What is the status of women in the Muslim background?
Women’s status is not a brand-new or completely resolved issue. One of the topics that has been presented to western readers with the least objectivity is the perspective of Islam on this problem. Islam’s teachings are primarily based on the Quran (God’s revelation) and the Hadith (elaboration by Prophet Muhammad).
When properly and objectively interpreted, the Quran and the Hadith serve as the primary sources of authentication for any claim that Islam supports a given stance or viewpoint.
Historical perspectives
Muslim women’s experiences range greatly within and within various societies. Their shared practise of Islam, which has a variety of effects on their daily lives and offers them a shared identity, may help them overcome their vast cultural, social, and economic divides.
The sacred text of Islam, the Qur’an; the ad’ths, which are traditions relating to the deeds and aphorisms of Islam’s Prophet Muhammad; and the ijm, which is an agreement, expressed or implied, on a matter of law, are some of the influences that have significantly shaped the social, spiritual, and cosmological status of women throughout Islamic history. A fatwa is a non-binding published opinion or ruling about a particular religious doctrine or point of law. Qiys is the principle by which the laws of the Qur’an and the Sunnah, or Prophetic custom, are applied to situations not explicitly covered by these two sources of legislation.
Pre-Islamic cultural customs and secular laws, which are entirely allowed in Islam so long as they do not directly conflict with Islamic teachings, are further influences. Religious authority, such as state-run organisations like the Indonesian Ulema Council and Diyanet in Turkey; and spiritual leaders, who are particularly influential in Sufism or Islamic mysticism. Numerous of the latter, most notably Ibn al-‘Arabi, have written works that explain the philosophical significance of the feminine element in Islam.
Women in Islam
The Quran provides unequivocal proof that, in respect of her rights and obligations, God absolutely equates woman with man. We will grant a new life that is good and pure to anyone who practises righteousness, whether they are a man or a woman, and who has faith. We will also give such people their due reward for their deeds. The Quran does not attribute Adam’s first error to women. Both realised they had disobeyed God in the same way, repented, and received forgiveness.
Social aspect
As a child and teenager: The Quran banned this practise and regarded it as a criminal on par with other murders, despite the societal acceptance of female infanticide among some tribes in Arabia. Additionally, when the female (baby) who was buried alive is questioned, it is revealed what crime she was slain for.
The Quran makes it very obvious that marriage is a shared between the two halves of society and that, in addition to preserving human life, its goals include spiritual harmony and emotional well-being. Its foundations are mercy and love.
Islam ranked parental consideration above God worship. And we have commanded man to be good to his parents, saying that his mother bears him in weakness upon weakness.
In Islam, a man is totally accountable for providing for his wife, his children, and, occasionally, his needy relatives, particularly women. His wife’s wealth or the fact that she has access to any personal income she earns through labour, rent, profit, or any other legal methods does not relieve him of this obligation.
For Muslim women, the main image is one of downtrodden women who lack access to education and spirituality. This is a result of skewed media, but it’s also because many (but not all) Muslim male scholars disrespect Muslim women’s value by doing so. Women are called “temptations” and “crooked” when explanations are given out of context. Women’s “guardianship” responsibilities are mistakenly seen as “repression.” Chastity and wearing the hijab are frequently discussed in a biassed manner that is primarily directed at women, despite the fact that these are sincere obligations for all believers. Many religious experts in India overlook Muslim women’s identities in Islamic discourse or refer to them as “submissive” and “voiceless” instead.
Additionally, there is no distinction between talaq and khula. Instead, it is to Islam’s advantage that it has granted women the ability to get khula in addition to giving males the right to divorce. Equal rights have also been granted to men and women in this area. A man is forced to make numerous financial obligations to a woman after divorcing her.
Moreover, he is unable to take back any of the financial assistance he may have previously provided to her. Similar to this, a woman who acquires khula without the husband’s fault must also pay back some of the financial obligations, such as the dowry money, etc.
The safety, honour, and dignity of women have actually been taken into account in decisions on polygamy, the requirement for a wali, and marriage among People of the Book.
Women are naturally more sensitive and fragile as a result of Allah the Exalted’s design. Thus, their faith has been preserved by forbidding a Muslim lady from marrying a member of the People of the Book. Among the marriage issues is the requirement of the wali’s consent in addition to the girl’s willingness.
One benefit of this, among many others, is to give the woman a helper and a guardian so that, after her marriage, her in-laws are aware that she is not alone and that someone is looking out for her interests. Islam has protected the sacredness of women by only permitting them to get married once at a time. This commandment is exactly in line with human nature and the natural protective resentment (ghairah) that all people possess.
A woman will be rewarded or penalised in accordance with the deeds she performs since she is viewed as an independent individual with her own personality and traits. Islam views a woman as a separate person from her husband, father, or brother, hence it is crucial that she receives an education and the chance to further her education in order to play her part in society. She is equally accountable for upholding peace and contentment in the community around her and must imbue in her behaviour the same moral standards as males. However, because Islam’s fundamental tenet is that women are equal but distinct, it takes this feature into consideration when determining her obligations. In terms of her social responsibility to society, women have the same moral obligations as males.
Conclusion:
This is unquestionably conclusive proof that, in our modern world, women and men are on an equal footing. The natural and undeniable disparities between men and women—differences that do not imply any superiority of one over the other—are a more rational way to explain the current situation. The distinction rather suggests that both sexes play complementary roles in life.
There are very few Western nations where the parliamentary system that controls the government is run by an equal number of men and women. The compensation packages offered to male employees are frequently not extended to female employees who perform the same occupations in the same Western countries. In Islam, the husband is expected to fulfil additional duties. Men therefore have more obligations and authority in terms of rights compared to women.
Sources:
https://www.minhaj.org/english//tid/2934/The-Status-of-Women-in-Islam.html
https://www.legalserviceindia.com/legal/article-3659-status-of-women-in-islam.html
https://muslimmirror.com/eng/the-status-of-women-in-islam/
https://www.alhakam.org/what-is-the-status-of-women-in-islam/