Women Rights in Islam

Mahbuba Haq

In this phenomenal world, men and women are the best creations of Allah. All their works and developments are indeed unique. Yet, the noble-deeds of men and women are much more in number and are highly appreciated. All kinds of conversations on women rights throughout the whole world have no end. But still, these women are not yet aware of who has given all those grandeur to them. As a result, women are being deprived from most of their rights. Women are the ones dragging them selves towards peril. In this world, Islam has first established rights and respect for women. Back in the past, women were not treated as human in Islam. As wives, women were the extreme disregards of acceptance. People thought that birth of baby girls was a burden on them. So they used to burry the baby girls in graves alive. Birth of girls in a community was thought to be a curse. In Islam this vile torment on women comes to an end. In the lives of women came a lot of developments. In pure It is written in Al-Quran Al-Quran Almighty Allah has proclaimed that Allah does not ever see respect for women men and women differently. clearly. In this way Islam, at the very first, has shown the women Both of them are and will the path of leading a respectful, healthy and always be equal to Allah. a beautiful life of freedom. The law of Al-Quran has given respect and honor to women as a girl, wife and a mother. As girl, in the past, there was no dignity for them in Islam. That is why Islam has given them pride. The wholesome Al-Quran has declared that, whenever a girl is born in a family, always be happy about it. In the Hadith it is clearly written- when a baby girl is born, Almighty Allah sends the angels. The angels come and say, may peace be bestowed upon the family. Then with their arms they protect the baby girls, and by putting their hands on the baby girls head, they say, from a helpless woman a helpless girl has given birth. Whoever will pay attention to the custody of the baby girl will always be helped and supported by Allah until the Day of Judgment.

Prophet Mohammad (PBUH) has said, The person who will truly nourish a girl, will be by my side after death (just like two fingers on our hands close to each other). Islam has given poise to women as a wife. In the chaste Al-Quran it is written- women are a part of you and you as well are a part of women. In the untainted AL-Quran, the husband-wife relationship is not like a master and a maid-servant, but is a relationship of a deep love and friendship. Prophet Mohammad (PBUH) has also said the same thing- women are mens own brother. Islam has given the most priority to a mother. Such distinction has given to no one else. Under the feet of a mother is a childs heaven- by Prophet Karim (PBUH), has made women more reverential. Once a Sahabi asked Prophet Mohammad (PBUH)After Allah who is the one I should obey the most? Your mother, replied Prophet Mohammad (PBUH) And then? Your mother, And then? Your mother, And then? Your Father, Why have you pronounced mother three times and father fourth? asked the Sahabi. I have said it because your mother is the one who gave birth to you, keeping you in her womb for nine months, suffering and accepting the pain. Then she took care of you, to make you a better person, a better Muslim. Whatever you are today is because of your mother. So as a child it is your responsibility to obey her, to love her and take care of her. By saying this Prophet Mohammad (PBUH) has given respect to women. Islam has given genuine rights to women. Islam has given the full right to women to live in a community, in a beautiful way with self-esteem. It has given women the protection from disrespect and censure; by bequeathing them the

highest reverence. Islam has established all the equitable rights for women through family, community, politics and economics. Islam has given the economic freedom to women. In the Al-Quran it is clearly written- women are a part of the earnings of the men, and women are a part of their earnings themselves. Allah has also said- the part men has on the property of parents or relatives, women has the same part. Whether it is more or less, a part is required. In marriages, women should receive dower from the men. Giving the proper dower to the women is a must for the husbands in Islam. In the AL-Quran Allah has saidbe spontaneous and give dower to the women. Rather than this, wifes clothing, accommodation, treatment, proper care for children and fulfilling the responsibilities of parents and siblings is mandatory. It means it is not necessary for wives to help the family with their income. A woman gets half of the property of her father compared to her brother, but they get some part of the property from their grandfathers (rarely) and husbands for which their amount of property becomes more than their brothers or stepbrothers. That is why the accusation of discriminating women in Islam is completely wrong. Different men and women having different properties do not mean that we will respect them differently. No matter who has more or less property, we should treat men and women equally. It is written in Al-Quran that Allah does not ever see men and women differently. Both of them are and will always be equal to Allah. Islam has given such respect to women which is not given to any other religion. Allah has given this honor to the women. If the world leads the life respecting the women, not discriminating, giving them their deserving rights, and accepting them as a part of our community, then all the people will be a wellwisher in both the world and the Day of Judgment.