Women's Rights In Islam Part 1

A very common topic in Islam is women's rights. Some people think women are inferior to men, and they think that the women don't have any rights in Islam nor any personality. They believe she needs to do everything what her father, brother or husband want, and that she can't express her opinion, or else she will be beaten or abused. Well, none of this is true, and Islam came with a great blessing for women. Before Islam, women were in the situation I explained, and they were treated like animals and couldn't own anything. Often female babies were buried because people thought getting a female was a sorrow for the world. However, with Islam all of this changed. The woman got many rights from Allah (subhana wa ta'ala); she could inherit, have her own property, express her opinion, be respected as a wife and mother and have her own personality. Islam was a reform for humankind.

Rights as a sister:

THE QURAN

"... if the man or woman whose inheritance is in question has left neither ascendants nor descendants, but has left a brother or sister, each one of the two gets a sixth; but if more than two, they share a third; after payment of legacies and debts; so that no loss is caused (to anyone). Thus is it ordained by Allah, and Allah is All-Knowing, Most-Forbearing" - Quran 4:12


AHADITH

Ibn Abbas reported that the Holy Prophet (sallalhu 'alayhe wa sallam) said: "If one brings up three daughters or sisters, teaches them good manners and treats them kindly and lovingly till they no longer need his help, Allah will make paradise obligatory for him. One man said: What if he has two? He replied: And he also. Ibn Abbas said that if the people had enquired about one, the Prophet would have said the same thing." [Shariah Sunnah]


Rights as a daughter:

THE QURAN

"Allah thus directs you as regards your children's (inheritance): to the male, a portion equal that of two females: if only daughters, two or more, their share is two thirds of the inheritance, if only one, her share is half." - Quran 4:11

"When news is brought to one of them, of (the birth of) a female (child), his face darkens, and he is filled with inward grief! With shame does he hide himself from his people, because of the bad news he has had! Shall he retain it on (sufferance and) contempt, or bury it in the dust? Ah what an evil (choice) they decide on!" - Quran 16:58-59


AHADITH

'Aisha reported: "A woman came to me, while there were two of her daughters with her. She was begging of me, but found nothing from me except one date which I gave her. She divided it between her two daughters and she herself did take nothing of it. Then she got up and went away. The Holy Prophet came and I informed him (of it). He said: Whoever suffers for anything on account of these daughters and (still) treats them with kindness, they will be a shield for him from Hell. [Bukhari & Muslim]

Ibn Abbas reported that the Messenger of Allah said: "If anybody has got a female child, and then does neither bury her alive, nor treats her unjustly, nor prefers his male children to her, Allah will admit him in Paradise." [Abu Daud]


Rights as a wife:

THE QURAN

"Permitted to you, on the night of the feasts, is the approach to your wives. They are your garments and ye are their garments. Allah knoweth what ye used to do secretly among yourselves: But He turned to you and forgave you." - Quran 2:187

"And women shall have rights similar to the rights against them, according to what is equitable: but men have a degree (of advantage) over them. And Allah is Exalted in Power, Wise." - Quran 2:228

"And give the women (on marriage) their dower as a free gift, but if they, of their own good pleasure, remit any part of it to you, take it and enjoy it with right good cheer." - Quran 4:4

"O ye who believe! ye are forbidden to inherit women against their will. Nor should ye treat them with harshness, that ye may take away part of the dower ye have given them, - except where they have been guilty of open lewdness; on the contrary live with them on a footing of kindness and equity. If ye take a dislike in them, it may be that ye dislike a thing that Allah brings about through it a great deal of good." - Quran 4:19

"And among His signs is this, that He created for you mates from among yourselves, that ye may dwell in tranquility with them, and He has put love and mercy between your (hearts): Verily in that are signs for those who reflect." - Quran 30:21

"Let the women live (in 'iddat) in the same style as ye live, according to your means. Annoy them not, so as to restrict them. And if they carry (life in their wombs), then spend (your substance) on them until they deliver their burden: and if they suckle your (offspring), give them their recompenses: and take mutual counsel together, according to what is just and reasonable. And if ye find yourselves difficulties, let another woman suckle (the child) on the (father's) behalf." - Quran 65:6


AHADITH

Hakim-b Muawiyah from his father reported: "I asked: O Messenger of Allah! what right has the wife of one among us got over him? He said: it is that you shall give her food when you have taken your food, that you shall clothe her when you have clothed yourself, that you shall not slap her on the face, nor revile (her), nor leave (her) alone except within the house." [Ahmad & Abu Daud & Ibn Majah]

Abu Hurairah reported that the Messenger of Allah (sallalahu 'alayhe wa sallam) said: "The most perfect of the believers in faith is he who is the best of them in conduct, and the best of you are those who are the best to their wives." [Tirmizi, approved]

Anas reported that the Messenger of Allah (sallalahu 'alayhe wa sallam) said: "When a woman says her five (daily prayers) and fasts her month, and guards her private parts, and obeys her husband, let her enter Paradise by whichever door she likes." [Abu Nayeem in Hilya]

Abu Hurairah reported that the Messenger of Allah (sallalahu 'alayhe wa sallam) said:"Let no believing man hate a believing woman. If he hates one trait of her character, he shall be pleased with another that is within her." [Muslim]

"Nothing among the choicest blessings of this world is better than a virtuous wife." [Ibn Majah]


Rights as a mother:

THE QURAN

"Thy Lord hath decreed that ye worship none but Him, and that ye be kind to parents. Whether one or both of them attain old age in thy life, say not to them a word of contempt, nor repel them, but address them in terms of honour. And, out of kindness, lower to them the wing of humility, and say: "My Lord! bestow on them Thy mercy even as they cherished me in childhood." - Quran 17:23-24

"(He) hath made me kind to my mother, and not overbearing or miserable." - Quran 19:32

"And We have enjoined on man (to be good) to his parents: In travail upon travail did his mother bear him, and in years twain was his weaning: (hear the command), "Show gratitude to Me and to thy parents: to Me is (thy final) goal." - Quran 31:14


AHADITH

Abu Hurairah reported that a man enquired: "O Apostle of Allah! who is the most proper person for my good association?" "Thy mother", replied he. Then he asked: "Who is next?" "Thy mother", he replied. Then he asked: "Who is next?" "Thy mother" he replied. He enquired: "Who is next?" "Thy father" [Bukhari & Muslim]

Mugirah reported that the Messenger of Allah (sallalahu 'alayhe wa sallam) said: "Allah made unlawful to you disobedience to mothers, burying alive of daughters, and refusing help. And he disliked for you frivolous gossips, frequent questions and squandering property." [Bukhari & Muslim]

Muawiyah-b-Ja'hemah reported that Ja'hemah came to the Messenger of Allah (sallalahu 'alayhe wa sallam): "I intend to join a battle and have come to you for consultation." He enquired: "Have you got mother?" "Yes", he replied. He said: "Then keep near her, because Paradise is at her feet." [Ahmad & Nisai & Baihaqi]

Abu Hurairah reported: "A woman came to the Prophet and said: "My husband intends to go away with my son while he gave me water to drink and and gave me other benefit." The Prophet said: "This is your father and this is your mother. Take the hand of any of them you like." He took the hand of his mother and she went away with him." [Abu Daud & Nisai]


From this we see that women has a lot of rights in Islam, although sadly this is not what we see around the Muslim world today. Many women are deprived of their rights and value, but this is based on culture, not religion. Islam has provided women with many rights, and those who tries to take them away are doing wrong to themselves! Women should be respected throughout her life and she plays an important role in Islam. Allah (subhana wa ta'ala) created men and women to live together in this world and support each other and help each other on equal terms, although they have some different positions due to their biological and mental differences.

The topic will continue ...