Women and Islam

 We usually tends to believe on the things which we hear or see and then we come up with our own ideas without knowing the whole fact and history about it. This creates misconceptions . One of the topic is status of women in Islam. Many a times we see women are getting bad treatment , women are deprived from seeking education, domestic violence and there are many more serious issues. But why these issues are taking place? 

So, there is a similar answer which any scholar or any imam or any person who has wide knowledge of Islam and its history will give for this situation. That is people don't read Quran and hadith properly, all too often they read selectively  and use it for whatever point they want to make and then they come up with their own ideas. 

Many a times we hear people saying that in Islam women are equivalent to animals or a slave. But is it really true? 

So, the reality is that in Islam women have a better position even than a men.
If we see in Islam women have played crucial role in history. So, the following are the some of them :-

• The first person to embrace Islam was woman- KHADIJAH(R.A)
• One of the greatest fighters in Islamic history was woman - KHAWLA BINT ALAZWAR(R.A)
• The first person to die for Islam was woman - SUMAYYA(R.A)
• The greatest scholar of Islam was woman - AISHA(R.A). A top Islamic scholar, an inspiration to champions of women’s rights, a military commander riding on camelback, and a fatwa-issuing jurist, Aisha’s intellectual standing and religious authority were astonishing, by the standards of both our own time and hers.
• The person who made biggest sacrifice for Islam in one day was woman - KHANSAA(R.A)
• Fatima Al Fihriyya was the founder of first university in the world during 841 CE in Morocco. Where along with science other various subjects were taught.
• The person who loved the Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W) the most was a woman - FATIMAH(R.A)
• Khadija(R.A) ran a caravan business in Mecca. A wealthy and successful trader, she was also a twice-widowed single mother, fifteen years Muhammad’s senior, and his boss.

This is just a few data collected from history of Islam.

   HADITH

• Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W) never    treated women badly or beaten them and has forbidden his ummah from doing so.
• One hadith quotes the Prophet as saying ,“some women visited my family complaining about their husbands beating them. These husbands are not the best of you.”
• Once a man asked Aisha(R.A)(prophet's wife) ,“what did prophet do at home?” So Aisha (R.A) said that he kept busy with housework. He patched his clothes ,swept the house , milked the animals ,and bought supplies for the house from the market. If his shoes were torn ,he mended them himself. He tied the rope to the water bucket. He secure the camel,fed it and ground the flour with the slave."(Bukhari)
• The Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W) made it clear that a woman is also a creation of Allah(S.W.T) as is a man. They have the same status in humanity as that of men. They can also attain the delight of God Almighty and His nearness by following the same conditions set out for men. Their virtuous deeds are equally worthy of acceptance as that of men. 
• “Observe your duty to Allah in respect to the women, and treat them well.” It was Prophet Muhammed’s  Last Sermon.

In holy Quran, Allah (S.W.T) has dedicated  whole Surah called, “ Surah Al-Nisa”, where, Nisa means a women. 
In this Surah holy Quran states that,

وَ مَنۡ یَّعۡمَلۡ مِنَ الصّٰلِحٰتِ مِنۡ ذَکَرٍ اَوۡ اُنۡثٰی وَ ہُو 

مُؤۡمِنٌ فَاُولٰٓئِکَ یَدۡخُلُوۡنَ الۡجَنَّۃَ وَ لَا یُظۡلَمُوۡنَ نَقِیۡرًا

 

“And whoso does good works, whether male or female, and is a believer, such shall enter Heaven, and shall not be wronged even as much as the little hollow in the back of a date stone.” (Surah al-Nisa, Ch.4: V.125) 

“For men is a share of that which parents and near relations leave; and for women is a share of that which parents and near relations leave, whether it be little or much a determined share.” (Surah al-Nisa, Ch.4: V.8)

“O ye who believe! it is not lawful for you to inherit women against their will.” (Surah al-Nisa, Ch.4: V.20)

In clear words, this verse gives glad tiding of equivalent reward to both men and women as a result of virtuous deeds. Islam has not established any distinction between men and women in matters of faith. The real purpose of a person’s life, i.e. the door of attaining God Almighty’s nearness and delight, is equally open to both.

In other chapters of Quran Allah (S.A.W) has stated that, 

“And among God’s signs is this: He created for you mates from amongst yourselves (males […] for females and vice versa) that you might find tranquility and peace in them. And he has put love and kindness among you. Herein surely are signs for those who reflect.” (Qur’an, 30: 21)

“They (your wives) are your garment and you are a garment for them.” (Qur’an, 2: 187)

“And for women are rights over men similar to those of men over women.”(Qur’an, 2: 228)

“Say to the believing men that they should lower their gaze and guard their modesty: that will make for greater purity for them: and Allah is well acquainted with all that they do. And say to the believing women that they should  lower their gaze and guard their modesty; that they should not display their beauty and ornaments except what (ordinarily) appear thereof; that they should draw their veils over their bosoms.” (Qur’an, 24: 30-1)

“When one of them gets a baby girl, his face becomes darkened with overwhelming grief. Ashamed, he hides from the people, because of the bad news given to him. He even ponders: should he keep the baby grudgingly, or bury her in the dust. Miserable indeed is their judgment.” (Qur’an, 16: 58-59)

“Their Lord responded to them: “I never fail to reward any worker among you for any work you do, be you male or female – you are equal to one another.” (Qur'an, 3: 195)

“The believers, men and women, are helpers, supporters, friends and protectors of one another, they enjoin all that is good, and forbid all that is evil, they offer their prayers perfectly, and give Zakah (obligatory charity) and obey Allah and His Messenger. Allah will bestow Mercy on them. Surely Allah is All-Mighty, All-Wise.” (Qur’an, 9: 71)

Conclusion :-

Abuses against women in the name of culture are because of ignorance and lack of knowledge about Islam and its history, hadith and Quran. So, don't blame a religion for this. No religion is bad but people makes it good or bad.
So, without knowing whole fact don't present anything which can create controversy and which will create wrong image in the society.
This is very vast topic to cover but I hope this information gave you some insight of Islam and beauty of being a Muslim woman.

So, what are your views on this topic? 
Guys do you think what media or social platforms shows us about this topic is really authentic?