Nebu'z Tips 'N' Tricks

WOMEN IN THE SOCIETY

AssaLamu alaikum warahmathullahiwabarkathuH Today i would like to discuss or bring to you kind attention abt "Women" = Mother,Sister,Daughter,Wife. In this modern era and in this busiest time zone, why only this species is one of the most topic in all sectors, why she is more been montiroed, why she is more been disturbed, why she is not secured in our society, why she is not respecting by the society, why Legsilative committes have more Penal Codes for her, Why she is not get justice, why she is not geting Security, why she is been attacked by everyone. Every where, ever time.

If we search thru the historical records, The prophet (peace be upon him) said in the hadeeth which has been agreed as truth, from the Hadeeth of Aisha (mother of Muslims) “Whomever is blessed with girls and then does well by them in bringing them up, it will be a protector for him from Hell-fire” and in another reference Muslim says in his recording of the Hadeeth by Anas that God’s prophet Mohammad (peace be upon him) said “Whoever looks after 2 girls until they are mature, on the Day of Judgment he and I will be. Then he brought his 2 fingers together” In Holy Qur'an Almighty ALLAH says : God (ALLAH) created both females and males from one origin, and one soul. {It is He Who created you from a single person and made his mate of like nature in order that he might dwell with her (in love)} (A’raf 189)

So Lets discuss how can a women be protected & respected. Bcz Almost all world famous Philosopher's opinion was like this, The best society will be the one where women will be treated & respected well. So If a women shud be respectable, she too have some responisibliity, Sply in her life style, her behaviour, in her involvement to the society. So if anyone of women among you follow these principles. I gurantee you, women will be secured. If you refer to the world crime senses sply in Europe sectors, the attackes against muslim women is very low compared to other religious peoples.

Hey My sisterssssss.......do u want to be secured, do you want to be respected......then jst go thru this carefully.

The first thing is nothing but about her dress code.

Muslim Women's Dress in Accordance with the Qur'an and Sunnah

based on Hijabul Mar'atil Muslimah by Ash-Sheik Muhammad Nassirud-Deen Al-Albani
Translated and Abridged by Mahmoud Murad

Praise be to Allah and peace and blessings be upon His Messenger and upon his honorable companions and those who have followed his example with piety.

This paper has been prepared in response to a deterioration in the condition of Muslim women of this day and age, which is a consequence of the misconception that how a woman dresses is of little importance, as long as she performs her obligatory acts of worship. This misconception is not restricted to Muslim women in the West, but unfortunately is shared by many of their sisters in the East.

In the Glorious Qur'an we are told:

And let there arise out of you a nation inviting to what is good, enjoining what is right and forbidding what is wrong. Those are the ones who are successful. Qur'an 3:104

Abu S'aed al-Khudri relates that he heard the Prophet (saws) say:

He of you who sees something wrong should correct it with his hand; if he is unable to do that he should condemn it with his tongue; if he is unable to do that he should at least resent it in his heart, and this is the lowest degree of faith.Muslim

It is clear that we must draw the attention of our Muslim sisters to the importance of wearing Islamic dress. This is not imposed upon us by the mere opinion of a scholar or a sheik. It is a Divine Command, and is necessarily in the best interest of the society of every age and place. In this we stand opposed to the opinion of some "modernists", who maintain that those living in a western society are justified in adapting to its norms and morals.

We believe that our religion is that which has been transmitted to us through the Prophet Mohammed (saws), his companions and our pious predecessors. A careful study of relevant Qur'anic ayat (verses) and Hadith (Prophetic traditions), along with the works of our pious predecessors, will reveal a strict emphasis on the need for women to observe modesty in their dress when they appear in public, by covering all of their bodies and any ornaments or other means of beautification they might wear.

Allah the Exalted says in Surat an-Noor, ayah 31:
And tell the believing women to lower their gaze and guard their private parts and not show of their adornment except only that which is apparent, and draw their veils over their (necks and) bosoms and not reveal their adornment except to their husbands, their fathers, their husbands' fathers, their sons, their husbands' sons, their brothers, or their brothers' sons, or their sisters' sons, or their women, or their slaves, or male servants who lack vigor, or small children who have no knowledge of women's private parts. And let them not stamp their feet so as to reveal what they hide of their adornment. And turn you all to Allah in repentance, O believers, that you may be successful.

And He says in Surat al-Ahzab, ayah 59:
Oh Prophet, tell your wives and your daughters and the women of the believers to draw their outer garments close around them. That will be better, that they may be known and so not be bothered. And Allah is oft-forgiving, most merciful.

From these two ayat of the Noble Qur'an and from the authentic sources of guidance provided for us, we can derive the following principles of proper dress and adornment for Muslim women:

1. The outer garment worn in public must cover all of the body except the face and hands.

Surat an-Noor, ayah 31 (quoted above) contains a clear command that a woman's natural beauty and her adornment are to be concealed from strangers, except that which might show unintentionally (i.e. parts of the dress or ornaments) or which show as a matter of course because it is not prohibited that they be shown (i.e. the face and the hands).

Abu Dawud narrated that 'A'ishah said:
Asma came to see the Messenger of Allah (saws). She was wearing a thin dress; the Prophet (saws) turned away from her and said to her: "O Asma, once a woman reaches the age of puberty no part of her body should be uncovered except her face and hands."
It should be noted that the Arabic word khumur (plural of khimaar) which has been translated above in the ayah from Surat an-Noor as veils, means head covers, not face veils, as may mistakenly be supposed. It refers to a cloth which covers all of the hair. Furthermore, the word juyoob (plural of jaib), also found in the ayah of Surat an-Noor, refers not only to the bosom, as is commonly thought, but also to the neck.

Qurtubi, an eminent mufassir (Qur'an commentator), stated:

Women in those days used to cover their heads with the khimaar, throwing its ends on their backs. This left the neck and the upper part of the chest bare, along with the ears, in the manner of the Christians. Then Allah commanded them to cover those parts with the khimaar.
"And let them not stamp their feet so as to reveal what they hide of their adornment."
Women in the time of the Prophet (saws) used to wear anklets, which they could employ to attract attention by stamping their feet, making the anklets tinkle together. This practice was now forbidden, but even more important for us, these words make it absolutely clear that the legs and ankles are to be covered.

Bin 'Umar narrated
Let them lower their gaze Prophet (saws) said: "On the Day of Judgment Allah will not look upon one who trails his garment along out of pride." Um Salamah then asked: "What should women do with their garments?" The Prophet (saws) said: "They may lower them a hand span." She said: "Their feet would still be uncovered." The Prophet (saws) said: then lower them a forearm's length, but no more."
Tirmithi

The ayah from Surat an-Noor quoted above gives us specific and detailed information about what a Muslim woman should be sure to cover when she is in the company of strangers, and it gives a detailed list of those with whom she is permitted to be less inhibited. The ayah quoted from Surat al-Ahzab further directs Muslim women to put some outer garment over their clothes, and to draw it close around them.

Abu Dawud related that after this ayah was revealed the women of the Ansar appeared like crows (because of the black cloaks which they wore).

Some outer garment, whether a cloak or a coat, must be worn by a Muslim woman when she is in public, and even when she is in her own house or that of a close relative, if she is in the presence of strangers.

It was mentioned above that the face need not be covered. If, however, the woman is wearing make-up, she should cover her face, since the make-up is adornment beyond what is permitted.

Similarly, she should cover her hands if she is wearing nail polish or some other decoration or ornament. Furthermore, although it is permissible to leave the face uncovered in the presence of strangers, it is praiseworthy to cover it, as that was the practice of the wives of the Prophet (saws) according to authentic Hadith.

2. The outer garment must not be decorative itself or a means of beautification.

When Allah commands women not to reveal their beauty, He means both the natural beauty, with which He has endowed them, and all means which they might employ to enhance that beauty. Clearly, the garment which is used to screen the woman's beauty and her adornment from public view should not itself be a thing of beauty.

Fudalah Ibn 'Ubaid reported that the Prophet (saws) said:
There are three people that you should not concern yourself about: a man who parted from the Jama'ah and disobeyed his imam and died in that state; a slave who ran away from his master and died without returning; a woman whose husband departed from her after providing for her worldly needs and who then beautified (tabarrajat) herself in his absence. Do not worry about any of them."
Ahmad

The word tabarraja means not only to beautify oneself, or to make oneself pretty, but also to display oneself, to play up one's charms for the purpose of exciting desire. Imam Adh-Dhahabi said in his book Kitaab al-Kabaair (The Book of the Great Sins): "Of the deeds woman is cursed for are displaying the ornaments which she is wearing, wearing perfume when going out, and wearing colorful clothes and silky short cloaks."

The verb tabarraja includes all of these actions. Tabarruj is so abhorrent that it is associated with shirk, fornication, stealing, and other sins.

'Abdullah ibn 'Umar said:
A woman came to the Messenger of Allah (saws) to give her pledge for Islam. He said: "I accept your pledge that you will not associate partners with Allah, nor steal, nor fornicate, nor kill your child, nor commit a sin between your arms and legs, nor wail over the dead, nor beautify and display yourself (tatabarraji) after the fashion of the pre-Islamic days."
Ahmad

3. The outer garment must be thick and opaque so as to conceal the clothes worn under it, and loose so as to conceal the woman's form.

Proper covering cannot be achieved by wearing tight or transparent apparel.

The Prophet (saws) said:

"There will be, in the last days of my Ummah (nation), women who are dressed and undressed. Curse them: they are accursed."

Al-Tabarani

Abu Hurairah related that the Prophet (saws) referred to:

...women who are naked even though they are wearing clothes, go astray and make others go astray, and they will not enter paradise nor smell its fragrance, although it can be smelled from afar.

At Tabarani

The "dressed and yet undressed" women are those who wear transparent or very tight clothes, or clothes which are cut in such a way that they expose the body. Such clothes reveal more than they conceal.

The Prophet (saws) said:

Belief and the sense of shame are tied together; if one is lost the other is lost."

Al-Hakim

It should be noted that a woman should wear a loose over-garment for offering prayer. It should cover her whole body (as far as going out) and should be such that it conceals the shape of her arms and legs, as well as that of the rest of her body.

4. Muslim women are not to wear perfume in public.

Abu Musa narrated that the Prophet (saws) said:

Any woman who wears perfume and passes by some people who smell her perfume is like one who commits fornication.

Abu Hurairah said that:

A woman passed by him smelling strongly of scent. He called to her: "O slave of the powerful, are you going to the mosque?" She said that she was. He said: "Go back and wash it off. I heard the Messenger of Allah (saws) say: 'Any woman who goes to the mosque wearing perfume will not have her prayer accepted by Allah; first she should go back home and have a bath [to wash it off].'"

It is inappropriate for a woman to wear perfume in the mosque, where people are attending to the worship of Allah (swt); how much more inappropriate it is that she should wear scent elsewhere, where people are more liable to distraction. Scent attracts attention to a woman and may thereby stimulate sexual desires; this is improper in the marketplace and mosque.

5. The clothes of Muslim women should not resemble men's clothes.

Abu Hurairah said that:

The Messenger of Allah (saws) cursed the man who wears women's clothes and the woman who wears men's clothes.

Ibn Umar said that he heard the Messenger of Allah (saws) say:

He is not of us who imitates women nor is he of us who imitates men."

Al Hakim

Abdullah Ibn Umar reported that the Prophet (saws) said:

Three people will not enter paradise, and Allah will not look at them on the day of Judgment: the one who is disobedient to his parents, the woman who imitates men and the ad-dayooth.

Ahmad

Ad-dayooth is the man who permits women for whom he is responsible to engage in illicit sexual relations, or to display their beauty to strange men, thereby stimulating their sexual desires.

6. The clothes of Muslim women should not resemble those of the disbelievers.

In Surat al-Hadeed, ayah 16 we are told:

Has not the time come for those who believe to submit their hearts to Allah's reminder and to that which has been revealed of the truth, and not become as those who received the scriptures before and for whom the term was prolonged so their hearts grew hard? And many of them are rebellious transgressors.

Those who refuse to submit to Allah's commands are rebels against Him, and they are permitted to continue in their rebellion until their hearts become hard.

The ayah and Hadeeth quoted above serve as a double warning to us: we must take care to heed Allah's commands, revealed to us through the Qur'an and the Sunnah of His Messenger (saws), lest we suffer the fate of the recipients of previous revelations; we should also shun the way of life of any believing people. If we adopt what is theirs, we partake also of the quality of their hearts.

We pray to Allah to safeguard us from that, lest we become like them.

Given the condition of the disbeliever's' hearts, it is not surprising to find that much of their clothing, particularly that of women, is unsuitable for Muslims. It is designed to be attractive in itself and to enhance and attract attention to women's natural beauty.

7. The clothing of Muslim women should not be ostentatious.

Ibn Umar reported that the Messenger of Allah (saws) said:

He who dresses for ostentation in this world, Allah will dress him in a dress of humiliation on the Day of Judgment and set it on fire.

Abu Dawud

By following the seven principles above, In'sh Allah a woman will satisfy all the necessary requirements for proper Islamic dress. It should be noted that some of these principles also apply to men's dress, and clearly some would apply not only to what a woman wears in public, but also to what she wears in the privacy of her own home or in the homes of he relatives or her Muslim sisters.

There are, however, some additional prohibitions regarding personal appearance of which our Muslim sisters should be aware. These prohibitions have to do with changes made to the appearance which are regarded as unacceptable alterations to Allah's creation, namely wearing wigs, plucking facial hair, filing teeth and getting tattoos.

Asma related that:

A woman asked the Prophet (saws):

"Messenger of Allah, my daughter had smallpox, and as a result her hair fall out. She has recently been married; can I get her a wig?" He answered: " Allah has cursed the maker and wearer of a wig."

Abdullah said that Allah (swt) has cursed tattooers and those who are tattooed, and those women who have their teeth filed for beauty and those who have their hair plucked and thus alter Allah's creation.

A woman asked him: "What is all this?" He replied: "Should I not curse one whom Allah's Messenger has cursed? And it is in the Book of Allah." She said: I read the Qur'an from cover to cover but did not find that in it. "He said: If you had read it thoroughly you would have found it. Allah says "Whatever Allah's Messenger gives you, take it, and whatever he has forbidden, refrain from it

Qur'an 69: 7
(Muslim)

This Hadeeth is particularly significant for us, because it not only informs us of something which the Prophet (saws) found hateful, it also makes it perfectly clear that, in matters of religion, the commands of the Prophet (saws) are as binding on us as the commands of Allah (swt).

In obeying Allah and his Messenger (saws) we can hope to be of those who are successful, tasting of the fruits of Paradise. If however, we should disobey Allah (swt) and do things prohibited by Him (and we seek refuge with him from that) then we will taste His wrath; in the case of a woman who does something forbidden by Allah (swt) or his Messenger (saws), she and her husband or guardian who permitted her to do the forbidden thing are cursed by Allah (swt). We are advised in the Qur'an to:

".....ward off from yourselves and your families a fire whereof the fuel is men and stones..."Qur'an 66:6

The Prophet (saws) said:

All of you are guardians. The man is a guardian of and is responsible for his womenfolk on the day of Judgment.

May Allah (swt) open our hearts to guidance, strengthen us that we may be obedient to Him and His Messenger (saws) and save us from the punishment of hell fire.

Allah is most Knowledgeable and all praise belongs to Allah, the Lord of the worlds.

Zeenah means literally adornment, but it should be understood in this context as referring to both that with which women are adorned by Allah (i.e. the features of their natural beauty) and that with which they adorn themselves (i.e. their ornaments, make-up, etc.).

Since nail polish prevents the water of wudu from reaching the nails, its use should really be altogether discouraged.

Is it permissible for her to wear kohl when going out of the house?

The status of woman in Islam is something unique, something novel, something that has no similarity in any other system. If we look to the Eastern Communist world or to the democratic nations, we find that woman is not really in a happy position. Her status is not enviable. She has to work so hard to live, and sometimes she may be
doing the same job that a man does but her wage is less than his. She enjoys a kind of liberty which in some cases amounts to libertinism. To get to where she is nowadays, woman struggled hard for decades and centuries. To gain the right of learning and the freedom of work and earning, she had to offer painful sacrifices and give up many of her natural rights. To establish her status as a human being possessing a soul, she paid heavily. Yet in spite of all these costly sacrificeqs and painful struggles, she has not acquired what Islam has
established by a Divine decree for the Muslim woman. 

The rights of woman of modern times were not granted volun-tarily or out of kindness to the female. Modern woman reached her present position by force, and not through natural processes or mutual consent or Divine teachings. She had to force her way, and various circumstances came to her aid. Shortage of manpower during wars, pressure of economic needs and requirements of industrial developments forced woman to get out of her home - to work, to learn, to struggle for her livelihood, to appear as an equal to man, to run her race in
the course of life side by side with him.  She was forced by circumstances and in turn she forced herself through and acquired her new status. Whether all women were pleased with these circumstances being on their side, and whether they are happy and satisfied with the results of this course is a different matter. But the fact remains
that whatever rights modern woman enjoys fall short of those of her Muslim counterpart. What Islam has established for woman is that which suits her nature, gives her full security and protects her against disgraceful circum- stances and uncertain channels of life. We do not need here to elaborate on the status of modern woman and the risks she runs to make her living or establish herself.  We do not even need to explore the miseries and setbacks that encircle her as a result of the  so-called rights of woman. Nor do we intend to manipulate the situation of many unhappy homes which break because of the very "freedom" and "rights" of which modern woman is proud. Most women today exercise the right of freedom to go out independently, to work
and earn, to pretend to be equal to man, but this, sadly enough, is at the expense of their families. This all known and obvious. What is not known is the status of woman in Islam. An attempt will be made in the following passages to sum up the attitude of Islam with regard to woman.

1.  Woman is recognized by Islam as a full and equal partner of man in
the procreation of humankind. He is the father; she is the mother, and both are essential for life. Her role is not less vital than his. By this partnership she has an equal share in every aspect; she is entitled to equal rights; she undertakes equal responsibilities, and in her there are as many qualities and as much humanity as there are
in her partner. To this equal partner- ship in the reproduction of human kind God says:
     O mankind! Verily We have created your from a single (pair) of
     a male and a female,m and made you into nations and tribes
     that you may know each other... (Qur'an, 49:13; cf. 4:1).

2.  She is equal to man in bearing personal and common responsi-bilities and in receiving rewards for her deeds. She is acknowledged as an independent personality, in possession of human qualities and worthy of spiritual aspirations. Her human nature is neither inferior to nor deviant from that of man. Both are members of one another. God says:
     And their Lord has accepted (their prayers) and answered them
     (saying): 'Never will I cause to be lost the work of any of
     you, be he male or female; you are members, one of another...
     (3:195; cf 9:71;33:35-36;66:19-21).

3.  She is equal to man in the pursuit of education and knowledge.
When Islam enjoins the seeking of knowledge upon Muslims, it makes no distinction between man and woman. Almost fourteen centuries ago, Muhammad declared that the pursuit of knowledge is incumbent on every
Muslim male and female. This declaration was very clear and was implemented by Muslims throughout history.

4.  She is entitled to freedom of expression as much as man is.  Her
sound opinions are taken into consideration and cannot be disregarded just because she happen to belong to the female sex. It is reported in the Qur'an and history that woman not only expressed her opinion freely but also argued and participated in serious discussions with the Prophet himself as well as with other Muslim leaders (Qur'an, 58:1-4; 60:10-12). Besides there were occasions when Muslim women expressed their views on legislative matters of public interest, and stood in opposition to the Caliphs, who then accepted the sound
arguments of these women. A specific example took place during the Califate of Umar Ibn al-Khattab.

5.  Historical records show that women participated in public life
with the early Muslims, especially in times of emergencies. Women used to accompany the Muslim armies engaged in battles to nurse the wounded, prepare supplies, serve the warriors, and so on. They were
not shut behind iron bars or considered worthless creatures and deprived of souls.

6.  Islam grants woman equal rights to contract, to enterprise, to earn and possess independently. Her life, her property, her honor are as sacred as those of man. If she commits any offense, her penalty is no less or more than of man's in a similar case. If she is wronged or harmed, she gets due  compensations equal to what a man in her position
would get (2:178;4:45, 92-93).

7.  Islam does not state these rights in a statistical form and then relax. It has taken all measures to safeguard them and put them into practice as integral articles of Faith. It never tolerates those who are inclined to prejudice against woman or discrimination between man and woman. Time and again, the Qur'an reproaches those who used to believe woman to be inferior to man (16:57-59, 62; 42:47-59; 43:15-19; 53:21-23).

8.  Apart from recognition of woman as an independent human being acknowledged as equally essential for the survival of humanity, Islam has given her a share of inheritance. Before Islam, she was not only deprived of that share but was herself considered as property to be
inherited by man. Out of that transferable property Islam made an heir, acknowledging the inherent human qualifies in woman. Whether she is a wife or mother, a sister or daughter, she receives a certain share of the deceased kin's property, a share which depends on her degree of relationship to the deceased and the number of heirs. This share is hers, and no one can take it away or disinherit her. Even if the deceased wishes to deprive her by making a will to other relations or in favor of any other cause, the Law will not allow him to do so.

Any proprietor is permitted to make his will within the limit of one-third of his property, so he may not affect the rights of his heirs, men and women. In the case of inheritance, the question of quality and sameness is fully applicable. In principle, both man and woman are equally entitled to inherit the property of the deceased relations but the portions they get may vary. In some instances man receives two shares whereas woman gets one only. This no sign of giving preference or supremacy to man over woman.

The reasons why man gets more in these particular instances may be classified as follows:
     First man, is the person solely responsible for the complete maintenance of his wife, his family and any other needy relations. It is his duty by Law to assume all financial responsibilities and maintain his dependents adequately. It is also his duty to contribute financially to all good causes in his society. All financial burdens are borne by him alone.
     Secondly, in contrast, woman has no financial responsibilities whatsoever except very little of her personal expenses, the high luxurious things that she likes to have. She is financially secure and provided for. If she is a wife, her husband is the provider; if she is a mother, it is the son; if she is a daughter, it is the father; if she is a sister; it is the brother, and so on. If she has no relations on whom she can depend, then there is no question of inheritance because there is nothing to inherit and there is no one to bequeath anything to her. However, she will not be left to starve, maintenance  of such a woman is the responsibility of the society as a whole, the state. She may be given aid or a job to earn her living, and whatever money she makes will be hers. She is not responsible for the maintenance of anybody else besides herself. If there is a man in her position, he would still be  responsible for his family and possibly any of his relations who need his help. So, in the hardest situation
her financial responsi- bility is limited, while his is unlimited.

     Thirdly, when a woman gets less than a man does, she is not actually deprived of anything that she has worked for. The property inherited is not the result of her earning or her endeavors. It is something coming to them from a neutral source, something additional or extra. It is something that neither man or woman struggled
for. It is a sort of aid, and any aid has to be distributed according to the urgent needs and responsibilities  especially when the distribution is regulated by the Law of God. 

Now, we have a male heir, on one side, burdened with all kinds of financial responsibilities and liabilities. We have, on the other side, a female heir with no financial responsibilities at all or at most with very little of it. In between we have some property and aid to redistribute by way of inheritance. If we deprive the female
completely, it would be unjust to her because she is related to the deceased. Likewise, if we always give her a share equal to the man's, it would be unjust to him. So, instead of doing injustice to either side, Islam gives the man a larger portion of the inherited property to help him to meet his family needs and social responsibilities. At
the same time, Islam has not forgotten her altogether, but has given her a portion to satisfy her very personal needs. In fact, Islam in this respect is being more kind to her than to him. Here we can say that when taken as a whole the rights of woman are equal to those of man although not necessarily identical (see Qur'an, 4:11-14, 176).

9.  In some instances of bearing witness to certain civil contracts,
two men are required or one man and two women. Again, this is no indication of the woman being inferior to man. It is a measure of securing the rights of the contracting parties, because woman as a rule, is not so experienced in practical life as man.  This lack of experience may cause a loss to any party in a given contract. So the Law requires that at least two women should bear witness with one man. if a woman of the witness forgets something, the other one would remind her. Or if she makes an error, due to lack of experience, the other would help to correct her. This is a precautionary measure to guarantee honest transactions and proper dealings between people. In fact, it gives woman a role to play in civil life and helps to establish justice. At any rate, lack of experience in civil life does not necessarily mean that women is inferior to man in her status. Every human being lacks one thing or another, yet no one questions their human status (2:282).

10.  Woman enjoys certain privileges of which man is deprived. She is
exempt from some religious duties, i.e., prayers and fasting, in her regular periods and at times of confinement. She is exempt from all financial liabilities. As a mother, she enjoys more recognition and higher honor in the sight of God (31:14-15;46:15). The Prophet acknowledged this honor when he declared that Paradise is under the feet of the mothers. She is entitled to three-fourths of the son's love and kindness with one-fourth left for their father. As a wife she is entitled to demand of her prospective husband a suitable dowry that will be her own. She is entitled to complete provision and total maintenance by the husband. She does not have to work or share with
her husband the family expenses. She is free to retain, after marriage, whatever she possessed before it, and the husband has no right whatsoever to any of her belongings. As a daughter or sister she is entitled to security and provision by the father and brother respectively. That is her privilege. If she wishes to work or be self-supporting and participate in handling the family responsibilities, she is quite free to do so, provided her integrity
and honor are safeguarded.

11.  The standing of woman in prayers behind man does not indicate in any sense that she is inferior to him. Woman, as already mentioned, is exempt from attending congregational prayers which are obligatory on man. But if she does attend she stands in separate lines made up of women exclusively . This is a regulation of discipline in prayers, and not a classification of importance. In men's rows the head of state stands shoulder to shoulder to the pauper. Men of the highest ranks in society stand in prayer side by side with other men of the lowest ranks. The order of lines in prayers is introduced to help every one to concentrate in his meditation. It is very important because Muslim prayers are not simply chanting or the sing-a-song type. They involve actions, motions, standing, bowing, prostration, etc. So if men mix with women in the same lines, it is possible that something disturbing or distracting may happen. The mind will become occupied by something alien to prayer and derailed from the clear path of mediation. The result will be a loss of the purpose of prayers, besides an offense of adultery committed by the eye, because the eye-by looking at forbidden things - can be guilty of adultery as much as the heart itself. Moreover, no Muslim man or woman is allowed during prayers to touch the body of another person of the opposite sex. If men and women stand side by side in prayer they cannot avoid touching each other. Furthermore, when a woman is praying in front of a man or
beside him, it is very likely that any part of her dressed body may  become uncovered after a certain motion of bowing or prostrating. The man's eye may happen to be looking at the uncovered part, with the result that she will be embarrassed and he will be exposed to distraction or possibly evil thoughts. So, to avoid any embarrassment
and distraction to help concentrate on mediation and pure thoughts, to maintain harmony and order among worshippers, to fulfill the true purposes of prayers, Islam has ordained the organization of rows, whereby men stand in front lines, and women behind the children.Anyone with some knowledge of the nature and purpose of Muslim prayerscan readily understand the wisdom of organizing the lines of worshippers in this manner.

12.  The Muslim woman is always associated with an old tradition known as the "veil". It is Islamic that the woman should beautify herself with the veil of honor, dignity, chastity, purity and integrity. She should refrain from all deeds and gestures that might stir the passions of people other than her legitimate husband or cause evil
suspicion of her morality. She is warned not to display her charms or expose her physical attractions before strangers. The veil which she must put on is one that can save her soul from weakness, her mind from
indulgence, her eyes from lustful looks, and her personality from demoralization. Islam is most concerned with the integrity of woman, with the safeguarding of her morals and morale and with the protection
of her character and personality (cf. Qur'an, 24:30-31).

13.  By now it is clear that the status of woman in Islam is unprecedentedly high and realistically suitable to her nature. Her rights and duties are equal to those of man but not necessarily or absolutely identical with them. If she is deprived of one thing in some aspect, she is fully compensated for it with more things in many other aspects. The fact that she belongs to the female sex has no bearing on her human status or independent personality, and it is no basis for justification of prejudice against her or injustice to her person. Islam gives her as much as is required of her. Her rights match beautifully with her duties. The balance between rights and
duties is maintained, and no side overweighs the other.  The whole status of woman is given clearly in the Qur'anic verse which may be translated as follows:
     And women shall have rights similar to the rights against
     them, according to what is equitable; but man have a degree
     (of advantage as in some cases of inheritance) over them
     (2:228).
     This degree is not a title of supremacy or an authorization of dominance over her. It is to correspond with the extra responsibilities of man and give him some compensation for his unlimited liabilities. The above mentioned verse is always interpreted in the light of another (4:34).

     It is these extra responsibilities that give man a degree over woman in some economic aspects. It is not a higher degree in humanity or in character. Nor is it a dominance of one over the other or suppression of one by the other. It is a distribution of God's abundance according to the needs of the nature of which God is the
Maker. And He knows best what is good for woman and what is good for man. God is absolutely true when He declares:

     O mankind! reverence your Guardian-Lord, Who created you
     from a single person, and created of like nature his mate,
     and from them twain scattered (like seeds) countless men and
     women (4:1).

Adam appreciated Eve’s worth and they lived together practicing all the meanings of love, kindness, respect, and appreciation. Then as years passed new generations were brought up away from God’s Law, not guided by Him and their lives not brightened by His message, which led to recurring disasters.

For a long time, women have suffered disrespect to the extent that in some religions, parents have prayed to be blessed with male children.

Then if a girl was born, this meant shame, misery and bitterness for the parents which could only be taken away by burying the daughter alive. If she survived, then the misery survived with her and she lived as a negligible object which could be owned and never own, with no freedom in her actions, hopeless and dispirited. Some religions even allowed her to be sold like a cow is sold, or if they were kind to her, they rented her for a limited period.

In societies where statues were worshipped, if many girls had been borne to a family and they couldn’t support them, they would leave them in fields to be killed by wild animals or die from the night frost without feeling any regret or remorse. With all of that in mind, what would you expect about educating and culturing them? Even when it was time for her to be married, she was married to someone she didn’t want, and by the form of Shughar Marriage (which is a form of marriage without a dowry) or exchanged or traded (where a husband may send his wife to another man for the purpose of having a male child) or sold. Then what would the price of the woman be in these societies?

 It would be the number of bulls being given to her dad. Then how can she live with the man who bought her for the price of bulls?! She has to work as a servant, fetching water from the rivers, carrying out the house keeping and with no objections to also helping her husband in his trade. Then if he gets angry for any reason and leaves her, she becomes suspended, neither a wife nor able to remarry. What a bitter life she’s living, away from God’s Law following human decreed laws such as the one written by one of those who had gone astray “The man is the lord, he has to order. The woman is the follower, she has to obey”. What an unfair judgment. And if this is the situation of married women, then what about those who are forced into prostitution? Your forgiveness God, for those who have no respect for God. And you can imagine a woman from one of the societies sitting and waiting to be burned alive and the crime that she committed is nothing but that her husband has died and she has to follow him with dutiful acceptance, until they buried around 6000 women in 10 years.

All these wrongdoings were asked to be stopped by God’s messengers whenever they were sent because God doesn’t like wrongdoers. And those wicked people who changed God’s Law, did not stop sullying the women with their dirty tricks but also changed the first testimony, adding in that women were something to be ashamed of, all of which God’s Law is totally innocent of. The same thing also happened in changing the bible and even in the 5th Century when the Makony Group, whom Christians believe are holy, gathered to discuss the origin of the Woman. They discussed whether she is a body with no soul, or whether she has a soul just like men, and the decision was that she does have a soul. Thank God for that, but the matter hadn’t finished yet! They decided that she had a wicked soul which will not escape punishment with the exception of Jesus’ mother for she is the only woman whom they believed would escape Hell-fire. O how much suffering have women had to bear?! Until God permitted Islam’s light to brighten the earth by God’s Law and His light and His guidance. Look and you will see believers (both men and women), and Muslims ( both men and women), near Al Kaaba facing it and prostrating towards it, all together. {And their Lord hath accepted of them, and answered them: “Never will I suffer to be lost the work of any of you, be he male or female: ye are members, one of another”}(Al-i-‘Imran 195)

Yes, duties to God are for both men and women, with the reward of Heaven, and so men and women are equal. {The Believers, men and women, are protectors, one of another: they enjoin what is just, and forbid what is evil: they observe regular prayers, practice regular charity, and obey God and his Apostle. On them will God pour his mercy: for God is exalted in power, Wise. * God hath promised to his Believers, men and women, Gardens under which rivers flow, to dwell therein, and beautiful mansions in Gardens of everlasting bliss. But the greatest bliss is the Good Pleasure of God: that is the supreme felicity.} (Tauba 71/72)

God is great, His Law which he layed down to people is all light and all goodness. {Should He not know, -He that created? And He is the One that understands the finest mysteries (and) is well acquainted (with them)} (Mulk 14)

 God’s Law made man and his sister, the woman, equal in many duties and responsibilities for you are all carers and you are all responsible for those in your care. And also, God’s Law makes the woman and her brother, the man, completely equal in both rewards and punishments {whoever works evil will be requited accordingly. Nor will he find, besides God, any protector or helper* If any do deeds of righteousness, - be they male or female - and have faith, they will enter Heaven and not the least injustice will be done to them.}(Nisaa 123/124)

And I vow you that Only ISLAM repsects women in all sectors, see her roles in diff sectors of Lyf. Islam gave women rights in this life: human; social; economic and legal rights. From her human rights: The right to live; from before she arrives in this world, a baby in her mother’s womb, Islam took care of her rights and banned killing her for God has banned the killing of souls, both of men and women {Nor take life – which God Has made sacred – except for just cause}(Al Isra 33)

 And once she is born, Islam banned killing her or burying her alive. {When the female (infant) buried alive, is questioned – for what crime she was killed} (Takwir 8/9)

And ordered for he to be brought up well and promised a great reward for this, such as avoiding the punishment of Hell and the reward of entry to Heaven and being closer to the Apostle (peace be upon him) in there. The prophet (peace be upon him) said in the hadeeth which has been agreed as truth, from the Hadeeth of Aisha (mother of Muslims) “Whomever is blessed with girls and then does well by them in bringing them up, it will be a protector for him from Hell-fire” (Saheeh Al Targheeb 1968) And so Muslim says in his recording of the Hadeeth by Anas that God’s prophet Mohammad (peace be upon him) said “Whoever looks after 2 girls until they are mature, on the Day of Judgment he and I will be. Then he brought his 2 fingers together” (Saheeh Al Targheeb 1970)

Says Jaaber that the Prophet Mohammad (peace be upon him) said “Whoever has three girls, and gives them a refuge, clothes them, and is kind to them, he will surely be rewarded by Heaven. So one of the men from the land asked him ‘What about 2 girls?’ and he replied “And the same for 2 girls” ( Saheeh Al Adab 58)

 And so God made men and women equal in their human pride and so God Almighty says {We have honoured the sons of Adam} (Al Isra 70)

 And so He made men and women equal in rewards, both in life and in the after-life, as we have illustrated previously. {Whoever works righteousness, man or woman and has faith, verily, to him We will give a new Life, a life that is good and pure, and We will bestow on such their reward according to the best of their actions} (Nahl 97) {If any do deeds of righteousness – be they male or female – and have faith, they will enter Heaven, and not the least injustice will be done to them} (Nisaa 124)

As also He gave her the right to express her opinions and to be consulted. And the day she complained, God heard her complaint from the top of the seven skies, and sent part of the Quran concerning her situation, which is recited until the Day of Judgment. {God has indeed heard (and accepted) the statement of the woman who pleads with thee concerning her husband and carries her complaint (in prayer) to God: and God (always) hears the arguments between both sides among you: for God hears and sees (all things)} (Mujadila 1)

And as for her social rights: GOD gave her the right to be educated and to be taught how to behave, exactly like her brother, the man {O ye who believe! Save yourselves and your families from a Fire whose fuel is Men (i.e. mankind) and stones}(Tahrim 6)

 And the Prophet Mohammad had advised of the importance of education, as in the Hadeeth by Anas, recorded by Al Tarmathy that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said “Education is compulsory for every Muslim” (Al Targheeb 72)

And so this Hadeeth shows that there is no difference between a man and woman in this religion when it comes to learning. So was it confirmed in the true Sunnah that the Prophet (peace be upon him) had advised for a woman (Hafsa) to be educated and insisted on her being taught to write. And it is the woman’s right over her brother and her father of claiming alimony {But he (the father of the baby following a separation) shall bear the cost of their food and clothing}(Baqara 233)

And when Hind, the wife of Abu Sufyan, complained to the Prophet (peace be upon him) that her husband was mean and tightfisted and didn’t give her enough money for her and her children, the Prophet (peace be upon him) said to her “ Take what you need for you and your children” (Al Nisaa’y 5010)

And also it is the woman’s right to pick her own husband who is suitable for her and as the Prophet (peace be upon him) said “ The woman who has been married before has the right to make the decision on her future marriages, and for an unmarried girl, her father must seek her approval and if she is silent then that is a sign of her approval” (The True Series 1807) And if a father marries one of his daughters without her approval, the Prophet (peace be upon him) nullifies the marriage and this is recorded in Saheeh Al Bukhari. Islam made the dowry a woman’s right and Allah subhanahu wa ta’ala says {And give the women (on marriage) the dower as a free gift} ( Nisaa 4)

And He gave her the right to enjoy her husband and decreed that the maximum length of time a husband can be separated from his wife is 4 months. If he comes back after the 4 months then it is fine, but if he doesn’t then she can take her case to court, and says Allah subhanahu wa ta’ala {For those who take an oath for abstention from their wives, a waiting for four months is ordained; if then they return, God is Oft-forgiving, Most Merciful* But if their intention is firm for divorce, God heareth and knoweth all things} (Al Bakara 226/227)

And she has the right to live well whether she is a mother {We have enjoined on man kindness to his parents} (Ahqaf 15) or a wife {live with them on a footing of kindness and equity} (Nisaa 19) or even other than that, for she is not forced after marriage to live with a man she doesn’t love, and she has the right to choose to separate from him for a legal reason. If a married couple are going to separate, then here is shown the woman’s rights over her ex-husband, for she is entitled to alimony during the period of 3 months after the divorce during which she cannot remarry.

And it is her right to breastfeed her baby and so Allah subhanahu wa ta’ala says

 {The mother shall give suck to their offspring for two whole years, if the father decides to complete the term} (Bakara 233) And this right to breastfeed her own babies is definite whether she is married or separated from her husband. And so it is her right, whether she is married or separated from her husband, the custody of her children. Islam also gave women her own rights in inheritance {From what is left by parents and those nearest related there is a share for men and a share for women, whether the property be small or large, - a determinate share} (Nisaa 7)

And gave her social rights: For she owns and sells, buys and gives. In short, women in Islam have their own financial independence. As for her legal rights: She is a fully capable human being, who has got rights to appeal or to be a witness. In the end, we have only touched on this huge topic here, but have you truly ever seen a Law so kind to women as this, or even half of this? But as Allah subhanahu wa ta’ala says {Truly it is not their eyes that are blind, but their hearts which are in their breasts} (Hajj 46)

May the Almighty ALLAH grace all women to be a swalihath & grace to live 101% as per Quran & Sunnah

Prepared by Saima Binth Fazal - India