WHAT IS THE ROLE OF MUSLIM WOMEN?

Presented at the 17th Annual Conference of the Federation of Australian Muslim Students and Youth (FAMSY) on Sunday 12 July 1998 at the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology.

I would like to start with a comparison between Islam and ancient civilisation. Whenever the position of woman throughout history is mentioned, Islam emerges as a unique exception. The religion of Islam gave women an honorable status and established their dignified equality with men. Before the advent of Islam, women had no rights of any kind, or an independent identity in any form. In previous religions and systems, they were treated as mere chattels in the house, subject to be bought, sold or discarded at discretion. Some examples are:

Chinese Civilisation:

I quote from the book of Chinese civilisation, which reflects "The Chinese wisdom presumed that ‘Women were created and placed the most inferior point of the human race, and should be given the meanest work’."

Greek civilisation:

From the book, The History of the World, I quote "In ancient Greece, the concept of woman was the view that her name, same as her body, should be concealed behind the doors of her home"

Hinduism:

In India, the ordinance of Manu implies several clauses handling the status of woman. Among them are the following:

Article No 148 reflects that "In childhood, a female must be subject to her father and later to her husband. When her Lord dies, she will be subject to her sons or his next of kin. For a woman must never be independent.

Until late in the 18th century, the rites of Sati were practiced, in which a Hindu widow should burn herself on the pyre of her deceased husband.

Judeo Christian:

In the Judeo Christian belief, women are regarded as the source of evil. Why? Because of her alleged Biblical role as the temptress who seduced Adam into disobedience to his Lord. By tempting her husband to eat the forbidden fruit, she not only defied Allah, but also caused humankind’s expulsion from paradise, thus instigating all temporal human suffering.

Jahiliya (Era of Ignorance):

In Jahiliya, before Islam, the infant girl was buried alive. If a woman’s husband died, his son would own her and he might marry her or lock her in the house until she died. Women had no right to own or to inherit. Allah says in the Quran, "When the female infant is buried alive, is questioned for what crime she was killed."


And what happened when one of the non-believers was told his wife had given birth to a baby girl? "When news is brought to one of them, of the birth of a female (child), his face darkened and he is filled with inward grief! With shame does he hide himself from his people because of the bad news he has had! Shall he return her on (sufferance) and contempt, or bury her in the dust? What an evil choice they decided on!"

On the other hand, Islam is an egalitarian (equal) creed, which explicitly rejects such oppression. Men are not superior to women in Islam and women are not superior to men in Islam. Allah says in the Quran, "The best of you in the sight of Allah is the best in conduct and Allah consciousness" S49-13.

The Prophet said, "All people are equal like the teeth of a comb. There is no merit of an Arab over a non-Arab or a white over a black person or of a male over a female. Only Allah-conscious people merit a preference with Allah". Another teaching is, "Women are the twin halves of men." It is therefore difficult to imagine twin halves who do not have equal rights.

In Islam equality in spiritual and moral duties produces equality in spiritual and moral rights. The Quran reflects: "For Muslim men and women, for believing men and women, for men and women who give in charity, for men and women who fast and deny themselves, for men and women who guard their chastity and for men and women who engage much in Allah’s praises. For them Allah has prepared forgiveness and great reward"

It is very clear in the Quran that Adam and Eve were both responsible for the first sin, both asked Allah for forgiveness and both were forgiven. The common belief in other Scriptures that Eve was the devil’s advocate is therefore a belief that is completely alien to Islam and Islamic teaching.

Is it true that a Muslim woman has the right to speak and share her opinion?

Like men, Muslim women are entitled to freedom of expression. It is reported throughout history that women not only expressed their opinions freely, but they also participated in serious discussion with the Prophet himself and other leaders of the Islamic State. Women were accustomed to question the Prophet while men were present. They were not embarrassed to have their voices heard, nor did the Prophet prevent their inquiries. One of these cases was the case of Khowlah Bint Thaalaba. She came to the Prophet (s) and complained about her husband and Allah revealed verses of the Quran while she was sitting and He resolved her problem. And the case of Omar (ra) when he was challenged, during his sermon, by a woman regarding the dowry is an example of women voicing their opinions and correcting a male. Omar admitted that the woman was right and he was wrong. Omar said, "Everybody is more knowledgeable than Omar." Furthermore, the Quran reflects the conversation between Sulaiman and Balqees. All of these examples support the fatwa that women are allowed to voice their opinions publicly for whatever has been prescribed for us. Allah tells us in the Quran that our speech must be just. The restriction is how we speak and that it should be a just speech.

The Role of Muslim Women

The status of Muslim women as defined in Islam. The woman is a mother. Paradise lies under the feet of the mother. As an authentic hadith teaches us: A man approached the Prophet and asked, "Who is the most worthy of my care?" The Prophet replied "Your mother", three times and then your father. A Muslim woman is also a daughter and a sister. Allah tells us that "He bestows female offspring upon whom He wills and bestows male offspring upon whom He wills".

A Muslim woman is also a wife who is a source of comfort for her husband as he is to her. "And among His signs is this, that He created wives from among yourselves, that you may dwell in tranquility with them, and He has put love and mercy between your hearts."

Women make up half of society and they are responsible for nurturing, guidance and reformation of the subsequent generations of men and women. It is the female who imbues principles and faith into the souls of the nation. A woman’s responsibility in faith is exactly the same as that of a man. Women are to pray, fast, give charity, perform the pilgrimage and perform other forms of ibadah. A woman is rewarded for this just like a man. A woman must believe in the Oneness of Allah, the Books of Allah, the Angels of Allah, the Prophets of Allah, the Day of resurrection, the Day of Judgment and heaven and hell, and predestination.

Does Islam Permit Women to Seek an Education?

Islam has made it a duty on every Muslim male and female to gain knowledge, which is considered to be a superior act of worship in Islam. Preventing a Muslim woman from gaining an education is therefore an un-Islamic act.

Allah asks in the Quran, "Are those who know equal to those who know not?"

Allah also tells us that He will raise those who believe among you and those who have knowledge to high ranks. A famous hadith teaches us to "Seek knowledge from the cradle to the grave". In Islam, therefore both men and women are credited with the capacity for learning, understanding and teaching. One of the famous women in the history of Islam is the Prophet’s wife, Aisha. The quality for which she is remembered primarily is that of her intelligence and outstanding memory. She is considered as one of the most reliable sources of hadith by virtue of these qualities. She has reported more than 200 hadith and is regarded as one of the teachers of the hadith. Aisha used to teach men and women at the Prophet’s masjid.

Generally speaking, in the Muslim olden world, there was no bar or prohibition on women pursuing studies. On the contrary, Islam encouraged it. As a result of this, many Muslim women became teachers, such as Nafisa, a descendant of Ali, who was such a great authority on hadith that Imam Ashafii sat in her circle when he was at the height of his fame and Shaikha Shahda who lectured publicly in one of the principal mosques of Baghdad to large audiences on literature and poetry and was one of the foremost scholars in Islam. There are numerous other incidents of educated Muslim women.

I would like to mention something very important. That is, knowledge is not only limited to the religious knowledge but includes all forms of knowledge. Acquiring knowledge enables Muslims to get a better perception and understanding of the world around us and make us more conscious of Allah. Brothers and Sisters: the Prophet, peace be upon him, had put so much effort into reviving the ummah during that time. He began the process by tackling individuals, then the family and finally society. This is the point where the Muslim women play the role as the backbone and vital elements in the establishment of the society. "The believers men and women are protectors one of another, they enjoin what is just and forbid what is evil" IX-71.

A Muslim woman as in this verse has to participate in Islamic dawah. Evidences from the Seerah of the Prophet proved that the Sahabiat (Muslim women at the prophet’s time) were not ignored in the Islamic movement. Asma, to quote one of the many examples, was one of the first few who knew of the Prophet’s plan to leave for Madinah during Hijrah. On the night of their departure, Asma was the one who prepared a bag of food and a water container for the Prophet (s) and Abu Bakr for their journey. Soon after the immigration of the Prophet, she left Mecca, during her pregnancy, traveling a long journey.

Sisters must be given the opportunity to work for Islam. I would like to quote a statement of Yusuf Al-Qaradawy: "One of the important social sectors which much be reached by the Islamic awakening is the sector of women. Islam is not a man’s religion but it is a religion for all men and women. In terms of number, women constitute more than half of the society. Hence, the voice of Islamic dawah must reach Muslim women. Women must be involved in Islamic work, even at leadership levels". Sisters can play a vital role in the Islamic organisation and Islamic society.

What are the roles of men and women within a Muslim family?

In the Islamic family, the role of men and women is complementary rather than competitive. The Quran makes it clear that "Men are the protectors and maintainers of women because Allah has given one more strength than the other, and because they support them from their means" IV-34.

The Quran makes it clear that the husband has full responsibility for the maintenance of the family. The wife on the other hand is responsible for the welfare of the family. Their duties are described as equal in importance but not identical in substance. The qawama is merely a matter of leadership and directing in exchange for duties that should be performed. For it is the husband who pays the dowry and he is the one who provides the house.

Sisters, I would like to convey an important message to you. If you dearly love Allah, you will accept everything He says and orders us to do. Allah is the All Knowing of His creation and knows what is best for them. I accept what Allah orders me to do because I am positive that Allah is wise and knows what is best for me. The Prophet taught us that if a woman dies and her husband is pleased with her, she will enter Paradise.

Is there a gap between Islamic principles and the practice of Muslims?

Unfortunately, many Muslims are unaware or ignorant about true Islamic teachings, due to a lack of education. Such Muslims practice a distorted Islam, which has been contaminated by their cultural traditions, which have no Islamic basis. This impure Islam is not based on any authentic Islamic sources, the Quran or the recorded teachings and practices of Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him. One should therefore judge a religion by its teachings and not by people who claim to be its followers. The issue of feminism in Islam is meaningless. The coming of Islam has brightened the life and future of women, in which Islam has lifted up their level to the same level as men. Islam upholds women to the highest and most respected position. Islam has also protected women from being mere objects to satisfy the desires of men. The Quran describes women as a symbol of beauty, justice and love. Muslim women have also been acknowledged for their important role in the establishment of the Islamic community.

reference: http://members.ozemail.com.au/%7Efamsy/women_role01.html