Kinfolks & Neighbors

The same general rights are legislated in Islamic jurisprudence for
women as are required for men. A concern for general public welfare
and mutual support of one another isa trademark of the Islamic social
system. The Prophet(Peace be upon Him) said:
"The similitude of the believers intheir mutual care, love and
kindness to one another is like one human body: if one organ aches,
this prompts the entire body to be feverish and remain awake."
[Muslim #2586]
And he (Peace be upon Him) said:
"The believers, one to another, are like a firm structure, supporting
one another." He thenintertwined his fingers.
[Bukhari #467 & Muslim #2585]
"A woman as an aunt, niece, cousin, or any type of relative,
regardless of the distance, is included in the kinfolk to whom Allah
commanded to be good, kind and supportive. Allah, the Exalted, states
in the Qur'an:
(Would you then, if you were given the authority, do mischief in the
land, and sever your ties of kinship?)
(47:22)
The Prophet (Peace be upon Him) said:
"A person who severs his kinship ties, will never enter Jannah ."
[Muslim #2556]
And he (Peace be upon Him) said:
"Charity to a poor person is one charity, and to a (poor) relative two
charities: a charity and a connection of a relative."
[ Tirmidhi #658 & Ibn Majah#1844 and verified]
If a woman is a neighbor and sheis a Muslim, she is entitled to
tworights: the right of Islam, and theright of a neighbor. Allah, the
Exalted, states in the Qur'an:
(Worship Allah and join none with Him in worship, and do good to
parents, kinfolk, orphans, the poor who beg, the neighbor who is
related to you, the neighbor who is a stranger, the companion by your
side, the wayfarer you meet, and those slaves whom your right hand
possesses. Verily, Allah does not like anyone who is proud and
boastful)
[4:36]
Islam obligates a Muslim to be good to all his or her neighbors. The
Messenger of Allah (Peace be upon Him) said:
"Jibreel (Archangel Gabriel) continued to recommend me to take care of
the neighbor so much so that I thought the neighbor was going to be
made alegal heir."
[Bukhari #5668]
He (Peace be upon Him) also said:
"By Allah he is not a believer, by Allah he is not a believer, by
Allah he is not a believer!
They asked: "Who, O Messenger of Allah?"
He said: "The one from whose harm the neighbor is not safe."
[Bukhari 5670]
It is also reported by Asfahani in Hilyatul-Awliya that Talhah (may
Allah exalt their mention) said:
"Umar Ibn al-Khattab (may Allah exalt their mention) went out of his
home one night. I decided to follow him to see what he was doing
during the night. I saw himentering a certain house and after a while
I saw him come out and enter another house. In the morning I went to
the first houseand entered it to find out who lives there. To my
surprise I found an old, blind and disabled woman. I asked her: 'What
did the man, who came in your homelast night, want from you?'
She said: 'This man has been taking care of me for a time now,serving
my needs and helping meand supporting me.' Talha said tohimself: 'Why
should I investigateUmar's actions?
The Messenger of Allah (Peace be upon Him) said:
"The person caring for the widows and the poor is like the one who is
on the path of Allah, and as if he said: Like one who stands in prayer
without sitting down and like the one who fasts without breaking the
fast."
[Bukhari #5038 & Muslim #2982]
These are some distinguishing aspects of honoring, respecting, caring
for, and supporting women according to Islamic teachings that
summarize the rights of women. We believe thatwomen never witnessed
this extent of respect and honor throughout the history of mankind on
earth. Some traditions show that the Islamic law never tolerated
crimes or abuses against a woman during any stage of her life.

Women's Rights in Islam

Islam deals with women in a comprehensive way in the context of her
relationship with Allah, her Creator and Lord, with herself as a part
of humanity, andwith man, her partner and natural spouse in the
family. During the presentation below, keep in mind the rights that
other societies grant them in comparison to the rights to which Islam
has entitled women.
It is noteworthy that Islamic teachings are attentive to the needs and
rights of the weaker gender throughout her life: as a daughter,
sister, wife, mother, and as a member of the Islamic society.
*. Equality of Men and Woman in Islam, and their complementarynature
to one another

Demands for Women's Rights

Women worldwide demand equal rights. There is not a system of law that
preserves, maintains and protects what are truly women's rights, as
much as Islamic law does, whether in the past or in modern times. This
willbe verified and substantiated in the following sections of the
book.
Sir Hamilton , the well-known English thinker and philosopher, stated
in his book on Islam and Arab Civilization :
"The rules, regulations and verdicts concerning women in Islam are
clear, frank and open. Islam capitalizes on the completecare that
should be given to the protection of a woman against anything that may
harm her personally, or cause ill-fame to her reputation or
character."
Gustave Le Bon , the well-known French thinker stated in his book "The
Arab Civilization" :
"Islamic virtuous deeds are not limited to honoring and respecting
women, but rather, we can add that Islam is the first religion to
honor and respect women. We can easily prove this by illustrating that
all religions and nations, prior to the advent of Islam, caused much
harm and insult to women."
[p.488]
He also points out:
"Matrimonial rights which have been stated and illustrated in
theGlorious Qur'an and by the interpreters of the meanings of the
Glorious Qur'an are far better than European matrimonial rights for
both husband and wife."
[p.497]
Over fourteen hundred years ago,Islam began to spread to the known
world from Makkah , and then Madinah , where the Prophetof Allah,
Muhammad bin Abdullah(Peace be upon Him) taught his message. Islam
spread its light through the teachings of the revealed scriptures of
the Glorious Book of Allah, the Qur'an, and the inspired traditions of
the Sunnah (Way) of Prophet (Peace be upon Him) which are the
undisputed basis of the Islamic law. The Islamic teachings and system
of law had a profound impact on the lives of the followers of Islam,
and consequently, this impact affected the societies in the landswhere
Muslims traveled and settled. Islam spread very rapidly in an
astounding manner in the known world and left a comprehensive system
of life thataddresses every human need.
Islam does not contradict, clash with or reject any of the lawful,
sound and meaningful requirements of the human being's existence,
which are essential to his continuity in life.In order to understand
changes that Islam brought for women, we must examine brieflythe
status of women prior to the advent of Islam in the Arab society and
other civilizations in the world.

Etiquette towards animals

Islamic guidelines:
A Muslim considers most animals to be deserving of a certain level of
respect as creatures. He showsmercy to them due to the mercy of Allaah
upon them. He also adheres to the following manners with respect to
them, which are part of the etiquettes that Islam encourages Muslims
tofulfill:
1. A Muslim feeds or gives water to an animal if he finds it hungry or
thirsty. This is based on the Messenger's statement: "There is a
reward (for serving) everything with a moist liver (that is, every
living creature)." ] Ahmad]
2. A Muslim should have compassion and mercy towards animals. The
Prophet said: "Whoever does not show mercy will not be shown mercy."
[Al-Bukhaari and Muslim]
He said in other narration: "Have mercy toward those on theEarth and
The One above the Heavens will have mercy on you." [At-Tabaraani]
The Prophet himself set the best example in this regard. When he saw a
group of people using a live animal for archery target practice, he
said: "May Allaah curse the one who uses any creature with a soul as a
target." [Muslim]
Once a bird was distressed because someone had taken its young from
her nest. Allaah's Messenger then said: "Who has distressed this one
because of its baby. Return its baby to her." [Abu Daawood]
3. The Muslim must be kind to the animal, even when he is about to
slaughter it. Allaah's Messenger has said: "Verily, Allaah has
prescribed excellence in all things. Thus, if you kill, kill in a kind
manner. If you slaughter, slaughter in a kind manner. Each of you
should sharpen his blade and spare suffering to the animal he is
slaughtering." [ Muslim]
4. A Muslim should never torture an animal by any means of torture,
such as beating it, making it carry more than it can handle,
mutilating it or burning itby a fire. The Prophet also prohibited the
tying down of animals until they die. Allaah's Messenger once said: "
A woman entered the Hell-fire because of a cat that she tied down. She
neither fed it nor let it free to eat the insects of the earth until
it died." [Al-Bukhaari]
Allaah's Messenger once passed by an anthill that had been burnt to
the ground and he said: "It is not becoming that anyone should punish
by fire except the Lord of the Fire." [ AbuDaawood]
However, it is permissible to kill the harmful animals, such as
voracious dogs, wolves, snakes, scorpions, rats etc. This is based on
the Prophet's statement: " Five noxious or harmful animals are to be
killed whether or not one is in the state of pilgrimage: the snake,
the speckled raven that has whiteness either on its back or stomach,
the rat, the voracious dog and the kite (a birdsimilar to a hawk)."
[Muslim]
It is also confirmed from Allaah's Messenger that he cursed the
scorpion and killed it. [Al-Bayhaqi]
Other related matters:
1. It is allowed to brand grazing animals in their ears for some
overriding need. The Prophet was seen branding, by his own hand, the
camels given in charity.As for other than camels, sheep, goats and
cows, it is not allowed to brand them. The Prophet saw a donkey
branded on his faceand said: "May Allaah curse the one who branded
that (donkey) on its face." [Muslim]
2. One must recognize the right of Allaah concerning his animals by
paying the Zakaah due on them if they are from the animalsconcerning
which one must pay Zakaah.
3. One must not become so preoccupied with animals or playing with
them that one disobeys Allaah, or does not remember Allaah properly.
Allaahhas said, (what means): "O you who believe! Let not your
properties or your children divert you from the remembrance of
Allaah." [Quran 63:9]
Allaah's Messenger stated concerning horses: "A horse may be kept for
one of three reasons. For one man, it may be a source of reward, for
another it may be a source of living and yet for another it may be a
sinful burden. As for the one for whom it is a source of reward, he is
the one who keeps his horse for the sake of Jihaad in Allaah's cause
(i.e. fighting); he ties it with a long rope in a pasture or in a
garden. So whatever its rope allows it to eat will be regarded as
good, rewardable deeds (for its owner). And if it breaks off its rope
and jumps over one or two hillocks, even its dung will be considered
among his good deeds. A horse is a shelter for theone who keeps it so
that he may earn his living honestly and takes it as a refuge to keep
him from following forbidden means. (The third is) a horse is a sinful
burdenfor him who keeps it out of pretense and show and with the
intention of harming Muslims." [ Al-Bukhaari]
These are, in general, the etiquettes that a Muslim should adhere to
with respect to animals, out of obedience to Allaah and His Messenger
and in adherence to what the Islamic law has ordered him… the
Sharee'ah of mercy… the Sharee'ah of general goodness for all
creatures, be they human or animal.