1. Education
The Messenger of Allah ! once said: "Acquiring knowledge is compulsory
for every Muslim. (At-Tabarani)
This narration applies equally to men and women. "Knowledge" in this
context refers primarily to knowledge of the Qur�aan and the Sunnah as
no Muslim should be ignorant of his or her Faith, but it also covers
other areas of general education, which can contribute to the welfare
of civilization. It is preciselythe ignorance about their religion
among Muslims that has led to men oppressing women because they
believe it ispermitted, women not demanding their God-given rights
because they are ignorant of them, and children growing up to
perpetuate their parents' follies. Throughout Islamic history, men and
womenboth earned respect as scholars and teachers of the Faith. The
books of Rijal (Reporters of Hadith) contain the names of many
prominent women, beginning with 'Aishah and Hafsah.
2. Worship
It has already been discussed in detail that both men and women are
the slaves of Allah and have a duty to worship and obey Him. Men and
women have topray, fast, give charity, go on pilgrimage, refrain from
adultery, avoid the prohibited, enjoin the good and forbid the evil,
and so on. Because of women's roles as mothers, a role which does not
end at a specific time but is a roundthe-clock career, they have been
exempted from attending the Mosque for the five daily prayers or for
Jumu 'ah (Friday) prayer. Nevertheless, if they wish to attend the
Mosque, no one has the right to stop them.
3. Charitable Acts
Men and women are both encouraged to givecharity, and there is nothing
to stop a woman giving charity from her husband's income.
'Aishah reported that theMessenger of Allah ! said:
"A woman will receive reward (from Allah) evenwhen she gives charity
from her husband's earnings. The husband and the treasurer (who keeps
the money on the husband's behalf) will also be rewarded, without the
reward of any of them decreasing."
Asma' once said to the Prophet
"O Messenger of Allah, I have nothing except what Zubair (her husband)
brings home." The Prophet told her: "O Asma, give in charity. Don't
lock it lest your subsistence is locked."
4. The Right to own Wealth and Property
A woman has the right to keep her property or wealth, whether earned
or inherited, and spend it as she may please.
This right was granted to Western women only very recently, and the
women of India had to wait until 1956 for a right which Muslim women
have always taken for granted. Concerning the right to one's earnings,
the Qur�aan says:
"And wish not for the things in which Allah hasmade some of you excel
the others. For men there is reward for whatthey have earned, (and
likewise) for women there is reward for whatthey have earned, and ask
Allah of His Bounty. Surely, Allah is Ever All-Knower of everything."
(V. 4:32)
5. Freedom to express One's Opinion
Few societies exist in which the ordinary citizen can confront the
ruler face to face and challenge his policies. Even fewer societies
allow women to be so bold, yet the Islamic ideal has always been open
and accessible. Thisfreedom of expression isaptly demonstrated by a
famous incident involving 'Umar the second Rightly- Guided Caliph.
'Umar was once standingon the pulpit, severely reprimanding the people
and ordering them not to set excessiveamounts of dower at thetime of
marriage. A woman got up and shouted, "Umar! You have no right to
intervene in a matter which Allah the All-Mighty has already decreed
in the Qur�aan:
"But if you intend to replace a wife by another and you have given one
of them a Qintar (of gold, i.e., a great amount as Mahr bridal money),
take not the least bit of it back; would you take it wrongfully
without a right and (with) a manifest sin?" (V.4:20)
After being reminded of this Verse, 'Umar withdrew his order, saying,
"I am in the wrong and she is correct."
6. Participation in Jihad
The battlefield is a place,which frightens many men let alone women.
Due to the aggressive and violent nature of war, only men have a duty
to participate in Jihad (holy fighting in Allah's Cause) while women
are exempted. A woman once asked the Prophet to allow womento go on
Jihad with men because of its excellence and the unlimited reward
promised to Mujahidin (Muslim fighters) in the Hereafter.
The Prophet replied:
"For them is a Jihad without fighting," whichreferred to the Hajj and 'Umrah.
Nevertheless the Prophetdid permit women to nurse the injured and
supply provisions to the Mujahidin at some battles. A woman from the
tribe of Ghifar came with a large group of women to the Prophet when
he was preparing to leave for the conquestof Khaibar. She said:
"O Allah's Messenger, we wish to accompany you on this journey so that
we may nurse the injured and help the Muslims." The Prophet responded,
"Come may Allah shower His blessings upon you."
Umm 'Atiyyah an Ansari woman, once said:
"I have participated in seven battles with the Prophet. I used to
guard the camels of the Mujahidin in their absence, cook the food,
treat the injured and care for the sick."
Mu'adh bin Jabal reportsthat his cousin Asma' bint Yazid killed nine
Roman soldiers with a tent-pole during the battle of Yarmuk.
7. Freedom to choose Her Husband
The guardian of the girl, whether her father, brother or uncle, plays
an important role in her marriage, such as finding a suitable match
for her. But under no circumstance does this allow him to force his
choice on her against her wishes. She is free toaccept or reject his
choice, or make her ownchoice. A woman named Khansa bint Khidam once
came to the Prophet and complained:
"My father has forced meto marry my cousin in order to raise his own
status (in the eyes of the people)." The Prophet told her that she was
free to dissolve this marriage and choose whomever she wished to
marry. She replied, "I accept my father's choice, but my aim was to
let the women know that fathers have no right to interfere in the
marriage." (Ahmad, An-Nasa 'i and Ibn Majah)
8. A Woman's Guarantee in War is acceptable
If a woman gives surety to a war-captive or giveshim shelter, her
guarantee will be accepted. Umm Hani a cousin of the Prophet, said to
him after the conquest of Makkah: "I have given shelter to two of my
in-laws." The Prophet said: "O Umm Hani, we have given shelter to whom
you have given shelter."
According to another narrative, Umm Hani gave shelter to a man but her
cousin 'Ali tried to kill the man. She complained to the Prophet who
endorsed her act of giving shelter to the man.
9. The Right to custody of Children
Divorce is especially painful and difficult when the couple have had
children, and awarding custody to either party involves difficulties.
According to Western law, both fatherand mother have to prove to the
Court that they are more capable oflooking after the children, and
this often involves maligning the other party in order to strengthen
their own claims to custody. Islamiclaw has its own clear decision on
this issue. Custody of young boys and girls goes to the mother. The
son stays with his mother until he is about seven or nine years of
age, after whichhe is looked after by the father. The daughter remains
with her motheruntil she gets married. The exception is when the
mother herself re-marries, in which casecustody may be awardedto
someone else such as the girl's grandmother or aunt. This is based on
the Prophet's words to the divorcee:
"Your right to custody ofthe child is greater as long as you do not remarry."
10. Participation in extending cooperation for the promotion of good
and elimination of evil.
The Qur�aan deals with this subject in clear terms:
"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, andall that Islam has forbidden); they perform
As-Salat (Iqįmat-as-Salįt), and give the Zakat, and obey Allah and His
Messenger. Allah will have His Mercy on them. Surely, Allah is
All-Mighty, All-Wise." (V. 9:71)
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