those who are best to the women.” Islam taught them how to grow up in every sphere of life and declared everything for them regarding their rights very clearly and it made men their guardians and protectors so that both of them could safeguard humanity.

Really it is in Islam that they found life for living, while they were being killed. It is fact that it is Islam, that condemned sati and gave them right to get married. Being a widow was a living death in Hinduism and no longer were they known as having half spirit, or that they were half-human and having no right upon their father's properties.

Islam announced:" And do not wish for that by which Allah has made some of you exceed others. For men is a share of what they have earned, and for women is a share of what they have earned. And ask Allah of his bounty. Indeed Allah is ever, of all things, Knowing." (Surah Al-Nisa:32). Also she will be the partner in their father's properties among brothers, as Allah says in the glorious Qura'n: "Allah instructs you concerning your children: for the male, what is equal to the share of two females. But if there are (only) daughters, two or more, for them is two thirds of one's estate. And if there is only one, for her is half." (Surah Al-nisa:11)

In reality as Islam declared men’s rights upon women on the other hand it commanded men to fulfill their duties regarding them. Time and again the prophet Muhammad asked the Muslims to act with them politely, kind-heartedly and guided men in its several commandments and teachings. Here some of us raise questions against Islam that it has banned women from getting knowledge. This is totally based on ignorance and prejudice with the reference to Islamic teachings and commandments, because it has a complete code of life both for males and females.

As far as education is concerned, Islam makes it mandatory for its every follower to seek knowledge, as the Allah's apostle said:" "Seeking knowledge is a duty upon every Muslim,", furthermore the glorious Qur'an questions the Muslims by saying: "Say, are those who know equal to those who do not know? Only they will remember (who are) people of understanding.” (Surah Al-Zumar: 9)

Today some so-called thinkers point out upon the veils, that is a restriction in Islam, but it must be noted here that it is the highest status of human civilization and protects women from evils. And they do not see at once a child took birth, he would be naked, but their family cover him with curtains. And it's a common thought that the men and women have different bodies and their sight stimulates desire, which leads them to troubles, and Islam protects them against evils and orders them to cover their bodies.
 

Rameez Ahmad Taquee
About the Author: Rameez Ahmad Taquee Read More Articles by Rameez Ahmad Taquee: 89 Articles with 73394 views Currently, no details found about the author. If you are the author of this Article, Please update or create your Profile here.