The honor of Women in Islam

 

THE HONOR OF WOMEN IN ISLAM

I would like to do a quick analysis of the time before the Prophet Muhammad (Peace be Upon Him). So before Islam in the Arab peninsula when girls were born and someone come and tell the father that a female child was born to his wife. His face used to go dark with shame and anger and then he used to contemplate how do I get rid of myself of this Museebat. Then some Arabs didn't do that but many of them would go and dig a hole and bury the female child alive. Other than Arabia, in the subcontinent of India women had another kind of challenge. There traditionally all the men used to marry younger girls and then naturally as men died first and yet girl remained alive, the religion and culture required the young girl would be burnt with  corpse of her husband. Then they make firewood and the young girl had to sit on top of it. And then they used to lit the fire. Besides this, in Europe people didn't consider women human, and then later the catholic church said women are human but defected. They said the woman is inevitably evil like her mother eve who took the man out of the favor of Allah Almighty and make him eat from a forbidden tree. So, this was the situation of women before Islam and in this climate, Islam came. Allah Almighty honored the world with Islam. One of the first revelations of Prophet Muhammad (Peace be Upon Him) was about;

 

وَإِذَا ٱلۡمَوۡءُۥدَةُ سُئِلَتۡ

And when the girl [who was] buried alive is asked

بِأَيِّ ذَنۢبٖ قُتِلَتۡ

For what sin she was killed? ( Surah At-Takwir)

 

Prophet Muhammad (Peace be Upon Him) established  this act is Haram in Islam. Even, in these days Prophet Muhammad (Peace be Upon Him) was finding survival difficulties of his own life but He was preaching emancipation of womankind. Islam called the news of female birth glad tidings.

وَإِذَا بُشِّرَ أَحَدُهُم بِٱلۡأُنثَىٰ ظَلَّ وَجۡهُهُۥ مُسۡوَدّٗا وَهُوَ كَظِيمٞ

And when one of them is informed of [the birth of] a female, his face becomes dark, and he suppresses grief. (Surah An-Nahl)

There is even one chapter in the Glorious Quran devoted to women and named "An-Nisa" which means women. In old times women did not get any part of inheritances when their relatives died. So Allah Almighty revealed a verse about inheritance, giving the just of it to women. Then in the end mentioned both sexes, male and female as well, have the right to inherit what is left by a late relative.

Allah instructs you concerning your children: for the male, what is equal to the share of two females? But if there are [only] daughters, two or more, for them is two-thirds of one's estate. And if there is only one, for her is half. And for one's parents, to each one of them is a sixth of his estate if he left children. But if he had no children and the parents [alone] inherit from him, then for his mother is one third. And if he had brothers [or sisters], for his mother is a sixth, after any bequest he [may have] made or debt. Your parents or your children - you know not which of them are nearest to you in benefit. [These shares are] an obligation [imposed] by Allah. Indeed, Allah is ever Knowing and Wise. (Surah An-Nisa: 11)

 

In Islam, the rank of a mother is more dignified or glorified, even before that of a father. This is witnessed in one of the Prophet Muhammad's (Peace be Upon Him) hadith that follows:

An apostle asked the Prophet PBUH: "O Messenger of Allah Almighty, among all mankind who is it that I am much obliged to glorify?" The Prophet answered, "Your mother." "And then who else?" again the man asked. "Your mother," again the Prophet answered. "And then who else?" the man ask for the third time. "Your mother still answered the Prophet. "And then who else?" asked the man for the fourth time. "Your father," at last the Prophet said.

Subhanallah (Glory be to God). Women are ranked in such great and noble positions as they are mentioned by three times in a row by our beloved Prophet Muhammad (Peace be Upon Him). So do you see that initially women were very downtrodden but Islam lifted them up. So the rank of Women in Islam is extremely high that not any other Religion can compete with it. But you know, the greatest ranks or positions also have greatest responsibilities. If you are a girl, Islam makes you so much more important, but what responsibilities it is giving to you?