Feudalism and Slavery
Women were in Europe, and in the whole world, unworthy neglected beings. So-called �scientists� and philosophers argued much about woman. Does she have a soul or not? If she does, then is it a human or animal soul? If it is a human soul that she possesses, then how should she be considered in regards to man - as in a slave position? Or something that is higher than a slave?

Even in the periods of time that women had a high social position whether in the Roman empire or in Greece, that wasn�t an advantage to each woman, rather it was for special women or for women of the capital being as ornaments of the meetings and tools of luxury that the wealthy are keen on having and showing out of pride, status and honor. She was never regarded as having a place of real respect as a human being worthy of dignity regardless of the desires that make her appeal to men.

The situation remained as it was then in the eras of feudalism and slavery in Europe. Woman in her ignorance used to be spoiled sometimes for the purpose of lust and luxury and neglected at others like animals that eat, drink, breed and work day and night.

These economical situations in the eras of feudalism and slavery and the grouping it required in this agricultural environment made it normal for the man to support the woman. Despite that she had to work at home in some simple form to support her family.

The Industrial Revolution
Then came the industrial revolution which used women and children as cheap labor and breaking the ties of families, thereby shattering the family as the basic unit in the society, into pieces. But it was the woman who paid the highest price ever from her dignity and effort and from her psychological and physical needs.

Man denied her and refused to support her even if she was a mother and wife! Factories abused her and gave her less wages than men who performed the same job she did in the same place!
Later, voices rose against child labor but women had no one to stand by, kept on having to working hard to support herself with less pay than that of men.

The First World War
Then came WWI and millions of young men got killed and millions of women found themselves without someone to support them either because their families got killed, mutilated, or imprisoned, or just because men don�t want to marry and assume responsibility for a wife and children. On the other hand there were not enough working hands from men to re-operate the factories so women had to work or suffer from famine and poverty, both for herself and those whom she supported.

Inevitably she also had to compromise her ethics and manners since they comprised real hand chains in the way of her putting food on her table!

The factory owner and his employees did not just want working hands since a woman can perform another service; her body!

In addition the need for food was not the only propelling force, sex is a natural need that needs to be fulfilled but because of the shortage in the number of men who can marry because of the war and because Europe�s religion and creed do not allow a man to have more than one wife ( the solution Islam gave for such emergency situations) a woman had to fall willingly or be coerced in order to obtain her basic need and desires but still she kept on receiving less than what a man would get for the same job.

Revolution had to happen and women used all the weapons in order to have equal rights as that of men. She used demonstration, strikes, and media. Gradually she began to get her rights from representation in the parliaments, voting, education, and governmental jobs that were previously deemed worthy only to men.

This is the story of women�s struggle to get their rights.

Women in Islam

In Humanity and Fate
Women in the eyes of Islam are human beings with a human soul of the same kind Man has. In the Quran: O mankind! reverence your Guardian-Lord, who created you from a single Person, created, of like nature, his mate, and from them twain scattered (like seeds) countless men and women; fear Allah, through Whom ye demand your mutual (rights), and (reverence) the wombs (that bore you): for Allah ever watches over you..

It is then a complete unity in origin and fate and total equality in the human entity with all the rights and obligations related directly with this entity. In the Quran: O ye who believe! let not some men among you laugh at others: it may be that the (latter) are better than the (former): nor let some women laugh at others: it may be that the (latter) are better than the (former): nor defame nor be sarcastic to each other, nor call each other by (offensive) nicknames: ill-seeming is a name connoting wickedness, (to be used of one) after he has believed: and those who do not desist are (indeed) doing wrong..

In the Hadeeth the Prophet pbuh said, �All the Muslim is forbidden on another Muslim; his blood, honor and money.� The reward is also the same, in the Quran: �And their Lord hath accepted of them, and answered them: "Never will I suffer to be lost the work of any of you, be he male or female: ye are members, one of another; those who have left their homes, and were driven out therefrom, and suffered harm in My Cause, and fought and were slain, verily, I will blot out from them their iniquities, and admit them into Gardens with rivers flowing beneath - a reward from the Presence of Allah - and from His Presence is the best of rewards..

In Ownership and Trade
The right to own, manage and trade in private property is an available right for both sexes. This is a right that women were deprived of in Europe until recent times.

In Marriage
She also had the right in deciding one of the most critical issues related to her life and that is Marriage. She can�t be forced to marry against her will and the contract is not done without her consent. If it happened and it is found that she was coerced, then her marriage is broken and not accepted.

In Education
Islam made education and seeking it a mandatory issue upon every Muslim man was or woman.

Equality in Islam
Islam views men and women as equal in humanity since they are both parts of the human equation but equality in the functions of life and its means Islam had a different view.

Man has biological functions that are quite different from that of woman! Not all the conferences and meetings in the world can change the fact that one of the sexes is especially prepared for conceiving and giving birth in addition to what this requires from having passion and thoughts designed to welcome such an enormous event. Motherhood with all that it carries from noble sensations, delicate functions, patience and precision in performing tasks and care. This side in a woman meets the other side of her bodily adjustment for pregnancy and breast-feeding. Both are complementary to each other. This tenderness in passion, quickness in response, and the strong burst in emotions make the emotional side not the logical one - it is the ever willingness to be the fountain of passions needed by a child and child raising. That is because childhood requirements do not need thinking that might be quick or long in responding or not responding, rather it needs a bursting passion that would respond quickly and without hesitation for the caller.

This is the correct situation for woman when she performs her original function and planned role.

Man on the other hand is obligated with a different function that he had been designed for differently.

He is obligated for the struggle of life outside, whether it was confronting beasts in the jungle or forces of nature in earth or sky or the governmental system and its laws and economies. All this is to get his sustenance and to protect his wife and children from hostility and aggression. This function does not require emotions to be the fountain of actions rather it needs thought and logical planning in order to calculate and measure consequences before executing them.

From the passionate side, man is slower in responding since speed is not required from him and whether it was an animal hunt, an invention of a machine, an economical plan, governing policy, war or peace these are all matters that need thought missed by passion and emotions.

That�s why you find man in his right place when he performs the right purpose and so is the woman. This difference explains the reasons of disagreement between men and women. It explains the reason for man finding stability in his job in addition to giving it the largest part of his thinking and effort while in regard to the emotional side you find him unstable like children.

Woman on the other hand can find stability in her emotional relation with a man and moving this direction you find her wholeheartedly working, planning, arranging, and drawing her long-range goals while working hard to achieve them. But you find her unable to be stable in any job except in a job that would meet her feminine nature like nursing or teaching. But if your find her working in a shop she is trying to compensate for part of her emotion seeking a man out there. All of these jobs are a replacement that cannot replace the original design for her, and that is obtaining a home, family and children. When the first available opportunity for that occurs you find her leaving what she was doing to practice her original function unless there was something to stand in her way like the need for money.

This doesn�t mean a conclusive separation between the two sexes or that none of them can perform the function of the other!

They are both a mix with varying degrees and if a woman was found suitable for ruling, Judging, war, or weight lifting and if a man was found capable of cooking, running the house, caring for children with feminine passion then all this is something normal and an exact result of the mingling between the two sexes but free from the false indications that twisted mentalities from the decayed West and the disintegrated East try to prove.

Islam: a Realistic System
The greatest quality of Islam is that it is a realistic system that goes with the human nature and does not collide with it or divert it from its nature. It would equalize between men and women when the logic of equality is the correct one and would separate them when the logic of separation is the true one. So let�s look at the main issues of difference in Islam:

Inheritance Issue
The Quran states that in issues of inheritance a man would get twice as much of what a woman would get. This is true. But Islam obliges the man to spend over the woman while never asking from the woman to spend from her money to support anyone else except for herself. (Unless she is the only provider for her family and this is a rare occasion under Islamic systems because, then, even the farthest relative of men is still obliged to spend from his money on them).

So where do those who ask for total equality claim the injustice?

Man takes two thirds of the inheritance to spend on himself, his wife and children while a woman takes the third to keep for herself. Man have to spend on her no matter how wealthy she is and she has the right to take him to court if he stops spending and she would get alimony or divorce from court if he insisted on not spending upon her.

So, is it favoritism for man to get twice as much of the inheritance!

It is worth saying that this division of money is only applied in the inherited money, not the money acquired through trade or business.

Testimony Issue
Islam considers the testimony of two women as the testimony of one man in courts of law but this doesn�t mean that a woman is equal to half a man. On the contrary, such a procedure is targeted to secure all the guarantees in testimony whether it was for or against the defendant. But because a woman in her emotional nature is highly affected and her reactions are so passionate it was required that another woman should testify with her so that they remind each other. The defendant might be a beautiful woman and the woman witness might feel jealous of her, or he might be a young man who would arise feelings of motherhood in her,etc. These are emotions that might drive to misguidance, either consciously or unconsciously.

It is worth saying that the testimony of one woman is accepted in womanly cases or in areas she is specialized in.

Leadership Issue
In any partnership in the world there must be a manager who would take lead of this partnership. So is the case in the family, which is a partnership between man and woman. One of them should take the leading position either the man or the woman but not both because having two captains for one ship would sink it to the bottom of the sea.

Psychological studies show that children who are brought up in a house where parents are fighting over leadership in the house grow up unbalanced and unstable.

So, let�s ask who should lead passions and emotions, or thoughtfulness and logic.

Without much thought we choose the second choice. Man is, in his nature, more capable of leading his family. However, that doesn�t mean the man should be a tyrant at home or in managing the house. Rather he should seek council, advice and cooperation from his wife because successful partnership is built on love, cooperation and understanding not fighting and cruelty.

The Quran says: O ye who believe! ye are forbidden to inherit women against their will. Nor should ye treat them with harshness, that ye may take away part of the dower ye have given them, except where they have been guilty of open lewdness; on the contrary live with them on a footing of kindness and equity. If ye take a dislike to them it may be that ye dislike a thing, and Allah brings about through it a great deal of good. and the Prophet pbuh said, � the best among you is the best with his wife.�

Woman�s Obligations Issue
A woman is asked to commit to three main things:

1. To obey her husband whenever he asks her to his bed and the wisdom behind that is for the man not to fall into committing the crime of adultery once his sexual desires are burning within him. A man has also to respond to his wife�s sexual needs and she can take him to court and even divorce him if he neglected to respond to her needs.

2. Not for her to welcome into his house anyone whom he hates. The wisdom behind this is to lessen the fight that might happen if someone from the outside came and interfered between the two in order to arise disagreement between them. One might ask here why isn�t it the case the other way round; that is for the man not to bring to his house anyone whom his wife hates?

We say that women might not be always logical in her liking or disliking of someone. She might hate the husband�s mother or sister for nothing but from pure jealousy. In these cases it is not wise to oblige the husband to cut the bonds with his mother, sister, or relatives.

3. A woman should preserve her husband�s honor and money in his absence and this is a logical commitment that includes both man and woman.

Not Fulfilling the Obligations
Let�s now talk about the case when a husband or wife stops doing his/her obligation towards the other:

A branch of Man�s right to lead his family is another right in disciplining his non-cooperative wife and this right is explained in the following verse: Men are the protectors and maintainers of women, because Allah has given the one more (strength) than the other, and because they support them from their means. Therefore the righteous women are devoutly obedient, and guard in (the husband's) absence what Allah would have them guard. As to those women on whose part ye fear disloyalty and ill-conduct, admonish them (first), (next), refuse to share their beds, (and last) beat them (lightly); but if they return to obedience, seek not against them means (of annoyance): for Allah is Most High, Great (above you all).

It is noticed that the verse moved gradually in explaining means and methods of discipline until it reached non-harmful beating as a last resort. We know that this right is sometimes abused but this doesn�t prevent the legality of this rule while the worse reality that exists today in the name of Islam is as far as can be from the true Islam.

It needs mentioning here that this right is not to be used unless after all other peaceful means have been tried and implemented and in order to fix an extreme psychological diversion that can�t be mended except by using it.

The Prophet pbuh is telling men not to use this right, �No one should whip his wife as if he is whipping an animal and then at the end of the day he takes her to bed!�

As in the occasion when Man fails to fulfill his obligation and starts acting in a way that destroys the marital life the law is totally different. In the Quran: If a wife fears cruelty or desertion on her husband's part, there is no blame on them if they arrange an amicable settlement between themselves; and such settlement is best; even though men's souls are swayed by greed. But if ye do good and practise self-restraint, Allah is well-acquainted with all that ye do.

In all the previous conditions we notice:

1. All the commitments of woman towards man are for the sake of common welfare that includes the wife in a direct or indirect way.

2. Most of these commitments are required from the man towards his wife too but in the rare cases man was given a kind of authority it was never intended for him to given the right to humiliate or hurt his wife.

3. In the opposite of this authority a woman was given the right to refuse them if she does not accept them or have felt that injustice falls upon her from them.

As for separation, Islam made it the practical way for a woman to reject what she can�t stand from obligations. This separation has three different paths:
1. A woman can choose to hold her rights in divorcing herself to use whenever she wants and this is accepted in religion though most women prefer not to have it.

2. A woman can ask the court to divorce her if she hated her husband and couldn�t stand being with him anymore. This principle is an open one accredited by the Prophet pbuh and implemented by him though most courts don�t take by it. The only condition is that the woman should give up on her rights on whatever came to her belonging through the marriage and this is a just condition because when Man divorces his wife he looses everything he gave to her by marriage.

3. A woman can ask the court to divorce her plus keeping her things and alimony on the bases that she is being abused and harmed by marriage - once she can prove that.


The Divorce Issue
We hear a lot about stories of wives living happily and taking care of her husband and children but suddenly surprised by her husband�s move to divorce her just because a sudden desire rose in the heart of the husband or just because he got bored of his current life.

No doubt that cases like this, and more, are many and they all result from the man having this right to divorce his wife but what can we do about it?

Should we cancel divorce and discard all the tragedies that result from keeping two persons under the same roof holding all this hatred and animosity without being able to rid themselves from that?

Can children be raised in such an environment? Doesn�t that lead that for both the husband and wife to seek a lover or mistress to fulfill their sexual desires.

Someone suggested to restrain this right in the court of law and not to verify it if the man announced it by his word of mouth.

We need to mention here that man has the right to divorce his wife only two times after which he can return her to him without complications but after the third time he can never have her back.

There are a lot of measures where the husband can be disciplined by asking him in the second time for a new marriage agreement and dowry.

A comparison between the rates of divorce shows that the highest rate of divorce is in the USA and not in an Islamic country like Egypt.

The problem of marriage and divorce is not solved through changing the law, which was placed there for times of need, rather it is solved through education by raising the cultural, psychological, and religious levels of the community and by disciplining the feelings until Goodness and love are the essence of relations and by habituating man to view his marital life as a sacred bond that cannot be tampered with for trivial reasons.

Such an education needs a society that abides by Islam and lives according to its rules. It needs constant efforts at home, in schools, media, books and in the Mosque to change and secure.

We should also keep in mind that the most hated allowed thing to Allah is divorce.

The Issue of Polygamy
Polygamy is a legislation set for emergency situations and is not the base of marriage in Islam: �If ye fear that ye shall not be able to deal justly with the orphans, marry women of your choice, two, or three, or four; but if ye fear that ye shall not be able to deal justly (with them), then only one, or (a captive) that your right hands possess. That will be more suitable, to prevent you from doing injustice.�

Then justice and equality is a required condition and this condition is not a guranteed one so based upon that we see that the origin in Islam is to be married to one wife. In certain situations prohibiting polygamy is considered injustice and cruelty so another legislation is sought in order to prevent a greater harm with a lesser one.

Conditions in which society needs polygamy:
1. War time when a great number of men get killed in battle. In such situation polygamy is a must to prevent the chaeos and socio-ethical disorder that might result from that. The need for sex is a driving force and when not fulfilled legally it will be sought other ways. The need for having children is another basic need for a woman. Is there a way other than for more than one woman to share one man who would treat them fairly and justly and assume responsibility for their offspring as a legal father?

2. Individual situation where a man posseses an excess in his sexual powers and its either he commits adultery or marry another wife to fulfill his needs.

3. The situation when a woman can�t have any children for an illness or other reasons. Of course the first wife is free to choose whether she wants to continue in her marital life or ask for separation if she can�t stand her husband marrying another wife.

4. Situations of severe illness that prevents the wife from performing her role as a wife for her husband.

5. Matters of hatred and disgust that cannot be controlled or prevented.

The Issue of Women�s Right to Work
Such a right is a well-established one in Islam and women in the early times of Islam used to work if they needed to. The issue is not a question of right but, frankly speaking, Islam is not comfortable with women going to work in other than the jobs needed by the society to be performed by women like teaching girls, nursing, medicine of women, and all other jobs that women should perform in the society.

So, in islam, women�s working is built on a need-to-do basis, but it is secondary to the original job of women - and that is Motherhood. It might be said that a woman can be a mother and work at the same time and that sending kids to care centers and kindergartens can compensate the children. This is complete nonsense because no center in the world can compensate children with the love of the mother, the mother of the child himself.

Conclusion
What is the case of the Muslim woman today and what claims dose she ask or want to be given?

Islam noticed the womanly nature from the beginning and the job she was created to perform and excel in. Islam made spending on her and caring for her needs a duty that no man can escape in order for her to use all her efforts and abilities, both intellectually and physically, for the care of the precious human production. Amidst this function Islam gave her total care and full respect. A man came to the Prophet pbuh asking, Who is the best person worthy of my best treatment and companion? The Prophet pbuh replied, �Your mother.� The man asked then who? The Prophet said, �your mother.� The man said then who? The Prophet said, � your mother.� The man said then who? The Prophet said, �then your father.�

So woman asked for equality in humanity with man and Islam gave her that. She asked for economic independence and freedom in dealing with the society and Islam gave her that.

She wants the right to be educated and she was given this right and it was even made an obligation apon her. She doesn�t want to be married without her permission and she was given that. She wants to be treated honorably as a wife and to be given the right of separation when she is not treated properly and she was given that. She wants the right to work and she was given that in Islam and it was even an obligation on men to provide that for her.

Is all that what she wants, or the freedom of immorality and indecency? This is the only freedom Islam deprived her from and man too. Establishing such a fredom doesn�t need parliament representaion but it only requires to untie the bonds of the society and its traditions.

Women in the East
Women in Islamic countries, in general, are ignorant, retarded, humiliated, undignified, living like animals covered with physical and moral dirtiness, miserable more than she is pleased; she gives more than is given, and is not too much elevated from the world of desire and not even allowed to be.

All that was said is a fact but who is responsible for that? Is it Islam and its teachings?

This bad situation Eastern women undergo is due to corrupted economical, social, political, and psychological conditions. It's due to poverty, social injustice, political oppression, stress and the tyranny of rulers.

What a woman needs are emotions of respect and love from man and, from where would such emotions emerge in this overwhelming poverty and stressful oppression for all?

Women are not the only vicims but men are, too, although they might seem in a better condition than her. Man treats his wife in tyranny and oppression because he wants to achieve his own entity taken away from him in the outside; this entity insulted by the guard, landowner, policeman, employer or his boss. This entity threatened by need and humility and the unjust situation which he cannot confront or overcome so he would pour his suppressed anger on his wife, children and all those whom he supports.

Poverty, then, consumes the society and man�s effort along with his nervous and psychological powers to an extent that he becomes incapable of holding emotions of love and generous treatment to others nor tolerance for others� mistakes and errors.

This point is the same one that enslaves woman to man and makes her stand his tyranny and cruelty because it is better for her than living without support and prevents her from using her legal rights that would stop man if used.

It is a retarded society which the East belongs to today because it has lost itself and its goals and has fallen into oblivion. In such a backward society all the human values fall and the only virtue that exisits becomes strength and weakness, and this is the reason for despisement and insult.

In such a society people fall down to their instincts and sexual desires, which especially overcomes them, so they start seeing the world only through sexual prespective and within its boundaries. At that point, women become something for sexual pleasure and nothing more.

In such an environment, education is neglected because it seems to be an unaffordable luxury amidst this ignorance. And when ignorance replaces education people start worship desire and strength. In such an environment the mother would function unconsciously to corrupt men�s feelings toward women and color them with dictatorship and tyranny. When a mother spoils her child and doesn�t put any limits upon him to get him used to obeying and he is never turned down whether he was right or wrong, imagine what kind of man he would grow to become.


The Solution
The only way to correct the errors in the lives of men and women is not the way of the Western women that was a product of a certain conditions and diversion.

The only way to correction is a get back to Islam and its teachings. To ask all men and women, old and young, to follow Islam�s rule and laws. We need to believe in this cause and give it all of our efforts in order for everything to be returned back to its intended place.

Click here to return Home

Hosted by www.Geocities.ws