Thirty

Women's Status in Islam

Is there gender equality in Islam? Is not women's status far below that of men?
Human beings are of different types. Depending on variations in their conditions, there will be natural and inevitable variations in their positions, status, rights and duties. Similarly between male and female there are physical and psychic differences. However hard he tries, a male cannot become pregnant, give birth to a child or breast feed. Unlike the male, a female undergoes her monthly menstrual cycle, and suffers physical and mental discomforts. Physically male is stronger than female and is capable of doing hard work.
Almost all organs of a male are different from those of female. Well known physiologist Havloc Ellis writes that male is male to his finger tips and female is female to her toes.
The physiological differences between sexes have resulted differences in their mental and emotional state. So there is no physical or mental equality or parity between male and female. Hence complete equality between sexes is impractical as well as unnatural.
Islam is the system of life provided by God, the creator and sustainer of the human race. Hence it completely suits to human nature; it is in perfect harmony with it. Islam doesn't view male and female as enemies who are binaurally opposite, quarrelling with one another on the basis of rights and duties. Rather they are of the same race who have to live in co-operation and harmony. Allah says ''Ye are one from another'' (4:25) The prophet tells: ''Women are certainly part of men''
So the status of both men and women cannot be viewed and analysed in mathematical terms. If men are superior to women in certain respects, in some other respects women are superior to men. The view of Islam on the issue can be summed up as follows.
1. God does not discriminate between man and woman and both are promised complete equality and parity.
"Whoever works righteousness, man or woman, and has faith verily, to him will we give a new life, a life that is good and pure, and we will bestow on such their reward according to the best of their actions" (16:97)
"And he that works a righteous deed - whether man or woman - and is a believer - such will enter the Garden (of Bliss)" (40:40)
"And their Lord hath accepted of them, and answered them: ''Never will I suffer to be lost the work of any of you, be male or female'' (3:195)
2. The one who deserves most respect on earth is woman. There is nothing as noble as motherhood. They give birth to generations, and they are the first teachers. In the birth and growth of a person the mother plays the most important role, and she suffers most. So mother deserves the highest respect and obedience from any person.
Once someone asked the prophet: ''Oh, messenger of God ''who is the most deserving person whom I should always keep company with? The prophet replied, ''Your mother'' He asked again ''Then who?'' The prophet replied ''your mother'' The man asked again ''who is next''? The prophet gave the same reply ''Your mother.'' The man asked again ''Then who'' The prophet replied, Your father'' (Bukhari, Muslim)
In several places where the Quran mentions the parents together, it has especially pointed out the services rendered by mother.
''And we have enjoined on man (to be good) to his parents: in travail upon travail did his mother bear him, and in years twain was his weaning: (hear the command), ''Show gratitude to me and to thy parents'' (31:14)
''We have enjoined on man kindness to his parents: in pain did his mother bear him, and in pain did she give him birth'' (46:15)
So Islam gives the foremost place and recognition to mother who is a woman.
3. The history of queen Sheba narrated in the Qura'n clearly shows that there are women who are capable of taking more rational and appropriate decisions than men. When Sheba received Prophet Solomon's letter she consulted with her councillors in the palace. The councillors could not find out a clear and appropriate step to be taken, and as the Quran mentions, a mature view and directions came from Sheba herself (27: 29, 44)
4. Islam has totally refuted the concept of Christianity and Judaism about original sin which finds woman responsible for it. The Quran says that violating the instructions of God both Adam and Eve ate the forbidden fruit, and the Quran also finds Adam, and not Eve, more responsible for the crime.
''In the result, they both ate of the tree. So their nakedness appeared to them: They began to sew together, for their covering, leaves from the Garden: Thus did Adam disobey His Lord, and fell into error. But his Lord chose him (For his Grace): He turned to him, and gave him guidance.'' (20:121-122)
''We had already, before hand, taken the covenant of Adam, but he forgot: and we found on his part no firm resolve'' (20:115)
In the verses quoted here the Quran has corrected the view which traditionally holds woman responsible for the original sin.
5. The dissipated materialistic societies have often subjected women for inhuman persecution. They used to kill female infants. Even the contemporary society is not different and in the case of female infanticide. In India, Tamil Nadu has the first place. Usilampetti in Salem district in Tamilnadu is notorious for killing the female infants. If the newborn is female, its father will not even be ready to see it. He asks to get rid of it, - and the family obeys him. Then the infant's, mother is sent to her husband's house.
Female foeticide is commonly practised in India as in other parts of the world. According to the Indian Medical Association five million female foeticide is being carried out every year. The official figure has put it at two million. The inhuman practise of female infanticide had existed in Arabia among certain tribes during the prophet's time. About this the Qura'n says: ''When news is brought to one of them, of (the birth of) a female (child), his face darkens, 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 retain it on (sufferance and) contempt, or busy it in the dust? (16: 58, 59)
Islam has strictly prohibited infanticide and considered it a serious crime. The Quran has warned such people of the Day of Judgment ''when the female (infant), buried alive, is questioned - for what crime she was killed'' (81:8, 9)
So Islam has guaranteed the right of women to live, and ended forever the barbarian practice of female infanticide.
6. Islam has granted special consideration and importance for women, as they have been the most neglected lot anywhere in the world in all ages. The prophet said: ''If a person had two daughters, and if he looks after them well, he will be eligible for heaven because of them'' (Bukhari)
"If someone's life is made difficult because of three daughters and his own sisters, he will certainly obtain heaven'' (Tahawi)
"If you donate to your children, donate equally. If I were to give priority to any one, I would have given priority to women'' (Tabrani)
So Islam has granted rights and duties and status to men and women, taking their natural features into consideration. Therefore Islam has revered motherhood and considered it as the most important female characteristic. The American psychologist Theodore Rice has quoted the words of a woman who is proud of being a mother in his book "The Emotional Disparities of Male and Female." "We accept, says the lady, "man's capabilities in intellectual and other spheres without any reservation. But we, the women, are gifted with something more important than all these. Without us the human race will come to an end. We give birth to children, and thereby we ensure the presence of future generations''.
But sadly even women are not aware of the nobility of motherhood today. The women who are proud of the number of their children, and who proudly say that they have looked after many children are very rare. The degradation of man is one reason for the low esteem of motherhood. As man has become an object of little value, women consider pregnancy and childbirth mean, meaner than a receptionist's job at the hotel. Even if they give birth to one or two children they are not prepared to bring them up properly. Children's care is left for nurses, who look after them for monthly wages. As Ali ja Izzat Begowich has rightly said that for parents children are real beings with distinct individuality, whereas for nurses they are mere objects like any other object. So if they let the children play, it is like turning the wheels of a machine, and they bathe them as one washes and oils a machine, without any emotion at all.
The world is now suffering the inevitable set back of its negligence of motherhood. In any unnatural system that doesn't consider the physiological features of woman, or that doesn't approve the nobility of motherhood, man will be degraded, he will be mentally unrest, his family will be disintegrated, peace will disappear from the society, and individuals will feel lonely amidst the crowd, and suffer deep sadness. On the other hand the system of Islam is free from such drawbacks, as it has taken peoples natural features into consideration.