1- Education
Prophet Muhammed (Peace Be Upon Him) once said: "Acquiring knowledge
is compulsory for every Muslim. " (At-Tabarani)
This narration applies equally to men and women.
"Knowledge" in this context refers primarily to knowledge of the Qur’aan
and the Sunnah as no Muslim should be ignorant of his or her Faith, but it also
covers other areas of general education, which can contribute to the welfare of
civilization. It is precisely the ignorance about their religion among Muslims
that has led to men oppressing women because they believe it is permitted,
women not demanding their God-given rights because they are ignorant of them,
and children growing up to perpetuate their parents' follies. Throughout
Islamic history, men and women both earned respect as scholars and teachers of
the Faith. The books of Rijal (Reporters of Hadith) contain the names of many
prominent women, beginning with 'Aishah and Hafsah.
2- Worship
It has already been discussed in detail that both men and
women are the slaves of Allah and have a duty to worship and obey Him. Men and
women have to pray, fast, give charity, go on pilgrimage, refrain from
adultery, avoid the prohibited, enjoin the good and forbid the evil, and so on.
Because of women's roles as mothers, a role which does not end at a specific
time but is a round-the-clock career, they have been exempted from attending
the Mosque for the five daily prayers or for Jumu 'ah (Friday) prayer.
Nevertheless, if they wish to attend the Mosque, no one has the right to stop
them.
3- Charitable Acts
Men and women are both encouraged to give charity, and there
is nothing to stop a woman giving charity from her husband's income.
'Aishah reported that the Messenger of Allah said:
"A woman will receive reward (from Allah) even when she
gives charity from her husband's earnings. The husband and the treasurer (who
keeps the money on the husband's behalf) will also be rewarded, without the
reward of any of them decreasing."
Asmā' once said to the Prophet (PBUH) : "O
Messenger of Allah, I have nothing except what Zubair (her husband) brings
home." The Prophet told her: "O Asmā, give in charity. Don't lock it
lest your subsistence is locked."
4- The Right to own Wealth and Property
A muslim woman has the right to keep her property or wealth,
whether earned or inherited, and spend it as she may please. This right was
granted to Western women only very recently, and the women of India had to wait
until 1956 for a right which Muslim women have always taken for granted.
Concerning the right to one's earnings, the Qur’an says:
"And wish not for the things in which Allah has made
some of you excel the others. For men there is reward for what they have
earned, (and likewise) for women there is reward for what they have earned, and
ask Allah of His Bounty. Surely, Allah is Ever All-Knower of everything." (Qur’an 4:32)
5- Freedom to express One's Opinion
Few societies exist in which the ordinary citizen can
confront the ruler face to face and challenge his policies. Even fewer
societies allow women to be so bold, yet the Islamic ideal has always been open
and accessible. This freedom of expression is aptly demonstrated by a famous
incident involving 'Umar the second Rightly- Guided Caliph.
'Umar was once standing on the pulpit, severely reprimanding
the people and ordering them not to set excessive amounts of dower at the time
of marriage. A woman got up and shouted, "Umar! You have no right to
intervene in a matter which Allah the All-Mighty has already decreed in the Qur’an:
"But if you intend to replace a wife by another and you
have given one of them a Qintar (of gold, i.e., a great amount as Mahr bridal
money), take not the least bit of it back; would you take it wrongfully without
a right and (with) a manifest sin?" (Qur’an 4:20)
After being reminded of this Verse, 'Umar withdrew his
order, saying, "I am in the wrong and she is correct."
6- Participation in Jihād
The battlefield is a place, which frightens many men let
alone women. Due to the aggressive and violent nature of war, only men have a
duty to participate in Jihad (holy fighting in Allah's Cause) while women are
exempted. A woman once asked the Prophet to allow women to go on Jihād with men
because of its excellence and the unlimited reward promised to Mujāhidin
(Muslim fighters) in the Hereafter.
The Prophet (PBUH) replied:
"For them is a Jihād without
fighting," which referred to the Hajj and 'Umrah.
Nevertheless the Prophet did permit women to nurse the
injured and supply provisions to the Mujāhidin at some battles. A woman from
the tribe of Ghifār came with a large group of women to the Prophet when he was
preparing to leave for the conquest of Khaibar. She said:
"O Allah's Messenger, we wish to accompany you on this
journey so that we may nurse the injured and help the Muslims." The Prophet
responded, "Come may Allah shower His blessings upon you."
Umm 'Atiyyah an Ansāri woman, once said:
"I have participated in seven battles with the Prophet.
I used to guard the camels of the Mujahidin in their absence, cook the food,
treat the injured and care for the sick."
Mu'ādh bin Jabal reports that his cousin Asmā' bint Yazid
killed nine Roman soldiers with a tent-pole during the battle of Yarmuk.
7- Freedom to choose Her Husband
The guardian of the girl, whether her father, brother or
uncle, plays an important role in her marriage, such as finding a suitable
match for her. But under no circumstance does this allow him to force his choice
on her against her wishes. She is free to accept or reject his choice, or make
her own choice. A woman named Khansā bint Khidām once came to the Prophet and
complained: "My father has forced me to marry my cousin in order to
raise his own status (in the eyes of the people)." The Prophet told her
that she was free to dissolve this marriage and choose whomever she wished to
marry. She replied, "I accept my father's choice, but my aim was to let
the women know that fathers have no right to interfere in the marriage." (Ahmad,
An-Nasa 'i and Ibn Mājah)
8- A Woman's Guarantee in War is acceptable
If a woman gives surety to a war-captive or gives him
shelter, her guarantee will be accepted. Umm Hāni a cousin of the Prophet
(PBUH), said to him after the conquest of Makkah: "I have given shelter
to two of my in-laws." The Prophet said: "O Umm Hāni, we have
given shelter to whom you have given shelter."
According to another narrative, Umm Hāni gave shelter to a
man but her cousin 'Ali tried to kill the man. She complained to the Prophet
who endorsed her act of giving shelter to the man.
9- The Right to custody of Children
Divorce is especially painful and difficult when the couple
have had children, and awarding custody to either party involves difficulties.
According to Western law, both father and mother have to prove to the Court
that they are more capable of looking after the children, and this often
involves maligning the other party in order to strengthen their own claims to custody.
Islamic law has its own clear decision on this issue. Custody of young boys and
girls goes to the mother.
The son stays with his mother until he is about seven or nine
years of age, after which he is looked after by the father. The daughter
remains with her mother until she gets married. The exception is when the
mother herself re-marries, in which case custody may be awarded to someone else
such as the girl's grandmother or aunt. This is based on the Prophet's words to
the divorcee:
"Your right to custody of the child is greater as long
as you do not remarry."
10- Participation in extending cooperation for the promotion
of good and elimination of evil
The Qur’aan deals with this subject in clear terms: "The
believers, men and women, are Auliyā ' (helpers,
supporters, friends, protectors) of one another; they enjoin (on the
people) Al-Ma'ruf (i.e. Islamic Monotheism and all that Islam
orders one to do), and forbid (people) from Al-Munkar (i.e..
polytheism and disbelief of all kinds, and all that Islam has
forbidden); they perform As-Salāt (Iqįmat-as-Salįt),
and give the Zakāt, and obey Allah and His Messenger.
Allah will have His Mercy on them. Surely, Allah is All-Mighty, All-Wise."
(Qur’an
9:71)
