Rights of Women in Islam Protected or Subjugated

By Ishfaq Hussain Bhat

Women and their status in the society is an issue that has been of great importance, and has greatly been discussed throughout history. It is a fact that, although women were occasionally given a modicum of respect, they were often oppressed, subjugated, suppressed and abused. They were often deprived of their basic righ

• Language: English
• Publisher: SMART MOVES
• Release date: Dec 5, 2018
• ISBN: 9788193814277

Book preview

Rights of Women in Islam Protected or Subjugated

Rights of Women in Islam Protected or Subjugated

Rights of Women in Islam Protected or Subjugated

Ishfaq Hussain Bhat

Contents

text insert

1

Women Prior to Islam

1 Women in Ancient Civilizations)

References

2 Status of Women in Different Religions

References

3 Women: Before and After the Advent of Islam

References

2

Rights of Women in Islam

4 Spiritual, Legal and Educational Rights of Women in Islam

References

5 Political Rights of Women in Islam

References

6 Economic Rights of Women in Islam

References

7 Social Rights of Women in Islam

References

8 The Veiling (Purdah) and Seclusion of Women in Islam

References

9 Divorce (Talaq) in Islam

References

10 Conclusion

References

Select Bibliography and Further Readings

Book Title: Rights of Women in Islam Protected or Subjugated?

Book Author: Ishfaq Hussain Bhat

Published by SMART MOVES

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p-ISBN: 978-81-938142-6-0

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This edition published in: 2018  ISBN (ISBN Pending)

Copyright ©2018 by Ishfaq Hussain Bhat

Ishfaq Hussain Bhat asserts the moral right to be identified as the author of this work.

This book is a work of fiction and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events and locales is purely coincidental.

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in or introduced into a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form, or by any means (electrical, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise) without the prior written permission of the author or publisher. Any person who does any unauthorised act in relation to this publication may be liable to criminal prosecution and civil claims for damages.

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p-ISBN: 978-81-938142-6-0

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This book has been published with all reasonable efforts taken to make the material error-free after the consent of the author. No part of this book shall be used, reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission from the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

The Author of this book is solely responsible and liable for its content including but not limited to the views, representations, descriptions, statements, information, opinions and references [Content]. The Content of this book shall not constitute or be construed or deemed to reflect the opinion or expression of the Publisher or Editor. Neither the Publisher nor Editor endorse or approve the Content of this book or guarantee the reliability, accuracy or completeness of the Content published herein and do not make any representations or warranties of any kind, express or implied, including but not limited to the implied warranties of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose. The Publisher and Editor shall not be liable whatsoever for any errors, omissions, whether such errors or omissions result from negligence, accident, or any other cause or claims for loss or damages of any kind, including without limitation, indirect or consequential loss or damage arising out of use, inability to use, or about the reliability, accuracy or sufficiency of the information contained in this book.

To

Mr. Shafqat Shafi Hussain Lone

Mr. Altaf Ahmad Kasana

Mr. Nisar Ahmad Shah.

Acknowledgements

The author feels great pleasure in acknowledging his debt to Mr. Shafqat Shafi Hussain Lone, who has been very helpful and instrumental in the preparation and creation of this book.

And indeed We have honoured the Children of Adam, and We have carried them on land and sea, and have provided them with At-Tayibat (lawful good things), and have preferred them above many of those whom We have created with a marked preferment."

(Quran 17:70)

Fear Allah and treat your wives kindly. They have been entrusted to you by Allah and have been made lawful to you by the word of Allah, and it is your duty to maintain and clothe them in a reasonable manner."

(Al-Nawawi, 34)

Introduction

Women and their status in the society is an issue that has been of great importance, and has greatly been discussed throughout history. It is a fact that, although women were occasionally given a modicum of respect, they were often oppressed, subjugated, suppressed and abused. They were often deprived of their basic rights civil, political, social, economic, legal and natural. In most of the cultures, women were not considered human beings - they were denied humanity. They were largely marginalized, suppressed and treated as mere objects of pity, pleasure and desire. Almost in all ancient civilizations women were denied humanity and were equated with children, animals and, in some cases, to other inanimate insignificant objects. They were denied the right to a social life and the right to express their opinion and the right to have a self-identity and self- worth. Their condition was so pathetic that instead of being given the right of inheritance, they themselves were inherited and thus made mere objects of sexual desire and pleasure. Even marrying someone was not enough to end or lighten their misery - they were just transferred from one patriarch/master to the other. Right from the very outset, women were deprived of decision-making powers and of other civil, financial and basic rights.

On the contrary, the teachings of Islam demonstrate the divine origin of the Quran and the truthfulness of the message of Islam, which established such human principles which have neither become obsolete with the passage of time, nor can become obsolete in the future. After all, this is the message of the All-Wise and All-Knowing God whose wisdom and knowledge are far beyond the ultimate in human thought and progress.

This book is a response to the unjust criticism of the Islamic position as regards to women’s status vis-à-vis men. Most of the people claim that women are oppressed, suppressed, subjugated in Islam. And they claim that men and women are equal but they, by and large, ignore the physiological, psychological and biological differences between them. Islam, on the other hand, propounds that men and women are equal, but that equality and sameness are two different ideas. A scholar, Abdalati, states that:

Man and women are not identical but they are created equal. (Abdalati, 184)

He further argues that the Quran has not given men a dominant status over women, nor was it Islam that introduced the question of whether or not woman has any soul in her. Never in the history of Islam has any Muslim doubted the human status of women, or her possession of soul and fine spiritual qualities. Abdalati posits that Quran does not have pejorative description, or stereotype for woman and that in Islam women is not the product of the devil, or the seed of evil. Unlike other popular beliefs, Islam does not blame eve alone for the first sin for the Original Sin. The Quran makes it very clear that both Adam and Eve were tempted, that they both sinned; that God’s pardon was granted to both after their repentance, and that God addresses them jointly." (Quran 2:35-36, 7:19, 27:20,) (Abdalati, 184-185).

In order to fully understand and appreciate the Islamic treatment of women, the book has been divided into two parts i.e. Women Prior to Islam and, Rights of Women in Islam. The first part of the book deals with the position of various religions and cultures on the issue under investigation because unless we study and understand the status of women in other religions and civilizations, we cannot understand and appreciate the treatment of women in Islam. This part consists of a general overview of women’s status in various religions and civilizations bringing to light the plight of women prior to Islam. Part of this section tends to cover the general strain as late as the 19th century nearly 1300 years after the Quran set forth Islamic teachings. Then, in the second part of the book, the status of women in Islam is discussed in the light of the original and authentic sources of Islam i.e. the Quran and the authentic Hadith. In order to fully understand and appreciate the position of Islam as regards to the status of women, the rights of women in different spheres of life have been discussed separately.

Preface

Writing a book about the status of women in Islam had always been there in my mind. Taking into account the bias, partial and prejudiced presentation of Islamic teachings, particularly concerning women and the portrayal of Muslim women as mere objects of pity, i thought it to be my duty to expose this distorted picture of Islamic teachings presented by anti-Islamic elements and the media. When we access the curent situation, we come to the conclusion that the portrayal of the subjugation, suppression of women in Islam has ever been on an increase. The media presents the distorted picture of women in Islam. They are presented as mere slaves, who do not have a life of their own, a will of their own. It is high time that we present the true picture of women in Islam. Because due to the distorted presentation of Islamic teachings and status of women in Islam, many people have developed a notion of hating Islam and its teaching. The presentation of women in Islam as mere objects of pity, and as a section of society that is deprived of its basic rights and freedom has become so common that it has greatly distorted the true picture and spirit of Islam i. e. a religion of peace where all the sections of society, especially women, are given greatest freedom and equality. The main objective of writing this book is to restore the true picture of Islam by citing the authentic sources like the Quran and the authentic hadith. Because the only way to understand the true spirit of a religion is to go through its authentic sources, its literature and its teachings.

1

Women Prior to Islam

1

Women in Ancient Civilizations)

Women in Indian Civilization

In Indian civilization, women were greatly subjugated, oppressed and marginalized. Women suffered a lot at the hands of patriarchal-tribal society. They were repeatedly denied humanity. Their social importance was neither acknowledged nor were any rights or obligations granted to them. In the ancient texts of Hinduism, we find many instances where men are given a superior position compared to a women and where women are greatly marginalized and deprived of their basic rights. In the ancient text of Hinduism, Veda, in the book titled: Legislations of Brahmin Religion we find the following statements:

The Brahmin religion distinguishes between men and women in terms of humanity and in terms of rights. It denies women their civil rights and submits them to the authority of men throughout their lives as it is under Provisions No. 147 and 148 of the law of Mane’. It declares that a woman, throughout the different phrases of her life, can make no decisions whatsoever concerning her life, even if this decision related to the affairs of her own house. Provision No 147 states; As a young girl, she should obey her father and as a wife, her husband. If her husband dies she obeys her guardian; if he dies, the guardianship will be transferred to her uncle. If she had no uncles, the guardianship should be transferred to the ruler.’ According to Provision No 148, she has no right to independence or the freedom to act according to her desires. ¹

Such was the position and status of women according to the Vedas. They had no option/choice but to submit to the supremacy and authority of men throughout their lives. They had to suppress their own desires in order to cater to the needs of their husbands. They were not considered as rational beings. They had to submit to the supremacy of men. But this submissiveness, as becomes clear from the above lines from Veda, was not confined to just obedience, but they were treated no better than a piece of merchandise to sell, buy or keep and as a servant to hold captive for life.

Louis Frank states: An Indian woman has no right to make any decision even in matters concerning the management of her household. She needs prior consent from her father or brother The young woman should attend to her father with respect and perseverance. She should acquire good character and should be able to manage the house with expertness and agility and to keep it well furnished without being economical.²

Mane stipulates that, "A devoted wife should attend to her Master (husband) as if he was a god, she should not engage in any matters that may hurt his feelings. Even if her husband is deprived of qualities and good character, she should address him saying: My lord, My God, Oh master! And if they walk in public, she should follow him keeping a distance between