“Rights of women” is the most favorite topic of the modern day sympathizers. So many NGOs run solely on this slogan. Interestingly, west has become the champion in raising this slogan and finding “deprived” women in east, more specifically in Islamic world. Non muslim world is largely confused over women rights in islam. In fact, most of the west thinks that women in Islam are burqa clad illiterate stone agers who know nothing. The truth is far from this common perception. First we will see what rights non Muslim world gives to its ladies.
In the western world ( and all the non Muslim world inclusive), women are now thought to be equal to men but just a century ago, this was nowhere to see. In non Islamic world, the most importance Is given to men and not women. The religions other then Islam are silent about most of the things where women should have had a part. For example, women have no property rights i.e. they cannot have a share of property in their parents or relatives’s properties after their death. Similarly, there are no defined rules in most religions about the rights of a wife on her share in the property of husband. Most religions are silent about women education. In fact till late 20th century, women could not get education like men. There are no proper marital rights for women in most religions.
For example, in Judaism, a girl as young as three years old can be wed and the wedding can be consummated at this tender age. Similarly, Christianity does not say anything about the marital rights of a woman. Her consent in not required in marriage nor is she asked about marriage. Women in the religions other than Islam are considered not more than animals who cannot have their wishes or opinion in any matter. Religion itself has never been considered a part where a woman could speak or her opinion could be taken. Education is not a thing for women in most religions. All the rights the modern day women have now are mostly taken from Islam. And they have been imposed because of the feminism not because of women honor. West is still the darkest place for women to live just like most of the non Muslim world. The modern day women are considered equal to men so they are treated like men, they are losing their identity in the wake of feminism.
Islam is way too different than these religions. Before islam, women were not even treated like animals. First, they could not live if they were not desired. They were considered only a machine for reproduction. Any man could leave and retake his wife just like that. But islam changed all this. the famous philosopher, dr. Muhammad Iqbal, after reading about women rights in Quran said that I might have assumed that this book has been given for women. Such are the rights a woman enjoys in islam.
First of all, education is a must for muslim women. There is no difference between a boy and a girl when it comes to upbringing. Islam gives the level of respect to women which the non muslim and modern world can only imagine.
A mother is given the status of love, respect and honor for her children thrice more than father as per a sahih hadith. A wife cannot be treated as a goat. She enjoys full rights over her husband. If he misbehaves or mistreats her, she has the right to leave him. If she is not willing to marry someone, she cannot be forced. A daughter has her share in her father’s property and that share totally belongs to her unlike the share of men which they have to share further. Similarly, a wife is paid dowry by husband to make the marriage lawful. And she has property rights in her husband’s property as well. It is mentioned in glorious Quran;
Islam gives importance to women. Islam makes it a must to respect women. Islam forbids treating women in un-honorable way. And yes, Islam says men and women are same and equal but at the same time they possess different set of qualities that they other does not have. The last words of our beloved prophet Muhammad pbuh were to treat women nicely. Imagine that if Prophet Muhammad pbuh told the ummah to treat women nicely, then what importance it is to behave with women nicely and what sin it would be if they are considered no more than animals. The following ahadith explain the subject as follows;
In the western world ( and all the non Muslim world inclusive), women are now thought to be equal to men but just a century ago, this was nowhere to see. In non Islamic world, the most importance Is given to men and not women. The religions other then Islam are silent about most of the things where women should have had a part. For example, women have no property rights i.e. they cannot have a share of property in their parents or relatives’s properties after their death. Similarly, there are no defined rules in most religions about the rights of a wife on her share in the property of husband. Most religions are silent about women education. In fact till late 20th century, women could not get education like men. There are no proper marital rights for women in most religions.
For example, in Judaism, a girl as young as three years old can be wed and the wedding can be consummated at this tender age. Similarly, Christianity does not say anything about the marital rights of a woman. Her consent in not required in marriage nor is she asked about marriage. Women in the religions other than Islam are considered not more than animals who cannot have their wishes or opinion in any matter. Religion itself has never been considered a part where a woman could speak or her opinion could be taken. Education is not a thing for women in most religions. All the rights the modern day women have now are mostly taken from Islam. And they have been imposed because of the feminism not because of women honor. West is still the darkest place for women to live just like most of the non Muslim world. The modern day women are considered equal to men so they are treated like men, they are losing their identity in the wake of feminism.
Islam is way too different than these religions. Before islam, women were not even treated like animals. First, they could not live if they were not desired. They were considered only a machine for reproduction. Any man could leave and retake his wife just like that. But islam changed all this. the famous philosopher, dr. Muhammad Iqbal, after reading about women rights in Quran said that I might have assumed that this book has been given for women. Such are the rights a woman enjoys in islam.
First of all, education is a must for muslim women. There is no difference between a boy and a girl when it comes to upbringing. Islam gives the level of respect to women which the non muslim and modern world can only imagine.
A mother is given the status of love, respect and honor for her children thrice more than father as per a sahih hadith. A wife cannot be treated as a goat. She enjoys full rights over her husband. If he misbehaves or mistreats her, she has the right to leave him. If she is not willing to marry someone, she cannot be forced. A daughter has her share in her father’s property and that share totally belongs to her unlike the share of men which they have to share further. Similarly, a wife is paid dowry by husband to make the marriage lawful. And she has property rights in her husband’s property as well. It is mentioned in glorious Quran;
“and live with them honorably”
[al-Nisa’ 4:19]
“And they (women) have rights similar (to those of their husbands) over them to what is reasonable, but men have a degree (of responsibility) over them. And Allaah is All-Mighty, All-Wise”A woman can marry someone she likes and if her wali pressurizes her on this, she can simply go to the qazi and get married. Even in matter of deen, we have ample examples of women who contributed to the fiqh. Ayesha r.a, the mother of believers, reported thousands of sahih ahadith and after the departure of our beloved prophet Muhammad pbuh, companions used to go to her for help. The famous muslim faqeeh, imam abu hanifah’s daughter gave the best explanation of why women cannot marry more than one husband at one time. Her wisdom made an extremely complex matter very easy.
[al-Baqarah 2:228]
Islam gives importance to women. Islam makes it a must to respect women. Islam forbids treating women in un-honorable way. And yes, Islam says men and women are same and equal but at the same time they possess different set of qualities that they other does not have. The last words of our beloved prophet Muhammad pbuh were to treat women nicely. Imagine that if Prophet Muhammad pbuh told the ummah to treat women nicely, then what importance it is to behave with women nicely and what sin it would be if they are considered no more than animals. The following ahadith explain the subject as follows;
“I urge you to treat women well.” Narrated by al-Bukhaari, 331; Muslim, 1468.And the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said:
“The best of you is the one who is best to his wife, and I am the best of you to my wives.” Narrated by al-Tirmidhi, 3895; Ibn Maajah, 1977; classed as saheeh by al-Albaani in Saheeh al-Tirmidhi.Therefore, the misconceptions some people are spreading about Islam, specifically targeting women, they are all based on lies and they have no reality.