WOMEN IN ISLAM

Western media regularly portray women in Islam as being oppressed, repressed and considered inferior to men. Some in Maldives parrot these views by the Western media on the position of women in Islam. Is it that some people are prone to confuse how different cultures treat women with women's position in Islam? I think it’s timely to look at the real position of Women in Islam.

Islam is the literal submission to the will of Allah. This translates in practical day to day lives of men & women into following the Koranic injunctions and as a consequence, following the known authentic injunctions of the prophet Muhammad –Pbuh.

I propose that this examination of the position of WOMEN IN ISLAM to be an examination of the subject matter by both you the reader and the author, so that this discussion is pro-active and interesting. I would really appreciate the input by women specially in sharing with us the reality of what they face from day to day. Its paramont that we women take an interest in that which concerns us, and air our views just as women did during the life of the prophet - Pbuh.

It would also be relevant in the interest of completeness, that we examine the subject from the following viewpoints…

1. Position of Women before the revelation of the Koran
2. Position of Women in Christianity.
3. Position of Women in Judaism.
4. Position of Women in Hinduism & Buddhism.
5. Position of Women in the Koran & Hadis.

As an opener lets examine in this “first part” what the Koran has to say about WOMEN & MEN. Are women superior to men? Are men superior to women? Are men & women equal? Or is this like comparing apples & oranges. With the goals thus stated lets get going.

Lets let the Koran speak for itself:

"For Muslim men and women, for believing men and women, for devout men and women, for true men and women, for men and women who are patient, for men and women who humble themselves, for men and women who give in charity, for men and women who fast, for men and women who guard their chastity, and for men and women who engage much in Allah's praise-- For them all has Allah prepared forgiveness and great reward" (33:35).

"The believers, men and women, are protectors, one of another: they enjoin what is just, and forbid what is evil, they observe regular prayers, practise regular charity, and obey Allah and His Messenger. On them will Allah pour His Mercy: for Allah is Exalted in power, Wise" (9:71).

"And their Lord answered them: Truly I will never cause to be lost the work of any of you, Be you a male or female, you are members one of another" (3:195).

"Whoever works evil will not be requited but by the like thereof, and whoever works a righteous deed -whether man or woman- and is a believer- such will enter the Garden of bliss" (40:40).

"Whoever works righteousness, man or woman, and has faith, verily to him/her we will give a new life that is good and pure, and we will bestow on such their reward according to the best of their actions" (16:97).

It is clear to any unbiased "sercher of truth" that the Quranic view of women is no different than that of men.

They, both, are God's creatures whose goal on earth is to worship their Creator, do righteous deeds, and avoid evil and we are informed in no uncertain terms that they, both, will be assessed accordingly. I like to add here, that nowhere in the Koran is mentioned that the woman is the devil's gateway or that she is a deceiver by nature.

The Koran never teaches us that the MALE is God's image and that the FEMALE is somehow different to that; On the contrary it teaches that all men and all women are Allah’s creatures. According to the Koranic view, a woman's role on earth is NOT LIMITED only to childbirth. WOMEN are required to do as many good deeds as any MAN is required to do.

The Koran never says that no upright women have ever existed.

To the contrary, the Koran has instructed all the believers, women as well as men, to follow the example of those ideal women such as the Virgin Mary and the Pharoah's wife:

"And Allah sets forth, As an example to those who believe, the wife of Pharaoh: Behold she said: 'O my lord build for me, in nearness to you, a mansion in the Garden, and save me from Pharaoh and his doings and save me from those who do wrong.'

And Mary the daughter of Imran who guarded her chastity and We breathed into her body of Our spirit; and she testified to the truth of the words of her Lord and of His revelations and was one of the devout" (66:11-12).

Thus at the end of this first part on “Women in Islam” we see that the Koranic view of Women is the same as that of men.

Allah Knows Best. Mistakes if any any are mine, & would appreciate if you correct me if I err. Also I like to state that I'm a layman. May Allah Bless those brothers & sisters who taught me the little I know.

Peace!

ALLAH ASKS US TO FOLLOW THE PROPHET - Pbuh

Allah takes care of us in the smallest detail. He gave us our mothers and fathers. What Blessings! He Gives us health, He Gives us wealth. He Gives us everything. What Blessings! ISLAM LOOKS AT LIFE DIFFERENTLY TO ALL OTHER RELIGIOUS AND PHYLOSOPHICAL SYSTEMS. ISLAM OFFERS YOU SOMETHING THAT NO OTHER BELIEF SYSTEM OFFERS. How is this so?

Allah teaches us in His magnificent Koran that He created us only to Worship Him. He also instructs us repeatedly in the Coran to follow His prophet–Pboh. “Worshiping” we also learn could also mean doing anything that someone asked one to do, for that person’s sake, forgetting Allah. These profound teachings opens up huge possibilities and opportunities to man. The stress is on an uncompromising “Thauheed”

From this it follows that doing anything that the prophet -Pboh did becomes an act of worship. - BECAUSE we know that the messenger was UNDER ALLAH’S GUIDANCE ALL THE TIME; and because ALLAH ASKS US TO FOLLOW THE PROPHET. Thus the act of eating, drinking, even having a relationship with your spouse can become an act of worship - IF YOU REMEMBER ALLAH, AND YOU ARE DOING WHAT YOU ARE DOING ACCORDING TO THAT WHICH THE MESSENGER OF ALLAH DID; BECAUSE ALLAH INSTRUCTED YOU TO FOLLOW HIS MESSENGER.

This explains why it becomes so important to know what the prophet – Pboh said and did. This is why from the earliest times - from the time of his companions (May Allah Be Pleased with them), everyone paid so much attention to the details of what the prophet –Pboh said, did or not do.

This also explains why we find the companions asking so many questions, so varied, and sometimes even so intimate. The reason being that the Messenger of Allah – Pboh, was under the DIRECT INSTRUCTIONS and DIRECT SUPERVISION BY ALLAH – and since they had submitted themselves to Allah, they wanted to do everything in life according to ONLY WHAT ALLAH WANTED.

Allah sent His prophet. Allah sent His Book. In His book He made clear that any person who was submitted to Allah HAD TO FOLLOW THE PROPHET IN EVERYTHING HE/SHE DID WITHOUT EXCEPTION.

Due to this the prophet’s life was A VIVID PRACTICAL DEMONSTRATION OF WHAT ALLAH WANTED OF MAN, IN EVERY IMAGINABLE SITUATION THAT MAN COULD FACE. Thus he was called to be a husband, father, Uncle, leader of a small group, a person under intense persecution, a refugee, a fighter, a commander of a small band of fighters, a head of state, a General, and he also had to demonstrate to us difficult and sensitive changes of law/ customs prevalent at that time.

IN ALL THESE ROLES THE PROPHET’S WAS UNDER CONSTANT SUPERVISION OF ALLAH (swt).

NO WONDER, the life of the Prophet (Pboh) has been said by his wife, Aisha (May Allah (Swt) be pleased with her) to be like "a walking Koran”. Allah’s prophet was under constant unrelenting scrutiny by friends and foe. He was subjected to unrelenting tests by his people, and was called upon by ALLAH to endure the discomfort of many real life situations that he had to enact in order to demonstrate in practical terms to his UMMAH - ALLAH'S COMMANDS.

What a monumental strain! It’s inconceivable that a human being with just his inherent capabilities could meet the challenges. By Allah’s Grace, By Allah’s Will the prophet (Pboh) had Allah’s Guidance and Support and was strengthened by the angel Gabriel (May Allah Be pleased with him). Thus HE BECAME THE PERFECT LIVING EXAMPLE OF ALLAH’S COMMANDS TO MANKIND. He became a person of the most perfect morals, and Allah made him the BEST EXAMPLE TO FOLLOW.

With the 1st generation – the memory of their prophet was seared into their memories. They lead their lives trying to completely submit to Allah and imitated their prophet with the ardour borne out of being eyewitnesses, and the certitude of the knowledge that HE WAS GUIDED BY ALLAH (Swt). The 2nd. Generation had direct access to this 1st Generation. The 3rd. to the 2nd. The 4th to the 3rd and so on.

Gradually Hadis became a well-established science and the most stringent literary quality control in the history of mankind was underway by early 200AH with such scholars as Bukhari and Muslim at the forefront. The Hadis we learn were already written during the life of the Prophet –Pbuh contrary to doubts cast in this respect by Orientalists and quite conclusively rebutted by Prof. Hamidullah with his research into this.

Finally I leave with you extracts from the Last sermon given by Prophet-Pbuh on the occasion of his final Pilgrimage. Please note the high-lighted words, and reflect then on them. May Allah Give us Guidance. ………………

O’ people! No Prophet would be raised after me and no new Ummah (would be formed) after you.

Verily I have left amongst you that which will never lead you astray, the Book of Allah, which if you hold fast you shall never go astray.

And beware of transgressing the limits set in the matters of religion, for it is transgression of (the proper bounds of) religion that brought destruction to many people before you.

Verily, the satan is disappointed at ever being worshipped in this land of yours, but he will be pleased by obedience in anything (short of worship that is) in matters you may be disposed to think insignificant, so beware of him in your matters of religion.

Behold! Worship your Lord; offer prayers five times a day; observe fast in the month of Ramadhaan; pay readily the Zakat (poor due) on your property; and perform pilgrimage to the House of God and obey your rulers and you will be admitted to the Paradise of your Lord.

Let him that is present, convey it unto him who is absent, for many people to whom the message is conveyed may be more mindful of it than the audience.

And if you were asked about me, what would you say?" They answered, "We bear witness that you have conveyed the trust (of religion) and discharged your ministry of Prophethood and looked to our welfare." ......

Dear Brothers & Sisters, How would YOU ANSWER THE PROPHETS QUESTION?

Allah Knows Best. Any mistake is mine, and please do correct me.