Man and woman are the two wheels which carry the caravan of civilization ahead. None of these is less important than the other. Islam is the religion of humanity. This is as old as humanity itself. Hazrat Muhammad Rasool Ullah was the last Rasool of Allah and it was through him that the message of Islam was completed. In most of the societies before Islam, woman was treated as a second rate human being. Greeks claimed themselves to be the most cultured and civilized people in the world, yet the status of women in the Greek city states was no better than slaves. They were not entitled even to the right to vote. Old Hindu scriptures are full of derogatory remarks about women. The slogan of women emancipation, though very attractive apparently, resulted in more exploitation and worsening of the lot of the women. As late as in 1918 the British women were given a right to vote. American women were enfranchised in 1920. In the two and a quarter century long American constitutional history not even a single woman has been elected as President. On the other hand, Islam gave the women an honourable status, centuries ago. For better comprehension we shall study Islam's attitude towards women under certain classified heads:
Dignity
In the primitive societies women was considered to be an unclean and pollute creature. Islam restored her honour. Hajj is one of the five pillars of Islam. It is obligatory upon every affording Muslim to perform Hajj at least once in lifetime, otherwise his Iman remains incomplete. Running between Safa and Marwa (Sa'i) is a part of Hajj ritual. For the last four thousand years, billions of the faithful Muslims, including the Prophets, their companions, and the sacred people are performing Hajj every year and following the tradition (Sunnah) of a great woman whose name was Hajrah.
Right to Life
Blood of a women is as sacred and inviolable in the eyes of Islam as much as that of a man. One who murders a woman is subjected to death penalty as the killer of a man.
Right of Property
In many societies woman herself was given the status of a piece of property, hence the question of giving her the rights of ownership and property did not arise. Islam gave women full property rights and made her legally entitled to the inheritance of her father and husband. She can hold property in her name, and no one including her husband is allowed to make use of this property without her permission.
Right to Equality
In the matter of rights Islam has treated women generally at par with men, the Holy Quran says:
- " ..... and women shall have rights similar to the rights against them, according to what is equitable; but men have a degree (of advantage) over them. And Allah is Exalted in Power, Wise." OV (Surah al-baqara 228)
Since the family unit is run like a miniature state and no state can be run without someone who heads it, Islam has given man the position of the head of the family.
Right to Basic Necessities of Life
Man has been made responsible for providing the women with necessities of life. She cannot be forced to earn livelihood for herself or her children and husband. This is perhaps the only reason for which Allah has given men superiority over women. This has been explained in Surah al-nisa:
- "....... Allah has given the one more (strength) than the montow to other, and because they (men) support them from their nitesiolo means." (Surah al-nisa: 34)
Right to be Treated Fairly
Hazrat Omer said that "once I admonished my wife and she retaliated in the same tone, it was a new experience for me because in the days before Islam we gave little importance to women, Islam forbade us from treating them harshly", Hazrat Muhammad Rasool Ullah said "The best amongst you are those who treat their wives best".
Right to be Consulted with
Islam established a tradition of consulting women and giving their opinions due consideration. Hazrat Muhammad Rasool Ullah allowed his wives to travel with him when he set out for important expeditions; he consulted them on matters of importance. On the occasion of Hudaibia Treaty he was able to overcome a problem by acting upon an opinion rendered by Hazrat Umm-e-Salamah. Hazrat Omer "made a very important decision by following the opinion of his daughter Umm-ul- Momineen Hazrat Hafsa. Many knowledgeable companions of Hazrat Muhammad Rasool Ullah consulted Hazrat Aishah in important matters, she was held in high esteem by the companions for her juristic opinions.
Right to Social Life and Attainment of Knowledge
Opponents generally allege that Islam bars women form acquiring knowledge and wants to confine them within the boundaries of their homes. This is true that Islam does not allow women to mix freely with men. Islam believes that men and women, by virtue of their creation are meant to perform duties different from each other and their free contact may cause damage to the society. But on the other hand Islam not only encourages female education, it makes it obligatory upon every Muslim woman to acquire knowledge, in the same way as it does for men. Women form nearly fifty percent of any society, avoidance of free and unnecessary interaction between the genders shall automatically imply that at least fifty percent of the total doctors and teaches and persons in all other important places should be taken from female half of the society.
