Women status in islam - Essay Example

But this status is not enough for the modern world. Before the advent of Islam, women were treated in a derogatory manner. They were considered mainly as possessions that could be transferred from father to son as inheritance. There was also a prevalent custom where women were burned alive as infants since every family wanted a man rather than a woman. With the emergence of Islam, women got an improved status within the society and thus practices were severely looked down upon. Women were no longer considered as possessions but rather as partners in a marriage.

Islam ensured the women were treated with due respect and kindness. In this regard, Prophet (PBUH) is reported to have said: The Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) on various occasions highlighted on the status of women. He preached that Muslim men should treat their women with respect and kindness. His attitude towards his wife is a testimony of his preaching. Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) married various time for different reasons and in every case, he treated his wives very kindly. None of his wives ever used a negative comment regarding the Prophet (PBUH) and always referred to him the most praiseworthy manner.

Before embarking on the argument of equality between men and women, it should be understood that equality does not mean that these genders should be considered same. They lie of different ends of the spectrum and thus both these genders have their own status. Islam has not made men superior over women; it just provides a clear distinction of the role of the men and women. While men are the breadwinners of the household, women are required to look after the household. The equality between men and women can be judged from a quote that Holy Prophet (PBUH) is reported to have said: ‘All people are equal, as the teeth of a comb.

There is no claim of merit of an Arab and non-Arab, or a white over a black person or a male over a