Issues in which Men and Women are treated alike or Women are treated favorably

This chapter discusses issues, which carry little or no controversy.
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)

Issues in which Men and Women are treated as dissimilar

This chapter deals and as well as tempers with the issues, which raise
most of the questions and criticisms.
1.Hijab
Muslim men and womenhave to fulfill very different requirements
concerning Satr (parts ofthe body which have to be covered). The
following Verse deals with the observation of Satr for women inside
the home where only close male and female family members can mix
together freely:
"And tell the believing women to lower their gaze and protect their
private parts and not to show off their adornment except only that
which is apparent, and to draw their veils all over Juyubihinna
(i.e.,their bodies, faces, necksand bosoms) and not to reveal their
adornment except to their husbands, or their fathers, or their
husband's fathers, or their sons, or their husband's Sons, or their
brothers or their brother's sons, or their sister's sons, or their
(Muslim) women (i.e., their sisters in Islam), or the (female) slaves
whom their right hands possess, or old male servants who lack vigor,
or small children who have no sense of feminine sex. And let them not
stamp their feet so as to reveal what they hide ~of their adornment.
And all of you beg Allah to forgive you all, O believers, that you may
be successful." (V. 24:3 1)
Women can thus expose their objects of beautification such as make-up
and jewellery to other chaste women and the men listed in theabove
Verse only.
In front of other people, the Prophet's wives and all Muslim women
have been ordered to fulfill the requirements of Hijab by wearing a
Jilbab, which is a long outer garment that covers the entire body:
"O Prophet! Tell your wives and your daughters and the women of the
believers to draw their cloaks (veils) all over their bodies (i.e.,
screen themselves completely except the eyes or one eye to see the
way). Thatwill be better that they should be known (as free
respectable women)so as not to be annoyed. And Allah is Ever
Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful." (V. 33:59)
Islam does not permit the free mixing of men and women outside the
close family group, and Western-style mixing even with wearing the
Hijab is not permissible as is seen in places of education and work.
TheQur�aan tells the believing men in the time of the Prophet:
"And when you ask (his wives) for anything you want, ask them from
behind a screen, that is purer for your hearts and for their hearts."
(V. 33:53)
The wives of the Prophetwere models for all women and were regarded as
the Mothers of all believers. If they could only be addressed from
behind a curtain in order to avoid any temptation or impropriety, how
much more then is such a curtain necessary for ordinary women who can
be a much greater source of temptation? It is also clear from the time
of the Prophet that the Companions did not treat this Verse as
referring only to the Prophet' s wives but applied it to their women
as well, with the complete approval of the Prophet. The reason given
in the above Versefor such a curtain is"that is purer for your hearts
and for their hearts" and in another Verse we read:
"Tell the believing men to lower their gaze (from looking at forbidden
things), and protect their private parts (from illegal sexualacts).
That is purer for them. Verily, Allah is All-Aware of what they do."
(V. 24:30)
Islam wishes to establish a pure society in which there is no room
even for adultery of the eye. Free-mixing between the sexes is
forbidden, men and women are advised to marry at a young age so that
they can fulfill their desires lawfully, and all are told to "lower
their gazes" in public so that the eye may not be used as an
instrument of Satan. By observing Hijab, the woman's dignity and
decency is safeguarded. Her attire makes clear that she is not an
object for sale, advertising her beauty and availability for men's
lusting eyes and wolf whistles. We need little reminder of the immoral
society around us today in which the sexes mingle wearing indecent
clothes, and adultery is only frowned upon if committed after being
married. Before marriage individuals areencouraged to try different
partners, and the unfaithfulness, the misery, the jealousy and the
insecurities, which then take place, are a necessary result of such a
life style. The Muslims may well feel safe and secure within the
Islamicmoral and dress code, but they are often imitating too much of
the non-Muslims' behavior for complacency.
2. Polygyny
A man is allowed a maximum of four wives provided he treats them with
equality and justice. If he cannot support more than one wife or fears
that he willnot be just between them, he should remain monogynous. The
primary purpose behind polygyny is to provide for war widows and
orphans. The number of men in any society inevitably decreases after a
major war, and polygyny provides the only decent solution for the
widows and orphansleft alone. In such situations women may resort to a
monastic life, which is unnatural, or toan immoral and sinful life.
Islam also strictly forbids sexual relations outside marriage, and
polygyny is again the only decent and honest solution in cases where a
man wants more than one partner.
The widespread practicetoday of men having wives as well as mistresses
is demeaning for all the women involved, it is dishonesty and causes
untold misery. By marrying more than once, not only are all the woman
and the children involved legitimate, but the man also has to face up
to full responsibility for all the relationships he enters into.
3. Evidence of Women
The Qur�aan clearly states that the evidence of two women is
equivalent to that of oneman, giving the reason that if one forgets,
the other may remind her:
"And get two witnesses out of your own men. And if there are not two
men (available), then a man and two women, such as you agree for
witnesses, so that if one of them (two women) errs, the other can
remind her." (V.2:282)
Giving evidence in court can be a daunting experience, especially as
the judicial system will consist mainly of men, sothe women can give
each other moral support as well as reminders. It is a serious and
burdensome responsibility, which hasbeen lightened for women.
There are four situationsin which evidence is required:
a. Crimes related to penal ordinances and retaliation. If men and
women are both available, the men will be called to give witness and
the women will not be summoned.
b. In economic affairs related to wealth and property, which are
usually the domains of men, the evidence of two men is accepted. If
two men are not available, then one man and two women will be
accepted.
c. In affairs concerning women only such as pregnancy, birth, sexual
defects, the evidence of one woman alone is accepted.
d. In criminal cases where only women are the witnesses, the four
Imams (religious leaders) are unanimous in not accepting the evidence
of women. They reason that in casessuch as murder and rape, the women
will be emotional and may get confused. Such evidence becomes
suspicious, and a principle of Shar'iah (Islamic law) is that any
suspicion about the evidence makes the evidence null and void. In this
context the Zahiri school of thought is more credible.
It states that if women alone are the witness in a criminal case,
their evidence will be accepted according to the principle of two
women's evidence beingequivalent to that of oneman. So in cases of
adultery, the evidence offour men or eight women will be accepted.They
argue that to rejectwomen's evidence entirely in such cases will allow
much crime to go unpunished.
It is an established scientific fact that women cannot explain the
intimate details of events with the accuracywhich men are capable of.
This fact has been confirmed by much research, such as Dr. Harding's.
in his book 'The Way of All Women.' According to one Hadith,the
Prophet described women as being incomplete in reason and religious
practice because they are exempted from the five daily prayers and
fastingduring their monthly menstruation. Their incompleteness in
reason is taken into account in the field of legal evidence. Giving
evidence in court is a serious responsibility from which a woman is
relieved, just as she is relieved from attending the Mosque for the
five daily prayers and the Friday prayer.
4. Inheritance
A daughter receives half the share of inheritance compared with the
son in accordance with the following Qur'anic injunction:
"Allah commands you as regards your children's (inheritance): to the
male, a portion equal to that of two females;" (V. 4:11)
If the daughter has no brothers and only women are the heirs, then
this principle does not apply. The ruling of giving a woman half the
share of a man seems unjust at first glance, butin fact it is more
generous to women. It isbased on the Shari 'ah principle of "Benefits
in accordance with the scale of responsibility."
To illustrate, a brother will inherit twice the sum his sister
inherits. What she inherits is hers to keep and she need not spend it
on anyone, even her husband though he may be poor. The brother is,
however, responsible for maintaining his family, which includes his
unmarried sister, surviving parent, wife and children. At the timeof
his marriage, he will have to pay bridal money to his wife as well as
provide for her throughout their married life. The sister will in
contrast receive bridal money and will bemaintained by her husband.
Any income she has and her share of inheritance is hers exclusively,
with which her family cannot interfere.
It seems that this same wisdom is behind the 'Aqiqah ceremony when the
two sheep are sacrificed at the birth of a male child, and one sheep
at the birth of a female child. This principle of benefits according
to responsibility has wide applications in Islam.
For example, after a battle the Prophet would distribute the captured
booty on the same principle by giving two shares to the cavalryand one
share to the infantry. (Musnad Ibn Abu Shaibah)
5. Blood Money
According to the principle of 'Benefits according to responsibility',
the bloodmoney of a woman is half that of a man. It is important to
remember that blood money is not the price for the soul of a murdered
person, as there can be no such price. It is instead a
smallcompensation for the financial sufferings of the deceased's
family. Men are usually the breadwinners and maintainers of their
families, so the financial sufferings are greater if the man is
killed, but if the murder victim was a woman who was the sole
breadwinner for her family, then the Qadi(judge) has the authorityto
increase her blood money.
A precedent for such an increase is found in the Qur'aan where it
allows the Qadi to double the blood money of a personmurdered within
the precincts of the Sacred Cities, Makkah and Al-Madinah. The wisdom
behind is that just as virtuous actions are rewarded more if practiced
within Al-Haram (the sanctuary), so the punishment for crimes or sins
within Al-Haram is also increased.
6. Divorce
The man has the primaryright to divorce. Allah says:
"And if you divorce thembefore you have touched (had a sexual relation
with) them, and you have appointed unto them the Mahr (bridal money
given by the husband to his wife at the time of marriage),then pay
half of that (Mahr), unless they (the women) agree to foregoit, or he
(the husband) inwhose hands is the marriage tie, agrees to forego and
give her full appointed Mahr. And to forego and give (her thefull
Mahr) is nearer to At-Taqwa (piety, righteousness). And do not forget
liberality between yourselves. Truly, Allah is All-Seer of what you
do." (V. 2:237)
This may seem unjust at first glance, but Allah theAll-Mighty has
given injunctions based on men and women's different temperaments. The
woman is controlledmore by her emotions than by reason, and this is
obviously an asset in the home. Her tender nature and ability to
sacrifice her own comfort for the sake of her child makes her a better
parent than the man. In a situation of marital conflict, her emotional
nature will bemore inclined to exaggerate the seriousness of the
conflict and to thus instigate divorce. The man will be more inclined
to think calmly about the situation before pronouncing judgment.
Neither of these characteristics is inferior or superior to the other;
both are complementary and bestsuited to the roles the sexes have to
play. In order to mitigate rash conduct by the husband,the Qur�aan and
the Sunnah have made provisions for cases when the man does pronounce
divorce but then regrets it. The divorce never becomes binding
immediately butgives him a period of three lunar months (the woman's
'Iddah or waiting period) in whichhe can either endorse the divorce or
revoke it and seek reconciliation.
It should be remembered that a woman is not helpless inthe matter of
divorce as is widely believed. Although she cannot pronounce divorce
like aman, for the reasons of her temperament already given, she can
obtain one through a Qadi or arbitrator. This process is called Khul
', and the woman asks for divorce in lieu of returning her bridal
money or any other gift to the husband.
In the Western world today, the high rates of divorce are widely
attributed, among other things, to the financial independence of women
and the ease with which they can obtain divorce for flimsy reasons.
The Islamic ethos encourages men and women to save theirmarriage for
the sake of their children and to uphold the family institution.
7. Right to trade or seek other employment
A women is allowed to trade and work in institutions for women only,
and at all times she must observe the relevant rules on Hijab and
Satr. A woman's primary place is in the home but she may work if she
has no one to support her or because her husband's income is not
sufficient for the family's needs. As has already been mentionedunder
the discussion of Hijab, Islam does not permit the free mixing of men
and women outside the close family circle. Women are allowed to go to
Mosques for worship, educational institutions, and the battlefield. In
the Mosques and educational establishments, the Muslims should provide
separate places where women may pray and study in privacy. On the
battlefield, women may nurse the injured if there is a shortage of
male nurses. Whenever men and women work or study in the same place,
there is an increase in temptation from Satan. Sexual harassment in
Western places of employment is a common problem for which the women
often have no remedy. Islam tackles the root of the problem by
separating the sexes and so avoiding situations of temptation, which
can lead to sin.

RAMZAN DAILY DUA

O Allah, on this day make my fasts the fasts of thosewho fast
(sincerely), and my standing up in prayerof those who stand up in
prayer (obediently), awaken me in it from thesleep of the heedless,
and forgive me my sins , O God of the worlds, and forgive me, O one
who forgives the sinners.

RAMADAN ARTICLES - Seventeen tips for Parents to Present Ramadan in your Child's Class:

Parents talking to their children's principals, teachers and
classmates in public schools about Ramadan are of immenseimportance.
By doing so, Muslim children feel less awkward identifying themselves
as Muslims, since someone in an authority position has discussed what
they believe what they do. As a result, the children often feel more
confident and secure.
Well, Muslim children need to feel the importance of their own
celebrations and holidays, especially since we are living in a
non-Muslim environmentwhere kids don't see fancy lights and
decorations, commercial hoopla or consistent reminders of the"holiday
season" during Ramadan.
And of course, talking to your child's class about Ramadan is a great
way to make Dawa to non-Muslim kids and Muslim kids as well, in
particular those who maycome from non-practicing Muslim families.
There are a couple of tipsto keep in mind when approaching the school
or your child's teachers about presenting, as wellas for how you
present the information to the child's class.
01.Start early
Calling your child's teacher in the middle of Ramadan asking to do a
presentation on the topicis too late. Now, less thana month before
Ramadanis the best time to bring up the issue, especially considering
Christmas is coming up and holidays are on the minds of most people,
teachers and students included.
Starting early also helps you think about and gather the right
materials to make a goodpresentation.
02.Get permission from your child's teacher
While parents do have a lot of clout in the school system, this does
not allow them to show up unexpectedly one day at their son or
daughter's class to do a presentationon Ramadan.
Send a letter giving a general indication that you want something done
about Ramadan. Then wait for the teacherto call. If he or she does not
do so within a week, call them and tell them you are following up on
the letter you sent earlier.
03.Select the right period in which to do thepresentation
Does your child study Social Studies? Or does he or she have a period
once a week for Moral and Religious education?If so, suggest to the
teacher that you would like to do the presentation during these
periods. Or, you can of course ask the teacher if he or she has ideas
about which time would be best to come inand do the presentation.
04.Be polite but firm
Speaking nicely to people is part of our Deen, including non-Muslims.
We should remember that the purpose of this exercise is to not just
educate the students, but the teachers as well. Being polite and
courteous will not detract from your desire to present. It will serve
to build bridges and communication, and could lead to further contact
to do presentations on other Islam-related topics and more
teacher-parent cooperation in the future, Insha Allah.
05.Ask the teacher what areas to cover and how long it should be
This helps to adjust your presentation to the age level of the
students, as well as connect it to whatthey are already learning. This
doesn't mean you can't bring in other information, but knowing what to
cover from the teacher helps you put down what has to be covered and
from there you can develop more points on these or related topics.
Asking how long the presentation should be can also help you decide
how much you can include in your presentation.
06.Read, prepare, read, prepare
Now that you've gotten the permission, you don'tjust sit back and wait
for the night before the presentation to put it together.
Remember, if you want to appeal to the students,especially younger
ones, you are going to need more than just a talk. Visuals are a great
help. You can get a Ramadan banner picture of Muslims fasting, show
part of a video aimed at children about Ramadan (see Adam's World's
Ramadan Mubarak video. To get the right material, you will have tofind
out where to get it from, and ordering it might take a couple of
weeks.
Preparing is important, even though you may have fasted all of your
life and think you know all about Ramadan. Get a children's Islamic
book and read what it says about Ramadan. Or an article written by a
teenager about Ramadan. This will also help you understand what points
to emphasize in your presentation.
Reading up will also clarify any incorrect cultural norms that may
have seeped into the practice of Ramadan which you may not have been
aware of. Talk to a knowledgeable Muslim for advice as well.
07.Talk to your son or daughter about the presentation
Who would know better the mind set of the kids in the class than your
sonor daughter? Consult them about what to include, what the kids
like, what kind of things they are interested in. Not only will this
improveyour presentation, Insha Allah, but it will also make Ameena or
Saeed feel important and more confident as individuals, and as
Muslims.
08.A few days before the presentation
Call the teacher to check the date and time of the schedule. This will
serve to remind him or her about your visit and prepare the class
accordingly. It will also help you get the exact time and date.
09.Write presentation points on note cards
Reading off papers aboutRamadan will not hold the interest of many
people, young or old. Instead, writing brief notes on note cards that
you can look at so you don't miss any topic will help you avoid
straying from the subject while allowing you to make eye contact with
your audience and maintain a conversational style of presentation.
10.Practice your presentation in front of your son/daughter
Practicing helps you identify what can be improved, changed or
omitted. Practicing in front of Ameena will giveyou the opportunity to
present before one of the kids in the class who can really give you
the best advice.
It will also help you time your presentation, so youcan make it
shorter or longer.
11.Dress for success
This does not mean pulling out the Armani suit or the most expensive
dress you have. It just means looking as a Muslim should-clean,
respectable, professional and Islamically covered. Clothes don't
always"make the man" but they do affect others' perception of you.
12.Be early
Teachers and students are busy people. They have a certain
curriculumto cover. The fact that they've squeezed in your
presentation is somewhat of a privilege. Don't take advantage of this
by wasting their timeby coming late. And anyways, Muslims should be on
time as a principle.
Coming early can also help you set up your audio visual material.
13.Make Dua...
Before your presentation. Ask Allah tohelp you convey this message
sincerely, properly and clearly. And say Bismillah.
14.Speak calmly and clearly
It's important not to race through the presentation, nor to talk too
slowly. A clear, conversational style, but emphasis on the major
points or terms you wantthe students to understand can help convey the
message properly.
15.When answering questions
If you don't know something, say so. Then check up on it and get back
to the teacher. Ask him or her to convey the response.
16.Thank Allah...
For this opportunity He blessed you with and your ability to go through with it.
17.Send a thank you note to the teacher and class...
Thanking them for their time and attention, as well as their cooperation.