The first reason why you should follow Islam is finding monotheism and following your own Fitrah. Islam is the religion of all Prophets and Messengers. Here we will discuss the second reason why you should follow Islam, which is women’s status in Islam. Maybe I can guess that I know your assumptions about women’s status in Islam. Allow me to offer you authentic information about the true status of women in Islam.
The Woman as a Mother
Women reached the uppermost status in Islam. Islam honors women greatly. It honors woman as mother who must be respected, obeyed and treated with kindness and gentleness. Pleasing one’s mother is regarded as part of pleasing God (Allah). Islam tells us that Paradise lies at the mother’s feet, that the best way to reach Paradise is through mother. And Islam forbids disobeying mother or making her angry, even by saying a mild word of disrespect.
The mother’s rights are greater than those of the father, and the duty to take care of her grows greater as the mother grows older and weaker. All of that is mentioned in many texts of the Qur’an and Sunnah (Prophetic teaching by Prophet Muhammad PBUH).
For example; God says in Qur’an:
And We have enjoined upon man, to his parents, good treatment…” [Qur’an 46: 15] (1)
this order is repeated several times to emphasize on the status of mother. The order of enjoining man to be dutiful and kind to his parents comes, directly, after the decree of worship God alone.
God says in Qur’an:
And your Lord has decreed that you worship none but Him. And that you be dutiful to your parents. If one of them or both of them attain old age in your life, say not to them a word of disrespect, nor shout at them but address them in terms of honour.” [Qur’an 17: 23] (2)
One of the rights which Islam gives to the mother is that her son should spend on her if she needs that support, so long as he is able and can afford it. Hence for many centuries it was unheard of among the people of Islam for a mother to be left in an old-people’s home or for a son to kick her out of the house, or for her sons to refuse to spend on her, or for her to need to work in order to eat and drink if her sons were present.
Woman as a Wife
Also; Islam raises women’s status as wives. It urges the husband to treat his wife in a good, tolerance and kind manner, and says that the wife has rights over the husband like his rights over her, but he has a degree over her, because of his responsibility of taking care of the family’s affairs.
Islam confirms that the best of the Muslims is the one who treats his wife in the best and tolerant manner. Also; man is forbidden to take his wife’s money without her approval.
God says and order:
and live with them in kindness…” [Qur’an 4:19] (3)
Woman as a Daughter
Islam honors women as daughters, and encourages us to raise them well and educate them. Islam states that raising daughters will bring a great reward. For example, the Prophet (PBUH) said:
He, who brought up two girls properly till they grew up, he and I would come (together) (very closely) on the Day of Resurrection, and he interlaced his fingers (for explaining the point of nearness between him and that person).” (Sahih Muslim) (4)
These are some of the qualities of women in Islam. And a form of honoring Woman in Islam.
To be continued…
References:
(1) Verse (46: 15) of Qur’an (English Interpretation of Meaning)
(2) Verse (17: 23) of Qur’an (English Interpretation of Meaning)
(3) Verse (4: 19) of Qur’an (English Interpretation of Meaning)
(4) Prophet’s Saying (Hadith)
Photo by Ashton Mullins on Unsplash.
