Women in Islaam

Previous Injustices to women

Eve is viewed in the old Testament of the Bible as an evil temptress responsible for the fall of Adam and hence responsible for the 'original sin' (Genesis 2:4-3:24). The Bible states: 'Non wickedness comes anywhere near the wickedness of a woman... Sin began with a woman and thanks to her we all must die.' (Ecclesiadtes 25:19,25). Much of the oppression of women that took place of centuries was built upon this false premise that women are inherently evil and misguided.
Late 19th century English Common Law stated that a woman's possessions belonged to her husband. Only in 1887 were woman allowed to own property. Cambridge and Oxford Universities gave equal rights to education for women in 1964. Compare the above to the status and rights of women in Islam that were given to them more than 1400 years ago.

The Spiritual Aspect

In Islaam there is absolutely no difference between men and women as far as their relationship to Almighty God is concerned, as both are promised reward for good conduct and punishment for evil conduct.
Almighty God states in the Qur'aan that was revealed to the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) fourteen hundred years ago:' Muslim men and women, believing me and women, devout men and women, truthful men and women who are patient and men and women who humble themselves, men and women who give in charity, men and women who fast, men and women who guard their chastity, and men and women who engage much in God's remembrance - for them God has prepared forgiveness and a great reward.' (Qur'aan 33:35)

The Social Aspect

At the time of the emergence of Islam it was socially acceptable by the Arabs and most societies to treat women poorly and to favour males. In fact first born females were often killed due to the shame that it would brings upon the families. Even these times, many cultures frowned upon female children and even abort the child in the womb purely on the basis of gender. Islam completely forbids these notions and actively encourages parents to show good treatment to and cultivation of daughters, and God makes that as a cause for entry of good parents into Paradise. Islam made it a part of faith to treat women well. The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) taught, 'The most perfect amongst believers in faith is the best in conduct. And the best of you is the best to his women folk.' The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) himself had daughters, amongst them was Fatima, about whom he would say, ;Whatever hurts my Fatima hurts me.' He also said, 'God has perfected four women: Mary the mother of Jesus, Asiyah the believing wife of the Pharoah, Khadeejah the daughter of Khuwailid and Fatima the daughter of Muhammad (peace be upon him).' These sayings and many more place in the heart of a true believer honor and reverance for belieing women and to regard women in importance.

The Importance of Education

Islam requires that girls are treated kindly and justly and greatly encourages educating them. The Prophet said: 'Seeking of knowledge is obligatory on every Muslim.' The Order to seek knowledge and be educated is aimed equally at both sexes. Many societies see it as shameful to educate females, even some Muslim communities frown upon women being educated. This is wrong and opposes the Quranic texts and the Prophetic tradition. The wife of the Prophet (peace be upon him), Aisha was renowned for her intelligence and Islamic knowledge. Her student Urwah said, 'I did not see a greater scholar than Aisha in the learning of Quran, obligatory duities, lawful and unlawful matters, poetry, literature, Arab history and genealogy.' The great theologian Nawai said about another female disciple, Safiyyah: 'She was the most intellectual among the learned women.' Umm Salamah, a wife of the Prophet (peace be upon him) had at least thirty two great scholars who learned Prophetic traditions from her and then narrated them on her authority. A great scholar Marwan used to say: 'Why should we turn to others when the wives of the Messenger are among us?' The list of learned women in Islam is endless. It shows that women were not kept illiterate and ignorant but were full encouraged to participate in the process of learning Islam and its scholarship for the purpose of being the first teachers to their children. There were instances to show that some women challenge great schiolars of their times if they said something which was against the rights granted to women by the Quran and Sunnah. Muslim women do not only acquire knowledge but also combine it with the high moral qualities that Islam seeks to imbue in the future mothers of mankind. Muslim women should be in a position of knowledge with respect to their religion which will inevitably ward off doubts that are spread against Islam and its position towards women.

Seperating Fact from Fiction