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In western societies, if you watch TV, listen to a radio, read magazine or newspaper, in many cases you either read or hear that Islam tyrannizes women. They criticize women’s rights in Islam as a mere delusion, while many of them are even oblivious about women’s rights in Islam. The fundamental rights that Islam provides for women started over centuries ago. Islam gave, and still does, the rights for women, which we are lacking these days in our societies. Sadly, nowadays many people, especially women are fighting to get their basic rights, where Islam gave them before many years ago. Islam gives women complete rights in all aspects; whether worshiping God (Allah), being a young girl, in marriage, as a wife, as a mother, roles in the community, in education, at working conditions, employment salaries, or financial stability. In Islam, women are bedrocks of the families’ stability. Hence, Islam is the complete way of life to all humans, which affects each person’s life. Islam‐phobia groups forget to talk about the physical and mental humiliation that non Muslim women are facing, including legalizing prostitution, commercializing their body as physical object, and many more. Therefore in this paper I will elaborate in details about women’s rights in Islam and present some logical examples and compare between women in Islam and others.

Comparing Womenʹs Rights Before and After Islam:

There were some civilizations in the past, (before Islam), which oppressed women and treated them inhumane. Some of those were Greeks, Romans, Indians, Chinese, and Arabs as well. They treated women differently; however, what they had in common was degradation and humiliation towards women. Their point of view was that men were better than women in human race bases. In Greek, for example, women were forced to stay at home with no education, work, and no involvement in community activities. In the era of Romans, “Women were half of men,” in other words a woman was not a complete person in every way compared to men. Women were seen as an object of sexual satisfactory for men. In China, men used women for labor. More than moral disappointments, they used to bind their feet to damage their physical ability arguing that it was for their beauty whilst being afraid that wives would run away from their husbands. They did not have any rights, and as a cultural belief, women lived to serve men and not for any other purposes. Women were not count equal to men. Furthermore, if the family had two boys and two girls, these two girls were not counted. In India, women lived also for men to bore children. They also excluded and isolated from the society during their menstruation period. And as for the Arab men, they believed that women lived for their favor, and at the same time they disgraced women. For example, when a man’s wife delivered a daughter; he would feel differently and be ashamed of his daughter. Concerning that era, Allah the Most Power‐full said in the Qur’an (describing when an Arab father was informed about his wife having a daughter),

“And if one of them is informed of the news of (the birth of a girl) that which he sets forth as a parable to the most Gracious (Allah). His face becomes dark, and he is filled with grief.” (43:17).

The Arab men also committed the most barbaric crime to women; they buried them alive. And for that reason, Allah the Most Merciful revealed this verse:

“And when the female (infant) buried alive (as the pagan Arabs used to do) is questioned! For what sin, was she killed.”(81.8‐9).

Women as Part of Humanity and Worshiping Allah:

In terms of worshiping Allah, Islam gives men and women equal rights. If they do righteous deeds, He gives them equal rewards. In turns, if they do bad deeds, He punishes them equally. Allah the Most Exalted said in the Qur’an:

“Whoever works righteous whether male or female‐ while he (or she) is a true believer (of Islamic monotheism) verily, to him or her 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)” (16.97).

Both man and woman are given the rights to worship their Creator‐Allah, despite their gender. They will get what they deserve and worked for in terms of deeds; there is no superiority in terms of humanity. Another verse, Allah the Almighty said:

“O mankind! We have created you from a male and a female, and made you into nations and tribes, that you may know one another. Verily, the most honorable of you with Allah is that (believer) who has At‐taqwa {i.e. he is one of the Muttaqun (the pious see v. 2.2)}. Verily, Allah is All‐Knowing, All‐Aware (49.13).

We conclude from this verse that people are equal in their origin, and there is no group or nation that is better than the other group. We, as human beings, all came from a single male and female, who were Adam and Eve. We have equal opportunity to believe in and worship Allah. As matter of fact, the most honorable of us with Allah is the believer who does good deeds; hence, a pious person. There are no distinction between men and women in Islam in terms of humanity. They have the same rights, and each one of them gets what he/she deserves. No one is better than the other except the fear that one has for Allah (Taqwah). In his last ceremony, where the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) delivered a message to the companions, he said;

“O people! Verily your Lord is one and your father is one. All of you belong to one ancestry of Adam and Adam was created out of clay. There is no superiority for an Arab over a non‐Arab and for a non‐Arab over an Arab; or for white over the black or for the black over the white except in piety. ‘Verily the noblest among you is he who is the most pious’.”

This shows that there is no discrimination at all in Islam; hence we are all same and have equal rights.

Women in Their Adolescents Age:

Now let’s look at how Islam honored women as young girls, who used to be buried alive before Islam. Islam gives young girls equal rights as to young boys and in some cases even more. Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) said in a Hadeeth that was agreed upon, which was narrated by Aisha, the mother of the Muslims (umil mu’aminiin):

“Whomever is blessed with girls and then does well by them in bringing them up, they will be a protector for him from Hellfire” (Saheeh Al Targheeb 1968).”

Translation, if you raise your daughters well in their education, physical and mental wellbeing; you will get more rewards than raising your sons. Islam gives tremendous rights to women as young girls; for example, in Islam when the son turns 15 years old his parents have the rights to say to him leave from the home and support yourself, if they want to, but they are not allowed to say that to their daughter. The daughter has the right and also a power to stay in her parent’s home until she gets married. This does not mean that she cannot work or educate herself. Unfortunately, certain people and of today’s media establish untrue concepts about women’s rights in Islam.

Women as Wives & Their Rights in Marriage:

In terms of marriage, Muslim woman has the right to choose a man she wants. She has the right to condition marriage in terms of her choice, and negotiate her marriage preference. She also has the right to reject any marriage that she does not agree with. In Islam, when two couples agree to marry, the first thing that they do is make a matrimonial arrangement (Nikah) and this is made by an Imam or sheikh, a religious man equivalent to priesthood. Part of the Nikah is called mahr ‐ dowry that man gives to woman. Allah the Most Exalted said in the Qur’an:

“And give to the women (whom you marry) their mahr (obligatory bridal –money given by the husband to his wife at the time of marriage) with a good heart; but if they, of their own good pleasure, remit any part of it to you, take it, without fear of any harm (as Allah has made it lawful).” (4:4).

From day one, right after the marriage, woman will not have any responsibility for the house or family bills; man has to give the woman what she eats, wears, and a place she can live in as well. In Islam, marriage creates happiness and intimacy between couples; it also creates respect and mercy between the families whom the couples came from. As Allah the Most Merciful said in the Qur’an:

“And among His Signs is this, that He created for you wives from among yourselves, that you may find response in them, and He has put between you affection and mercy. Verily, in that are indeed signs for a people who reflect.” (30: 21).

Marriage in Islam creates honesty and truthfulness between the couples. They would become like clothes to each other. For example, if there is a hatred or problem between the relatives of the couples, the marriage of these couples should solve and create peace in between them. Allah the Most Gracious and Most Merciful said in the Qur’an:

“They (women) are libas {body cover, or screen, or Sakan, (you enjoy the pleasure of living with them‐ as in Verse 7: 189)}, for you and you are the same for them.” (2: 187).

In Islam, woman has the right to get sexual satisfaction from her husband. If her husband does not satisfy her at the bed, she has been given a right to go with him to a court and divorce him if she wants to.

Womenʹs Rights as Motherhood:

As mothers, women have incredible rights in Islam. For example, a man came to Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) and asked him who from amongst human beings warrants the best companionship from me? The Prophet answered him it is your mother. The man asked again, who is next? The Prophet answered him it is your mother, and he asked him again who is next? After wards, the Prophet replied him it is your mother. Then the man asked him who is next? Then finally, the Prophet answered it is your father (Related by Al‐Bukari no.55971 and Muslim 7/2, from Abu Hurayrah).  The implication of this Hadeeth is that we should have full obedience towards our mothers and we comply with whatever they command us to do. As long as they are not ordering us something that is against the Shari’ah ‐ the Islamic law‐, other than that we listen and obey them. Another example that we can understand from the Prophet’s above hadeeth is, for instance, you have $4,000, the first $1000 will go to your mother; the second $1000 to your mother; the third $1000 to your mother, and then the last $1000 will go to your father. Islam emphasized and acknowledged mother’s rights many times because they carry us in their womb for 9 consecutive months. They endured much pain such as morning sickness from day one that we started developing in her body. They gave birth to us, which is the most painful, and they weaned us for about two years. Why then, do we not listen? Does not she deserve to be obeyed at any command she offers, and to help her at any given time she wants? Indeed, she deserves. She has to be obeyed and obeying one’s parents is an immense part of Islam, so Islam considers the one who does not listen to his or her parents as Cuquuqul walidiin (disobedience towards parents). It is considered as one of the major sins in Islam, therefore Muslims are not allowed to become disobedience towards their parents. Here is what Allah the Almighty said in the Qur’an:

“And We have enjoined on man (to be dutiful and good) to his parents. His mother bore him in weakness and hardship, upon weakness and hardship, and his weaning is in two years‐ give thanks to Me and to your parents. Unto Me is the final destination.” (31:14).

Another hadith from the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) says “The paradise is under your mother’s feet,” meaning that, obeying one’s parents in general and specifically obeying one’s mother will cause one to enter the heaven. For that reason, Muslims are not like some nations who their young people go away from their parents by the time they become mature or eighteen years old. And that is the time, in which parents become old and need the aid and care of their children. These young people live separate from their parents. As a result of that, you see the old people are neglected and mistreated in uninhabitable houses. Muslims are different from these civilizations; Muslim youngsters usually stay with their parents and help them because Islam believes fulfilling the needs of the parents will make it easy for us to be on the path to Heaven. Contrary wise, Islam believes if you do not fulfill the needs of your parents, the punishment will be a Hellfire.

Women in Politics and Community Involvements:

Above and beyond that, Islam gives women full rights to involve and be an active participant in their communities’ activities. They have the rights to have an access to politics and to partake in it. They have the rights to express their opinions and to be heard, and they have the rights to vote and to hold high positions in government positions. When Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) passed away, there were couple of people who were candidates from the companions. The women were asked to vote which candidate they want to choose. The process of democratically electing leaders is not a new element to us as Muslims. Moreover, Aisha was one of the Prophet’s wives, she gave the companions advices and they took her advices or suggestions very seriously. There was a time that the companions got into conflict amongst them during the time of Caliph Ali (fourth president of the Muslim government). Aisha, may Allah be blessed with her, took a big role of reconciling them. Umu Salama was also one of the consultants of the Prophet and his companions after the treaty of Sulhul Hutheybiyah, which caused them not to finish their umrah (lesser pilgrimage). The treaty was not very harsh and seemed unfair to Muslims, so the companions showed resistant to the prophet in taking the treaty. When the Prophet (pbuh) told them to cut their hair, slaughter their animals and get ready to go back to Medina, they did not listen and did what the prophet told them. Thus the prophet came to Umu Salama saying that I fear for them and do not know what to do, she said start with yourself when you do they will do.

Women in Academia:

In Islam, education is mandatory to every Muslim; there is no single differential hierarchy between man and woman in terms of education. The Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) said, “Education is obligatory to every Muslim.” Since our Prophet mandated to us; Muslims have to educate themselves. Both man and woman must pursue education based on their ability. The first verse that was revealed to Prophet Muhammad was Iqra or read, which tells the level of importance cast on literacy. In addition, there are many other verses in the Qur’an, which emphasize the significance of education and the different between educated person and uneducated person.  The word Ilm (knowledge) is mentioned in the Quran more 80 times, all that it does not say Allah the Most Exalted stated in the Qur’an:

“Allah will exalt in degree those of you who believe and those who (are) granted knowledge.” (58:11).

Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) encouraged us many times to educate ourselves, and he said “Seek education from the time you are in the cradle till you die.” Aisha, the wife of the Prophet, may Allah be blessed with her, was an example for us. When Muslims scholars categorized the companions who were the most and best memorizer of the Hadiths of the Prophet, Aisha was one of the top sevens in narrating the Prophet’s Hadiths. She was one of the most knowledgeable companions when it came to the Islamic law. By the time the Muslim government was in Undulus, known today as Spain, the Qurduba city had a University called Qurduba University. The university had about 70 Muslim women as standing professors amongst its entire staff. Thus, Muslim women have the rights to obtain education, so education for Muslims is top priority whether they are male or female.

Women in Commerce:

Since women have the rights to educate themselves, they also have the rights to work and earn their own money, by using their education and/or intellectual capacity. They have the rights to get the same salary of man if they are working in the same company with the same degree. If a woman works with a man in the same field or same company, she receives the same portion of whatever he gets. Furthermore, she has the rights to manage her money. A good example of that is the Prophet Muhammad’s wife Khadija (pbuh). She was a businesswoman some 1424 odd years ago. Allah gave men and women the same reward for worshiping Him, so why would He not give them the same right when it comes to jobs and salary?

Comparing between Womenʹs Rights in Islam & Women’s Rights in Western Nations:

Muslim women have the rights to have an equal salary with men, where the women of in many western nations do not have. In most cases the women of these nations get less salary than men even if they work in the same field with the same degree, and also same hours. Muslim women have the rights to keep their own maiden name after marriage, whereas the women in many western nations do not have. Usually they change their biological names after they get married. Mothers of these nations and their children go by the same name. This shows that a man has power over his wife despite the wife’s identity. Muslim women have the rights to conceal/cover their bodies, which is another trend now that the doctors denote is a protection for body against disease like skin cancer. Unfortunately, the women of many western nations do not have that opportunity, but instead their body is used to advertise the material objects by the media.

In addition, when a society loses its modesty, value, and principles, the following scenario will be the norms of such a society. This story occurred in India. Young couple got married; however, the girl told her partner that she wants to have a baby but do not want to conceive pregnancy. She then suggested to her partner that they should have surrogate mother. Surrogate, in its simplest form, means to rent, a woman will rent her womb for money. The couple’s sperm and ovum are taken out, and fertilized in a lab, and then injected into the womb of the surrogate mother. Thus, the guy’s mother became their surrogate; they rented his mothers’ womb to carry their baby. Therefore, his mother carried his baby for nine consecutive months, and then she gave birth to her own ‘grandson. So what this means is that the son is the brother of his own father, and the grandmother became the wife of her son. I am sure a conscious person would not need any further elaboration or another example after reading this article what Islam gives women in general and mothers in particular, and what is so called the free and civilized world give their women and mothers. I do not think no one has seen any creature who can behave in such a way, even the animals do not have this insanity amongst them.

Furthermore, the Pagan Arabs used to bury their daughters alive; however, it is the same story in essence but in a different format. And that is what is happening today in many parts of the world, particularly in India and China. The mentality of child‐phobia, fearing to have children is getting out of hands. Government adapts and enforces laws to reduce child birth and allow a child per family. In the world of technology, couples are able to know the gender of their baby before birth. Thus, if the pregnancy test turns out to be a baby girl they abort her, hoping that someday it would be a boy.

Words such as brothels, bordello, whorehouse, etc. would be surprising names to many, but these names are known and sacred to many people from the so called free or civilized world. Brothels are houses of prostitutes where a prostitute woman resides to have sex with her strange client. It is common, well‐known and used service in many European countries including Belgium, Netherland, France, etc. Dictionaries define the word prostitute as an act or practice of engaging sexual activity for money or its equivalent. In this definition, one could easily understand that prostitution is an awful thing to do. First, it is humiliation of the human dignity, physically and mentally. Usually, prostitute works for someone, mainly men, who are known as pimps; who humiliates her. Secondly, the prostitutes’ health is very risky, and they are the victims in most chronic diseases developing every day. Study shows that 25% of nearly three million American young girls between the ages of 12‐19 have sexually transmitted diseases (STD). The number of the girls or women that have sex outside their marriage is really shocking. One can argue that they are not forced and they chose to do that. It is true but in many other vices or crimes, the government and law enforcement enact laws that stop these crimes or at least they put criminals behind bars. However, what strikes me the most here is not what individuals chose to do, but the fact that the government and system allows to have brothels and whorehouses for these girls to work in. Thus, when people lose morality, they would do anything that is in their way. For example, what is happening to the highest officials of this country (U. S. A.) is despicable. It was Bill Clinton that cheated with Monica Lewinsky, and New York’s Governor Eliot Spitzer that muddled with “High Ring Prostitute,” and the list goes on. There is a famous proverb that says “If the head of the household beats the drum, then the rest of the household would dance to the tune.” Put into perspective how many people are looking up to these elected officials.

Take an example of Belgium and Netherland, they provide a place and gave them a license validating prostitution, and billions of dollars are collected from these venues as tax revenue. The following is a excerpt of a long article reported on USAToday.com:

Walking around the red‐light districts in Belgian cities, it is hard to believe bordellos are outlawed here. Dozens of boutique‐style brothels with large front windows line the streets set aside by politicians for prostitution. What is for sale is clearly on display: women dressed in lingerie and stiletto heels. The brothels claim to be bars or clubs with sexy waitresses who serve beer, champagne and soft drinks. But the prostitutes pay the bar owner about $120 to rent the window space for eight hours. When a customer enters, she draws her curtains and charges about $55 for sex. About 80,000 people visit prostitutes in Belgium each day, according to an official government estimate. That is more than the daily numbers, who go to the movies, says Jean‐Marie Dedecker, a member of parliament. According to official reports, the Belgian capital of Brussels has become a center for the trade of children in prostitution. European governments believe that legalizing prostitution and brothels could solve some of these problems. While Belgiumʹs pro‐legalization plans are following the lead of the Netherlands and Germany, the new laws in those countries have produced mixed results. Brothels were legalized in Holland three years ago. But many local governments are still trying to implement the law. Some businesses — banks, for example — continue to discriminate against sex workers by refusing to let the women open accounts. Problems with tax evasion and illegal immigrants are rampant. Only 5%‐10% of the estimated 20,000 prostitutes in the Netherlands pay taxes, according to Mariska Majoor, a former sex worker who now heads the Prostitution Information Centre in Amsterdam. ʺTax people work very hard, but they do not work very hard on the street, ʺ she says.

To end, Islam gave and gives humankinds their rights forever.  In Islam, men and women have the equal rights and each one of them gets what he/she deserves; hence, no one is better than the other except one who has fears (Taqwah) for Allah. Women in Islam have the rights as young girls, wives, and as mothers. In terms of worshiping Allah, if a woman does good deeds, she gets the same reward as man. By the same token, if she does bad deeds, she gets the same punishment as the man. There is no superiority between men and women in Islam in terms of humanity. Woman in Islam has the rights to choose a man she wants; she has the rights to have an equal salary with the man. Moreover, she has the rights to keep her own family name after marriage, and she has the rights to conceal/cover her body. Islam liberated women from ignorance and humiliation of being surrogate mothers, stoic wives, whom their elected husbands disgraced them.  It is unfortunate to keep hearing how media slanders, slurs, insults, and offends about women’s rights in Islam, and how some people are judgmental about Islam and Muslims while not seeing that it is actually they who disgrace women in general.

|Bibliography|

Nawabu‐Din, A. Women’s Action and Point of View in Islam. Egypt. 1989. Retrieved On October
25, 2003 from (http://www.islamway.com/) | Ahmed Sheikh‐Omar Imam (2003, December 25).
Personal interview. | Sharif – Abdirahman H. Mohamed Imam. (2003, October 25). Personal
interview. | From the Qura’an, the Muslim holy book, and Prophet’s Hadeth, the Prophet’s way
of life. | USAToday.com (February 2008)

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