EDUCATIONAL RIGHTS OF WOMEN IN RELIGION ISLAM

EDUCATIONAL RIGHTS OF WOMEN IN RELIGION ISLAM

In Islam, education is one of the Commandments of Allah Almighty for both men and women. The first guidance revealed by Allah Almighty to the whole of humankind in His last and final revelation the Glorious Quran was not about prayer, charity, or fasting but it was about education. It was;

ٱقۡرَأۡ بِٱسۡمِ رَبِّكَ ٱلَّذِي خَلَقَ 

Recite in the name of your Lord who created -

خَلَقَ ٱلۡإِنسَٰنَ مِنۡ عَلَقٍ.

Created man from a clinging substance

ٱقۡرَأۡ وَرَبُّكَ ٱلۡأَكۡرَمُ

Recite, and your Lord is the most Generous -

ٱلَّذِي عَلَّمَ بِٱلۡقَلَمِ

Who taught by the pen -

عَلَّمَ ٱلۡإِنسَٰنَ مَا لَمۡ يَعۡلَمۡ

Taught man that which he knew not

(Surah Al-Alaq: 1-5)

The first guidance was about reading for both males and females.

It was narrated from Anas bin Malik that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said:

"Seeking knowledge is a duty upon every Muslim, and he who imparts knowledge to those who do not deserve it is like one who puts a necklace of jewels, pearls, and gold around the neck of swine." (Sunan Ibn Maja: 224)

Every Muslim man or woman must acquire knowledge. The Prophet Muhammad (Peace be Upon Him) specially told the parents to educate the children, especially the daughters, and husbands must arrange a source of education for their wives, especially religious education. If parents, husbands, or guardians do not give educational Rights to a female, she has the right to go to the court to judge and demand it. If they cannot teach their girls by their selves they have to send them to a safe place to acquire an education.

 

Narrated Abu Sa`id Al-Khudri:

Some women requested the Prophet (ﷺ) to fix a day for them as the men were taking all his time. On that, he promised them one day for religious lessons and commandments.( Sahih al-Bukhari, Vol: 01, 101).

In the history of Islam, we have several women scholars, and the best example of this is Ayesha (May Allah pleased with her) the daughter of Abu Baker (May Allah pleased with him) and wife of Holy Prophet Muhammad (Peace be Upon Him).

 

The Islamic scholar and Tabi'i Urwah Bin Zubair said about Aisha: "I did not find anyone more proficient (than Aisha) in the knowledge of the Holy Quran, the Commandments of Halal (lawful) and Haram (prohibited), Genealogy, and Arabic poetry. That is why even senior companions of the Prophet used to consult Aisha in resolving intricate issues." (Recorded in Jala-ul-Afham by Ibn Qaiyem and Ibn Sa'ad, Vol.2, p.26)

 

The Sahaba Abu Musa al-Ashari (r) said: "Never had we (the companions) any difficulty for which we approached Aisha for the solution and did not get some useful information from her." (Recorded in Sirat-I-Aisha, on the authority of Tirmidhi, pg. 163)

 

The strength, character, and dedication of Hazrat Ayesha (May Allah pleased with her) to knowledge make her an inspiration for all Muslim women. She was the scholar of scholars. We also have many examples of Muslim women scholars in the history of Islam,

• Fatimah (daughter of Prophet Muhammad PBUH)
• Zaynab bin Ali
• Hafsa bint Umer
• Umm e darda as Sughra
• Umme Hakim
• Al-Shifa bint Abdullah
• Hafsa bint Sirin
• Umme Salamah
• Aisha bint Talhah

The conclusion of all discussion is, imagine the time when people were hardly educated and most of them did not have proper awareness of education, from that time we found many Muslim women Scholars who were higher in the rank of education than many Muslim men scholars. Education for women is an integral part of the religion Islam. Muslim women have to respect the divine obligation to acquire knowledge.

 

 

 

RESPONSIBILITY OF HIJAB FOR MUSLIM WOMAN

 

RESPONSIBILITY OF HIJAB FOR MUSLIM WOMAN

What kind of motivation we can get to do Hijab? Or how we can start Hijab? How Hijab shows modernization?

These questions are answered in the following lines.

Islam gives the order of the Hijab for both men and women but the Islamic framework of the Hijab for both sexes is quite different. In the Noble Quran, Allah Almighty first mentioned the responsibility of the Hijab for Muslim men, and then in the next verse, Allah Almighty explained the responsibility of the Hijab for Muslim women.

Responsibility of Hijab for Muslim men

 

And tell the believing women to reduce [some] of their vision and guard their private parts and not expose their adornment except that which [necessarily] appears thereof and to wrap [a portion of] their headcovers over their chests and not expose their adornment except to their husbands, their fathers, their husbands' fathers, their sons, their husbands' sons, their brothers, their brothers' sons, their sisters' sons, their women, that which their right hands possess, or those male attendants having no physical desire or children who are not yet aware of the private aspects of women. And let them not stamp their feet to make known what they conceal of their adornment. And turn to Allah in repentance, all of you, O believers, that you might succeed.

(Surah An-Nur: 31)

 

Islamic Hijab symbolizes the ideologies of humility, dignity, and modesty in terms of dressings and manners of both Muslim women and men. The aforementioned verse depicts the total responsibility of the Hijab for Muslim women.

One of the most important questions often asked by Muslim women is, what kind of motivation we can get to do Hijab? Or how we can start Hijab? The answer reclines in understanding the quintessence of one's existence as mentioned in Islam.

Muslim believe that the basic purpose of their lives is to worship Allah Almighty according to His commandments, as mentioned in the Glorious Quran and through the teachings of the final Prophet Muhammad PBUH. In Islam worship is a comprehensive concept that motivates Allah Almighty's consciousness in every aspect of daily life, from the act of charity and neighborliness to honest dealings and prayer. When the verse related to Hijab was revealed to Holy Prophet Muhammad (Peace be Upon Him), the Muslim women around the Prophet Muhammad (Peace be Upon Him), directly adopted these instructions. In the same way, through the obedience of spirit, Muslim women have continued modest dressing (Hijab) ever since.

Therefore, the primary motivation for Hijab is to comply with the instructions of Allah Almighty.

 

The hijab expresses modest behaviors, manners, and speech. So, it is a constant reminder for Muslim women that they cannot adorn their beauty for men. They wear hijab to achieve the pleasure of Allah Almighty and to sustain Islam's code of dignity and modesty.

There is another problem in our society that people consider that if a woman is wearing a hijab, she is not modern and has no sense of modern dressing or dressing style. The answer for them is;

Islam is the religion of modernization and balance and it is the most modern religion but people who speak against it, don't have an idea that the true meaning of being modern. Modernization means “Upgrade yourself as sensible in the way you do things". The women, who do not wear hijabs, know what kind of problems of harassment they can face because of showing their Bodies to non-mahram men. It is estimated that approximately 35% of women worldwide have experienced sexual harassment in their lifetime. Nonmuslim countries are facing this issue more than Muslim countries and it is because of dressing styles. In Muslim communities, when Muslim women wear hijabs and save their bodies from the eyes of non-mahram men being sensible in the way they do this, they are the most modern women in the world.

Hence, the motivations to wear the Hijab are,

1. The pleasure of Allah Almighty
2. A constant reminder for Muslim women to obey Allah's commandments
3. The most modern dressing style

Honor of Women in Islam 

 

GENDER EQUALITY IN ISLAM

 

GENDER EQUALITY IN ISLAM

Does Islam subjugates Women? On what basis Islam distinguishes between Men and Women?

Unfortunately, some Muslim cultures and practices may indeed lead us to the conclusion that in Islam women are oppressed and deprived of their basic human rights. However, if you will examine objectively, the primary sources of evidence in Islam, namely the Glorious Quran and the Hadith, you will find that it has not only guaranteed the fundamental human rights for women but also it secured those rights.

In the Glorious Quran Allah Almighty mentioned that men and women are spiritually equal.

 

وَمَن يَعۡمَلۡ مِنَ ٱلصَّٰلِحَٰتِ مِن ذَكَرٍ أَوۡ أُنثَىٰ وَهُوَ مُؤۡمِنٞ

 فَأُوْلَٰٓئِكَ يَدۡخُلُونَ ٱلۡجَنَّةَ وَلَا يُظۡلَمُونَ

 نَقِيرٗا

“And whoever does righteous deeds, whether male or female, while being a believer - those will enter Paradise and will not be wronged, [even as much as] the speck on a date seed.”  (Surah An-Nisa: 124)

 

A few years ago, discussion about the rights of women began to emerge in the western context but in Islam, from 1400 years ago women's rights are defined. Men and women are equal in the sight of Allah Almighty. Allah Almighty is the master and all are His creation, He does not distinguish between a male and a female based on gender but on biologically and physically. In fact from an Islamic paradigm, Allah Almighty does not distinguish between human beings based on their color or race but rather He looks at their hearts and their actions. And this is beautifully exemplified in the Glorious Quran in many of its verses. For example;

  

“Indeed, the Muslim men and Muslim women, the believing men and believing women, the obedient men and obedient women, the truthful men and truthful women, the patient men and patient women, the humble men and humble women, the charitable men and charitable women, the fasting men and fast women, the men who guard their private parts and the women who do so, and the men who remember Allah often and the women who do so – for them Allah has prepared forgiveness and a great reward.” (Surah Al-Ahzab, 35)

 

In this particular verse, Allah Almighty clearly shows that in His sight, men and women are equal in terms of their spirituality, conduct, moral ethics, or actions. Men and women are equal in Islam but based on the makeup of their creation by Allah Almighty, they are different physiologically, psychologically, and biologically. Depending upon their makeup Allah Almighty set rules for them. For example, men and women are at times allotted different rights and cultural expectations. The Hadith of Prophet Muhammad (Peace be Upon Him) states that;

"A man is expected to be the "guardian of [his] family," whereas a woman is expected to be the "guardian of her husband's home and his children."(Sahih Bukhari 9:89:252)

 

The Western people or non-Muslims who speak against Islam and say, Islam, subjugates women because of not giving them equal rights in Olympics, sports, forces, and inheritance. Let's take a brief review of their behavior with women. What are they doing with women? In their Olympics and sports, why do women and men have separate teams? Why they don't make one team of boys and another of girls and set a match between them? Why do they prefer to show girls over boys in their ads? I have answers to these questions. They do because they are well known for the difference in physical power and beauty attraction between men and women. While on the other side, they evaluate the intelligence of men and women together in exams because they know that men and women are equal in intelligence. The western world knows but they don't want to admit it and they are subjugating the women.

 

However, in many fields of life men and women stand together but in some fields, Islam separates them. Depending upon this Allah Almighty set rules for them like women have to give birth to children and if Allah Almighty orders the women to go on Jihad, it would be a very tough practice for them. So, Islam favors women in many situations but does not subjugate them. In Islam, women have the rights of marriage, education, economics, property, vote, and business under sacred law or Sharia. Men are stronger than women and Allah Almighty created men for the protection of their women. In the Glorious Quran Allah Almighty mentioned;

 

ٱلرِّجَالُ قَوَّٰمُونَ عَلَى ٱلنِّسَآءِ

"Men are in charge of women." (Surah An-Nisa: 34)

 

Therefore Islam behaves equally to men and women but not identically. It can be more understandable through this example if two players got the same number of gold medals in last decade. Now by the progress, they stand on the same point but they both were appeared in every annual match and played against one another, but maybe player A lost the first one and player B won, and in the next match, player B lost and player A won. So, in some matches player A won, and in some matches player B won but now they have the same points of progress and their success is equal but not identical.

WOMEN AS MOTHER, WIFE, AND DAUGHTER IN ISLAM

 

WOMEN AS MOTHER, WIFE, AND DAUGHTER IN ISLAM

 

Before Islam women were extremely mistreated. Newborn female babies were buried alive. They were sold just like other commodities. In this age of Darkness Islam was the first monotheistic religion to introduce the rights of women. It is the only religion that led the world to woman's rights.

The honor of Mother in Islam

The word "Mother" is not only the synonym of Love but also a relationship that is referred by Allah Almighty to discuss His love for a human. He says "I love my men more than 70 mothers." It raised the status of a woman as the mother to the greatest level and in Islam serving a mother is not only an act of generosity but is also rewarded in heaven. It is also mentioned in the Glorious Quran to behave well with our parents.

 

وَقَضَىٰ رَبُّكَ أَلَّا تَعۡبُدُوٓاْ إِلَّآ إِيَّاهُ وَبِٱلۡوَٰلِدَيۡنِ إِحۡسَٰنًاۚ إِمَّا يَبۡلُغَنَّ عِندَك

 ٱلۡكِبَرَ أَحَدُهُمَآ أَوۡ كِلَاهُمَا

 فَلَا تَقُل لَّهُمَآ أُفّٖ وَلَا تَنۡهَرۡهُمَا وَقُل لَّهُمَا قَوۡلٗا كَرِيمٗ

"And your Lord has decreed that you not worship except Him, and to parents, good treatment. Whether one or both of them reach old age (while) with you, say not to them (so much as), "uff", and do not repel them but speak to them a noble word." (QS. Al-Isra: 23).

Also in Hadith Book it is mentioned;

Once, a companion sought Prophet (SAW)'s permission to participate in the Jihaad. Prophet (PBUH) asked if his mother was still living. Getting the answer in the affirmative, Prophet (PBUH) advised him to look after and attend to his mother as Paradise is close to her feet. [Ibne Majah, Nisai]

 

The honor of Daughter in Islam

Allah Almighty announced the gift of heaven for every father who raises his daughters according to the rules of Islam, fulfills their basic needs, and hands them over to marry legally.

In Hadith it is mentioned;

"Whoever takes care of two girls until they reach adulthood - he and I will come (together) on the Day of Resurrection - and he interlaced his fingers (meaning in Paradise)." (Reported by Muslim).

 

So the position of daughters in Islam is great and also a kind of encouragement for them. As neither of Prophet Muhammad's (Peace be Upon Him) sons survived but he did not mourn at them. Instead, the love of Prophet Muhammad (Peace be Upon Him) for his daughter Fatima(R.A) reflects the love for daughters in Islam. As Islam does not give preference to sons over beautiful daughters. For the haters of the daughter, it's mentioned in Quran;

 

"If you dislike them, it may be that you dislike a thing and Allah brings through it a great deal of good." (An-Nisa' 4:19)

 

The honor of Wife in Islam

A wife in Islam is also never to be put down or taken for granted and she has permission to balance her duties and goals without disappointing her husband. In English wife can be called a "housewife" but in Arabic, she is called as "Rabbaitul Bait" or the "Queen of the house". So this is a brief description of the honor of a woman in Islam. It is stated in Islam:

 

"And among His signs is that He created for you mates from among yourselves that you may live in tranquility with them, and He had put love and mercy between you; Verily, in that are signs for people who reflect."

 

The marriage is not only for a physical or emotional purpose but it is a sign from ALLAH Almighty. It is the mutual relationship between woman and man based on divine guidance. Islam gives the right of kind treatment to the wife. As Prophet Muhammad (Peace be Upon Him) said;

 

"The most perfect believers are the best in conduct. And the best of you are those who are best to their wives."

ALLAH Almighty stated in His glorious book that He created mates and tranquility, love and mercy between them. Islam gives the absolute right to a woman over Mahr/alimony. Islam also gives the charge to the husband as a guardian to his wife who can support his wife as a senior partner in life.

 

ٱلرِّجَالُ قَوَّٰمُونَ عَلَى ٱلنِّسَآءِ بِمَا فَضَّلَ ٱللَّهُ بَعۡضَهُمۡ عَلَىٰ بَعۡضٖ وَبِمَآ أَنفَقُواْ مِنۡ أَمۡوَٰلِهِمۡۚ

 فَٱلصَّٰلِحَٰتُ قَٰنِتَٰتٌ حَٰفِظَٰتٞ لِّلۡغَيۡبِ بِمَا حَفِظَ ٱللَّهُۚ وَٱلَّٰتِي تَخَافُونَ نُشُوزَهُنَّ فَعِظُوهُنَّ وَٱهۡجُرُوهُنَّ

 فِي ٱلۡمَضَاجِعِ وَٱضۡرِبُوهُنَّۖ فَإِنۡ أَطَعۡنَكُمۡ فَلَا تَبۡغُواْ عَلَيۡهِنَّ سَبِيلًاۗ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ كَانَ عَلِيّٗا كَبِيرٗا

"Husbands should take care of their wives with [the bounties] Allah has given to some more than others and with what they spend out of their own money. Righteous wives are devout and guard what Allah would have them guard in their husbands' absence." (Surah An-Nisa: 34).

 

To conclude all aforementioned things about Honor of Women in Islam, I would to create a question and that is how women should get benefit from this honor and maintains it for lifelong?

Many Muslims and non-Muslims argues about the restrictions for women in Islam, but Islam or its Creator cannot make mistakes. So, the rights that Islam gives to women are supreme and no doubt it gives the greatest honor to women being as Mother, daughter, sister or wife but in return women have great responsibility of nation, house, husband, and children.

"The Prophet (Peace be Upon Him) said: 'Women are the (equal) sisters of men'. Women make up half of society and they are responsible for the nurturing, guidance and reformation of the subsequent generations of men and women. It is the female who imbues principles and faith into the souls of the nation."

“It is the requirement of this age. The whole world is facing a lot of crises and being Muslim women, we can help them out through performing our duties under the rules of Islam as mother, daughter and wife.”

The honor of Women in Islam

 

THE HONOR OF WOMEN IN ISLAM

I would like to do a quick analysis of the time before the Prophet Muhammad (Peace be Upon Him). So before Islam in the Arab peninsula when girls were born and someone come and tell the father that a female child was born to his wife. His face used to go dark with shame and anger and then he used to contemplate how do I get rid of myself of this Museebat. Then some Arabs didn't do that but many of them would go and dig a hole and bury the female child alive. Other than Arabia, in the subcontinent of India women had another kind of challenge. There traditionally all the men used to marry younger girls and then naturally as men died first and yet girl remained alive, the religion and culture required the young girl would be burnt with  corpse of her husband. Then they make firewood and the young girl had to sit on top of it. And then they used to lit the fire. Besides this, in Europe people didn't consider women human, and then later the catholic church said women are human but defected. They said the woman is inevitably evil like her mother eve who took the man out of the favor of Allah Almighty and make him eat from a forbidden tree. So, this was the situation of women before Islam and in this climate, Islam came. Allah Almighty honored the world with Islam. One of the first revelations of Prophet Muhammad (Peace be Upon Him) was about;

 

وَإِذَا ٱلۡمَوۡءُۥدَةُ سُئِلَتۡ

And when the girl [who was] buried alive is asked

بِأَيِّ ذَنۢبٖ قُتِلَتۡ

For what sin she was killed? ( Surah At-Takwir)

 

Prophet Muhammad (Peace be Upon Him) established  this act is Haram in Islam. Even, in these days Prophet Muhammad (Peace be Upon Him) was finding survival difficulties of his own life but He was preaching emancipation of womankind. Islam called the news of female birth glad tidings.

وَإِذَا بُشِّرَ أَحَدُهُم بِٱلۡأُنثَىٰ ظَلَّ وَجۡهُهُۥ مُسۡوَدّٗا وَهُوَ كَظِيمٞ

And when one of them is informed of [the birth of] a female, his face becomes dark, and he suppresses grief. (Surah An-Nahl)

There is even one chapter in the Glorious Quran devoted to women and named "An-Nisa" which means women. In old times women did not get any part of inheritances when their relatives died. So Allah Almighty revealed a verse about inheritance, giving the just of it to women. Then in the end mentioned both sexes, male and female as well, have the right to inherit what is left by a late relative.

Allah instructs you concerning your children: for the male, what is equal to the share of two females? But if there are [only] daughters, two or more, for them is two-thirds of one's estate. And if there is only one, for her is half. And for one's parents, to each one of them is a sixth of his estate if he left children. But if he had no children and the parents [alone] inherit from him, then for his mother is one third. And if he had brothers [or sisters], for his mother is a sixth, after any bequest he [may have] made or debt. Your parents or your children - you know not which of them are nearest to you in benefit. [These shares are] an obligation [imposed] by Allah. Indeed, Allah is ever Knowing and Wise. (Surah An-Nisa: 11)

 

In Islam, the rank of a mother is more dignified or glorified, even before that of a father. This is witnessed in one of the Prophet Muhammad's (Peace be Upon Him) hadith that follows:

An apostle asked the Prophet PBUH: "O Messenger of Allah Almighty, among all mankind who is it that I am much obliged to glorify?" The Prophet answered, "Your mother." "And then who else?" again the man asked. "Your mother," again the Prophet answered. "And then who else?" the man ask for the third time. "Your mother still answered the Prophet. "And then who else?" asked the man for the fourth time. "Your father," at last the Prophet said.

Subhanallah (Glory be to God). Women are ranked in such great and noble positions as they are mentioned by three times in a row by our beloved Prophet Muhammad (Peace be Upon Him). So do you see that initially women were very downtrodden but Islam lifted them up. So the rank of Women in Islam is extremely high that not any other Religion can compete with it. But you know, the greatest ranks or positions also have greatest responsibilities. If you are a girl, Islam makes you so much more important, but what responsibilities it is giving to you?