.
IV) SPECIFIC RIGHTS OF WOMEN:
In Islam, the woman is honored as at all stages of her life while performing her role as a daughter, wife and mother. Her specific rights during all such stages are mentioned below:
a) The Rights of Mother (and father):
The parents are at the top of the list of human rights. In fact, it is the mother, who heads such a list. Almighty Allah commands:
1.“ And We commanded man about his parents. His mother carried
him (in her womb) with trouble after trouble, and (after his birth)
for a further period of two years for suckling. You must, therefore,
be grateful to Me and to your parents…” (31:13)
2.“ And We commanded man to be kind (and respectful) to his parents.
His mother carried him (in her womb) under great distress and
delivered him under further severe distress. And the period for his
bearing and suckling is thirty months…” (46:15)
3. “ And your Lord has given the Verdict that you must worship none
but Him alone and that you must show extreme kindness to your
parents…” (17:23)
A man asked the Holy Prophet who needed the best of his treatment. He replied (on repeated asking): “ Your mother … Your mother… Your mother…and then your father.” (Bukhari:5626)
[Note: The ratio between the right of mother & father is, thus, 3:1]
According to the sayings of the Holy Prophet
:
1. The deeds in order merit, most likeable to Allah are:
i) offering prayers on time,
ii) treating the parents with kindness, and
iii) conducting Jihad in the Way of Allah. (Bukhari:5625)
2. The major sins are:
i) establishing partners with Allah,
ii) killing a person,
ii) disobeying parents, and
iii) giving a false witness. (Bukhari:5632)
b) The Rights of a Wife:
1. The relationship between the husband and wife must be established on the basis of love and mercy. The Holy Quran states:
“ And amongst His Signs is that He created for you (your) wives
from among yourselves so that you may attain tranquility from
them; and He produced between you (the passions of) love and
mercy. Indeed, in it are the signs for the people, who think
deeply.” (30:21)
2. The husband must live with his wife with kindness and adjust himself with her, ignoring her defects. The Holy Quran states:
“ …And live with them in a nice manner. And if you dislike them,
it is then quite possible that you dislike a thing and Allah produces
out of it an abundant good for you. (You must, therefore, not dislike
them).” (4:19)
3. The women have the rights over their husbands such as sustenance, protection etc., just as the husbands have the rights over them such as loyalty, protection of chastity and wealth, as stated in Verse 2:228
4. The Holy Prophet
5. In Islam, the wife is fully sustained and protected during marriage and even during the waiting period (Iddah) in case of divorce.
(2:228,241)
6. In fact, the woman is ensured full support in Islam at all stages of her life, as a daughter, sister, wife or mother.
7. According to the Law of Inheritance, as stated in Surah An-Nisa (Chapter No.4) of the Holy Quran, the male in most of the cases inherit twice that of female. Nevertheless, the male is duty bound to support his wife, children, parents and sister. The female, on the other hand, inherits less, but she is not legally bound to sustain any one. She is not even bound to spend on herself.
8. Men, of course, have been entrusted with great responsibility of sustaining and protecting their wives and children. The righteous women are, therefore, those who are loyal, and who guard (their chastity as well as the wealth) in (the) absence (of their husbands) which Allah has commanded them to protect. (2:228;4:34)
9. It may be noted that in his Farewell Pilgrimage address, the Holy Prophet
10. Both the husband and wife must ignore the defects of each other and show forgiveness. Even in very delicate circumstances, generosity and forgiveness must be exhibited. (2:237;2:228)
[Note: See the relations between husband and wife under Verse 2:242]
