Rethinking Islam with Sultan Shahin

Urdu Section
12 Oct 2010, NewAgeIslam.Com
Holy Quran: The Guarantor of Respect for Women

Islam is a religion of nature. It takes care of all the requirements of humanity. Men and women are the foremost unit of the society. Islam has taken care to fix their status in society taking into consideration all their requirements and responsibilities.

In Islam, Men and Women are two sexes who carry the same value. In principle both have the same position; both are responsible for their acts and will get the result of their deed separately. According to Quran-e-Karim:

"And whoever does righteous good deeds, male or female, and is a true believer in the Oneness of Allah (Muslim), such will enter Paradise and not the least injustice, even to the size of a Naqira (speck on the back of a date-stone), will be done to them." (sura Al Nisa 124)

Akhtarul Wasey, Translated from Urdu by Arman Neyazi

Holy Quran: The Guarantor of Respect for Women

By Akhtarul Wasey

Islam is a religion of nature. It takes care of all the requirements of humanity. Men and women are the foremost unit of the society. Islam has taken care to fix their status in society taking into consideration all their requirements and responsibilities.

In Islam, Men and Women are two sexes who carry the same value. In principle both have the same position; both are responsible for their acts and will get the result of their deed separately. According to Quran-e-Karim:

"And whoever does righteous good deeds, male or female, and is a true believer in the Oneness of Allah (Muslim), such will enter Paradise and not the least injustice, even to the size of a Naqira (speck on the back of a date-stone), will be done to them." (sura Al Nisa 124)

The above mentioned Aayat of the Quran Sharif clearly mentions that both men and women will get their reward according their deeds. The implication is clear. There will be no discrimination on the basis of gender. There is only one law of the Almighty for both of them. There are various kinds of relations among men and women, the most important being the relationship of husband and wife. The Quran-e-Karim says:

; "It is He who has created you from a single person (Adam), and (then) He has created from him his wife [Hawwa (Eve)], in order that he might enjoy the pleasure of living with her. When he had sexual relation with her,"( Al Araaf 189)

God responds in the Quran Kareem in reply to a prayer of a Muslim in the following fashion:

“So their Lord accepted of them (their supplication and answered them), "Never will I allow to be lost the work of any of you, be he male or female. You are (members) one of another, "( Sura Al Imran 195)

This verse of the Holy Quran testifies that in Islam both Men and Women have the same standing. “All of you are from each other" means both the sexes are the same. It also clarifies that both the sexes have the same moral responsibilities and that is why the reward and punishment will also be the same for both of them. If Islam has given the same rights and powers it has given equal responsibilities also. On one other occasion the Holy Quran states:

Again the Quran opines; "O mankind! Be dutiful to your Lord, Who created you from a single person (Adam), and from him (Adam) He created his wife [Hawwa (Eve)], and from them both He created many men and women and fear Allah through Whom you demand your mutual (rights), and (do not cut the relations of) the wombs (kinship). Surely, Allah is Ever an All-Watcher over you. "( Al Nisa -1)

This verse clearly says, the genetic make-up of men and women are the same, both are from one father and mother and so there is no difference between them. A woman also has the same rights that a man has. For creation of man and woman "khalque minha zojaha" word is used, here” minha" means " min jinseha" meaning thereby God has created Hazrat Hawwa the pair of Aadam (AS) from the same female. This similarity proves that men and women should live together with total unity.

In Quran man and woman are called each other’s uniform. The uniform not only means hiding of body but the expression of beauty and decoration also. The beautiful and worthy sentence of the Holy Quran decides the position of both the man and woman. The uniform is the source of their cosmetic beauty, their personality; it saves their person from the external influences, hides their physical shortcomings; it is the nearest confidant of their body and the most intimate expression of their being. The term “uniform” not only explains their relationship but explains the mutual inter-dependence of their relationship.

In terms of other social relationships also the Holy Quran describes both the sexes on an equal footing. For example in connection with the rights of inheritance, Sura Al Nisa verse 7 says," In the wealth of the parents and in the wealth of the kins man and woman both have their rights, be it less or more, a fixed portion."

In known history it is the Holy Quran alone which gives equal rights to men and women in the hereditary wealth. Not only that, it even has fixed the portion, be it less or more which is necessary for the woman to be given. There are certain people who say that a woman has been given only half the portion given to man. But such observations are expressions of a negative mentality. The point that must be pondered is that this distribution system was established 14 centuries ago, and then it took centuries to be codified. The second thing is that a woman does not get her share only in the wealth of her father but also in her husband’s wealth. This way a woman gets her share in the wealth of two families and a man from only one family. Therefore this negativity is because of the ignorance. There are certain occasions when a woman gets a greater share of the inheritance than does a man.

In the Holy Quran a woman has been described as a useful and functioning member of the society. God testifies:

"And wish not for the things in which Allah has made some of you to excel others. For men there is reward for what they have earned, (and likewise) for women there is reward for what they have earned, and ask Allah of His Bounty. Surely, Allah is Ever All-Knower of everything."( Al Nisa 32)

In this verse of Holy Quran it is clarified that men and women are different according to their abilities. In certain conditions a woman can have a higher status thn a man and vice versa. This is no different than different men holding different positions in society. There is nothing surprising in it.

Holy Quran declares in Sua Al Tauba, Aayat 71-72:

"The believers, men and women, are Auliya' (helpers, supporters, friends, protectors) of one another, they enjoin (on the people) Al-Ma'ruf (i.e. Islamic Monotheism and all that Islam orders one to do), and forbid (people) from Al-Munkar (i.e. polytheism and disbelief of all kinds, and all that Islam has forbidden); they perform As-Salat (Iqamat-as-Salat) and give the Zakat, and obey Allah and His Messenger. Allah will have His Mercy on them. Surely Allah is All-Mighty, All-Wise. Allah has promised to the believers -men and women, - Gardens under which rivers flow to dwell therein forever, "

The above-mentioned verse has decided their position. According toe the Quran men and women are each others’ partners. As far as the contention of inequality between husband and wife is concerned, this too is a one-sided viewpoint. The main importance between the relationship of a husband and a wife is that of stability and equality. As a mother, a woman is responsible for her children who include both sons and daughters.

The Holy Quran gave men and women the same status 14 centuries ago. A woman has been given the same position that a man enjoys. Both will be treated alike. They are made for each other. Both are a source of pleasure and peace for each other. Hence both are called each other’s apparel. Both have been fixed their share in the inheritance and both are free to play their respective roles. A woman has been given a right to select her husband on her own and man has been forbidden to force a woman to marry any man.

Thus in the history of humanity for the first time a woman does not only get her rights but also laws to safeguard them. It is the greatest act of compassion of Quran-e-Kareem for the human race.

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