Women in Islam:, - Equality of Men and Woman in Islam, and their complementarynature to one another

In one sense, equality between men and women is possible and
reasonable because they are bothhuman, with similar souls, brains,
hearts, lungs, limbs, etc. In another sense, equality between men and
women is impossible and an absurdity due to their natural differences
in physical, mental, emotional and psychological qualities,
inclinations and abilities. Between these two we must tread to
illuminate how they are equal, and how they are complimentary.
If total equality between all members of the same gender is impossible
due to natural differences in strengths and other qualities,
regardless of whether the gender is masculine or feminine, then it is
definitely impossible between the two genders. Allah, the Exalted and
Almighty, says in the Glorious Qur'an:
(And of everything We have created pairs, that you may remember (the
Grace of Allah).)
[51:49]
Even atoms exhibit this dual quality with inter-related and
complementary roles played by the positive and negative particles and
ions, yet each is an integral part of the whole systemof the so called
binary basis of all life. Most living beings have male and female
sexes for reproduction. As the science of biology teaches us, all
mammals have similar traits in their molecular and glandular
structures that determine differences in gender. These basicphysical,
psychological and sexualtraits have their definite effects on other
spheres of life.
It is natural for a man to need and find fulfillment with a woman and
for a woman with a man, since they are created one from the other and
for one another. They both are inseparably bound to each other.
Neither can they find fulfillment except when in the company of the
other as legal and honorable mate and spouse, as Allah (The Almighty)
says in His Majestic Book, the Qur'an, mentioned in the two verses
cited in the preface:
(O 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 youin the Sight of Allah is the believer who has
Taqwa (piety and righteousness). Verily, Allah is All-Knowing,
All-Aware.)
[49:13]
In many instances Islam treats women as equals to men. Some of them
are given below. In the coming sections we will expand on these themes
in various contexts throughout the book.
1) Eqaulity in Basic Humanity
Both the male and the female areequal in terms of their humanity.
Islam does not categorize women, for instance, as the source of evil
in the world for some & original sin that caused Adam (Peace be Upon
Him) to be dismissed from Paradise, or to bethe cause of evil in the
world by setting loose a Pandora's box of vices, as some other
religious doctrines and fables teach.
Allah, the Exalted and Almighty, states in the Glorious Qur'an:
(O mankind! Be dutiful to your Lord, Who created you from a single
person (Adam), and from him (Adam) He created his wife (Eve), and from
them both He created many men and women...)
[4:1]
Allah also states in the Glorious Qur'an:
(Does man think that he will be left neglected without being punished
or rewarded for the obligatory duties enjoined by his Lord (Allah) on
him? Was he not amixed male and female dischargeof semen pouring
forth? Then he became a clot; then (Allah) shaped and fashioned (him)
in due proportion, and made him into two sexes, male and female. Is He
not able to raise to life those who are dead?)
[75:36-40]
Allah illustrated in the verses thatHe created both sexes from one
single source. There is no difference between the two sexes in terms
of qualifications inhumanity, and each complements the other as the
two genders of the species. Islamhas abolished and abrogated all the
previous unjust laws that demoted women as inferior in quality and
nature. The Prophet of Allah (Peace be Upon Him) said:
Verily, women are the twin halves of men.
[Abu Dawood #234 , Tirmidhi#113 & others]
2) Equality in Religious Obligations
Equal religious duties and rituals are required from both women and
men. Testimony of Faith (Shahaadah), Prayer (Salah), Obligatory
Charity (Zakah), Fasting(Saum), and Pilgrimage (Hajj) are equally
required of both genders.In some cases the requirements are a bit
easier on women to alleviate their special cases of hardship. For
instance, in consideration of her health and physical condition,
menstruating women or a woman in the state of postnatal bleeding and
recuperation are absolved from the duty of prayers and fasting. She is
required to make up the days of fasting missed due to menses and
postnatal bleeding, but not her prayers, as that would be too
burdensome.
3) Equality in Rewards and Punishments
Both males and females have similar rewards for obedience and
penalties for disobedience in this world and the Hereafter. As stated
by Allah in the Glorious Qur'an:
(Whoever does righteous acts, whether male or female, while heis a
believer, verily, to him We willgive a good life, and We shall pay
them certainly a reward in proportion to the best of what they used to
do.)
[16:97]
And the Lord Most Majestic says:
(Surely for men who submit to Allah and for women who submitto Allah,
for believing men and for believing women, for devout men and devout
women, for truthful men and truthful women, for steadfast men and
steadfast women, for humble men and humble women, for charitable men
and charitable women, for fasting men and fasting women, for men who
guard their chastity and women who guard their chastity, for menwho
remember Allah much and for women who remember Allah much, for all of
them Allah has prepared forgiveness and a mighty reward.)
[33:35]
4) Equality in Preservation of Honor and Nobility
Women have the same moral obligations and are entitled to the same
general rights as men in guarding chastity, integrity and personal
honor and respect, etc. No double standards are allowed. For instance,
those who falsely accuse a chaste woman of adultery or fornication are
publicly punished, just as if a manis slandered. Allah, the Exalted,
states in the Glorious Qur'an:
(And those who accuse chaste women, and produce not four witnesses,
flog them with eighty lashes, and reject their testimonyforever.
Indeed, they are those who are disobedient to Allah.)
[24:4]
5) Equality in Financial Dealings and Property Ownership
Women are equally qualified and allowed to engage in financial
dealings and property ownership.According to Islamic law women can
own, buy, sell and undertake any financial transaction without the
need for guardianship, and without any restrictions or limitations - a
situation unheard of in many societies until moderntimes.
6) Best of you is the Best to his Womenfolk
Islam indicates that a man who honors, respects and deals with women
justly and integrally, possesses a healthy and righteous personality,
whereas a man who mistreats them is an unrighteous and unrespectable
man. The Prophet of Allah (Peace be Upon Him) said:
The most complete believer is thebest in character, and the best of
you is the best to his womenfolk.
[Tirmidhi #1162 and verified]
7) Equality in Education and Cultivation
Islam entitles women to the same rights as men in terms of education
and cultivation. The Prophet of Allah (Peace be Upon Him) said, as
reported and authenticated by the scholars of prophetic traditions:
Seeking knowledge is compulsoryfor each and every Muslim (i.e. both
male and female).
[Ibn Majah #224 al-Baihaqi and verified]
Muslim scholars collectively agreed that the word Muslim when used in
revealed scriptures includes both male and female, as we indicated in
parenthesis. Thus, Islam entitles women to the same right of education
in order to understand the religiousand social obligations, and
obligated them both to raise their children in the best manner,in
accordance with the right Islamic guidance. Of course women have
certain obligations in bringing up their children that are
commensurate to their abilities and men have complementary obligations
to finance, protect and maintain according to their added
responsibilities in the family unit.
The Prophet (Peace be Upon Him) said:
Whoever takes care of two girls until they reach puberty, he and I
will come on the Day of Resurrection like this." The Messenger of
Allah (peace be upon him) then joined his fingersto illustrate this.
[Muslim #2631]
About female slave girls, the Prophet of Allah (Peace be Upon Him) said:
Whoever has a female child with him (under his guardianship
fromslavery), and trains her in the best behavior, and teaches her
well, and then frees and marries her, will have a double reward.
[Bukhari #97 & Muslim #154 ]
8) Equality in Social Responsiblities
Men and women have similar obligations and responsibilities to reform
and correct the society to the best of their capability. Men and women
shoulder the responsibility of enjoining good and forbidding evil
equally, as Allah, the Exalted, states in the Qur'an:
(The believers, men and women, are helpers, supporters, friends and
protectors of one another, they enjoin all that is good, and forbid
all that is evil, they offer their prayers perfectly, and give Zakah
(Obligatory Charity) and obey Allah and His Messenger. Allah will
bestow Mercy on them. Surely Allah is All-Mighty, All-Wise.)
[9:71]
9) Right to Receive Fair Share of Wealth
Men and women have set and determined rights to receive theirfair
share of wealth, just as they are obliged to give Zakah (Obligatory
Charity) according to the set calculation. All Muslim scholars
unanimously agree uponthis. A woman has her set share of inheritance,
as will be discussed in more detail later, which was a right
unthinkable in many societies.
Allah (The Almighty) says:
(There is a share for men from what is left by parents and those
closely related, and there is a share for women from what is left by
parents and those closely related, whether the wealth be small or
large: a legal mandatory share.)
[4:7]
10) A woman, just like aman, can give someone the right of seeking
refuge and security among the Muslims
Allah, the Exalted, says:
(And if one of the polytheists seeks refuge, give him until he hears
the words of Allah, then take him to his place of security.)
The Messenger of Allah (Peace be Upon Him) said:
And the protection of Muslims is one, and the least among them can
give protection; and whoeverusurps the right of a Muslim thenthe curse
of Allah and His angels and all the people is upon him, and no
repentance or ransom will be accepted from him
[Bukhari #3008]
This is also proven by the famous story of Um Hani' (Mother of Hani')
when she gave protection to a polytheist who sought refuge with her on
the day of the conquest of Makkah after her relative threatened to
kill that person (for some past enmity) so the Messenger of Allah
(Peace be Upon Him) said,
We protect and give asylum to whomever you give asylum O Um Hani'.
[Bukhari #350]
These are just some of the rights,mentioned here as examples in a
summarized way to indicate the comprehensive nature of the Islamic
jurisprudence. - - ▓███▓ Translator:->
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