Status of Women in Islam

"Why is it that so many women who have been born and brought in Europe
and America are willing to reject their 'liberty' and 'independence'
to embrace a religion that supposedly oppresses them and is widely
assumed to be prejudicial to them?" This is a question that I found on
one of the siteswhile surfing around, and I found it an interesting
question andwhich I'd like to draw this article around.
Can Islam be prejudiced to women, and yet appeal to women? Can Islam
lower the status of a woman and still have more women embracingit as
their way of life than men? According to an article written by Lucy
Berrington in the Times Magazine (London) dated 9th Nov. 1993: "It is
even more ironic that most British converts should be women, given the
widespread view in the west that Islam treats women poorly. In the
United States, women converts outnumber men by four to one, and in
Britain make up the bulk of the estimated 10,000 to 20, 000 converts,
forming part of a Muslimcommunity of 1 to 1.5 million "
How can the case of those women be explained?! Well, I could say that
there are only one of two choices that one can decide upon. Either all
those women who choose Islam don't know what they are doing or that
they discovered Islam is not prejudice to them as others have yet to
discover. New convert toIslam since September 11, US Navy petty
officer,Heather Ramaha. "Islam gives us Elevation; not Degradation"
In the Noble Quran Allah (Arabic word for God) says:
"Mankind! We have created you from a male and a female, and made you
into nations and tribes, that you may know one another. Verily, the
most honorable of you in the Sight of Allah is the believer who has
Taqwa (i.e. piety and righteousness)and loves Allah most. Verily,
Allah isAll-Knowing, All-Aware." The Holy Qur'an(49:13)
"I shall not lose sight of the labor of any of you who labors in My
way, be it man or woman; each of you is equal to the other. The Holy
Qur'an(3:195)"
On the light of those verses, Islam declares that it has not come to
disadvantage women, but in fact has been revealed to elevate women
ever since 1400 years ago, when womenin many parts of the world and
especially in the western societies were considered objects that are
owned and withlittle to no rights in the society they live in.
Before any other religion or system in the world Islam gave a woman
the right to inherit, the right to vote and voice her opinion, the
right to trade invest and improve herself financially, the right to
own - buy and sell, the right to seek knowledge and have a good
education, the right to work and has even gonefurther to oblige the
males in every stage of her life, whether it was afather, brother or
husband ... It's their dutybefore God to take care of her, to spend on
her, to provide her with the food , clothing and shelter that she
needs, toprovide her with a good education, to protect herfrom
anything that can harm her and to never hesitate to put their livesin
stake for her if the need calls them to do so."As a modern westerner
with a career, of course Ihad to look into Islam's attitude to women -
I couldn't be oppressed allof a sudden. But I discovered that it is
pro-women and pro-men; in Islam, women had the right to vote in the
year 600. Men dress modestly, women dress modestly; neither should
flirt with the eyes, but rather they should lower their gaze. I think
it's unhealthy to flaunt your sexuality - it attracts the wrong energy
back." (MTV Presenter Kristiane Backer after being a Muslim) "Since I
called myself a feminist, my early reading centered around women in
Islam. I thought Islam oppressed women. In myWomen's Studies coursesI
had read about Muslim women who were not allowed to leave their homes
and were forced to cover their heads. Of course I saw hijab as an
oppressive tool imposed by men rather than as anexpression of
self-respect and dignity. What I discovered in my readings surprised
me. Islam not only does not oppress women, but actually liberates
them, having given them rights in the 6th century that we have only
gained in this century in this country: the right to own property and
wealth and to maintain that in her name after marriage; the right to
vote; and the right to divorce." (Karima Slack, an American feminist
from secular humanism to Islam)
Some Muslim societies today lack those values. Some people may
rightlyask then, why do we see some Muslim societies lacking those
values? There is a beautiful and very true example I heard from a
lecture by an American Muslim called Khaled Yaseen, who said that
every person can be a father; but if a father does not turn out to be
a good father then it's not fatherhood that we would blame. Similarly,
Islam is a rule and order.A Muslim who does not act according to that
rule and order then by all means its not Islam that should carry the
blame.
Karla, a young Blonde haired Blue eyed young American from Washington
DC who is a recent convert to Islam said in an interview made with
her: The mainquestion people seem toask, is "How could you, an
educated American woman convert to Islam--a religion that oppresses
women?" They are quick to try andequate the rights of women in
Afghanistan with the rights of Muslimwomen everywhere. Basically, what
I tell them, is that the Qur'an gives women more rights than the Bible
does--in print. That was one of the things that first drew me to
Islam. Unfortunately today, Islam is no longer the leader in women's
rights. I had a choice--deny what I believe (i.e. that There is only
one God, and that Muhammed is a Prophet of God)...or accept what I
believe, but work to change the problems that exist within the Muslim
community. I chose the latter.
In the world today, one could say that the Taliban government in
Afghanistan have been considered as the top example of Women
Oppression in Islam. But what's ironic is that evenwhen a woman falls
captive in the hands of those supposedly most hateful men in the
world, Islam does not fail to win her heart.
Yvonne Ridley is an award-winning journalist of more than 25 years
standing and author of two books, In The Hands of the Talibanand
Ticket to Paradise. She has spent the last 10 years working for
several prestigious Fleet Street newspapers including The Sunday
Times, The Observer, The Independent on Sunday and The Sunday Express.
She has also expanded into television and radioproducing several
documentaries from Iraqand Afghanistan. Yvonnehit the headlines in
September 2001 when while working for the Daily Express she
crossedillegally into Afghanistanand was subsequently held captive by
the Taliban for 11 days. Following her release, she read the Qur'an as
she had agreed to during her captivity, andconverted to Islam in
thesummer of 2003.
Last but not least I wouldlike to conclude by the blessed sayings of
Prophet Muhammad peace be upon him:
"It is the generous (in character) who is good to women, and it is the
wicked who insults them."
"The most perfect believers are the best in conduct and best of you
are those who are best to their wives."
"Treat your women well and be kind to them for they are your partners
and committed helpers."

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You Were Like Spit

One day the Prophet (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) spat on his palm,
then putting his finger on it said: "Allah (subhana wa ta'ala) says,
'O son of Adam! How can you run away from Me, when I created you from
something like spit (semen). Then when I completed My creation ofyou
and molded you appropriately, you started walking around in two sheets
in such a way that your strut caused the earth to beginto shake. Then
you gathered wealth and hoarded it and when your soul reached your
collar bone then you began to say, 'Let me give in charity,' though
the time for giving in charity had passed.'" [Musnad Ahmed]
When Allah (subhana wa ta'ala) created his servant, the man's
condition was such that he understood nothing and could do nothing.
Hedid not bring anything with him of which he was owner, nor could he
give anything to anyone, nor could he prevent anybody from doing
anything. He could neither benefit nor harm anyone. In this condition
his complete dependenceon a perfectly powerful entity was obvious,
which everybody could witness. For a baby to be dependent this way is
true for every human that is born. He always remains dependent on the
One who created him. It does not happen that once he transfers to a
different condition where he can begin to feed himself and earn, heis
no longer dependent on his Creator.
Allah (subhana wa ta'ala),man's Creator, bestows His blessings upon
him, perfects His creation, dresses him in fine clothes, favours him
with the abilities to think, understand and see, gives him knowledge,
and gives strength to his arms and legs, till he begins to have other
people like him work for him. He makes animals subservient to his
command, and he begins to dig canals through outthe land. He begins to
plant orchards, cleaving the ground he lays the foundations of tall
buildings, and begins to contemplate and work out his problems, and he
implements procedures to protect himself from the harmful creatures of
the earth. He achieved allthis with the permission and help of Allah
(subhana wa ta'ala).
But what happens is that this poor creature beginsto think that he has
a share in the ownership of these things and he begins to think of
himselfas king along with Allah, even though he is well acquainted
with his priorcondition. He forgets his previous helplessness,
poverty, need and dependence, as though he were never a beggar and
totally dependent onAllah, as though it were someone other than him
who depended on Allah to be born without defect, to be clothed, fed
and established on earth.
Allah (subhana wa ta'ala) is "Al-Ghani." He is rich and you are poor.
Whatever you have, is from Him. He does not depend on you, you depend
on Him to satisfy your littlest needs. Don't forget that. Don't be
proud, don't hoard your blessings, and give charity generously in
gratitude to Allah.

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Building more houses than are needed and paying zakaah on them

I have read in one hadeeth that if a man builds houses more than what
is required then onthe day of judgement hewill have to carry those
houses a burden on his back. I would like to know that if one pays
proper zakat of the extrahouses then still he has to burden those on
his back on the day of judgement.
Praise be to Allaah.
Firstly:
We do not know of this hadeeth to which you refer. The one who it is
proven will carry things on his back on the Day of Resurrection is the
one who took things unlawfully from others in this world, whether by
force or by stealth, or stealing booty from the battlefield before the
spoils of war were distributed.
It was narrated that Abu Hurayrah (may Allaah be pleased with him)
said: The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) stood
before us and spoke about war booty and how serious the matter is. He
said,
"I should not like to see anyone amongst you on the Day of
Resurrection, carrying on his neck a sheep that will be bleating, or
carrying on his neck a horse that willbe neighing, saying: 'O
Messenger of Allaah! Help me!' and I will reply, 'I cannot do anything
for you, for I have conveyed Allaah's Message to you.' Nor should I
like to see a man carrying on his neck, a camel that will be grunting,
saying: 'O Messenger of Allaah! Help me!' and I will reply, 'I cannot
do anything for you, for I have conveyed Allaah's Message to you.' Or
one carrying on his neck gold and silver, saying: 'O Messenger of
Allaah! Help me!' and I will reply, 'I cannot do anything for you, for
I have conveyed Allaah's Message to you.' or one carrying clothes that
willbe fluttering, saying: 'O Messenger of Allaah! Help me!' and I
will reply, 'I cannot do anything for you, for I have conveyed
Allaah's Message to you.'"
Narrated by al-Bukhaari,2908; Muslim, 1831
Secondly:
With regard to a Muslim building a house that is bigger than he and
his family need, Ibn Hazm said:
(The scholars) are agreed that it is obligatory for a man to build
that which will shelter him and his family from prying eyes and from
cold, heat and rain, or to buy a house or dwelling that will cover him
in the mannermentioned. And they agreed that it is permissible to seek
to earn more money and build a more spacious house so long as that is
done by halaal means and he fulfils all his duties towards Allaah, but
they differed as to whether that is makroohor not."
Maraatib al-Ijmaa', p. 155
What the Muslim should do is not to go to excess in matters of this
world, and to limit himself to what he needs, based onthe general
meaning of the verses which forbid extravagance, such as the verse in
which Allaahsays (interpretation of the meaning):
"And those who, when they spend, are neither extravagant nor
niggardly, but hold a medium (way) between those (extremes)"
[al-Furqaan 25:67]
Al-Tirmidhi (4283) narrated from Khabbaab(may Allaah be pleased with
him) that the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be
upon him) said: "A person will be rewarded for all his spending except
what he spends on building." Classed as saheeh by al-Albaani in Saheeh
al-Tirmidhi. Also narrated by al-Bukhaari (5672) from Khabbaab (may
Allaah be pleased with him). Ibn Hajar said: This is understood as
referring to what exceeds one's requirements.
This is also indicated by the way the Prophet (peace and blessings of
Allaah be upon him) was: he rose above preoccupation with this world,
and warned his ummah against indulging in worldly pleasures, as he
said in the hadeeth: "By Allaah, Ido not fear poverty for you but I
fear prosperity in this world as those who came before you became
prosperous, andyou start to compete with one another in worldly gains,
as they did, then you will be destroyed as they were."
Narrated by al-Bukhaari,3158; Muslim, 2961.
Thirdly:
There is no zakaah due on the houses that a Muslim builds for his
family or children, even if their value rises. And houses that he
builds to rent them out are not subject to zakaah themselves, rather
zakaah is due on the rent if it reaches the nisaab and one whole hijri
year has passed. Houses that he builds in order to sell them are
subject to zakaah, because they are a kind of trade goods, so after
one year has passed he should calculate their value and pay zakaah
onthem, one-quarter of one-tenth of the total value.

And Allaah knows best.

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A Description of Hellfire

God will blacken the faces of the people of Hell:
"On the Day (some) faceswill turn white and (some) faces will turn
black. As for those whose faces turn black. (to them it will be
said), 'Did you reject faith afteryour belief? Then taste the
punishment for whatyou used to reject.'" (Quran 3:106)
Their faces will be such as if the night has covered them:
"But they who have earned (blame for) evil doings – the recompenseof
an evil deed is its equivalent, and humiliation will cover them. They
will have from God no protector. It will be as if their faces are
covered with pieces of the night – so dark (are they). Those are
thecompanions of the Fire; they will abide therein eternally." (Quran
10:27)
The Fire will surround the unbeliever on all sides just as sins
surrounded him like a sheet wound around his body:
"Theirs will be a bed of Fire and over them coverings (of Fire)…" (Quran 7:41)
"On the Day when the torment (of Hell) will cover them from above them
and from underneath their feet." (Quran 29:55)
"…and surely Hell will surround the unbelievers…" (Quran 9:49)
The Fire of Hell will leap up to the hearts. The Fire will penetrate
their super-sized bodies and reach the innermost depths:
"No! He will surely be thrown into the Crusher. And what can make you
know what is the Crushers? It is the fire of God, (eternally) fueled,
which mounts directed at the hearts." (Quran 104:4-7)
The Fire will split the entrails as mentioned bythe Prophet:
"A man will be brought on the Day of Resurrection and throwninto the
Fire. Then his entrails will be spilled out into the Fire and he will
be forced to walk around and around like a donkey in a treadmill. The
people of Hell will gather around him and say, 'O so-and-so, what
iswrong with you? Did you not enjoin us to do good and forbid us to
dowrong?' He will say, 'I used to order you to do good, but I did not
do it and I used to forbid you to do evil, but I used to do it
myself.' Then he will walk around and around like a donkey in a
treadmill." [1]
God has described the chains, yokes, and fetters of Hell. They will
be tied up with chains and dragged with yokes on their necks:
"for the rejecters We have prepared iron chains, yokes, and a blazing
Fire." (Quran 76:4)
"With Us are fetters (to bind them), and a Fire (to burn them), and a
food that chokes, and a penalty grievous." (Quran 73:12-13)
"We will put yokes on the necks of the unbelievers. It would only be
requital for theirevil deeds." (Quran 34:33)
"when yokes will be put round their necks and the chains, they will be
dragged along." (Quran 40:71)
"(The stern command will say): seize him and bind him, and burn him in
the blazing Fire, further, make him marchin a chain, whereof the
length is seventy cubits."(Quran 69:30-32)
The pagan gods and all other deities that were worshipped besides
Godwho people thought willbe their intercessors with God and bringing
them closer to Him will be thrown into Hell with them. This will be
to humiliate and demonstrate that these false gods have no power,
"Indeed, you (disbelievers), and that which you worship other than
God, [2] are but fuel for Hell. Verily, you will enter it. Had these
(false deities) been(actual) gods, they would not have entered there,
but all will eternally abide therein." (Quran 21:98-99)
When the unbeliever will see Hell, he will be filled with remorse, but
it will not be of any benefit:
"And they will feel regretwhen they see the punishment; and they will
be judged in justice, and they will not be wronged." (Quran 10:54)
The unbeliever will pray for his death when they sense its heat,
"And when they are thrown into a narrow place therein bound in chains,
they will cry out thereupon for destruction. (They will be told), 'Do
not cry this Day for one destruction but cry for much destruction.'"
(Quran 25:13-14)
Their screams will get louder and they will call onto God hoping He
will take them out of Hell:
"And they will cry out therein, 'Our Lord, remove us; we will do
righteousness – other than what we were doing!'" (Quran 35:37)
They will realize theirs sins and the error of stubborn disbelief:
"And they will say, 'If only we had been listening or reasoning, we
would not be amongthe companions of the Blaze.' And they will admit
their sin, so (it is) alienation for the companions of the Blaze."
(Quran 67:10-11)
Their prayers will be rejected:
"They will say, 'Our Lord, our wretchedness overcame us, and we were a
people astray. Our Lord, remove us from it, and if we were to return
(to evil), we would indeed be wrongdoers.' He will say, 'Remain
despised therein and do not speak to Me.'" (Quran 23:106-108)
After that, they will call the keepers of Hell asking them to
intercedeto God on their behalf for reduction in torment:
"And those in the Fire will say to the keepers ofHell, 'Supplicate
your Lord to lighten for us a day from the punishment.' They will
say, 'Did there not come to you your messengers with clear proofs?'
They will say, 'Yes.' They will reply, 'Then supplicate (yourselves),
but the supplication of the disbelievers is not exceptin error.'"
(Quran 40:49-50)
Their will even plead for their own destruction to relieve themselves
of thepain:
"And they will call, 'O Malik, let your Lord put an end to us!' He
will say, 'Indeed, you will remain.'" (Quran 43:77)
They will be told the punishment will never be reduced, it is eternal:
"Then be patient or impatient – it is all the same for you. You are
only being recompensedfor what you used to do.'" (Quran 52:16)
They will weep for a long time:
"So let them laugh a little and then weep much as recompense for what
they used to earn."(Quran 9:82)
They will weep until no tears are left, then that they will weep
blood, which will leave its traces as described by the Prophet:
"The people of Hell will be made to weep, and they will weep until
theyhave no tears left. Then they will weep blood until they have, as
it were, channels in their faces, if ships were put in them, they
would float."

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