Fathwa, - Highlighting the status ofwoman in Islam

Question
Assalamu Alaikum We are living in a time that the opponents of Islam
spreading wrong information about the freedom of women in Islam. But I
am amazed to notice that wherever in the world occures any communal
problems, the Muslim women are abused and molested by the opposite
community but the Muslims are rarely doing the same to the women of
other religion. Is it a result of the teachings of our beloved Prophet
Muhammad )s a s( to respect women? Can we use this matter to the Dawa
purpose? Jazak allah khairan
Answer
All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify
that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that
Muhammadis His slave and Messenger.
There is no doubt that there is no other civilization that respected
the status of the woman as did the Islamic civilization. This is
highlighted in the teachings of Islam in its two authentic sources:
the Book of Allaah and the Sunnah of the Prophet.
Similarly, Islam advises its followers to be kind to the non-Muslims
and to deal justly with them as long as they are not in war with the
Muslims; Allaah Says )what means(:}Allaah does not forbid you from
those who do not fight you because of religion and do not expel you
from your homes — from being righteous toward them and acting justly
toward them. Indeed, Allaah loves those who act justly.{]Quran 60:83[.
There is no difference in this respect between their males and
females, young and old.
Even at war, the Prophetforbade killing a woman unless she is a
fighter.Ibn 'Umarnarrated that a woman was found killed in one of the
battles of the Prophetso hedisapproved of the killing of women and
children. ]Al-Bukhaari and Muslim[
Moreover,Imaam Maalikreported in "Al-Muwatta'a" thatAbu Bakrused to
advise the leaders of his army telling them:"Do not kill a woman or a
child or an old aged person, and do not cut down fruitful trees. Do
not destroy the inhabited places. Do not slaughter a sheep or a camel
except for food. Do not burn palm trees or drown them. Do not steal
from the booty, and do not be cowardly."
There is no doubt that this is from the good traits of Islam whose
followers abide by in most of their cases, and this is evident from
their conduct as well.
Indeed, such good traits should be highlighted by the Muslims and used
in calling non-Muslims to Islam and in their dealings with the
non-Muslims.
Allaah knows best.