Today people think that women are liberated in the West and that the women’s liberation movement began in the 20th century. Actually, the women’s liberation movement was not begun by women but was revealed by God to a man in the sixth century by the name of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), who is known as the last Prophet of Allah. The Qur’an and the Traditions of the Prophet (Hadith or Sunnah) are the sources from which every Muslim woman derives her rights and duties.
1. HUMAN RIGHTS
Islam, fourteen centuries ago, made women equally accountable to God in glorifying and worshipping Him – setting no limits on her moral progress. Also, Islam established a woman’s equality in her humanity with men. In the Qur’an, in the first verse of the chapter entitled “Women,” the Glorious Quran says:
“O mankind! Be wary of your Lord who created you from a single soul, and created its mate from it, and, from the two of them, scattered numerous men and women. Be wary of Allah, in whose Name you adjure one another and the wombs. Indeed Allah is watchful over you” (Qur’an 4:1)
Since men and women both came from the same essence, they are equal in their humanity. Women cannot be by nature evil (as some religions believe). Similarly, neither gender can be superior because it would be a contradiction of equality.
2. CIVIL RIGHTS
In Islam, a woman has the basic freedom of choice and expression based on recognition of her individual personality. First, she is free to choose her religion. The Qur’an states:
“There is no compulsion in religion: rectitude has become distinct from error…” (Qur’an 2:256)
Women are encouraged in Islam to contribute their opinions and ideas. There are many traditions of the Prophet (PBUHH) which indicate women would pose questions directly to him and offer their opinions concerning religion, economics and social matters. A Muslim woman chooses her husband and keeps her name after marriage. A Muslim woman’s testimony is valid in legal disputes. In fact, in areas in which women are more familiar, their evidence is conclusive.
3. SOCIAL RIGHTS
The Prophet (PBUHH) said:
“Seeking knowledge is a mandate for every Muslim (male and female).”
This includes knowledge of the Qur’an and the Hadith as well as other knowledge. Men and women both have the capacity for learning and understanding. Since it is also their obligation to promote good behaviour and condemn bad behaviour in all spheres of life, Muslim women must acquire the appropriate education to perform this duty in accordance with their own natural talents and interests.
While maintenance of a home, providing support to her husband and bearing, raising and teaching of children are among the first and very highly regarded roles for a woman, if she has the skills to work outside the home for the good of the community, she may do so as long as her family obligations are met. Islam recognizes the natural differences between men and women despite their equality.
Some types of work are more suitable for men and other types for women. This in no way diminishes either’s effort or its benefit. God will reward both sexes equally for the value of their work, though it may not necessarily be the same activity. Concerning motherhood, the Prophet (PBUHH) said:
“Heaven lies under the feet of mothers.”
This implies that the success of a society can be traced to the mothers that raised it. The first and greatest influence on a person comes from the sense of security, affection, and training received from the mother. Therefore, a woman having children must be educated and conscientious in order to be a skilful parent.
4. POLITICAL RIGHTS
A right given to Muslim women by God 1400 years ago is the right to vote. On any Islamic public matter, a woman may voice her opinion and participate in politics. One example, narrated in the Qur’an (60:12), is that Muhammad (PBUH) is told that when believing women come to him and swear their allegiance to Islam, he must accept their oath. This established the right of women to select their leader and publicly declare so. Finally, Islam does not forbid a woman from holding important positions in government.
5. ECONOMIC RIGHTS
The Qur’an states:
“By Him who created the male and the female — your endeavours are indeed unlike” (Qur’an 92:3-4)
In these verses, God declares that He created men and women to be different, with unique roles, functions and skills. As in society, where there is a division of labour, so too in a family; each member has different responsibilities. Generally, Islam upholds that women are entrusted with the nurturing role, and men, with the guardian role. Therefore, women are given the right to financial support. The Qur’an states:
“Men are the managers of women, because of the advantage Allah has granted some of them over others, and by virtue of their spending out of their wealth”. (Qur’an 4:34)
This guardianship and greater financial responsibility are given to men, which requires that they provide women not only with monetary support but also physical protection and kind and respectful treatment. The Muslim woman has the privilege to earn money, the right to own property, enter into legal contracts and manage all of her assets in any way she pleases. She can run her own business and no one has any claim on her earnings including her husband. The Qur’an states:
“Do not covet the advantage which Allah has given some of you over others. To men belongs a share of what they have earned and to women a share of what they have earned. And ask Allah for His grace. Indeed Allah has knowledge of all things” (Qur’an 4:32).
A woman inherits from her relatives. The Qur’an states:
“Men have a share in the heritage left by parents and near relatives, and women have a share in the heritage left by parents and near relatives, whether it be little or much, a share ordained [by Allah]” (Qur’an 4:7).
6. RIGHTS OF A WIFE
The Qur’an states:
“And of His signs is that He created for you mates from your own selves that you may take comfort in them, and He ordained affection and mercy between you. There are indeed signs in that for a people who reflect.” (Qur’an 30:21)
Marriage is therefore not just a physical or emotional necessity, but in fact, a sign from God. It is a relationship of mutual rights and obligations based on divine guidance. God created men and women with complimentary natures, and in the Qur’an, He laid out a system of laws to support harmonious interaction between the sexes.
“… they are a garment for you, and you are a garment for them…” (Qur’an 2:187)
Clothing provides physical protection and covers the beauty and faults of the body. Likewise, a spouse is viewed this way. Each protects the other and hides the faults and compliments the characteristics of the spouse. To foster the love and security that comes with marriage, Muslim wives have various rights. The first of the wife’s rights is to receive Mahriah (Dowry), a bridal gift from the husband to wife which is part of the marriage contract and required for the legality of the marriage.
The second right of a wife is maintenance. Despite any wealth, she may have and her husband is obligated to provide her with food, shelter and clothing according to her dignity. He is not forced, however, to spend beyond his capability and his wife is not entitled to make unreasonable demands. The Qur’an states:
“Let the affluent man spend out of his affluence, and let he whose provision has been tightened spend out of what Allah has given him. Allah does not task any soul except [according to] what He has given it. Allah will bring about ease after hardship.” (Qur’an 65:7)
God tells us men are guardians over women and are afforded leadership in the family. His responsibility for obeying God extends to guiding his family to obey God at all times. A wife’s rights also extend beyond material needs. She has the right to kind treatment. The Prophet (PBUHH) said:
“The most perfect believers are the best in conduct. And the best of you are those who are best to their wives.”
God tells us He created mates and put love, mercy, and tranquillity between them. Both men and women have a need for companionship and sexual needs, and marriage is designed to fulfil those needs. For one spouse to deny this satisfaction to the other, the temptation exists to seek it elsewhere.
Duties of a Wife
With rights come responsibilities. Therefore, wives have certain obligations to their husbands. The Quran states:
“…So righteous women are obedient, care-taking in the absence [of their husbands] of what Allah has enjoined [them] to guard…” (Qur’an 4:34).
A wife is to keep her husband’s secrets and protect their marital privacy. Issues of intimacy or faults of his that would dishonour him, are not to be shared by the wife, just as he is expected to guard her honour.
A wife must also guard her husband’s property. She must safeguard his home and possessions, to the best of her ability, from theft or damage. She should manage the household affairs wisely so as to prevent loss or waste. She should not allow anyone to enter the house that her husband dislikes nor incur any expenses of which her husband disapproves.
A Muslim woman must cooperate and coordinate with her husband. She should not fulfil his requests if he wants her to do something unlawful. A husband also should not take advantage of his wife, but be considerate of her needs and happiness.
Conclusion
The Quran states:
“A faithful man or woman may not when Allah and His Apostle have decided on a matter, have any option in their matter, and whoever disobeys Allah and His Apostle has certainly strayed into manifest error”. (Qur’an 33:36)
The Muslim woman was given a role, duties and rights 1400 years ago that most women do not enjoy today in the West. These rights are from God and are designed to keep balance in society; what may seem unjust or missing in one place is compensated for or explained in another place. Islam is a complete way of life.
