The Muslim Woman: Her Status in Islam
by the noble Sheikh Abdul-Azeez bin Baaz (rahimahullah)
The status of the Muslim woman in Islam is very noble and lofty one, and her effect is very great in the life of every Muslim. Indeed, the Muslim woman is the initial teacher in the building of a righteous society, providing she follows the guidance from the Book of Allah and the Sunnah of His Prophet .
Since adherence to the Quran and the Sunnah distances every Muslim - male or female - from being misguided in any matter. The misguidance that the various nations suffer from, and their being deviant, does not come about except by being far away from the path of Allah - the Most High, the Most Perfect - and from what His Prophets and Messengers, may Allah's peace be upon them all, came with. The Prophet said: "I am leaving behind me two matters, you will not go astray as long as you cling to them both, the Book of Allah and my Sunnah." [1]
The great importance of Muslim woman's role - whether as wife, sister or daughter, and the rights that are due to her and the obligations due from her - have been explained in the purified Sunnah.
The secret of her importance lies in the tremendous burden and responsibility that is placed on her, and the difficulties that she has to shoulder - responsibilities and difficulties some, which not even a man bears. This is why from the most important obligation upon a person is to show gratitude to the mother, and kindness and good companionship with her. And in this matter, she is to be given precedence over and above the father. Allah - the most High - says:
"And We have enjoined upon man to be dutiful and good to his parents. His mother bore him in weakness upon weakness and hardship upon hardship, and his weaning is in two years. Show gratitude and thanks to Me and to your parents. Unto Me is the final destination." [Soorah Luqmaan 31:14]
Allah - the Most High - said: "And We have enjoined upon man to be dutiful and kind to his parents. His mother bears him with hardship, and she brings him forth with hardship. And the bearing and the weaning of him is thirty months." [Soorah al-Ahqaaf 41:15]
A man came to Allah's Messenger and said: O Messenger of Allah! Who from amongst mankind warrants the best companionship from me? He replied: "Your mother." The man asked: Then who? So he replied: "Your mother". The man then asked: Then who? So the Prophet replied again: "Your mother." The man then asked: then who? So he replied: "Then your father." So this necessitates that the mother is given three times the likes of kindness and good treatment then the father. [2]
As regards to the wife, then her status and her effect in making the soul tranquil and serene, has been clearly shown in the noble ayah (verse), in His - the Most High's saying:
"And from amongst His Signs is this: That He created from you wives from amongst yourselves, so that you may find serenity and tranquility in them. And He has put between you love and compassion. Indeed, in this are signs for those who reflect." [Soorah Ar-Rum 30:21]
Al-Haafidh Ibn Katheer (d.774H) - rahimahullaah - said, whilst explaining the term mawaddah means love and affection, and ar-rahmah means compassion and piety - "since a man takes the hand of a women either due to love for her, or because of compassion and piety for her, by giving to her a child from himself..." [3]
And the unique stance that the prophet 's wife Khadeejah took, had a huge effect in calming and reassuring Allah's Messenger , when the angel Jibreel - alayhis-salam - first came to him in the cave of Hiraa. So the Prophet returned to his wife Khadeejah with the first Revelation and with this his heart trembling and beating severely, and so he said to her: "Cover me! Cover me!" So they covered him until his fear was over, after which he told Khadeejah - everything that had happened, and said: 'I fear that something may happen to me." So she said to him: "Never! By Allah! Allah will never disgrace you. You keep good ties with relations, you help the poor and the destitute, you serve your guests generously and assist those who have been afflicted with calamities." [4]
And do not forget about Aaishah and her great effect. Since even the great Sahaabah (Companions) use to take knowledge of Hadiths from her, and many of the Sahaabiyaat (female companions) learn the various rulings pertaining to women's issues from her...
And I have no doubt that my mother - may Allah shower His mercy upon her - had a tremendous effect upon me, and has a great excellence over me, in encouraging me to study; and she assists me in it. May Allah greatly increase her reward and reward her with the best of rewards for what she did for me.
And there is no doubt also, the house in which there is kindness, gentleness, love and care, along with the correct Islamic tarbiyah (Education and cultivation) will greatly affect the man. So he will become - if Allah wills - successful in his affairs and in any matter - whether it be seeking knowledge, trading, earning a living, or other than this. So it is Allah Alone that I ask to grant success and to guide us all to that which he loves and is pleased with. And may the prayers of peace be upon our Prophet Muhammad , and upon his Family, his companions and his followers.
FOOTNOTES:
1.
Hasan: Related by Maalik in al-Muwattaa (2/899) and al-Haakim (1/93), from Ibn 'Abbass radiaalahu'anhu. It was authenticated by al-Albaanee in as-Saheehah (no.1871).
2.
Related by al-Bukhari (no.59710 and Muslim (7/2), from Abu Hurayrah radialliaahu'anhu
3.
Tafseer Qur'aanul-Adheem (3/4439) of Ibn Katheer.
4.
Related by al-Bukhari (1/22) and Muslim (1/139), from the lengthy narration of Aaishah radiallahu'anhaa
Right to be escorted by a Dhu-Mahram
Hadith - Bukhari 3:85, Ibn 'Abbas
The Prophet said, "A woman should not travel* except with a Dhu-Mahram (her husband or a man with whom that woman cannot marry at all according to the Islamic jurisprudence), and no man may visit her except in the presence of a Dhu-Mahram**." A man got up and said, "O Allah's Apostle! I intend to go to such and such an army and my wife wants to perform Hajj." The Prophet said (to him), "Go along with her (to Hajj)."
*this is referring to lengthy travel; for instance, a trip that exceeds two days time, etc.
** dhu-mahrahm: A male whom a woman can never marry because of close relationship (i.e. brother, father, uncle, etc.) or her own husband.
Hadith - Sahih Muslim, Narrated Abu Hurayrah, R.A.
"Do not permit your women to travel, except that she has with her a mahram(Dhu mahram)."
Shaykh Al Albaanee declares it authentic in Saheeh Al Jaami' vol. 2, no. 7646.
Hadith - Muwatta 20.263
Malik said, concerning a woman who had never been on hajj, "If she doesn't have a mahram, or if she has, but he cannot come with her, she does not abandon Allah's making of the hajj obligatory for her. Let her go in a group of women."
Salah
*
Error by Imam
Woman should clap if needing to get the Imam's attention due to error in Salah. For instance, if the imam forgets to do something such as recite Al-Fatihah, the woman may clap and insha'Allah, the imam will recall what he forgot. The woman should only do this if she is absolutely sure that an error has been made.
Hadith - Bukhari 1:652, Narrated Sahl bin Sa'd As'Sa'idi
Allah's Apostle said, "If something happens to anyone during his prayer he should say Subhan Allah. If he says so he will be attended to, for clapping is for women."
*
Menstruation
Hadith - Bukhari 1:329, Narrated Maimuna (the wife of the Prophet)
"During my menses, I never prayed, but used to sit on the mat beside the mosque of Allah's Apostle . He used to offer the prayer on his sheet and in prostration some of his clothes used to touch me."
Marital Relations
Hadith - Bukhari 4:460, narrated Abu Huraira
Allah's Apostle said, "If a husband calls his wife to his bed (i.e. to have sexual relation) and she refuses and causes him to sleep in anger, the angels will curse her till morning."
Hadith - Al-Tirmidhi 3257, narrated Talq ibn Ali
Allah's Messenger said, "When a man calls his wife to satisfy his desire she must go to him even if she is occupied at the oven."
[Tirmidhi transmitted it.]
Being Grateful
Hadith - Bukhari 1:28, Narrated Ibn 'Abbas
The Prophet said: "I was shown the Hell-fire and that the majority of its dwellers were women who were ungrateful." It was asked, "Do they disbelieve in Allah?" (or are they ungrateful to Allah?) He replied, "They are ungrateful to their husbands and are ungrateful for the favors and the good (charitable deeds) done to them. If you have always been good (benevolent) to one of them and then she sees something in you (not of her liking), she will say, 'I have never received any good from you."
Visitors
Hadith - Bukhari 7:123, Narrated AbuHuraira
"...she should not allow anyone to enter his house except with his permission..."
Wet Dreams
Hadith - Bukhari 1:280, Narrated Um-Salama (the mother of the believers)
Um Sulaim, the wife of Abu Talha, came to Allah's Apostle and said, "O Allah's Apostle! Verily Allah is not shy of (telling you) the truth. Is it necessary for a woman to take a bath after she has a wet dream (nocturnal sexual discharge)?" Allah's Apostle replied, "Yes, if she notices a discharge."
SUMMARY:
Fear Allah and abstain from evil, desiring to be pious above all other qualities to possess
*
Do not engage in lengthy travel without the escort of a Dhu-Mahrahm
*
Do not visit with a man, except with the presence of a Dhu-Mahrahm
*
Do not deny sexual relations to your husband as a means to punish him out of anger or otherwise.
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Obey your husband and do things that please him.
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Observe Hijab and guard your modesty. Remain chaste.
*
Take a bath (ghusl) after a wet dream when a discharge is noticed. Also perform ghusl after sexual relations.
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Don't be overly critical of your husband, but instead be grateful. And surely the best of ways to show love to your husband is to show your love for Allah, subhana watala, by obeying Allah's commands.
Remember... Allah, subhana watala, sees everything we do!