Islamic Articles, - How Islam Has Protected the Rights of Woman - I

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There are many proofs to confirm the fact that Islam is the real emancipator of the woman or the female from her slavery. To make this more evident, we will clarify how Islam protects the rights of the woman from the time she is a fetus in her mother's womb until she dies and meets her Lord.
1- Islam preserves the woman’s rights before her birth when Allaah The Almighty granted her, along with the man, succession to authority on earth, and made Hawwaa’ )Eve( may Allaah exalt her mention, share religious obligations with Aadam )Adam(, may Allaah exalt his mention. Allaah The Almighty Says )what means(:}And ]mention, O Muhammad[, when your Lord said to the angels, "Indeed, I will make upon the earth a successive authority."{]Quran 2:30[
2- Islam protects her humanity and has made her equal to man. Allaah The Almighty Says )what means(:}O mankind, indeed We have created you from male and female and made you peoples and tribes that you may know one another. Indeed, the most noble of you in the sight of Allaah is the most righteous of you. Indeed, Allaah is Knowing and Acquainted.{]Quran 49:13[ Also, the Messenger of Allaah, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said:"Women are peers of men."
3- Islam protects her rights as one of the signs of Allaah The Almighty that necessitate praising Him. Allaah The Almighty says )what means(:}And of His signs is that He created for you from yourselves mates that you may find tranquility in them; and He placed between you affection and mercy. Indeed in that are signs for a people who give thought.{]Quran 30:21[
4- Islam protects her rights by making her a gift to mankind. Allaah The Almighty Says )what means(:}He gives to whom He wills female ]children[, and He gives to whom He wills males.{]Quran 42:49[
5- Islam protects her entity in society by considering her responsible for the establishment of virtue and the disappearance of vice on earth, through enjoining what is good and forbidding what is evil, just like man. In this way, she was made to carry the responsibility of religion and the call to Allaah as a trust for which she and man will be held accountable before Allaah The Almighty, who says )what means(:}The believing men and believing women are allies of one another. They enjoin what is right and forbid what is wrong and establish prayer and give Zakaah ]obligatory charity[ and obey Allaah and His Messenger. Those - Allaah will have mercy upon them. Indeed, Allaah is Exalted in Might and Wise.{]Quran 9:71[
6- Islam protects the rights of the woman by deeming it foolish, if not sinful, to commit any transgression against her. Moreover, her arrival is a means of making the Muslim family rejoice. Allaah Says )what means(:
*}And when one of them is informed of ]the birth of[ a female, his face becomes dark, and he suppresses grief. He hides himself from the people because of the ill of which he has been informed. Should he keep it in humiliation or bury it in the ground? Unquestionably, evil is what they decide.{]Quran 16:58-59[
*}Those will have lost who killed their children in foolishness without knowledge and prohibited what Allaah had provided for them, inventing untruth about Allaah. They have gone astray and were not ]rightly[ guided.{]Quran 6:140[
7- Islam protects the rights of the woman when it stated that killing her, or the man, is like killing all of mankind. Allaah The Almighty Says )what means(:}Because of that, We decreed upon the Children of Israel that whoever kills a soul unless for a soul or for corruption ]done[ in the land - it is as if he had slain mankind entirely. And whoever saves one - it is as if he had saved mankind entirely.{]Quran 5:32[
8- Islam protects the right of the woman when she is in her mother's womb. If her mother is divorced while she is still in her womb, it becomes due upon the father, in Islam, to spend on the mother during the period of pregnancy as shown in the following statement of Allaah The Almighty )which means(:}And if they should be pregnant, then spend on them until they give birth.{]Quran 65:6[
9- Islam protects the right of the woman )when she is still a fetus(, that no corporal punishment should be executed on her mother while she is still pregnant lest she should be affected. When Al-Ghaamidiyyah )a woman who committed adultery( came to the Messenger of Allaah, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, and said to him, "O Messenger of Allaah, purify me )by executing the corporal punishment prescribed for adultery on me(.” He said to her:“Not until you deliver what is in your womb."
10- Islam also protects the right of the woman as an infant. When Al-Ghaamidiyyah gave birth to her child and returned to ask for the corporal punishment )prescribed for adultery( to be executed on her, the Messenger of Allaah, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said to her:"Go and suckle your child until he is weaned."
11- Islam protects the right of the female as a newborn in terms of spending and clothing as shown in the statement of Allaah The Almighty )which means(:}Upon the father is the mothers' provision and their clothing according to what is acceptable.{]Quran 2:233[
12- Islam protects the right of the young female as it deems her as being in the period of rearing that extends for some years )after suckling(, and enjoins upon the husband spending her mother during that period given the general evidence in support of spending on children.
13- Islam protects the rights of the woman in inheritance in general, whether she is young or old. Allaah The Almighty Says )what means(:}But if there are ]only[ daughters, two or more, for them is two thirds of one's estate. And if there is only one, for her is half.{]Quran 4:11[
14- Islam protects her right psychologically, spiritually and socially by making her equal to man in most religious obligations. This is shown in the Statement of Allaah The Almighty )which means(:
*}Worship Allaah and associate nothing with Him, and to parents do good, and to relatives, orphans, the needy, the near neighbor, the neighbor farther away, the companion at your side, the traveler, and those whom your right hands possess. Indeed, Allaah does not like those who are self-deluding and boastful.{]Quran 4:36[
*}And those who believe and do righteous deeds - We will surely remove from them their misdeeds and will surely reward them according to the best of what they used to do. And We have enjoined upon man goodness to parents. But if they endeavor to make you associate with Me that of which you have no knowledge, do not obey them. To Me is your return, and I will inform you about what you used to do. And those who believe and do righteous deeds - We will surely Admit them among the righteous ]into Paradise[.{]Quran 29:7-9[
*}Indeed, Allaah orders justice and good conduct and giving to relatives and forbids immorality and bad conduct and oppression. He admonishes you that perhaps you will be reminded. And fulfill the covenant of Allaah when you have taken it, ]O believers[, and do not break oaths after their confirmation while you have made Allaah, over you, a witness. Indeed, Allaah knows what you do.{]Quran 16:90-91[
*}Do not make ]as equal[ with Allaah another deity and ]thereby[ become censured and forsaken. And your Lord has decreed that you not worship except Him, and to parents, good treatment. Whether one or both of them reach old age ]while[ with you, say not to them ]so much as[, "uff," and do not repel them but speak to them a noble word. And lower to them the wing of humility out of mercy and say, "My Lord, have mercy upon them as they brought me up ]when I was[ small." Your Lord is most knowing of what is within yourselves. If you should be righteous ]in intention[ - then indeed He is ever, to the often returning ]to Him[, Forgiving. And give the relative his right, and ]also[ the poor and the traveler, and do not spend wastefully. Indeed, the wasteful are brothers of the devils, and ever has Satan been to his Lord ungrateful. And if you ]must[ turn away from the needy awaiting mercy from your Lord which you expect, then speak to them a gentle word. And do not make your hand ]as[ chained to your neck or extend it completely and ]thereby[ become blamed and insolvent. Indeed, your Lord extends provision for whom He wills and restricts ]it[. Indeed He is ever, concerning His servants, Acquainted and Seeing. And do not kill your children for fear of poverty. We provide for them and for you. Indeed, their killing is ever a great sin. And do not approach unlawful sexual intercourse. Indeed, it is ever an immorality and is evil as a way. And do not kill the soul which Allaah has forbidden, except by right. And whoever is killed unjustly - We have given his heir authority, but let him not exceed limits in ]the matter of[ taking life. Indeed, he has been supported ]by the law[. And do not approach the property of an orphan, except in the way that is best, until he reaches maturity. And fulfill ]every[ commitment. Indeed, the commitment is ever ]that about which one will be[ questioned. And give full measure when you measure, and weigh with an even balance. That is the best ]way[ and best in result. And do not pursue that of which you have no knowledge. Indeed, the hearing, the sight and the heart - about all those ]one[ will be questioned. And do not walk upon the earth exultantly. Indeed, you will never tear the earth ]apart[, and you will never reach the mountains in height. All that - its evil is ever, in the sight of your Lord, detested. That is from what your Lord has revealed to you, ]O Muhammad[, of wisdom. And, ]O mankind[, do not make ]as equal[ with Allaah another deity, lest you be thrown into Hell, blamed and banished.{]Quran 17:22-39[
15- Islam protects the right of the woman as Allaah The Almighty defends her Himself, and threatens to punish those who harm her, just like man. This is confirmed by the statement of Allaah The Almighty )which means(:
*}And those who harm believing men and believing women for ]something[ other than what they have earned have certainly born upon themselves a slander and manifest sin.{]Quran 33:58[
*}Indeed, those who have tortured the believing men and believing women and then have not repented will have the punishment of Hell, and they will have the punishment of the Burning Fire.{]Quran 85:10[
16- Islam protects the right of the woman, as Allaah The Almighty ordered His Messenger, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, to seek forgiveness for her, just like the man. This is shown in the Statement of Allaah The Almighty )which means(:}So know, ]O Muhammad[, that there is no deity except Allaah and ask forgiveness for your sin and for the believing men and believing women. And Allaah knows of your movement and your resting place.{]Quran 47:19[







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Islamic Articles, - Examples of women's rights Islam – II

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In the second part of this article, 33 examples have been given about how Islam endorses the rights of women. In this part, other 20 examples are highlighted:
34. Islam protects the woman's rights by forbidding her husband to verbally abuse her. The Prophet sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam said,“You should give her food when you eat… and do not revile her.”]Ibn Maajah[
35. Islam protects the woman's rights by making it prohibited for any separation between husband and wife, when there is a misunderstanding between them, to take place anywhere other than inside the house. This is so that the wife does not feel desolate or face harm in his absence. The Prophet sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam said,“… and do not separate yourself from her except in the house.”]Ibn Hibbaan[
36. Islam protects the woman's rights by giving her a chance to groom herself ready to receive her husband after a long absence. It prohibits him from surprising her by coming suddenly when she is unprepared and her appearance is shabby as this may affect her self-esteem. The Prophet sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam said,“When you arrive at night from your trip, give your wife )who had been waiting long for you( ample time to shave and groom herself before you enter the house.”]Al-Bukhaari and Muslim[
37. Islam protects the woman's rights by keeping the details of her sexual relationship with her husband secret. Islam prohibits having this secret divulged. The Prophet sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam said,“do not do this ]divulge details of the intimate relationship[; this would be like a male and a female devils having sexual intercourse on the street under everyone’s gaze.”]Ahmad[
38. Islam protects the woman's rights in having children. It does not allow the husband to practice 'Azl )to withdraw away from his wife during intercourse before ejaculation( without her permission. The Prophet sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam said,“The husband shouldn’t do ‘Azl without his wife’s permission.”]Ahmad[
39. Islam protects the woman's rights by making it incumbent on the husband to attend to his wife’s sexual needs. This is represented by the story of 'Uthmaan Ibn Math’oun may Allaah be pleased with him when he became too preoccupied with fasting and night prayers to attend to his wife’s needs. The Prophet sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam said to him,“Am I not an example for you? I sleep and I pray, and I fast and eat and I marry women, so fear Allaah, 'Uthmaan, your wife has a right over you.”]Abu Daawood[
40. Islam protects the woman's rights by ordering her husband not to approach her sexually except from the place where she finds enjoyment as ordained by Allaah. Allaah Almighty Says in the Quran )what means(,“… come to them )i.e. have sexual intercourse( from where Allaah has ordained for you.”]Abu Daawood[
41. Islam protects the woman's rights by making it incumbent on the husband who has more than one wife to treat them equally, and not to favor one in treatment over the other. Allaah Says )what means(:“And you will never be able to be equal ]in feeling[ to your wives, even if you strive ]to do so[. So do not incline completely ]toward one[ and leave the other hanging )i.e. neither divorced nor married(.”]Quran 4:129[
42. Islam protects the woman's rights in matters concerning her religion. Historically, it prohibited the return of migrating Muslim women to the nonbelievers so they were not to be swayed away from their religion or prosecuted by the enemies of Islam. Allaah Says )what means(:“… And if you know them to be believers, then do not return them to the disbelievers; they are not lawful ]wives[ for them, nor are they lawful ]husbands[ for them…”]Quran 60:10[
43. Islam protects the woman's rights against her husband’s abstention away from her. It prohibited the husband from staying away from his wife for more than four months, after which period she has the right to ask for divorce to protect herself from deviation and harm. Allaah Almighty Says )what means(:“For those who swear not to have sexual relations with their wives is a waiting period of four months…”]Quran 2:226[
44. Islam protects the woman's rights when travelling. It prohibited her from travelling alone without the company of a ‘Mahram’ )either her husband or someone whom she is prohibited to marry i.e. father, son, brother, uncle, etc( for fear of having her falling victim to stalkers or lurkers. The Prophet sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam said,“No woman shall travel without the company of a Mahram, and no foreign man shall enter upon her unless she is in the company of a Mahram.”]Al-Bukhaari and Muslim[
45. Islam protects the woman's rights by protecting her body and soul together. It equates her to a precious jewel, the beauty of which no one other than her husband is allowed to enjoy. Hijaab has therefore been ordained in Islam to safeguard the woman’s honor, elevate her status and to protect her from the harm of stalkers. Allaah Almighty Says, )what means(:“O Prophet, tell your wives and your daughters and the women of the believers to bring down over themselves ]part[ of their outer garments. That is more suitable that they will be known ]as chaste believing women[ and not be abused.”]Quran 33:59[
46. Islam protects the woman's rights in acquiring Khul’ )a divorce a wife obtains after paying compensation(. This can be granted to a wife who cannot tolerate the life with her husband. During the times of the Prophet sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam , the wife of Thaabit bin Qays may Allaah be pleased with him came to the Prophet sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam and said, "O Prophet of Allaah, I do not blame Thaabit for any defects in his character or his religion, but I cannot endure to live with him." On that Prophet sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam said,"Will you return his garden to him?" She said, "Yes." The Prophet sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam said to her husband, “Accept the garden, and divorce her.”]Al-Bukhaari[
47. Islam protects the woman's rights by honoring her character, her descent, her color and her status; and prohibits that she is scorned or despised because of any of these factors )this is applicable to men too(. Allaah Says )what means(:“… let not a people ridicule ]another[ people; perhaps they may be better than them; nor let women ridicule ]other[ women; perhaps they may be better than them.”]Quran 49:11[
48. Islam protects the woman's rights in taking her counsel and respecting her opinion. This is amplified in the tradition of the Prophet sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam when he took the advice of his wife Umm Salamah during Al-Hudaybiyyah treaty, as has been narrated by Al-Bukhaari and others.
49. Islam protects the woman's rights in enjoying righteous deeds and forbidding repugnant deeds according to Islamic law. Allaah Says )what means(:“The believing men and believing women are allies of one another. They enjoin what is right and forbid what is wrong …”]Quran 9:71[
50. Islam protects the woman's rights in education and by making it a duty for her to gain knowledge and to have knowledge provided for her. The Prophet sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam said,“Seeking knowledge is a duty on every Muslim ]whether a male or a female[”]Ibn Maajah and others[
51. Islam protects the woman's rights in making her the best enjoyment of the worldly life. The Prophet sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam said,“The worldly life is an enjoyment, and the best enjoyment therein is a righteous wife.”]Muslim[
52. Islam protects the woman's rights in giving her justice and making her an equal partner with Aadam in committing the first mistake and by making Satan the reason behind the temptation to both of them. Allaah Says in the Quran )what means(:
“But Satan whispered to them to make apparent to them that which was concealed from them of theirprivate parts. He said, ‘your Lord did not forbid you this tree except that you become angels or become of the immortal…’ ”.]Quran 7:20[
“…And he swore ]by Allaah[ to them, ‘indeed, I am to you from among the sincere advisors’."]Quran 7:21[
“…So he made them fall through deception… ".]Quran 7:22[
53. Islam protects the woman's rights in giving her the right to provide refuge and shelter to Muslims in need. An example of this is what the Prophet sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam had been cited as saying to a woman companion called Umm Haani may Allaah be pleased with her:“We give refuge and shelter to those whom you have given, Umm Haani.”]Al-Bukhaari and Muslim[








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Islamic Articles, - Examples of women's rights Islam – I

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Islam is the true liberator of women. It has preserved the rights of a woman from the time she is a mere fetus in her mother's womb till the time she is laid down in her grave. Even after that:
1- If a woman is divorced during pregnancy, the father is obligated to support the mother while she is pregnant.
2- Islam protected the rights of a woman by not allowing a woman to be punished or incarcerated for a crime while she is pregnant as to not harm the baby. "When the woman from the Ghaamidi tribe came to Prophet Muhammad sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam and said: Purify me. He sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam told her:"Wait till you deliver your baby."
3- Islam protected the rights of a woman when she is a baby being nursed. When that Ghaamidi woman delivered the baby and asked for her punishment, the Prophet sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam said:"Go and nurse your child till the child is capable of eating solid food."]Muslim[
4- Islam protected the rights of a woman as an infant by obligating the father to provide for food and clothing.
5- Islam protected the rights of a woman as a growing upchild by obligating the father to provide for her based on the general evidence related to the obligation of providing for children.
6- Islam protected the rights of a woman in matters of inheritance regardless of her age.
7- Islam protected the rights of a woman in choosing a suitable husband. She has the sole right to accept or refuse a proposal of marriage if she has been previously married. The Prophet has said: "A previously married woman cannot be married until she approves."
8- Islam protected the rights of a virgin woman. She cannot be married without her consent. The Prophet sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam said:"A virgin shall not be married until she is consulted."]Al-Bukhaari[
9- Islam protected the right of a woman to a dowry when she is wed by obligating the husband to provide it.
10- Islam protected the right of a woman to demand a divorce in exchange for something she gives to the husband if she no longer wishes to remain with him out of fear that she may not fulfill his rights )or for any other Islamically acceptable justification(.The Prophet sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam said to a man whose wife had demanded a divorce she could not reach the state of loving him:"Accept the garden )the dowry as compensation( and divorce her."]Al-Bukhaari[
11- Islam protected the rights of a woman when she is divorced.
12- Islam protected the rights of a woman when she is widowed, by allotting her a portion of the inheritance.
13- Islam protected the rights of a woman when she is divorced before consummating the marriage by not obligating her to wait for 'Iddah )the prescribed period before she can remarry(.
14- Islam protected the rights of a woman when she is an orphan by allotting her a portion of the spoils of war, an allowance from the treasury, permitting her to take charity, and encouraging people to help her.
15- Islam protected the rights of a woman in her social life and in her relationship with kith and kin by prohibiting her husband from marrying her sister or aunt.
16- Islam protected the rights of a woman regarding her self-respect by prohibiting men from lustfully looking at her.
17- Islam protected the rights of a woman by punishing anyone who accuses her of adultery without sufficient evidence.
18- Islam protected the rights of a woman if she is a mother by obligating her children to honor and respect her and prohibiting them from speaking back to her disrespectfully.
19- Islam protected the rights of a woman when she is breastfeeding her child by obligating the father to compensate her if she wants it.
20- Islam protected the rights of a woman when she is pregnant.
21- Islam protected the rights of a woman by obligating her husband to provide her housing.
22- Islam protected the rights of a woman by exempting her from fasting when she is pregnant or nursing.
23- Islam protects the woman's rights to choose to return to her husband who divorced her once or twice after the end of her prescribed waiting period with a new marriage contract. Islam prohibits preventing her from doing so if there is an agreement between the two parties. Allaah Almighty Says )what means(:“… Do not prevent them )women( from remarrying their ]former[ husbands, if they mutually agree on equitable terms”.]Quran 2:232[
24- Islam protects the woman's rights to have custody over her children unless she remarries. The Prophet sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam said to a divorced woman asking for keeping her child under her custody:“You have more right over him unless you ]re[ marry”.]Ahmad and others[
25- Islam protects the woman's rights during her menses by forbidding sexual intercourse with her, due to the harm it causes her and guarding against her feeling of repulsion. Allaah Says )what means(:“…Keep away from wives during menstruation…”]Quran 2:222[
26- Islam protects the woman's rights during her menses by allowing the act of loving-making, fondling and foreplay without the actual intercourse. This is a proof that the aim is not to avoid contact with women in this period; rather to avoid intercourse due to the harm it causes.
27-Islam protects the woman's rights to dignity and honor during her menses. There are examples in the way the Prophet sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam to treat his wives during this period to support this. 'Aa'ishah may Allaah be pleased with her narrated: “We )she and the Prophet sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam( used to drink from the same cup; he would put his mouth on the same spot I drank from and would finish my drink when I was in menses”. She also narrated: “While in menses, I used to comb the hair of Allaah's Apostle sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam.” And: “The Prophet sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam used to lean on my lap and recite the Quran while I was in menses.” And: “We would sleep together in one cloth while I was in menses”.
28- Islam protects the woman's rights by prohibiting having anal intercourse with her, as this is considered unjust and wasteful of her rights.
29- Islam protects the woman's rights against incriminating her of committing acts of fornication without the testimony of four witnesses. Allaah Says in the Quran )what means(:“Those who commit immorality ]i.e. unlawful sexual intercourse[ of your women – bring against them four witnesses from among you...”]Quran 4:15[
30- Islam protects the woman's rights by forbidding killing women in wartime, even if they were atheists. The Prophet sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam forbade the killing of women and children during wartime.
31- Islam protected the rights of a woman by granting her the right to a will.
32- Islam protected the rights of a woman even after death, and this is for men and women, for, in Islam, harming or abusing the dead is like abusing the living. An evidence for this is the Hadeeth )Prophet's saying(:"Breaking a dead person's bone is like breaking his /her bone while alive."]Abu Daawood[
33- Islam protected the rights of a woman )as well as a man( when she is in her grave. The Prophet sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam said:"It is better for you to sit on burning ambers and your clothes are burned till your skin rather than sitting on a grave".]Muslim[







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