Understanding Islam (Women in Islam)
The United Nations just copied us. Islam does not oppress women, as some people think. The fundamental human rights guaranteed in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights declaration, that was adopted on December 10, 1948 by the General Assembly of the United Nations, are already found in the Holy Quran. In fact, Islam gives women a number of rights, some of which were not enjoyed by Western women until the 19th century. The
Qur'an has much to say both ABOUT women, and TO women. One Surah is
called `Women', another is named after Maryam the mother of Jesus
(pbuh).
1400 years back, Islam gave women the right to own and dispose property and earnings without any guardianship
over her, the right to be educated, to go out for work, to choose their
husbands, to keep their own family names, to inherit, and many more. Until
1882, the property of women in England was given to their husbands when
they married, but Muslim women always retained their own assets. Muslim
women could specify conditions in their marriage contracts, such as the
right to divorce should their husband take another wife. Also, Muslim
women in many countries keep their own last name after marriage.
The Quran explicitly states that men and women are equal in the eyes of God. Furthermore, the Quran:
- forbids female infanticide
- instructs Muslims to educate daughters as well as sons
- insists that women have the right to refuse a prospective husband
- gives women rights if they are divorced by their husband
- gives women the right to divorce in certain cases
- gives women the right to own and inherit property
Some women in Muslim societies have been prominent political actors. Female relatives of the Prophet Muhammad
were particularly important in the early Muslim community because they
knew his practice and teachings so well. Other women came to power
through fathers or husbands. Still others wielded power behind the
scenes.
- Aisha, the favored wife of Muhammad, had great political clout and even participated in battle (the Battle of Camel).
- Razia was a Muslim woman ruler of 13th-century India.
- Amina was a 16th-century queen of Zaria in present-day Nigeria.
- Shajarat al-Durr was briefly sultan in Mamluk Egypt, but was the power behind the throne for even longer.
- The so-called "sultanate of women" in the Ottoman Empire during the 17th century was a period when several strong women had enormous power over affairs of state.
- Huda Shaarawi, who became famous for discarding her face veil, also established a women's political party and worked for Egyptian independence from Britain in the first half of the 20th century.
The veil is often seen in the West as a symbol of Muslim women's
subordinate position in society, but its meaning and use vary enormously
in Muslim societies.
- The Quran directs both men and women to dress modestly, but the actual interpretation and implementation of this rule varies enormously.
- Historically, the veil has been related to social class, not religion. The veil was first adopted from pre-Islamic Byzantine and Persian customs. In most areas, poor and rural women have covered themselves less than urban and elite women.
- Within Islam, head coverings (hijab) vary by culture. They range from loose scarves to veils and full-length coverings, such as the burqa worn by many Afghan women. There is also a new style called "Islamic dress," in which a loose coat is worn with a scarf tied over the hair. Covering of the face was more common in the past than it is today, more so in some regions than others. Head covering is not solely a facet of Islam, however, and women of many cultures and religions cover their heads in different ways.
- Veiling rules vary from country to country. In the modern period, strict laws about women's dress are often used to emphasize the religious orientation of a particular government, as in Iran or Saudi Arabia. On the other hand, Turkey does not allow women to wear the veil in public offices or universities because the Turkish state is committed to a more secular identity. The veil is also discouraged in Tunisia. In all cases, many citizens are dissatisfied with the law.
By
specifying clear cut entitlement and specific shares of female
relatives, Islam not only elevated the position of women but
simultaneously safeguarded their social and economic interests as long
ago as 1400 years. The Quran contains only three verses [4:11, 4:12 and
4:176] which give specific details of inheritance shares. Using the
information in these verses together with the traditions of the Prophet
Muhammad (SAWS) as well as methods of juristic reasoning, the Muslims
jurists have expounded the laws of inheritance in such meticulous detail
that large volumes of work have been written on this subject. The law of inheritance has been given in the Qur'an in Surah Al-Nisaa (the fourth chapter) verses 11 & 12 and then in verse 176. The translation of the related portions of these verses (is given below:
يُوصِيكُمُ
اللَّهُ فِي أَوْلَادِكُمْ ۖ لِلذَّكَرِ مِثْلُ حَظِّ الْأُنثَيَيْنِ ۚ
فَإِن كُنَّ نِسَاءً فَوْقَ اثْنَتَيْنِ فَلَهُنَّ ثُلُثَا مَا تَرَكَ ۖ
وَإِن كَانَتْ وَاحِدَةً فَلَهَا النِّصْفُ ۚ وَلِأَبَوَيْهِ لِكُلِّ
وَاحِدٍ مِّنْهُمَا السُّدُسُ مِمَّا تَرَكَ إِن كَانَ لَهُ وَلَدٌ ۚ فَإِن
لَّمْ يَكُن لَّهُ وَلَدٌ وَوَرِثَهُ أَبَوَاهُ فَلِأُمِّهِ الثُّلُثُ ۚ
فَإِن كَانَ لَهُ إِخْوَةٌ فَلِأُمِّهِ السُّدُسُ ۚ مِن بَعْدِ وَصِيَّةٍ
يُوصِي بِهَا أَوْ دَيْنٍ ۗ آبَاؤُكُمْ وَأَبْنَاؤُكُمْ لَا تَدْرُونَ
أَيُّهُمْ أَقْرَبُ لَكُمْ نَفْعًا ۚ فَرِيضَةً مِّنَ اللَّهِ ۗ إِنَّ
اللَّهَ كَانَ عَلِيمًا حَكِيمًا (11)
""Allah
(swt) (thus) directs you as regards your children's (inheritance): to
the male, a portion equal to that of two females, if only daughters, two
or more, their share is two-thirds of the inheritance; If only one,
her share is a half. For parents, a sixth share of the inheritance to
each, if the deceased left children; If no children, and the parents are
the (only) heirs, the mother has a third; if the deceased left brothers
(or sisters) the mother has a sixth. (The distribution in all cases is)
after the payment of legacies and debts. Ye know not whether your
parents or your children are nearest to you in benefit. These are
settled portions ordained by Allah; and Allah is All-Knowing, All-Wise." (4:11)
وَلَكُمْ
نِصْفُ مَا تَرَكَ أَزْوَاجُكُمْ إِن لَّمْ يَكُن لَّهُنَّ وَلَدٌ ۚ فَإِن
كَانَ لَهُنَّ وَلَدٌ فَلَكُمُ الرُّبُعُ مِمَّا تَرَكْنَ ۚ مِن بَعْدِ
وَصِيَّةٍ يُوصِينَ بِهَا أَوْ دَيْنٍ ۚ وَلَهُنَّ الرُّبُعُ مِمَّا
تَرَكْتُمْ إِن لَّمْ يَكُن لَّكُمْ وَلَدٌ ۚ فَإِن كَانَ لَكُمْ وَلَدٌ
فَلَهُنَّ الثُّمُنُ مِمَّا تَرَكْتُم ۚ مِّن بَعْدِ وَصِيَّةٍ تُوصُونَ
بِهَا أَوْ دَيْنٍ ۗ وَإِن كَانَ رَجُلٌ يُورَثُ كَلَالَةً أَوِ امْرَأَةٌ
وَلَهُ أَخٌ أَوْ أُخْتٌ فَلِكُلِّ وَاحِدٍ مِّنْهُمَا السُّدُسُ ۚ فَإِن
كَانُوا أَكْثَرَ مِن ذَٰلِكَ فَهُمْ شُرَكَاءُ فِي الثُّلُثِ ۚ مِن بَعْدِ
وَصِيَّةٍ يُوصَىٰ بِهَا أَوْ دَيْنٍ غَيْرَ مُضَارٍّ ۚ وَصِيَّةً مِّنَ
اللَّهِ ۗ وَاللَّهُ عَلِيمٌ حَلِيمٌ (12)
"In
what your wives leave, your share is half. If they leave no child; but
if they leave a child, ye get a fourth; after payment of legacies and
debts. In what ye leave, their share is a fourth, if ye leave no child; but if ye
leave a child, they get an eight; after payment of legacies and debts.
If the man or woman whose inheritance is in question, has left neither
ascendants nor descendants, but has left a brother or a sister, each one
of the two gets a sixth; but if more than two, they share in a third;
after payment of legacies and debts; so that no loss is caused (to
anyone). Thus it is ordained by Allah; and Allah is All-Knowing Most
Forbearing." (4:12)
يَسْتَفْتُونَكَ
قُلِ اللَّهُ يُفْتِيكُمْ فِي الْكَلَالَةِ ۚ إِنِ امْرُؤٌ هَلَكَ لَيْسَ
لَهُ وَلَدٌ وَلَهُ أُخْتٌ فَلَهَا نِصْفُ مَا تَرَكَ ۚ وَهُوَ يَرِثُهَا
إِن لَّمْ يَكُن لَّهَا وَلَدٌ ۚ فَإِن كَانَتَا اثْنَتَيْنِ فَلَهُمَا
الثُّلُثَانِ مِمَّا تَرَكَ ۚ وَإِن كَانُوا إِخْوَةً رِّجَالًا وَنِسَاءً
فَلِلذَّكَرِ مِثْلُ حَظِّ الْأُنثَيَيْنِ ۗ يُبَيِّنُ اللَّهُ لَكُمْ أَن
تَضِلُّوا ۗ وَاللَّهُ بِكُلِّ شَيْءٍ عَلِيمٌ (176)
"They
ask thee for a legal decision. Say: Allah directs (them) about those
who leave no descendants or ascendants as heirs. If it is a man that
dies, leaving a sister but no child, she shall have half the
inheritance. If (such a deceased was) a woman who left no child, Her
brother takes her inheritance. If there are two sisters, they shall have
two thirds of the inheritance (between them). If there are brothers and
sisters, (they share), the male having twice the share of the female.
Thus doth Allah (swt) makes clear to you (His knowledge of all things)." (4:176)
In Islam a woman has no financial obligation and the economical
responsibility lies on the shoulders of the man. Before a woman is
married it is the duty of the father or brother to look after the
lodging, boarding, clothing and other financial requirements of the
woman. After she is married it is the duty of the husband or the son. Islam holds the man financially responsible for fulfilling the needs of his family.
When
we look at the basis of the religion, the Quran, we see a very
different picture. In the Quran God makes it very clear that men and
women are equal. For example, in Sura Al-Ahzaab,
إِنَّ الْمُسْلِمِينَ وَالْمُسْلِمَاتِ وَالْمُؤْمِنِينَ وَالْمُؤْمِنَاتِ وَالْقَانِتِينَ وَالْقَانِتَاتِ وَالصَّادِقِينَ وَالصَّادِقَاتِ وَالصَّابِرِينَ وَالصَّابِرَاتِ وَالْخَاشِعِينَ وَالْخَاشِعَاتِ وَالْمُتَصَدِّقِينَ وَالْمُتَصَدِّقَاتِ وَالصَّائِمِينَ وَالصَّائِمَاتِ وَالْحَافِظِينَ فُرُوجَهُمْ وَالْحَافِظَاتِ وَالذَّاكِرِينَ اللَّهَ كَثِيرًا وَالذَّاكِرَاتِ أَعَدَّ اللَّهُ لَهُم مَّغْفِرَةً وَأَجْرًا عَظِيمًا (35)
"The submitting men, the submitting women, the believing men, the believing women, the obedient men, the obedient women, the truthful men, the truthful women, the steadfast men, the steadfast women, the reverent men, the reverent women, the charitable men, the charitable women, the fasting men, the fasting women, the chaste men, the chaste women, and the men who commemorate God frequently, and the commemorating women; God has prepared for them forgiveness and a great recompense." (33:35)
And in Sura Al-Ghaafir,
مَنْ عَمِلَ سَيِّئَةً فَلَا يُجْزَىٰ إِلَّا مِثْلَهَا ۖ وَمَنْ عَمِلَ صَالِحًا مِّن ذَكَرٍ أَوْ أُنثَىٰ وَهُوَ مُؤْمِنٌ فَأُولَٰئِكَ يَدْخُلُونَ الْجَنَّةَ يُرْزَقُونَ فِيهَا بِغَيْرِ حِسَابٍ (40)
"Whoever commits a sin is requited for just that, and whoever works righteousness - male or female - while believing, these will enter Paradise wherein they receive provisions without any limits." (40:40)
Hence, Islam further confirms that both men and women are equal in the sight of God. Also, the Prophet PBUH said:
وعن أنس رضي الله عنه عن النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم قال: “مَنْ عَالَ جَارِيَتَيْنِ حَتَّى تَبْلُغَا جَاءَ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ أَنَا وَهُوَ وَضَمَّ أَصَابِعَهُ " وضم أصابعه.((رواه مسلم)).
'Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Prophet (PBUH) said, “Whoever supports two girls till they attain maturity, he and I will come on the Day of Resurrection like this.” The Messenger of Allah (PBUH) joined his fingers illustrating this.'
[Muslim]
This is a glad tiding to all of you, whoever has two daughters whom he rears according to Islam, looks after, and be good to, is granted paradise.
وعن عائشة رضي الله عنها قالت:
"دخلت علي امرأة ومعها ابنتان لها تسأل ، فلم تجد عندي شيئا غير تمرة واحدة، فأعطيتها إياها فقسمتها بين ابنتيها ولم تأكل منها، ثم قامت فخرجت، فدخل النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم علينا، فأخبرته فقال: "مَنْ ابْتُلِيَ مِنْ هَذِهِ الْبَنَاتِ بِشَيْءٍ كُنَّ لَهُ سِتْرًا مِنْ النَّارِ" ((متفق عليه))
'Aishah (May Allah be pleased with her) reported:
A woman came to me with her two daughters. She asked me (for charity) but she found nothing with me except one date-fruit, so I gave it to her. She accepted it and then divided it between her two daughters and herself ate nothing out of that. She then got up and went out. When Messenger of Allah (PBUH) came in, and I narrated to him the story, he said, She/he who is involved (in the responsibility) of (bringing up/nurturing) daughters, and he is benevolent towards them, they would become protection for him against Hell-fire". [Al-Bukhari and Muslim].
So, to conclude, these are the ideals to which Muslim women can aspire and frequently have done in the past. In a truly Islamic society, they are guaranteed
- personal respect,
- respectable married status,
- legitimacy and maintenance for their children,
- the right to negotiate marriage terms of their choice,
- to refuse any marriage that does not please them,
- the right to obtain divorce from their husbands, even on the grounds that they can't stand them,
- custody of their children after divorce,
- independent property of their own,
- the right and duty to obtain education,
- the right to work if they need or want it,
- equality of reward for equal deeds,
- the right to participate fully in public life and have their voices heard by those in power, and much more besides.
