The Holy Qur’ān says that God created both sexes from a single source. There is no difference between them in terms of qualification of humanity. The important thing is not being a man or a woman, but to be close to Allah with staunch faith and fear. According to the moral teachings of the Qur’ān, a person who carefully obeys God’s commands of both dos and donts and tries to live as best as one can, is a character of true value in the sight of God.
The Qur’ān reproaches those who believed women to be inferior to men (16:57-59) and repeatedly calls for treating men and women with equality (2:228, 231; 4:19). Along with this Book of Guidance, Allah sent Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be to him) whose words and deeds of high moral standard serve as the perfect model for human beings to follow. Prophet Muhammad’s life was the perfect example of following the Qur’ān, for it was based on its standard. Muhammad is the Final Prophet and his message is for all humankind, applicable in all places and for all times.
Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be to him), like a hero and role model, played many significant roles in the various spheres of life and librated the women from age-old shackles, bondages and oppressions perpetrated against them. He proved to be a reformer, emancipator, protector, saint and saviour of womankind. The facts and events of his life inspired society to such an extent that various evil practices were abolished for ever. Society also realised equality of man and woman and enabled women to perform various roles and enjoy several rights.
EMANCIPATION
The emergence of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be to him) gave a dignified status to women who were considered mere commodities and treated as animals. The Holy Prophet liberated women from the depth of oppression and shackles of abuses. Daughters were buried alive and fathers felt shame for being fathers of female babies. The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be to him) abolished the crime of infanticide and forbade parents from being ashamed for having a daughter. He himself had four daughters whom he loved very much and felt proud of them.
On his return from journeys, he used to visit his daughter Fatimah before coming to his own house. A poet of that age said that after the advent of Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be to him) there had been abundance of girl children. The widows were not given right to remarriage and were handed over to their stepsons and/or husbands’ brothers as a property. The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be to him), with his marriage with many widows and divorcees, set examples for all times to come and gave divorcees and widows right to remarry and lead a dignified life.
RIGHTS
Man is given responsibility of women but not superiority over her. A woman is entitled to have complete provision and total maintenance by the man. If she is a wife, her husband is the provider; if she is a mother, it is her son; if she is a daughter, it is her father; and if a sister, it is the brother. During the time of Muhammad’s prophethood, if a person did not fulfil the financial responsibilities of his wife and children according to his financial status, the woman was permitted to take the money to meet her needs from the State treasury. But a husband should not be forced, however, to spend beyond his capacity and wife is not entitled to make unreasonable demands. Once Abu Sufyan’s wife came to the Prophet, complaining that Abu Sufyan is a miser and did not fulfil her and her children’s basic needs according to his financial status and asked if she could take some money from her husband’s wealth without his knowledge. The Prophet replied that she could take enough for her needs.
Though a Muslim woman is not expected to bear the financial responsibilities of her family yet she has right to earn money, to own and inherit property, to enter into legal contracts and manage all her assets in the way she pleases. No one, not even her husband, can claim on her earnings. Women could take part in the social, political and military affairs also.
Before the advent of Islam, women could not inherit or possess a property, or do a business. Contrary to that Kadija was a business lady and Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be to him) supported her in her business. In the Prophet’s time, women were not considered worthless creatures even in battles. They used to accompany Muslim armies engaged in battles to nurse the wounded, prepare supplies and serve the warriors. Syeda Zanab was a great orator and warrior. Nusayba was also a great warrior of the age. Men and women equally participated in voting and choosing the caliphs as political leaders. Abdur Rahman bin Auf consulted many women before he recommended Uthman bin Affan to be the Caliph.
Another right, the right of divorce is not confined to man alone; woman can also exercise this right in her own way called khula.
EQUALITY
Contrary to the time, women in Islam were given every consideration. Men and women are complementary to each other and not competitive in the Islamic society. Some types of work are suitable for men and others for women. Man has been given the legal responsibilities of providing provision, support, safety and educating his wife and children. While woman has greater responsibilities of a family and providing support to her husband. Bearing, rearing, teaching and training of children are among the first and foremost respected roles of a woman.
If she has the skill to work outside the home for the good of community, she may do so as long as her family obligations are met. Muslim woman has the privilege of contract and business. Even marriage cannot affect her legal status, her earnings and moreover her name. Such equalities, among all, were the result of the support and teachings of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be to him).
Islam is a religion where the standard of superiority is the level of one’s knowledge, where man was created in the best figure, and thus where advancing knowledge is a duty. According to Islam, the potentiality to ascend to the ever increasing level of knowledge of existence is the right of every human being. According to Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be to him) acquiring knowledge is obligatory upon every Muslim man and woman.
The Prophet educated and enlightened his wives and other Muslim women as well. Women used to attend to the Prophet’s lectures, and if they were unable to understand something then he would explain it again to them for their benefit. In this way he encouraged women to get knowledge and education. How much importance was then given to learned women can be understood from the fact that after the Prophet’s death, Aysha became one of the main sources of information on Hadith. She also narrated 2210 ahadith and taught many great scholars. She is described as a professor of the professors.
FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION
The Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be to him) was very kind and affectionate towards women. Women were given honour and dignity at par with men in the community. Allah’s Messenger established women’s right through his sayings and deeds, which improved their position and status in society. Woman is part of a whole; she is not secondary. This is clearly explained by the Prophet through counselling and consultation with his wives. The Messenger discussed matters with his wives as friends, although he did not need their advice, as he was directed by revelation. The Prophet’s wife Khadija played an important role in his religious career. Khadija, to whom the Prophet spoke about his initial terrifying experience of revelation, consoled him and became the first revert to Islam.
The Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be to him) taught the world, through the relationship with his wives, that women are given rights to express their views. At the time of Hudaibiyyah, when the companions were reluctant to obey his order – to slaughter their sacrificial animals and change their pilgrim attires – he sought the advice of his wife Umm Salma. Her view was: if the Prophet himself would slaughter his animal first then companions would definitely obey him and understand the certainty of his order. Women not only expressed their opinions freely in the Prophet’s presence but also argued and participated in serious discussions with the Prophet and with other Muslim leaders of the period.
In matters related to marriage and dowry, a woman cannot be forced by anyone, including her father. Parents can help and advise the daughter on marriage but can’t impose or force their will. It is narrated that when Ali asked for the Prophet’s daughter Fatimah’s hand in marriage, the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be to him) did not respond to Ali until he got Fatimah’s opinion. Ibn Abbas relates that a girl came to the Messenger of Allah, and reported that her father had forced her to marry without her consent. The Messenger of Allah gave her the right to choose between accepting the marriage and invalidating it. In another version, the girl said, “Actually I accept this marriage but I wanted to let women know that parents have no right to force a husband on them.” Woman can demand her dowry anytime from her husband and in case of divorce she would receive her share of property.
The result of the Prophet’s teachings not only promoted the women’s right but also encouraged them to stand for their own rights. In case of dowry also nobody can limit the dower of a wife. Once when Caliph Umar wanted to limit the amount of dower (Mehr), most Muslims agreed with him but an old woman declared her disagreement. Umar did not mute her, instead he heard her opinion which had Qur’ānic support and then he said, “The lady is right and Umar is wrong.”
HONOUR, DIGNITY AND KIND TREATMENT
The women’s rights are beyond material needs. They have one special right of kind treatment also. The Prophet said, “The most perfect Muslim in the matter of faith is one who has excellent behaviour, and the best among you are those who behave best towards their wives.” The Prophet himself was a very kind and loving husband. He joined his wives in household chores, took them in his company while on journeys, helped in business and consulted them in every aspect of life. If the wives of the Prophet argued, and sometimes talked loudly to him, the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be to him) did not show his superiority to them. This set the principle that a wife can argue with her husband for her rights. He taught us that every human life is worthy of respect and dignity.
The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be to him) acknowledged this honour when he declared that under the feet of mother lies the Paradise. Thus as a mother, a woman enjoys more recognition and higher honour in the sight of Allah.
The honour and safety of women lies in the adoption of hijab. The Messenger of Allah commands not only women but also men to protect their eyes from wandering and gazing upon sights that doom one’s morality and raise baser instincts. In the Qur’ān, women were asked to draw their outer garments over themselves so that they would be identified as believing women and not be teased by the hypocrites. The Prophet strongly disfavoured unbecoming dresses which are designed more to reveal than to conceal.
Thus we see that within 23 years of Prophethood, he drastically changed the society making significant influences on the roles and position of woman along with that of man. Muslim women view the teachings of Prophet as their best friend, supporter and the chief source of their progress and well-being. The teachings of the Prophet have left great impact on their social, political, economic, psychological, aesthetic as well as daily life. The instances from the Prophet’s life are regarded as ideal by contemporary women as they have revived their lives.