Women site, - The Inherent Differences Between Man and Woman - I

The physical, moral and Sharee'ah-related differences between man and
woman are proven by Divine Decree, the Sharee'ah, and sound ration.
That is, Allaah The Almighty has created man and woman as twin-halves
of the human species: male and female, as confirmed by His Statement
)which means(:}And that He creates the two mates - the male and
female.{]Quran 53:45[ Both participate in maintaining the universe,
each in his/her field. They share in maintaining it by worshipping
Allaah The Almighty, in which there is no difference between men and
women in the universalities of religion: Tawheed )Islamic monotheism(,
creed, articles of faith, submission to Allaah The Almighty, reward
and punishment, encouragement and admonition in general, in addition
to virtue and chastity. There is also no difference between them in
the universality of religious law, as regards to all rights and
duties; Allaah The Almighty Says )what means(:
•}And I did not create the jinn and mankind except to worship Me.{]Quran 51:56[
•}Whoever does righteousness, whether male or female, while he is a
believer - We will surely cause him to live a good life.{]Quran 16:97[
•}And whoever does righteous deeds, whether male or female, while
being a believer - those will enter Paradise and will not be wronged,
]even as much as[ the speck on a date seed.{]Quran 4:124[
But, Allaah The Almighty decreed that man is different from woman in
physique, constitution and appearance. Man is more perfect in nature,
disposition and physical power than woman, due to what she suffers of
menses, pregnancy, the pains of childbirth, suckling, looking after
the affairs of the baby, and raising the future generation of the
Ummah )Muslim nation(. That is why the woman was created from the rib
of Aadam )Adam(, may Allaah exalt his mention. She is a complementary
part of him, and man is entrusted to take care of her affairs, guard
and protect her, and maintain her as well as their offspring.
This difference in disposition led to differences between them in
physical, mental, intellectual, emotional capabilities, and
will-power, and that was reflected in the difference in work,
performance, and competence. Additionally, modern day scientists have
concluded that there are amazing signs of physiological disparity
between the two sexes.
The types of difference between the sexes has accounted for a large
set of corresponding Sharee'ah-stipulated rulings. Allaah, The Exalted
in Honor, the Wise, with His Perfect Wisdom, has enjoined difference,
disparity and authority between man and woman in some
Sharee'ah-stipulated rulings in tasks and functions that befit each
according to his/her physique, constitution, capabilities and
performance, and the aptitude of each of them in his/her respective
field of human life, in order for life to be integrated and for each
party to undertake his/her task in it.
Allaah The Almighty assigned to men rulings that befit their physique,
constitution, structure, competence, qualification for performance,
patience, endurance and solemnity, and the bulk of their role is
outside the home as they endeavor to provide for their household. He
did the same with women, to whom He assigned rulings that befit their
physique, constitution, structure, competence, qualification for
performance and fragile endurance, and the bulk of their job is thus
inside the home, looking after the affairs of their household and
raising those in it who constitute the next generation of the Ummah.
Allaah The Almighty related from a woman her statement )which
means(:}"And the male is not like the female."{]Quran 3:36[ Exalted be
He, to whom belongs the creation and command, ruling and
legislation:}Unquestionably, His is the creation and the command;
blessed is Allaah, Lord of the worlds.{]Quran 7:54[
This is the universal norm of Allaah The Almighty in His creation
)meaning that whatever Allaah The Almighty wills and decrees for his
slaves will inevitably occur(, constitution and foundations, and His
Legislative norm concerning commands, rulings and laws. Both norms
meet to serve the benefits of people, the maintenance of the universe,
and the organization of the life of the individual, the home, the
community and human society.

Women site, - The Inherent Differences Between Man and Woman - II

Here is a set of features with which men and women have been characterized:
From among the rulings assigned to men, a mention may be made of the following:
• Men are in charge of the household in general and of preserving,
caring and safeguarding virtue, holding back vice and protecting those
under their guardianship from evil. They are also in charge of the
household in terms of earning a living and spending upon it. In
confirmation of this, Allaah The Almighty Says )what means(:}Men are
in charge of women by ]right of[ what Allaah has given one over the
other and what they spend ]for maintenance[ from their wealth. So
righteous women are devoutly obedient, guarding in ]the husband's[
absence what Allaah would have them guard.{]Quran 4:34[
Consider the effect of that responsibility in the word "under" in the
Grand Quran as stated by Allaah The Almighty in Soorat
At-Tahreem:}Allaah presents an example of those who disbelieved: the
wife of Noah and the wife of Lot. They were under two of Our righteous
servants.{]Quran 66:10[
"Under" in this context tells us that they had no authority over their
husbands; rather, it was their husbands who had authority over them.
The woman is, therefore, not to be regarded as equal to or above the
man in this regard.
• Prophethood and the delivering of Allaah's message are the domain of
men and not women. In confirmation of this, Allaah The Almighty Says
)what means(:}And We sent not before you ]as messengers[ except men to
whom We revealed from among the people of cities.{]Quran 12:109[
According to scholars of Tafseer )Quranic exegesis(, Allaah The
Almighty has never sent as a prophet a woman, an angel, a jinn, or a
Bedouin.
• As for public guardianship and the jobs done under it like the
judiciary, public administration, and so on, and all other forms of
guardianship like that in marriage, are also the domain of men.
• Men are specifically assigned, to the exclusion of women, many acts
of worship such as the obligatory duty of Jihaad, Jumu'ah )Friday
prayer in the mosque( prayer, congregational prayers )in the mosque(,
pronouncement of the Athaan and Iqaamah )calls to prayer(, and so on.
Divorce also is made in the hand of the man and not the woman, and the
custody of the children are given to the man and not the woman.
• The man's share of inheritance, blood-money and his witness is twice
that of the woman.
These and other rulings assigned exclusively to men explain the
meaning of what is mentioned by Allaah The Almighty at the end of the
Noble Verse of Divorce in which He Says )what means(:}But the men have
a degree over them ]in responsibility and authority[. And Allaah is
Exalted in Might and Wise.{]Quran 2:228[
On the other hand, there are many rulings that Allaah The Almighty
assigned to women in acts of worship, social interaction, marriage and
its ramifications, judgments, and so on. They are well-known in the
Quran and Sunnah as well as in the writings of jurists. Many books, in
the past as well as the present, have been dedicated to this purpose
in particular.
Some of these pertain to her Hijaab and guarding her virtue.
That Allaah The Almighty has assigned to each sex a set of rulings has
three implications:
First, to have faith in and acknowledge the physical, mental and
Sharee'ah-determined distinction between men and women. Each should be
satisfied with what has been decreed by Allaah The Almighty for
him/her. Perfect justice lies in these distinctions, and through
observing them, order is achieved in the life of human society.
Second, it is impermissible for a male or a female Muslim to hope for
what was assigned by Allaah The Almighty to the other. To do so would
be to be displeased with the decree of Allaah The Almighty and
dissatisfied with His command and ordinance. Rather, let each slave
ask Allaah The Almighty out of His bounty for that is from
Sharee'ah-recommended politeness and which removes envy, disciplines
the believing soul and habituates it to be pleased with what is
decreed by Allaah The Almighty.
Allaah The Almighty forbade wishing for what is assigned to others in
His statement )which means(:}And do not wish for that by which Allaah
has made some of you exceed others. For men is a share of what they
have earned, and for women is a share of what they have earned. And
ask Allaah of His bounty. Indeed Allaah is ever, of all things,
Knowing.{]Quran 4:32[
The occasion on which this verse was revealed is what is narrated on
the authority of Mujaahid, may Allaah have mercy upon him, that Umm
Salamah, may Allaah be pleased with her, said, "O Messenger of Allaah,
will men take part in Jihaad and we ]women[ not do so? Why should we
have only half their inheritance?" On that Allaah The Almighty
revealed )what means(:}And do not wish for that by which Allaah has
made some of you exceed others.{]Quran 4:32[ ]At-Tabari, Ahmad,
Al-Haakim and others[
According to At-Tabari, may Allaah have mercy upon him, "Allaah The
Almighty means here, 'Desire not that with which Allaah has favored
some of you over others'. It is mentioned that it was revealed in
connection with some women who wished to be in the same position of
men and have what they have, but Allaah The Almighty forbade His
slaves to have such false wishes and commanded them to ask Him for His
Bounty, as such wishes always draw envy and transgression with no just
cause."
Third, if mere wishing is forbidden as stated by the Quran, then what
about those who actually deny the Sharee'ah-determined distinctions,
call for their cancellation, and claim equality, to which they invite
in the name of equality between man and woman?
Undoubtedly, this is an atheistic theory for it contradicts the
universal norm of Allaah The Almighty that decreed these physical and
moral distinctions between men and women and seeks to disregard Islam
with its Sharee'ah-related texts which determine, in many rulings, the
differences between the male and the female.

Women site, - The Inherent Differences Between Man and Woman - III

Should there be equality in all rulings, given the differences in
physique and competence, it would be a reversal of Fitrah )natural
disposition(, and injustice against both the authoritative sex )men(
and the other one )women( if not the entire life of human society, for
in this case, it would result in deprivation of the fruits obtained
from the capacity of being authoritative and, at the same time, the
members of the other sex would be obliged to do what is beyond their
capacity. Allaah The Almighty forbids that such injustice, even as
much as the weight of a mustard seed, should happen in the Sharee'ah
of Allaah, who is the Wisest of judges. This is why these fine rulings
ensure that the woman is provided for while she practices motherhood,
maintains her house, and raises the future generations of the Ummah
)Muslim nation(.
May Allaah have mercy upon the prominent scholar, Mahmood Muhammad
Shaakir, who commented on the previously-mentioned statement of
At-Tabari, may Allaah have mercy upon him, saying,
This is merely a type of false wishing and longing which the people of
this age are contentiously involved in and misunderstand, and the only
way to be saved from it is to have a sincere intention, a correct
understanding of the nature of humankind, as well as to separate
baseless false wishes from necessity, and to release oneself from the
bond of blind imitation of the prevailing nations and from the
captivity of the corrupt society which has dragged the nations of
today into great turmoil.
However, some of the people of our religion, may Allaah guide them and
mend their affairs, have been led astray, while assuming the mode of
reform, and have confused what might reform their corruption by means
of endeavor, thought and wisdom, with what would corrupt them. People
have become radically excessive, and the resentful advocates of
falsehood among them who are in charge of the press today have
increased. Thus, tongues have spoken confused words, minds have fallen
into chaos, and many people have slipped along with those advocates,
to the extent that we have come to see some seemingly learned people
who are of those of religious knowledge, say about this issue words
from which every religious person should disassociate himself.
There is a huge difference between the state in which the life of the
Ummah, with its men and women, is correct and pure from evil,
disfigurement and ignorance, and the state in which the Ummah
eliminates all the barriers between men and women and thus reduces
itself to no more than false wishes that bring about envy and
transgression with no just cause. Let me repeat the words of Abu
Ja'far, may Allaah have mercy upon him, "O Allaah, guide us to the
straight path at a time in which the tongue has betrayed the mind. Let
those who oppose the command of Allaah, and reject His fate in them
beware lest a calamity would befall them and obliterate their
remaining traces on earth as it obliterated the traces of those who
were before them."
Thus, this principle confirms the physical, moral and
Sharee'ah-recognized distinctions between man and woman.
The forthcoming principles will be established on this first one,
since they would discuss the distinctions between them concerning
adornment and Hijaab.

Dought & clear,- Recommendation to fast Taasoo’a’ with ‘Ashoora’

I want to fast 'Ashoora' this year, but some people told me that the
Sunnah is to fast the day before as well (Taasoo'a'). Is there any
report that this was the teaching of the Prophet (peace and blessings
of Allaah be upon him)?.
Praise be to Allah
'Abd-Allaah ibn 'Abbaas (may Allaah be pleased with him) said: When
the Messenger of Allaah(peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him)
fasted on the day of 'Ashoora and told the people to fast, they said,
"O Messenger of Allaah, this is a day that is venerated by the Jews
and Christians." The Messenger of Allaah(peace and blessings of Allaah
be upon him) said, "Next year, if Allaah wills, we will fast on the
ninth day." But by the time the following year came, the Messenger of
Allaah(peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) had passed away.
Narrated by Muslim, 1916.
Al-Shaafa'i and his companions, Ahmad, Ishaaq and others said: It is
mustahabb [recommended] to fast both the ninth and the tenth, because
the Prophet(peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) fasted the
tenth and intended to fast the ninth.
Based on this, there are different ways of fasting 'Ashoora', the
least of which is to fast the tenth only, but it is better to fast the
ninth as well. The more one fasts in Muharram, the better.
If one were to ask, what is the wisdom behind fasting the ninth as
well as the tenth? The answer is:
Al-Nawawi (may Allaah have mercy on him) said: The scholars among our
companions and others said that there are several reasons for
recommending fasting on the ninth day (Tasoo'a'):
1 – The intention behind it is to be different from the Jews who limit
their fasting to the tenth day. This was narrated from Ibn 'Abbaas.
2 – The intention was to join the fast of 'Ashoora' to another day,
just as it is not allowed to fast on a Friday on its own [but it is
allowed if one fasts the day before or the day after as well].
3 – The idea is to be on the safe side and make sure one is fasting on
the tenth, in case the moon sighting was not accurate and what people
think is the ninth is actually the tenth.
The strongest of these reasons is in order to be different from the
People of the Book. Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyah said: The
Prophet(peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) forbade resembling
the People of the Book in many ahaadeeth. For example, he said
concerning 'Ashoora': "If I live until next year I will certainly fast
the ninth."Al-Fataawa al-Kubra, part 6.
Ibn Hajar (may Allaah have mercy on him) said, commenting on the
hadeeth "If I live until next year I will certainly fast the ninth":
His concern to fast the ninth may be understood as meaning that he
would not limit himself to that, rather that he would add it to the
tenth, either to be on the safe side, or to be different from the Jews
and Christians, which is more likely to be correct; this is what may
be understood from some of the reports narrated by Muslim."
FromFath al-Baari, 4/245.