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Women’s rights are enshrined in holy books
2005-08-16 08:32:18
By Majid Goudarzi
There is no doubt that more than half of the population in every society is composed of women.
In Tanzania, out of 140 boys born, 160 girls are also born. This trend is almost the same in all parts of the world.
Unfortunately, women don’t get the respect and honour they deserve and have been denied their rightful position in all aspects of life.
Since time immemorial, and even in the history of oppressive societies, men and women suffered, but women suffered twice. Women suffering has made it hard for them to attain meaningful positions in the society.
In the Muslim world, the situation is the same, although it can be described in a different way. Man’s ignorance resulted in women’s oppression.
The period before Islam
This is the period when ignorance reigned. Women were considered as a beast of burden that man can only use .
Her whole life belonged to the man, and he could do anything he wanted with it. A woman could for example, be given away as a gift. She could be sold or hired. She had no power to protest and she could even be whipped .
The women’s main role was to satisfy men in their sexual desires and bear children. It was long believed that a baby boy was a treasure in a home.
A woman who delivered a baby girl felt ashamed of herself in public. In the Old Testament, there are some stories that attest to this fact.
In the Book of Genesis, some chapters recount the plight of women.
The Holy Koran too, reprimands the ’mentality and barbaric behaviour’ of man before the coming of Islam. A man whose wife delivered a baby girl told her to immediately kill her .
The Koran condemns this inhumanity an asks man what would he say on the judgment day.
In other countries, the law does not allow a woman to re-marry after the death of her husband and all her belongings and wealth go to her son(s).
Some even go further to suggest that if a man dies, the widow must be burned to death.
What has Islam done to promote women’s rights?
When speaking about Islam, we refer to the Holy Koran, the teachings of Prophet Mohammed (S.W.A) and the holy family (Ahlolbait).
Before embarking on what Islam did for women we have to consider threefacts:
lThe women’s suffering
lThe teaching of Islam lProphet Mohammad’s treatment of women.
Islam prohibits and condemns any killing of children, and has done a lot to change this wrong tradition.
The Holy Koran honours women in several verses ,commencing with the idea of generation of women ,refusing to accept the misconception of women inferiority.
It says man and woman were created from one common origin. It does not believe that man was created first and that after he fell asleep, a part of his rib was removed so that a woman could be created. (Koran- capitol Nessa(women) verses 1)
lIt rejects the idea of man superiority over woman, confirming that both of them need each other. Just like a human being needs a dresses to cover his or her body.
lRights; Who can be courageous to talk about the rights of women to own property without recognizing them first as a human beings?
According to the Holy Koran, ’’Men shall have the benefit of what they earn and women ( too) shall have the benefit of what they earn (4:32).
It is fair to state that even in Europe, in countries like Great Britain, France , Switzerland, Germany, and Italy ,until the 19th century, women were deprived of their economic freedom.
lInheritance
As mentioned earlier, women were not only prohibited from inheriting, but were also part of the things to be given to the children who were supposed to inherit.
Islam condemns this thought and has brought rules for the woman to be given the opportunity to inherit.
During the 7th years of his migration, the prophet himself officially named one garden Fadak and gave it to his daughter Fatemma, as a gesture to show that the woman has rights to heritance (the Fadak, according to verses 59 from capital Hashir was prophet’s personal property )
Right to choose
Women were not allowed to talk about anything. They had no right to air their opinions or ideas.
But the prophet allowed them to participate in voting and to choose what ever they think and believe in.
By the order of Koran, the prophet himself accepted the women right to elect.
He says in 16:12. ” O Prophet! When believing women come to you, giving you a pledge… accept their pledge …, he did so.”
Right to work
The Holy book (4:32) mentions that whatever a woman can make, it will belong to her. Obviously, the benefits come from work, and women according to Islam, have a right to work and possess any benefits.
For example, Khadija (wife of the prophet), was a business woman, importing and exporting various goods.
Islam says that women, like men , should participate in social affairs: ” And the believing men and the believing women are guardians of one another; they enjoy good and forbid evil ; they perform the ritual prayers and pay the alms ..
Right to freedom
According to Islam, all people were created by God and are thus naturally free. It condemns corruption from the sides of man or woman.
I – Divorce .
In Islam a woman can decide when to ask for divorce, if the man is not being responsible, and all the wealth accumulated is supposed to be divided into half.
The man must pay whatever was agreed upon before marriage.
Education and teaching Islamic religion orders both women and men to add knowledge and actually compels them to study and be educated .
He shows them how science is important and says if is necessary they should go as far as China to get it.
Continues tomorrow
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