FROM THE EDITORIAL DIRECTOR

Dr. Farida Khanam has been a professor at the Department of Islamic Studies at Jamia Millia Islamia in New Delhi. A Study of World's Major Religions, A simple guide to Sufism are two of the books amongst many others, of which she is the author. She has also translated many books on Islam authored by Maulana Wahiduddin Khan. Currently, the chairperson of Centre for Peace and Spirituality (CPS International), an organization founded by her father Maulana Wahiduddin Khan, she is a regular contributor of  articles  to journals, newspapers and magazines. Dr. Khanam has edited Maulana’s English translation of the Quran and has also translated his Urdu commentary of the Quran into English. Under Maulana Wahiduddin Khan Peace Foundation, along with the CPS team, she is designing a series of courses on peacebuilding, countering extremism and conflict resolution.


WOMEN IN ISLAM

REFERRING to men and women, verse 195 of chapter 3 of the Quran says, “You are members one of another”. Further to this a man and a woman are considered as ‘two halves of a whole’. Another important fact is that the whole of the human race comes from Adam and Eve. Two other verses of the Quran say: “Glory be to God, who created in pairs all things that the earth produces.” (36: 36). “O Humanity! We created you from a single pair of a male and a female.” (49: 13).

According to the Quran there is no difference between a man and woman. They share a common fate, and are subject to the same existential conditions with the same potential and the same purpose of being.

Islam is often seen as keeping women in subservience. But Islam holds women in high esteem; they enjoyed a special status during the lifetime of the Prophet. During the initial days of Islam, the Prophet’s wife Khadija was herself a business-woman. Moreover, it was her initiative that led to their marriage. Fatima, the Prophet’s daughter, helped in giving first aid to the wounded in battle and Asma, Abu Bakr’s daughter, used to look after camels and date-orchards. But, if a woman chose to lead a domestic life, taking care of her family, she had every right to do so. Thus it can be said that women had the right to express themselves, and take their own decisions in life.

So women are not required just to stay at home and confine themselves to household tasks. They can also seek work outside their homes, as long as there is no harm to their modesty and they do not compromise on their values.

WOMEN AND EDUCATION
A study of the life of the Prophet tells us that education is just as essential for women as it is for men. From the Islamic point of view, the goal of education is to create awareness in the individual. There is a famous saying of the Prophet that the acquisition of knowledge is the duty of all Muslims. And scholars who have studied the teachings and life of the Prophet have inferred that the acquisition of knowledge is also the duty of every Muslim woman.

In the biographies of the narrators of Hadith (sayings and deeds of Prophet of Islam) literature, mention is made of the academic services of women, which shows that during the first era of Islam, there was a strong tendency among women to acquire knowledge. Imam Bukhari who compiled the Hadith book Al-Jami as-Sahih, which is considered as the most authentic source of Hadith, was initially educated at home by his mother and sister.

According to the Quran there is no difference between a man and woman. They share a common fate, and are subject to the same existential conditions with the same potential and the same purpose of being.

There are some reports that tell us that the Prophet’s conversations with his wife Aisha were aimed at educating her. Aisha reported that the Prophet would often get up in the middle of the night and then converse with her on various topics. This informal education was an important part of their life together. These interactions and discourses made her the most distinguished personality in matters of religious knowledge. The Prophet also took her with him during many travels which gave her more knowledge in his company. She survived the Prophet for a full 50 years, and throughout this period, she remained a valuable source of Islamic knowledge. Her house served as a school of religious learning.

Women are just as entitled to seek education as men. However, this does not necessarily mean that an educated woman should be rebellious and headstrong, challenging the authority of whomsoever she likes. Education in the real sense makes a person see reason, and gives an insight into all aspects of life.

WOMEN AND MODESTY
The Quran enjoins modesty in dress for both men and women such as will maintain one’s dignity and respect irrespective of gender. The Quran tells the Prophet to clothe his wives and daughters and the daughters of the believers in a modest and respectable manner, so as not to attract undesirable elements. This means a woman should, by her attire, indicate that she is well-bred, respectable and modest. It also means that a believing woman, out on the street, or at work, should not draw attention to herself, but should, of her own free will, lead a modest life.

One of the teachings of the Prophet is, "Every religion has a characteristic and the characteristic of Islam is modesty".

The Quran also says "O children of Adam! We have sent down to you clothes to cover your nakedness, and to be pleasing to the eye; but the raiment of righteousness in the best." (7: 26). According to this verse to dress properly as well as to do good is the truly Islamic way of life. The Quran further calls upon women and men to lower their gazes. One of the teachings of the Prophet is, “Every religion has a characteristic and the characteristic of Islam is modesty”.

WOMEN AND WORK
As stated earlier, the Prophet’s wife Khadija was a successful businesswoman, and the Prophet himself was employed by her. His later wives Umme Salmah and Zaynab, also earned their own money. The Quran does not prohibit a woman from working outside her home, or engaging in business. What is more important is her virtue and how she conducts herself.

OBLIGATIONS OF A WOMAN
A woman and a man are both obliged to believe in the oneness of God, without which there is no salvation. Women are also required to say the obligatory prayers and keep the fasts. A woman who is sufficiently capable and talented may earn her livelihood outside the home. Islam attaches particular importance to morality and exhorts both men and women to be morally responsible to each other, and most importantly to God.

THE RIGHTS OF WOMEN
For the first time in the human history, women were given their due legal rights, thanks to Islam, which specifies that property must be divided among the rightful heirs which included women. A woman can possess a property separately, and neither her father nor her husband can exercise any right over it. On this subject, a retired Chief Justice of the Delhi Court, Mr. Rajinder Sachar had this to say: "Historically, Islam had been very liberal and progressive in granting rights to women. Islam had granted these rights to Muslim women over 1400 years ago."

Entitling women to have a share in property, contrary to the custom of the time, is a clear proof that Islam had no desire to degrade them. A woman also has the right to demand maintenance and the court can ask her father or her husband for a contractual sum. And at the time of marriage, a woman is entitled to mehr or dower, which should be solely in her name, not her father’s. The mehr or dower is in no way a payment for conjugal rights. It is in fact a token sum of money, which symbolizes in material form, the man’s responsibilities towards his wife till his last breath.

A woman is also free to give or refuse her consent to marriage. No one can force her to marry against her will. At the time of the marriage she is required to give her consent, failing which the marriage would be invalid. Marriage according to Islam, is a bilateral contract, based on the free consent of the two contracting parties. The Prophet of Islam said, “An unmarried girl should not be married until her permission has been taken”.

Thus, we can see that Islam as it is accords respect and equality to women. To sum up we can best say that in the matter of gender equality the maxim of Islam is “Equal in respect, different in role”.

Dr. Farida Khanam
hub@the spiritofislam.org

Hard Work
Hard work is the brightest jewel in
the crown of human virtues.