The Rights and Duties of Women in Islam

[M I D O]

The Rights and Duties of Women in Islam


by Shaykh Abdul Ghaffar Hasan


Issues in which Men and Women are treated alike or Women are treated favorably

This chapter discusses issues, which carry little or no controversy.

1. Education

The Messenger of Allah once said: "Acquiring knowledge is compulsory for every Muslim. (At-Tabarani) This narration applies equally to men and women. "Knowledge" in this context refers primarily to knowledge of the Qur’ân and the Sunnah as no Muslim should be ignorant of his or her Faith, but it also covers other areas of general education, which can contribute to the welfare of civilization. It is precisely the ignorance about their religion among Muslims that has led to men oppressing women because they believe it is permitted, women not demanding their Godgiven rights because they are ignorant of them, and children growing up to perpetuate their parents' follies. Throughout Islamic history, men and women both earned respect as scholars and teachers of the Faith. The books of Rijal (Reporters of Hadith) contain the names of many prominent women, beginning with 'Aishah and Hafsah.

2. Worship

It has already been discussed in detail that both men and women are the slaves of Allah and have a duty to worship and obey Him. Men and women have to pray, fast, give charity, go on pilgrimage, refrain from adultery, avoid the prohibited, enjoin the good and forbid the evil, and so on. Because of women's roles as mothers, a role which does not end at a specific time but is a roundthe- clock career, they have been exempted from attending the Mosque for the five daily prayers or for Jumu 'ah (Friday) prayer. Nevertheless, if they wish to attend the Mosque, no one has the right to stop them.

3. Charitable Acts

Men and women are both encouraged to give charity, and there is nothing to stop a woman giving charity from her husband's income. 'Aishah reported that the Messenger of Allah said: "A woman will receive reward (from Allah) even when she gives charity from her husband's earnings. The husband and the treasurer (who keeps the money on the husband's behalf) will also be rewarded, without the reward of any of them decreasing." Asmâ' once said to the Prophet "O Messenger of Allah, I have nothing except what Zubair (her husband) brings home." The Prophet told her: "O Asmâ, give in charity. Don't lock it lest your subsistence is locked."

4. The Right to own Wealth and Property

A woman has the right to keep her property or wealth, whether earned or inherited, and spend it as she may please.
This right was granted to Western women only very recently, and the women of India had to wait until 1956 for a right which Muslim women have always taken for granted. Concerning the right to one's earnings, the Qur’ân says:

"And wish not for the things in which Allah has made some of you excel the others. For men there is reward for what they have earned, (and likewise) for women there is reward for what they have earned, and ask Allah of His Bounty. Surely, Allah is Ever All-Knower of everything." (V. 4:32)


5. Freedom to express One's Opinion

Few societies exist in which the ordinary citizen can confront the ruler face to face and challenge his policies. Even fewer societies allow women to be so bold, yet the Islamic ideal has always been open and accessible. This freedom of expression is aptly demonstrated by a famous incident involving 'Umar the second Rightly- Guided Caliph.
'Umar was once standing on the pulpit, severely reprimanding the people and ordering them not to set excessive amounts of dower at the time of marriage. A woman got up and shouted, "Umar You have no right to intervene in a matter which Allah the All-Mighty has already decreed in the Qur’ân:

"But if you intend to replace a wife by another and you have given one of them a Qintar (of gold, i.e., a great amount as Mahr bridal money), take not the least bit of it back; would you take it wrongfully without a right and (with) a manifest sin?" (V.4:20)

After being reminded of this Verse, 'Umar withdrew his order, saying, "I am in the wrong and she is correct."

6. Participation in Jihâd

The battlefield is a place, which frightens many men let alone women. Due to the aggressive and violent nature of war, only men have a duty to participate in Jihad (holy fighting in Allah's Cause) while women are exempted. A woman once asked the Prophet to allow women to go on Jihâd with men because of its excellence and the unlimited reward promised to Mujâhidin (Muslim fighters) in the Hereafter. The Prophet replied: "For them is a Jihâd without fighting," which referred to the Hajj and ' Umrah. Nevertheless the Prophet did permit women to nurse the injured and supply provisions to the Mujâhidin at some battles. A woman from the tribe of Ghifâr came with a large group of women to the Prophet when he was preparing to leave for the conquest of Khaibar. She said: "O Allah's Messenger, we wish to accompany you on this journey so that we may nurse the injured and help the Muslims." The Prophet responded, "Come may Allah shower His blessings upon you." Umm 'Atiyyah an Ansâri woman, once said:
"I have participated in seven battles with the Prophet. I used to guard the camels of the Mujahidin in their absence, cook the food, treat the injured and care for the sick."

Mu'âdh bin Jabal reports that his cousin Asmâ' bint Yazid killed nine Roman soldiers with a tent-pole during the battle of Yarmuk.

7. Freedom to choose Her Husband

The guardian of the girl, whether her father, brother or uncle, plays an important role in her marriage, such as finding a suitable match for her. But under no circumstance does this allow him to force his choice on her against her wishes. She is free to accept or reject his choice, or make her own choice. A woman named Khansâ bint Khidâm once came to the Prophet and complained:
"My father has forced me to marry my cousin in order to raise his own status (in the eyes of the people)."


The Prophet told her that she was free to dissolve this marriage and choose whomever she wished to marry. She replied,

"I accept my father's choice, but my aim was to let the women know that fathers have no right to interfere in the marriage." (Ahmad, An-Nasa 'i and Ibn Mâjah)

8. A Woman's Guarantee in War is acceptable

If a woman gives surety to a war-captive or gives him shelter, her guarantee will be accepted. Umm Hâni a cousin of the Prophet, said to him after the conquest of Makkah: " I have given shelter to two of my in-laws." The Prophet said: "O Umm Hâni, we have given shelter to whom you have given shelter." According to another narrative, Umm Hâni gave shelter to a man but her cousin 'Ali tried to kill the man. She complained to the Prophet who endorsed her act of giving shelter to the man.
9. The Right to custody of Children
Divorce is especially painful and difficult when the couple have had children, and awarding custody to either party involves difficulties. According to Western law, both father and mother have to prove to the Court that they are more capable of looking after the children, and this often involves maligning the other party in order to strengthen their own claims to custody. Islamic law has its own clear decision on this issue. Custody of young boys and girls goes to the mother. The son stays with his mother until he is about seven or nine years of age, after which he is looked after by the father. The daughter remains with her mother until she gets married. The exception is when the mother herself re-marries, in which case custody may be awarded to someone else such as the girl's grandmother or aunt. This is based on the Prophet's words to the divorcee:
"Your right to custody of the child is greater as long as you do not remarry."

10. Participation in extending cooperation for the promotion of good and elimination of evil.

The Qur’ân deals with this subject in clear terms:
"The believers, men and women, are Auliyâ ' (helpers, supporters, friends, protectors) of one another; they enjoin (on the people) Al-Ma'ruf (i.e. Islamic Monotheism and all that Islam orders one to do), and forbid (people) from Al-Munkar (i.e.. polytheism and disbelief of all kinds, and all that Islam has forbidden); they perform As-Salât (Iqįmat-as-Salįt), and give the Zakât, and obey Allah and His Messenger. Allah will have His Mercy on them. Surely, Allah is All-Mighty, All-Wise." (V. 9:71)

__________________

[sweety girl]

انا ثقافتى المانى يا ميدو

[Mr.h3ll]

طب ليه كده مين ضحك عليك وقلك ان احنا هنعرف نترجم النبى عربى يا معلم

بس شكراااااااااااا

[M I D O]

معلش اصل انا اصلا شوية وهسافر وبعمل حاجات اسلامية بالانجليش عشان الناس بره تعرف ايه هوا الاسلام

وبعدين لازم تتعلم يا معلم

عشان تقدر تحارب عدوك لازم تتعلم لغته صح

عموما شكرا للمرور

[Mr.h3ll]

كلامك صح يا باشا بس اتعلم فين هوا تعليم مصر ده تعليم؟

الواحد لازم يعتمد على نفسه

[M I D O]

طيب وايه المشكلة اعتمد على نفسك واتعلم

وفى اماكن كثير اوى فى مصر تقدر تتعلم منها الانجليزية

هاتفرق معاك جامد اوى لما تنزل سوق العمل

[sweety girl]

طب العبد لله فى 6 ابدائى ومش فاضيه اتعلم برا لمنهج

ترجملى انت بقى

[M I D O]

هههه حاضر يا ايمى من عينيا هاترجمها بس هاتاخد منى وقت كبير لانى انا الى كاتب الموضوع اصلا

هاحاول اترجمها للطريقة العربية باذن الله

الموضوع مفيد جدا على فكرة

وانا اليومين دول بشتغل على المواقع الاجنبية عشان نعمل شرح وافى للاسلام

بلغة الانجليزية والفرنسية

[أمة الرحمن]

جزاك الله كل خير يا أخ ميدو وانا على فكرة فى كلية ترجمة فورية الازهر وبدرس ترجمة اسلامية ولو حضرتك عايز اى مساعدة انا موجودة وعندى كتب اسلامية كثيرة مترجمة وجزاك الله كل خير وعلى فكرة هدفك نفس هدفى توصيل الصورة الصحيحة للاسلام والله هوالمستعان

[المجاهد فى سبيل الله]

السلام عليكم ورحمة الله وبركاته
يا اخونا انا فى كلية اللغه العربيه
انا يا دوبك ترجمة العناوين وخلاص
وكام سطر كده وخلاص يا ريت يا اخى تترجمولنا الباقى

[مستر محمد سلام]

ينقل للقسم المناسب