Woman is the beauty of this universe. The true value of the rights Islam has granted to women can only be appreciated when we compare the...
Woman is the beauty of this universe. The true value of the rights Islam has granted to women can only be appreciated when we compare them with the status of women in other religions. Before exploring the Islamic viewpoint, let’s briefly examine the position of women in various non-Islamic legal and religious systems.
1) Roman Law:
In Roman law,
the head of the family had absolute authority over all members, including his
wife, daughter-in-law, sons, daughters, and even grandchildren. He could sell,
punish, or even kill them. He had the right to disinherit his wife and
daughters, who were not allowed to own property or inherit from their father.
(Reference:
“Al-Tarka wal Mirath fil Islam”, p. 40, Dr. Muhammad Yousuf Misri)
2) Greek Law:
Under Greek
law, a woman remained under the control of her guardian before marriage and her
husband after marriage. She had no right to manage her wealth or even herself.
A father could
sell his daughter, and the prospective husband would purchase her. The husband
had the full right to either keep her or transfer her to someone else.
(Reference:
“Muhammad Hurrīyat al-Zawjain”, p. 27, Dr. Abdul Rahman Sabooni)
3) Christianity:
The harsh
treatment of women in Christianity has been documented by Christian thinkers
themselves. British philosopher Herbert Spencer noted that between the 11th and
15th centuries, it was common for wives to be sold in England. Church courts
allowed husbands to lend their wives to others for a set period.
Incredibly,
even in the 16th century, the Scottish Parliament passed a law forbidding women
from owning property. Shockingly, the English Parliament once declared it
unlawful for women to read the Bible.
(Reference:
“Al-Mar’ah bayn al-Fiqh wal Qanoon”, p. 211)
4) Judaism:
In the current
(distorted) form of Judaism, women were completely excluded from inheritance,
whether as wives, daughters, mothers, or sisters. Only the eldest son was
entitled to a double share of the father’s estate.
(Reference:
“Al-Tarka wal Mirath”, p. 14)
5) Hinduism:
Based on the Encyclopedia
of Religion and Ethics, the Smriti (a sacred Hindu scripture) recognizes
eight types of marriages. One of them, Asura, practiced among warriors
and lower castes, involved purchasing the bride. Another type, Rakshasa,
allowed for forcibly seizing a woman.
In addition to
marriage, Hinduism allowed a practice called Niyog, where even a married
woman could be temporarily “married” to another man. Children from this union
were considered the offspring of the original husband. In some cases, Niyog
could involve up to ten different men.
(Reference:
“Updesh Manjari”, p. 107, Swami Dayanand Saraswati)
What Islam Gave to Women
Now, let’s see
how Islam transformed the status of women and the rights it granted them.
1) Dignity and Good Treatment
The Qur’an
states:
“Live with them honorably” (Surah An-Nisa: 19).
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said:
“Treat women well.”
He also taught
that if a woman causes discomfort, one should overlook it, remembering her many
virtues.
In another
hadith:
“The most complete believer in faith is the one with the best character, and
the best among you are those who are best to their women.”
(Tirmidhi, Vol. 1, p. 138)
2) Financial Support
Women are to be
treated with respect, gentleness, and compassion due to their delicate nature.
Islam has recognized their fragility and relieved them from the burden of
earning a livelihood. Their financial needs are the responsibility of a male
guardian:
- Before marriage: the father (or
grandfather, brother, uncle as per inheritance principles).
- After marriage: the husband.
- During divorce (in the waiting
period): the ex-husband.
- If a child is nursing: the
ex-husband continues to provide for her until the child is weaned.
3) Independent Rights and Ownership
Upon reaching
maturity, a woman has full authority over her life, property, and decisions,
just like a man. She is the sole owner of her wealth and can spend it wherever
and however she wishes.
4) Right to Inheritance
Unlike other
religions and cultures that deprived women of inheritance, Islam granted them
clear and defined shares. Whether a mother, daughter, wife, or sister, no woman
is excluded from inheritance under Islamic law.
The Islamic
inheritance system includes even grandmothers, granddaughters,
paternal/maternal sisters, and in some cases, aunts and nieces.
(Reference:
“Siraji” – A famous book on inheritance in Islamic law)
Conclusion
Women born into
Muslim families are indeed fortunate, and even more admirable are those women
who embraced Islam later in life. It becomes evident that Islam is the only
religion that genuinely safeguards and upholds the rights of women.
May Allah be
our protector and helper. Ameen.
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