Women are treasured in Islam

It is said that in order to survive in this evolving world we need to change, we need to stand out for our rights. Or else we will be the next dinosaurs to vanish away from this world – says a group of women who stand for FEMINISM. So what is this feminism? What these group of feminist wants to achieve?  A deep research indicated in short that, feminism is all about having equal rights to men. Setting MEN as a standard for the liberation of women. We all know by nature all human beings are flawed, including men. Are these women in the western world, really want to benchmark their standard to another flawed human species? 

True that no woman should be oppressed. No woman deserves to be ill-treated.  No woman needs to live in the fear of rejection because of their gender. Women are wonderful humans. Beautiful creatures of God.

The Holy Prophet (Peace Be Upon Him) stated:

"Treat women well, for they have been created from a rib.  The rib is most curved in its upper part so that if you try to straighten it out, it will break, but if you leave it as it is, it will remain intact.  Therefore, follow my advice on giving fair treatment to women"

(Sahih Bukhari, Kitab An-Nikah)

Yes, even Islam speaks very highly about women. It gives a status to women which no other religion, cast or any society has ever given. But sadly the world says, women are oppressed in Islam. Women need to be free from the shackles of Islam. But let me tell you, as a Muslim woman I enjoy the status Islam has given me. In Islam I am respected, I am protected, I am heard, and I am free and powerful

Yes, I am respected for who I am. For the nature of me as a woman. It is proved in science and all the worldly measures as well that women are different than men. We have a different mechanism. Our physical, mental, emotional strengths are varied. True that men and women are equal in status, as human beings, and as an individual. But fundamentally women and men are different. Thus when it comes to rights, duties, responsibilities, women reflect differences. And women are respected for this difference in Islam.

"And the male is not like the female". [Al Quran: 3:36]

In the western world, the equality of a woman is linked to the standards and goals set by men, and encourage females to adopt and adhere to the attributes of male counterparties. To think like men, to walk like men, to work like men, to live like men. The western world calls its liberty to adopt a lifestyle of a man. Yes, indeed it is great for a woman to have a career path. A clearly set goal, a target to achieve, a company to lead. But Islam encourages women to operate in a safe environment. By stepping into the career path, a vacuum should not be created at home. Most of the time what happens is when a woman adopts a lifestyle of a man, she played a dual role. She plays a role of a man in the corporate world also as a role of a homemaker back at home. In the process of obtaining her freedom, a woman has become a ‘new age man’ in the western world.

So how Islam does differs from this stand? Islam highly values a woman’s role as a mother, daughter and a wife. When a woman has adopted a life outside her home for practical needs, then that work is highly valued and considered as she is performing a great favor for her family. And this receives great respect from her family and society at large and also it will earn her great rewards in the hereafter as well.

Once the Holy Prophet (saw) was asked by a Companion who is entitled to be treated the best by him.  The Holy Prophet replied "your mother".  The Companion asked and after that?  The Holy Prophet replied "your mother". The Companion again asked and after that?  He replied "your mother".  Only after being questioned the fourth time did the Holy Prophet reply "your father". (Sahih Bukhari – Kitab-al-adab).

Women are protected – there is no other religion which gives protection to women other than Islam. Even though women are very well capable of taking care of themselves, Islam places an additional security, additional layer of responsibility on men to make sure their women are well guarded. Islam has asked our women to cover themselves. And the world label it to be oppression. Let me ask you a question. If the rest of the world has a liberty to walk naked on the street, why another can’t have the liberty to cover herself? Why the world place a double standard? Islam highly appreciates the modesty. It is not an oppression, it is a protection. Women are not mere commercial properties where anyone and everyone can enjoy her beauty. Rather she is a precious gem which needs to be protected. Which need to be appreciated.

A couple of weeks ago the hype in the world was the Royal Wedding. Everyone was in love with the newly married couple. All the rules set by the royal family to the new bride from another country was accepted by everyone. The world is ready to accept the rules and regulations set by Royal family but when a Muslim woman accept and adhere to a set of rules in Islam, is called oppression. How fair is the world? Islam considers every woman as a queen. Every woman as precious thus every woman needs to be protected.

"Men are the protectors and maintainers of women" [Al Quran: 4:34]

Women are heard –Islam gives a voice to the woman. She is able to stand up for own marriage. If anyone has said that a woman has no rights over her marriage and divorce, let me tell you that no other religion has given the freedom to a woman like Islam. A woman cannot be forced for her marriage nor for her divorce. She doesn’t need to stand up for her right. Her rights are set by default. No men have the reins to hold back a woman into something she doesn’t like.

Khansa Bint Khidam said “My father married me to his nephew, and I did not like this match, so I complained to the Messenger of Allah (May Allah bless him and grant him peace). He said to me “accept what your father has arranged.” I said, “I do not wish to accept what my father has arranged.”

He said, “then this marriage is invalid, go and marry whomever you wish.” I said “I have accepted what my father has arranged, but I wanted women to know that fathers have no right in their daughter’s matters (i.e. they have no right to force a marriage on them). (Fathul Bari Sharah Al Bukhari 9/194, Ibn Majah Kitabun Nikah 1/602)

Al-Bukhari (5273) narrated from Ibn ‘Abbaas (may Allaah be pleased with him) that the wife of Thaabit ibn Qays came to the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) and said: “O Messenger of Allaah, I do not find any fault with Thaabit ibn Qays in his character or his religious commitment, but I do not want to commit any act of kufr after becoming a Muslim.” The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said to her, “Will you give back his garden?” Because he had given her a garden as her Mahr. She said, “Yes.” The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said to Thaabit: “Take back your garden and divorce her.

As a Muslim woman, she has a right to an inheritance for property too. The law of inheritance of a woman in the western world emerged a century ago. But Islam gave this right for women 14 centuries ago. True that Islam has a different weight of inheritance for men and women. This difference is because of practical observation and the financial commitments that men bear over women. It is an obligation on men to provide for their family. If a woman possesses wealth, she doesn’t need to spend it on her family. She has the complete freedom to spend it as per her own wish and desires. If she wishes to spend it on her family then it is considered as she is doing a favor and will be rewarded for that deed whereas it is not the case with men.

Also, women in Islam are free and powerful. Hazarth Kadhija (Peace Be Upon Her), first wife of Prophet Muhammed (Peace Be Upon Him) was a successful business owner and her husband was an employee of her. Hazrat Aisha (Peace Be Upon Her), wife of Prophet Muhammed (Peace Be Upon Him) was a great scholar and she has been a mentor for many powerful men. Hazarth Sumayyah bint Khayyat (Peace Be Upon Her), was the first woman to be a martyr in Islam and she showed amazing courage in front of those powerful men of Quraish. Nusayba bin. Ka‘b al-Anṣārīyya (Peace Be Upon Her), who carried sword and shield and fought against the Kuffars in the battle of Uhad. She shielded the Prophet Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him), from enemies during the battle and even sustained several lance wounds and arrows as she cast herself in front of him to protect him. Khawla b. al-Azwar (Peace Be Upon Her), another contemporary woman at the time of the Prophet Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him) and she is best known for her participation in the Battle of Yarmuk against the Byzantines and described her as having the skill and fighting ability of the famed Muslim general Khālid ibn al-Walīd (Peace Be Upon Him).

These wonderful superwomen have proved that Islam doesn’t restraint women from reaching their heights, rather Islam encourages and empowers women to excel in their chosen field by being modest and adhering to the rules set by the religion. Islam wants to protect, support and take care of the women folks.

Yes, women are unique in her own way. Islam has raised her status so high that the heaven lies under her feet.  An entire chapter in the Holy Quran was reveled for women. An entire Chapter was dedicated in the Holy Quran to narrate the tale of a pious woman - Hazarath Maryam (Peace Be Upon Her), mother of Prophet Isa (Peace Be Upon Him). It was for men Islam orders to lower their gaze upon women before it commands woman to cover themselves. 

So a woman never needs to benchmark her values to a man. There is no such thing as equality for women by taking a man as a standard. The status given to a woman by Islam is far more superior than any equality crap this western world is talking about. 

Enjoy being a woman. Enjoy spreading compassion. Enjoy by raising an entire generation.