By Zainab Gazala Sheikh
“Wujood-e-zan se hai tasveer-e-kainat mein rang.
Issi ke saaz se hai zindagi ka souz-e- darun
The picture that this world presents from woman gets its tints and scents
She is the lyre that can impart pathos and warmth to human heart.
“Allama Iqbal”
Prior to the advent of Islam, a woman was not considered as a human being with a soul, rather as a source of evil and was treated like a slave or a property to be used by men for their benefits only.
Women were treated like animals which were to be bought and sold in the markets and there was little or no value of their consent and dignity. Society was ignorant to the extent that the birth of daughters was considered to be humiliating and the Arabs used to bury their daughters alive.
Not only in Arab but in other parts of world like Europe, Rome, India and Egypt women were tormented and oppressed and considered as a source of shame and humiliation. Patriarchy dominated and the opposite gender was considered to be devoid of desire, dignity and honor.
Not astonishingly, women were not given right to own property and were deprived of inheritance too.
As Islam emerged some 1400 years ago in the deserts of Arabia, the equations changed as the Prophet of Islam, enforced a new doctrine that forbade all the evil practices against women. Quran, the holy book that was sent in the form of revelations to Prophet testifies it.
Allah says in the holy Quran:-
“For Muslim men and women, for believing men and women, for devout men and women, for true men and women who are patient, for men and women who humble themselves, for men and women who give in charity, for men and women who fast, for men and women who engage much in Allah’s praise-for them all has Allah prepared forgiveness and great reward.” (Al Quran 33:35)
The practice of burying female child which was common among pre-Islamic tribes, as also declared prohibited.
“And when the girl who was buried alive is asked for what sin she was killed.”
(AL Quran 81:8-9)
Prophet’s focus on uplifting women was humongous and once he said that whoever takes care of two girls until they reach adulthood he and I will come like this on the day of resurrection and then he held his fingers together.
Such as the condition of women in pre-Islamic tribes that there was a tradition of marrying one’s own mother after the death of father (husband of mother). Whereas, once Islam came into being woman was granted a very high rank and Allah placed Jannah (heaven) for a child under her mother’s feet.
Allah mentions in Quran:-
“And we have enjoined on man kindness to his parents, in pain did his mother bear him and in pain did she give him birth.”
(Al Quran 46:15)
Once a man came to Mohammad (saw) and said “O Messenger of Allah! Who among the people is the most worthy of my good companionship?
The Prophet (saw) said: your mother. The man said then who? The Prophet (saw)said: then your mother, the man further asked then who? The Prophet (saw) said: then your mother, the man asked again, and then who? The Prophet (saw) said: then your father”
In an another incident Prophet (saw) while advising men said “Take my advice with regard to women: act kindly towards women, for they were created from a rib and the most crooked part of a rib is it’s uppermost. If you attempt to straighten it, you will break it and if you leave it alone, it will remain crooked, so act kindly towards women.”
Islam ended oppression and injustice towards women. Before Islam women were forced to marry men of certain tribes but Islam ended this practice as well. Islam protected women from negative aspects of marriage. Allah has given right to women in making decisions regarding marriage.
Allah (swt) commanded:-
“O you who have believed it is not lawful for you to inherit women by compulsion.”
(Al Quran 4:19)
In a Hadith it is mentioned that Mohammad (saw) said that the virgin should not be given in marriage until her permission has been sought.
Besides, according to Islamic principles acquisition of knowledge is binding on all Muslims (both men and women) without any discrimination. Islam provides right to education to women as the first verse of Quran i;e “Iqra” itself says to “read or “recite and this is not bound to men only but for women as well.
It is said if a nation wishes to be successful then the women of that society must be given opportunity to attain knowledge and education. But today education is distracting the society and creating menace. The western education has become a poison that is used to kill the morals in the society. So to end this, every person especially women should attain religious knowledge. As nowadays women are being objectified and made models of immorality. Most people think if they get modern education and adopt western culture they will be considered more educated but this is not true. The real education is that which teaches a person about morals, ethics and other aspects of better living.
As Dr Allama Iqbal puts it
“Jis ilm ki taseer se zan hoti na zan
Kehte hai ussi ilm ko arbab-e-nazar mout”
”The lore that makes a women lose her rank
Is naught but death in eyes of wise and frank.”
***
Zainab Gazala Sheikh is studying Law at University of Jammu.