Rights of Women in Islam - Research Paper Example

Women’s Rights in Islam Over many centuries ago, Islam established women’s rights. The issue of women’s rights in Islam has been one of the most debated and misinterpreted part of the Qur’an due somewhat to a lack of knowledge, but also somewhat because of the misconduct of several Muslims which has been understood as an embodiment of the Islamic traditions. Islamic history, the Sunnah, and the Qur’an offer abundant evidence of women taking part in different kinds of political endeavors to participating in warfare to exerting an influential voice in political decisions. Social responsibility among Muslims originated from the Qur’anic scripture which says: “And [as for] the believers, both men and women—they are friends and protectors of one another: they [all] enjoin the doing of what is right and forbid the doing of what is wrong, and are constant in prayer, and render the purifying dues, and pay heed unto God and His apostle. It is they upon whom God will bestow His grace: verily, God is almighty, wise.”i The above Qur’anic verse indicates that men and women are to cooperate with one another in the educational and political sphere (they should understand God’s commandments and have an influence in society to actualize God’s wisdom), in the social sphere (helping the poor and the disadvantaged), and in the religious sphere (prayer). These required tasks mentioned in the verse reveal that both men and women are to actively take part in society instead of simply being submissive or indifferent. Participation in the political realm is a way to accomplish one’s duties to society. Political participation can be carried out in various ways, from voting, to occupying a position as a magistrate or lawmaker, to being a national leader. Islam offers examples for each of these positions, roles, and duties for women. How Islam Safeguards Women’s Rights Within the spiritual realm, Islam does not distinguish between men and women. According to the Qur’an, men and women have to fulfill the same objective—both will receive rewards or punishments based on their personal deeds, both will be tried by God, and both have an obligation to live up to their religious duties. Every time the Qur’an specifies those blessed people who will be accepted to the Garden of Bliss due to their goodness, piousness, and virtue, it cites both men and women: “And whoever does righteous good deeds, male or female, and is a (true) believer [in the Oneness of Allah (Muslim)], such will enter Paradise and not the least injustice, even to the size of a Naqira (speck on the back of a date stone), will be done to them.”ii Another verse that testify to the rights of women as an equal of men are as follows: “Whoever works righteousness—whether male or female—while he (or she) is a true believer (of Islamic Monotheism) verily, to him We will give a good life (in this world with respect, contentment and lawful provision), and We shall pay them certainly a reward in proportion to the best of what they used to do (i.e., Paradise in the Hereafter).”iii Basically speaking, Islam appeared with a teaching that was radical during the olden times. It raised the status of the marginalized, the destitute, and the disadvantaged in society. For women, this implied freedom from oppression, such as female infanticide, and asserted gender equality in the religious, social, and political realms. Although these may not appear extraordinary assertions today, they led to a revolutionary change in lives, perspectives, and understanding within the first Islamic societies. There are numerous tough, honorable, and self-reliant women in the early days of Islam that have become widely popular icons and examples for Muslim women of different generations. The Muhammad family’s women are still celebrated and admired today—Khadija, the wife of the Prophet, was an economically independent entrepreneur. Marriage Islam values marriage as a blessed union between a man and woman. A popular verse in the Qur’an talks about marriage: “Among His signs is that He created for you spouses from yourselves so that you might find repose with them. And He has placed between you affection and mercy. In that there are certainly signs for people who reflect.”iv Generally, marriage in Islam is discussed in a lyrical way explaining the shared rights and love that are present between man and woman. Islam strongly emphasizes mutual respect and love between husband and wife. Husbands are clearly instructed to value their wives with respect, generosity, and compassion. It was written that Prophet Muhammad declared: “The most perfect in faith amongst believers is he who is best in manners and kindest to his wife.”v In Islam, accommodation, spending, and dowry are the financial rights of the wife over her husband. The husband must provide accommodation to his wife based on his capability and wealth. As stated in the Qur’an: “Lodge them (the divorced women) where you dwell, according to your means.”vi With regard to spending, Islam scholars claimed that it is mandatory for a husband to devote his financial resources to his wives, provided that the wives make themselves available to him. If the wives reject or disobey him, then they are not eligible to such spending. Spending implies making provisions, such as accommodation and food, available to the wife. A wife should be given these privileges even though she is wealthy: “but the father of the child shall bear the cost of the mother’s food and clothing on a reasonable basis”;vii “Let the rich man spend according to his means; and the man whose resources are restricted, let him spend according to what Allah has given him.”viii According to the Sunnah, it was described from Jaabir that Allah’s prophet mentioned in his Farewell homily: Fear Allah concerning women! Verily you have taken them on the security of Allah, and intercourse with them has been made lawful unto you by words of Allah. You too have rights over them, and that they should not allow anyone to sit on your bed [i.e., not let them into the house] whom you do not like. But if they do that, you can chastise them but not severely. Their rights upon you are that you should provide them with food and clothing in a fitting manner.ix The above passage clearly specifies the rights of women in a marriage. Ultimately, the dowry expresses the value and solemnity of the marriage contract. The downy seals the marriage and embodies the high value given by Islam to their women. The rights of women in a marriage do not only include financial privileges, but also non-financial rights. The husband is obligated to treat his wife kindly and offer her all the things that could boost her sense of worth. As stated in the Sunnah, it was reported that Abu Hurayrah proclaimed: “The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: Be kind to women.”x As shown in the Qur’anic scriptures, the possibility is there for Muslims to attain harmony and serenity in a marriage, in accordance to mutual understanding, love, equality, and respect. Unfortunately, in reality, Muslim women are usually subjugated and deprived of their Islamic rights. Even though there are differences in the adoption of Islamic teachings between Muslim societies and recently they are granted greater rights, it perhaps will take centuries to get rid of the unfavorable elements of the vestiges of the pre-Islamic male-dominated society in relation to marriage, divorce, polygyny, and the realization of the rights of women. When Muslim men and women are taught about the real significance and message of the Qur’anic verses, Islamic marriage could in fact be the valuable piece toward an equal, fair, and harmonious society. Equality Equality is clearly expressed in the Qur’anic version of the first man and woman, Adam and Eve. The Qur’an declares that both man and woman were independent and conscious. Even the question of who was created first is left out in the Qur’an, indicating that it is not important: O mankind! Be conscious of your Sustainer, who has created you out of one living entity (nafs), and out of it created its mate, and out of the hte two spread abroad a multitude of men and women. And remain conscious of God, in whose name you demand your rights from one another, and of these ties of kinship. Verily, God is ever watchful over you!xi The reality that the above Qur’anic verse refuses to mention one particular gender over the other is evidence of equality between the sexes. It is widely claimed that Adam was made first, and that this implies that God sees man as superior to the woman; nevertheless, the explanation of the Qur’an in the above verse clearly disproves this assertion. Women are self-reliant human beings, as shown by the fact that every individual will be held responsible for their own thoughts and actions on Judgment Day when “no human being shall be of the least avail to another human being”xii. As a result, people cannot be tried or judged based on their own actions except if they have the free will to do so. Such free will bears with it the obligation to choose rightly or accept punishment for wrong choices, perfectly represented by Adam and Eve. Mention of men and women in the Qur’an is by means of actions and character, through which humanity will be judged. In numerous mentions, in fact, the Qur’an echoes such equality by articulately reiterating ‘men and women’ with real-world and moral aspects all over the scriptures, and even stresses this in the following passage: Verily for all men and women who have surrendered themselves unto God, and all believing men and believing women, and all truly devout men and truly devout women, and all men and women who are true to their word, and all men and women who are patient in adversity, and all men and women who humble themselves before God, and all men and women who give in charity, and all self-denying men and self-denying women, and all men and women who are mindful of their chastity, and all men and women who remember God unceasingly: for all of them has God readied forgiveness of sins and a mighty reward.xiii Gender equality as stated in the Qur’an should be carried out and realized in the real world. Unfortunately, explanations of the ‘fiqh’ (Islamic jurisprudence), ‘Shari’a’, the Sunnah, the Hadith (teachings of the Prophet Muhammad), and the Qur’an have been exploited to oppress and subdue women in Muslim societies. Work Women have been rewarded with love, care, compassion, and gentleness so as to perform her obligations to her children with self-respect. According to these divine gifts and entrustment of obligations, and according to the distinctive features of the man and the woman, it is simply natural for males to acquire jobs outside the home and provide for the needs of their families and for the females to stay at home and look after their children and fulfill domestic responsibility. Taking this fundamental reality in consideration, Islamic law does not prohibit women to work outside the home as long as it is within the parameters that safeguard her dignity and integrity. Islam allows women to independently carry out their business transactions and financial dealings. All these dealings and transactions are legal and binding under ‘fiqh’ or Islamic jurisprudence.xiv There are specific established prerequisites which if encroached upon, the consent granted to women to use such right will be considered invalid and they can be forbidden from the exercise of such right.xv The job that a woman takes outside the house should not prevent her from fulfilling her obligations to her children and husband. Her workplace should be free of abuse, harassment, and molestation from men. As Allah’s messenger declared: “A man is not secluded with a woman, but that the Satan is the third party to them.”xvi Women’s rights stated in the Qur’an are not pure theories, devoid of real world applications. For instance, Muslim women advocates in Iran referred to principles stated by the Qur’an to petition for a law to allow compensation for domestic duties. As a result, in 1991, a ruling was implemented stating that a husband divorcing his wife should first settle her compensation for housework.xvii Moreover, as shown in Islamic history, women of the Qur’an like Sawdah bint Zam’ah and Khadija bint Khuwaylid—Prophet Muhammad’s wives—are illustrations of women who were wives and mothers and at the same time vigorous partakers in their society’s economic realm. Khadija was an entrepreneur whose affluence and commercial prowess granted the Prophet comfort and liberty from the concerns and worries of everyday living to fulfill his divine task. Likewise, Sawdah obtained her earnings from her economic involvement.xviii None of them received inheritance from the Prophet hence they were looked after by the state or they had their own means.xix The stories of Sawdah and Khadija are significant for they prove the dynamic involvement of women in the economy throughout the time of the Prophet. Correct interpretations and renditions of Islamic texts are effective methods needed to counteract the anti-women beliefs currently supported and perpetuated to reinforce cultural and political stereotypes that are in conflict with the meaning of Qur’anic teachings. Muslims have a strong belief that the Qur’an is God’s actual language passed down to Mohammed. Qur’anic verses are constantly spoken to both men and women. Equality has always been promoted by the Qur’an. Both men and women are obliged to conform to the same laws. Both men and women should follow the same norms and principles. Simply put, if the Qur’an is the word of God and God speaks to both man and woman, that means both sexes are equal in the eyes of the All-Mighty. Still, many Muslim societies still oppress women. Such oppression is not promoted by Islam, but by the laws created, in numerous instances, by influential Muslim men. Freedom of choice awarded by Islam bears an enormous obligation. Women should be knowledgeable of their rights under the Islamic law. As soon as they have a full understanding of their rights, they should unite so as to gain and recover their God-granted rights and dynamically fight for the creation of a just and equal society. Conclusions It has been a common belief until now that Muslim women do not have rights and that it is natural for them to experience oppression and subjugation. Sadly, Islamic history and the Qur’an are blamed for women’s oppression. However, based on a cursory look at basic Islamic texts it becomes apparent that Muslim women are in fact granted rights in all aspects of their lives under the Qur’an. It was clear from the Qur’anic verses mentioned and analyzed in this paper that women are valuable individuals that are worthy of dignity and honor. It is crucial to change the negative perspectives of Muslim women. Basic knowledge of Islamic history and Qur’anic texts is the key. Works Cited Abdul-Rahman, Muhammad Saed. 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