Women in Islam

The role and status of women in Islam



The role and status of women in Islam has been misunderstood by Muslims and non-Muslims alike. Some Muslim countries have misapplied and misinterpreted Islam. Some Muslim communities adhere to cultural and traditional practices such as ‘honour killing' and forced marriages that are not from Islam. The misinterpretation of Islam and some cultural practices that predate Islam have caused confusion even amongst those who implement them. Furthermore, the media has utilised these misconceptions to portray a negative image of Islam and Muslim women.





As a result, whenever the term ‘Islamic Shariah' is mentioned, people's minds are quick to be filled with images of a ‘Taliban state' or Saudi Arabia where women are excluded from politics and public life. These portrayals are enough to make people view Islam as oppressive towards women. Yet, the confusion may rise even more when they see women striving to wear the Islamic head covering and calling for the implementation of Shariah in secular Muslim countries such as Turkey and Indonesia. One begins to wonder ‘Why would Muslim women call for the implementation of Shariah if it was biased and oppressive against themselves and their daughters?'



If we look at the customs and traditions held by some minority communities such as honour killing, forced marriages and female circumcision, these have in some instances been linked to Islam. The act of ‘honour killing' (when a person is killed for dishonouring the tribe or family name), clearly predates Islam. It exists in some Muslim communities but not others. It also occurs in some non-Muslim communities. This shows that such acts are based on traditions and tribal customs. There is no evidence from Islamic text that encourages or allows such practices. On the contrary, Islam came and abolished many unjust acts. During pre-Islamic era, the Arabs used to commit various atrocities against women. One of the most common practices was the burying of daughters alive. The Qur'an admonished this barbaric act. It is a major sin and illegal under Islamic Shariah. The Qur'an states in An Nahl:58-59 "And when the news of the birth of a female child is brought to them (the Arabs pre-Islam), his face becomes dark and he is filled with grief! He hides himself from the people because of the evil of that he has been informed. Shall he keep her with dishonour or bury her in the earth. Certainly evil is their decision." Unfortunately, Muslim governments today have turned a blind eye to similar atrocities against women and have not challenged their practices in the way that the Qur'an obliged them to.



Islam has also been accused of excluding women from public life. They use examples from countries such as Afghanistan and Saudi Arabia where women are not allowed to travel alone, vote or drive and ‘are forced' to cover from head to toe. These countries are said to adhere to a ‘strict' interpretation of Islamic Shariah. If we study the time of Prophet Muhammad (saw) women were never excluded from public life. Women participated in society, in education, trading, commerce, medicine and various other fields. Women used to teach Islam to men such as the great scholar and narrator of ahadith (sayings of the Prophet), Aishah r.a. There is no better example of Islam than the time of Prophet Muhammad (saw). The rigid laws applied on women in these countries are not due to Shariah rules; rather it is a result of extreme reaction to the Western liberal and secular values and misinterpretation of Islam.



However, we also need to recognise that the true Islamic Shariah is contrary to Western values. This is because fundamentally, the Western belief is completely different from the Islamic belief. The secular creed dictates that God should not rule men whereas Islam makes God the legislator and that a believer should submit to God in private and public. Therefore, a believing woman would cover herself for Allah's sake. She would fast, pray, not leave the house without her guardian's permission, engage in politics and account the rulers, refraining from prohibited acts such as bribery and fornication, all for the sake of Allah.



Islam has its own set of values based on its unique view of the world. It cannot be judge by the standards of Western secular values. For example, if we look at Western value of freedom, it is about individuals being free to do whatever they want for the sake of happiness. Freedom sees no harm in encouraging socialising between men and women. It is the norm. This socialising can happen anywhere, men and women will meet up for companionship, flirting or mere chitchat. It is not a crime to be promiscuous, have one-night stands or affairs even if this leads to adverse consequences. There is a rise in teenage pregnancies, single parent families, sexually transmitted diseases, family breakdown and other social ills and yet the West tolerates these side effects for the sake of freedom. Islam cannot fit into these values of freedom. Although Islam emphasises that both men and women must participate in society but it makes segregation the basis in social affairs. Men and women interact only in order to achieve a common goal such as in trade, education, industry, work, politics and in protecting the state. Under Shariah law, women are obliged to seek knowledge, they are allowed to work, become professionals, attend mosque, go shopping, eat in public places and carry out her daily activities without harassment. However, men and women should not sit together for idle chitchat or flirting. The Islamic rules are put in place to ensure an atmosphere of segregation such as the women's Islamic dress and respect for homes and privacy. Islamic shariah obliges men to lower their gaze and not to stare at women. It forbids men and women who are non related to be alone together. All of these rules are to ensure that segregation is observed and is a safeguard against vice.



The basis for gender equality aspired to by the West needs to be examined. In 2006, The Equal Opportunities Commission admitted that it will take another 200 years for women to achieve equality in Britain and blames this inequality on women's ‘life choices' referring to women choosing family above career. Gender equality is measured purely on economic terms. A women's priceless contribution to society by being a dedicated mother and wife has no measurable economic value. The measurement of success is the man with a high flying career and a six-figure salary. This has become the yardstick that men and women in the West aspire to achieve. Having children and family is seen as an obstacle for a woman reaching her full potential. Islam places a high status on women for being a mother and a wife. The Qur'an states 46:15 "And We have enjoined on man to be good to his parents. His mother carried him in pain and gave birth to him in pain, and his carrying and weaning for thirty months until when he attains full strength..."



Islam views the family unit as an important social structure. The unique love and companionship between a man and a woman is preserved through marriage. It also permits the free interaction amongst unmarriageable kin. The family structure ensures that there is cooperation and harmony between the spouses. The husband is entrusted to provide for the family and the wife is entrusted to look after the children and the home. The responsibility that the man carries is a burden upon him to ensure that his family have enough provision and security. It is not, as some claim a reason for him to make life difficult for his wife or himself by preventing her from going outside the house to carry out her daily chores.



The attack on Islamic Shariah focuses on individual rules such as the women's dress, inheritance laws, witness and testimonies without making reference to the purpose of the Shariah. The Islamic Shariah aims to achieve a tranquil society based upon worshipping Allah and adherence to his commands.



Allah s.w.t says Al Ahzab:35 "Verily! The Muslims men and women, the true believers (Muhmin) men and women, the men and women who are obedient to Allah, men and women who are truthful, men and women who are patient, men and women who are humble (before Allah), men and women who give charity (sadaqah), men and women who fast, the men and women who guard their chastity, the men and women who remember Allah much with their hearts and tongues. Allah has prepared for them forgiveness and a great reward". Clearly God places high status for both men and women in Islam and will reward them according to their deed.