ISLAM GIVES MORE RESPECT TO WOMEN THAN MEN

Islam grants even more respect to women than to men. According to one Hadith, a man once asked the Prophet who deserved the best treatment.

“Your mother,” said the Prophet. “Who’s next?” asked the man. “Your mother.” “Who comes next?” the man asked again. The Prophet again replied, “Your mother.” “Who is after that?” insisted the man. “Your father,” said the Prophet. (Sahih al-Bukhari, Hadith No. 5971)

This clearly shows that Islam gives more respect to women than to men. During the life of Prophet Muhammad, a Muslim lady, Barira, wanted separation from her husband, Mughis. The case was referred to the Prophet of Islam, who counselled: “I would like you to withdraw your case and live with your husband by adjusting with him.” Barira asked the Prophet: ‘Is this your request, or is it the command of God?” The Prophet replied, “It is my request.” Barira said, ‘Then, I do not need it.’” (Sunan an-Nasa’i, Hadith No. 5417) The marriage was then dissolved. This clearly shows that Islam gives complete freedom to women.

Women were allowed to visit mosques and pray in congregations or individually throughout the Islamic period. Moreover, throughout the history of Islam, women have been free to perform significant roles and have demonstrated not only the vast arena that Islam affords them for the performance of noble and heroic deeds but also the exaltedness of the position accorded to women in Islamic society.

In the early period of Islam, regarded as a model for all believers, we have several examples showing that women used to participate in practical matters. For instance, Hazrat Khadijah, the Prophet’s wife, conducted business, and Hazrat Fatimah, the Prophet’s daughter, helped give first aid to the wounded in battle. Asma, Abu Bakr’s daughter, looked after her camels and the date orchard.

Thus, we can see that Islam exalts the position of women. It holds men and women to be equal in respect but different in role, precisely as they were created.

So far as practical home management is concerned, the man is held responsible. However, this does not mean a woman cannot shoulder these responsibilities. If she can bear this burden, no objection will be raised from any quarter. One example of this can be found in the Quran regarding the people of Sheba. They lived in Yemen. The famous dam of Marib made their country very prosperous and enabled it to attain a high degree of civilisation. The Quran tells us that they were ruled by a woman (27:23) without disapproving of her rule. Bilqis, the Queen of Sheba, was sagacious, even more so than the men in her court. She did not want to embroil her country in war, while the men advised her to confront her enemies, Solomon’s army. Abdullah Yusuf Ali, the Commentator of the Quran, writes:

“In Bilqis, we have a picture of womanhood, gentle, prudent, and able to tame the wilder passions of her subjects.”

It is an accepted principle with the commentators of the Quran that when the Quran reports something without any disapproval, it means the Quran has approved of that.

So, when we look at this incident in the light of the Quran, we find the status of women even higher than that of men. A woman is in charge of men and shouldered this responsibility more effectively.

Thus, the example of the Queen of Sheba, mentioned in the Quran, shows that rulership is not man’s monopoly. A woman can be a ruler over men if she has the capabilities to do so, and the Quran has testified to it.

Another example concerns Hajra, Prophet Abraham’s wife. Hajj, regarded as the greatest form of worship in Islam, entails the performance of Sai, which is one of the main rites of the Hajj. This is accomplished by running back and forth seven times between Safa and Marwah, two hillocks near the Kabah. This running, enjoined upon every pilgrim, be they rich or poor, literate or illiterate, kings or commoners, is in imitation of the desperate quest of Hajra, Prophet Abraham’s wife, for water to quench the thirst of her crying infant four thousand years ago. The performance of this rite is a lesson in struggling for the cause of God. It is of the utmost significance that this was an act performed by a woman. Perhaps there could be no better demonstration of a woman’s greatness than God’s command to all men to follow in her footsteps.

We can see that the principle implied by the expression ‘ladies first’ in modern times had already been established in Islam at the very outset.