womeninquran

The women's rights issue, lately, has came to shed a lot of ink in the world. For a well-founded study of the women's rights (note that she forms half of the world's population), we should consider her position in nature and society and find out the privileges and values granted to her by nature, or in religious terms by Divine power and Wisdom.

The Holy Qur'an, the last perfect Divine Book and man's eternal guide, leading him towards prosperity and salvation both in this world and the hereafter, tells us that social laws must be framed in accordance with human nature.

"The nature made by Allah in which He has made men; there is no altering of Allah's creation; that is the right religion, but most people do not know." Al-Qur'an (30:30)

Before plunging into this discussion, we must mention a few points:

For a realistic understanding of fundamentals of Islam, a primary careful examination of Qur'anic verses, the undistorted narrations of Holy Prophet of Islam (s.a.w.s) and the impeccable Imams (a.s) and their life becomes imperative.

Once must not analyze the dictates of Islam on the basis of the actions of some Muslims at a certain time or place. For instance, if some Muslims abuse the women's rights it would be wrong to affirm that Islam has ignored the legitimate rights of women on hearing or observing that somewhere or at a certain period, the Muslims have been denying the woman, her legitimate rights. When one observes Islamic tenets being neglected in some Muslim lands, which prefer rather to copy western culture, one should not conclude that the governing laws agree with Islam, even if millions of Muslims follow these westernized ways.

Concerning the women's position in Islam, it is to be noted that Islam regards woman as an independent, perfect member of society and places no difference between her and the man as far as human virtues go.

Islam maintains that salvation will be attained only through piety, virtue, knowledge and good deeds as says the Holy Qur'an:

"O you men! Surely we have created you of a male and a female, and made you tribes and families that you may know each other; surley the most honourable of you with Allah is the one among you most careful (of his duty)." Al-Qur'an (49:13)

"I will not waste the work of a worker among you, whether male or female, the one of you being from other." Al-Qur'an (3:195)

Therefore, Islam does not differentiate between the virtuous, dutiful man and the woman possessing the same qualities. In Islamic society the woman has a right to own and sell property, to inherit, or to seek knowledge and even to engage in legitimate trade.

In Prophet Muhammad's (s.a.w) time there was a woman named Zainab Aattaare who sold perfumes and had the Holy Prophet (s.a.w) as one of her clients. In Islam a woman can also take part in social activities in so far as her participation is consistent with chastity and virtue.

"There is no blame on you for what they do for themselves in lawful manner; and Allah is aware of what you do." Holy Qur'an (2:234)

Later is semi barbaric or half civilized human societies woman continued to be the subject of debate and different opinions were expressed about her such as:

1. Woman is the abominable creation of the devil;
2. She does not have a human soul, hence no life in the hereafter;
3. Woman's deed are not acceptable to God;
4. Being a means of satanic seduction, she should be physically tortured;
5. Death, poison, fire and the serpent are lesser evils compared to her;
6. Girls should be buried alive to wash away the scar of disgrace;
7. Woman is a human being but was created to serve man.

These and other suc views have been expressed by the ancient Roman, Arabs, French and Athenians with regard to women.