The Status of Women before and after Islam
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AUTHOR: Shaikh Saalih Al-Fawzaan
The Status of the Woman before Islam:
What is meant "before Islam" here is the period known as Jaahiliyyah
(Days of Ignorance), which the Arabs used to live in specifically and
the people of the whole world in general. This was when the people
did not have any Messengers amongst them and they were void of any
guidance.
In most cases, the woman of this time period lived under critical
conditions – especially those in the Arab societies, where they used
to hate it when a girl was born. So amongst the Arabs were those who
would bury their daughter while she was still alive until she died
below the earth.
And Allah says: "And when the female child who was buried in the
ground will be questioned – for what sin was she killed?" [The quran:
chapter At-Takweer: 8-9]
The word maw'oodah refers to the baby girl that was buried alive and
left to die inside the earth. And if she was spared from being buried
alive and allowed to live, then indeed she found herself living a
life of degradation. This is since she was not allowed to inherit any
portion of her relative's estate no matter how much money he had and
regardless of if she was suffering from poverty and dire need. The
reason for this is because they would make the inheritance specific
for men in exclusion of women. In fact, she would be distributed as
part of her deceased husband's estate, just as his money would be
distributed in inheritance!
And there would be found a score of women living under one man, since
they would not put any limits to the number of wives they could
marry. So they wouldn't show any concern for what occurred to the
women as a result of that, such as living under cramped conditions,
inconveniences and injustice.
The Status of the Woman after Islam:
But when Islam came, it uplifted these injustices from the woman and
returned her honor and self-esteem in humanity back to her. Allah
says: "O mankind, indeed We created you from a male and a female."
[The Quran: chapter: Al-Hujuraat: 13]
So Allah mentions that she is the partner of man in the origin of
humanity and likewise, she is partners with man in terms of being
rewarded or punished for actions performed. Allaah says: "Whoever
does good deeds, - whether male or female – while he or she is a true
believer, to him We will give a good life and We shall pay them
certainly a reward in proportion to the best of what they used to
do." [The Quran: chapter An-Nahl: 97]
And Allah made it forbidden to consider a woman as a possession to be
inherited from her dead husband's estate, as He says: "O you who
believe, you are forbidden to inherit women against their will." [The
Quran: chapter An-Nisaa: 19]
So Allah gave her independence in her individuality, such that she
became one who can inherit as opposed to an object of inheritance.
And Allah gave the woman a right in the inheritance of her relative's
wealth. Allah says: "There is a share for men and a share for women
from what is left by their parents and close relatives, whether the
property be small or large – a legal share." [The Quran: chapter An-
Nisaa: 7]
And He made the dowry her right and He commanded that it be given to
her in full except for that which she permits from her own good will.
Allaah says: "And give to the women their dowry with a good heart.
But if they, out of their own good pleasure, remit any part of it to
you, take it and enjoy it without any fear of harm." [The Quran:
chapter An-Nisaa: 4]
What the Enemies of Islam and their Offshoots want today from their
stripping the Woman of her Honor and rights:
Indeed the enemies of Islam – rather the enemies of humanity – today,
from those who have a disease in their hearts, are enraged about what
the Muslim woman has achieved from honor, glory and chastity in
Islam. This is because they want from the woman that she serve as a
trap by which they can lure and catch those who have perverted
natures. And those who have a disease in their hearts want the woman
to be a cheap commodity exhibiting herself to those people of lustful
desires and inclinations. They want her to serve as an open commodity
before their eyes so that they may find entertainment in her
beautiful appearance or perhaps they may make her do something far
worse than that.
This is why they expend great efforts in trying to make the woman go
out of her home so that she can participate as an actress in the
theatres or a singer or a broadcaster on the various forms of media –
exposing her face and enticing men by her voice and appearance.
And the immoral magazines have taken pictures of young girls that are
looking provocative and naked as a means for promoting and marketing
their magazines. And some businessmen and companies have taken these
pictures also as a means for promoting their product, such that they
place these pictures in their advertisements and exhibits.
These evil actions are meant to distract the woman from her real and
true duty, which results in much mischief and great evil.
However, we don't restrict a woman from working outside of her home,
so long as she abides by the following guidelines:
1. She must have a need for doing this work or the community she
lives in requires her to do this job, such that there cannot be found
any man that can do the job.
2. She should do this after fulfilling the job she has at home, which
is her primary job.
3. This job must be in an environment of women only, such as her
teaching women (only) or doctoring and nursing female patients. And
her work must be separate from men.
4. Likewise, there is nothing that restricts her from learning the
affairs of her Religion – in fact she is obligated to do this. And
there is nothing preventing her from teaching about the aspects of
her Religion, so long as there is a need for that and her teaching is
held in an environment of (only) women. And there is no harm in her
attending classes in a masjid and so on, while being consistent in
that and segregated from men. This can be seen from the women in the
beginning of Islaam (i.e. the Sahaabiyaat) , in that they would work
and study and attend the masaajid.