Forward.
DR
AHMED HAMMOUD migrated to Australia from Lebanon in 1969. He received B.A.
Honours in Arabic Language, Islamic Studies and Arabic Literature in 1984; M.A.
Honours in Islamic History and Islamic Political Thought in 1990; Ph.D
(research) in Islamic History and Islamic Political Thought in 1995 from Sydney
University.
He
has been involved in the development of the Australian Muslim Community in NSW
for the last three decades. Among the major achievements of the Muslim
Community during this period of time were:
* Establishment of the Imam Ali ibn Abi Talib Mosque in
Lakemba NSW, Australia.
* Establishment of the AI-Zahra Muslim Association in Arncliffe NSW, Australia.
* Establishment of the Islamic Council of NSW Australia.
He
has addressed countless schools, both private and public, government
departments and community organisations in an effort to develop a better understanding
of the Muslim communities.
He
has written numerous articles which have been published in Australia and in the
most advanced magazines in the Islamic world. In addition, three books he has
written are currently overseas for publication. One of these books has been
already published in Beirut.
He
was the first Australian Muslim to present a paper to the 7th
National Conference on Family Law and address the conferene which was held in
October 1996 in Canberra.
He is also a teacher in the Saturday School of community Languages with the NSW Department of Education and is a Co-ordinator of Department of Arabic Language at Malek Fahd Islamic School for Primary and High School in Greenacre NSW, Australia.
This
study attempts to discuss the status of women in Islam. The study is based on
two kinds of resources. First the Holy Qur'an which provides valuable
information on the Status of Women in the pre-Islamic period and after the
declaration of Islam, and secondly, the works of Muslim jurists including the
works of modern scholars and writers.
The
first chapter of this study deals with the Status of Women until the beginning
of the Islamic Mission.
The
second chapter is devoted to the Status of Women after the call of Islam and
how Prophet Mohammad (p) in his Message freed women from the shackles and
chains of cultural customs and tribal traditions which were imposed on them and
drew for them their role in life socially and politically, and gave them what they
were not previously given, their dignity and put them on the right path which
led them to stability, clear self-determination and self- confidence.
The
main concern of this study is to clear the way for Muslim women, to know their
rights which were suppressed and deprived for many centuries and to know the
position that God and His Messenger Prophet Mohammad and Islamic Law (Shari'a)
have chosen for them. This study is also aimed to raise awareness among the
World Muslim women about their rights as mothers, wives, sisters and daughters,
and to clarify the real image of Islam in relation to women in general for
Western readers in order to differentiate between Islam and cultural practices.
And above all, to educate men about the role of women in Islam.
I
am extremely grateful to Mr Ali Zeitoun, Mr Hussein Zeitoun and Mr Abed
al-Rahman Hammoud for the typing and publication of this work. I would like to
thank everybody in particular the women who praised this book. I would also
like to thank Mr. Hussein Abu Ghaida who is known by his generosity for the
publication of the second edition.
Finally,
I must acknowledge the debt I owed to my wife Mariam and my daughters Seknah,
Amenah and Batoul for their constant encouragement to write about the Status of
Women in Islam.
CHAPTER ONE
In
this chapter 1 am going to illustrate the position of woman before the rise of
Islam. The woman in primitive societies was not considered as a member of society
and had no social value. Her existence in society was for the requirements of
men only. She was assigned to insignificant work such as carrying goods, moving
them when the tribes were searching for water and pasture, collecting wood and
serving the man at home.
In
addition, she was responsible for the upbringing of children and caring for the
sick.
As
long as she was in her father's house or in a house of a guardian, she was
solely his possession without having the right to own anything even her
clothes; gold and jewellery were for the man. It was permissible for him and
without any restriction to take any hard decision concerning her and inflict
any kind of torture or punishment on her, even if it would lead to her death.
She was offered to others as a present or borrowed for entertainment. Furffiermore the poor father was allowed to sell his daughter like a slave to relieve himself from misery. She had to accept anyone selected by her guardian as her husband.
Once she moved to her husband's house she would
become only an object to satisfy his excessive sexual craving.
The
man had the right to unlimited polygamy. A custom which was widespread at the
time in Byzantium, Persia, as well as Arabia.
It was for man alone to exercise his right to
divorce, and he was not obliged by custom to provide any compensation for his
divorced wife. Even after divorce he could prevent her from remarrying.
She
had to live under his authority and was always the victim for his inclination
and interest.
She
was condemned to live as a miserable creature who had no role to play in the
human society. She was a helpless captive condemned to live and die without
rights and dignity. She did not live to enjoy life or exercise her human rights.
They questioned whether woman had a soul or was
she a body without a soul. If she was a human with a soul, was her soul similar
to that of a man or not? Had they regarded her with a soul, her soul would have
been lower than the man’s soul.
In
the second stage during the reign of Hummurabi, the rule of the Romans, Greeks,
Egyptians, Chinese and Persians, certain family laws appeared in their codes
such as 'woman had rights in the human society'. But that did not, change her status. She was considered a
weak person who was incapable of bearing the life's burden and managing its
affairs. She never enjoyed any freedom and was not allowed to join men in
social gatherings. She never joined the study circles of the philosophers.
However, the woman in these societies was
yielding to the authority of man throughout life, obeying his orders without
any objection.
She
hadn't any freedom that would make her able to achieve any kind of work and was
deprived of all rights and social privileges. She was deprived of any right to
complain or protest and she was not allowed to give evidence in the courts.
There
were many other oppressive aspects of the life of woman in these societies.
There
were other factors which affected her life. The laws of the day did not allow
her to inherit her relatives or own any wealth. If it happened that she earned
some money or received her dowry from her husband, the father would assume
responsibility over managing her assets.
Had she done any good work her guardian alone
would have benefited, however, had she done unacceptable work then she alone
would have been held responsible and would bear its consequences.
The hardest time on woman was when she had a
relationship with a stranger, an undesirable man, during her monthly
menstruation period or if she gave birth to a female child. In these
circumstances she was kept away and considered as an unclean human being.
If it appeared that she was sometimes granted
some of her rights it would be due to the paternal kindness and husband's love.
However,
one might observe that woman at this period of time was no more ~ a prisoner
who had no
freedom.
It is worth mentioning that the position of woman started to change after Christianity's declaration. But she was not free from the bonds of man on the grounds that she reflected the glory of man; for man was not created from woman but woman from man, nor was man created for woman's sake but the woman was created for man’s sake.
Furthermore, she was generally considered not
independent of man nor was man independent of woman. For, as a woman was made
from man; in the same way; man is born of woman.
It is obvious that Christianity left its impact
on the life of woman; that
was due to the inspiration, attitudes and teachings of Jesus.
In
the
course of history, one might ask how the woman was treated in the west?
In
586 A.D., the religious leaders of France after long discussions decided that
woman was a human being but made to serve man. It was not until recently that
women in Europe had any right to own property.
In
England it was not until about 1850 A.D. that women were counted in the national
population census.
It
was in 1882 A.D. that a British Law unprecedented in the country's history
granted women theright to decide how their own earnings should be spent,
instead of handing them over directly to their husbands. Until then, even the
clothes on their backs had been their husband's property.
Henry VIII even forbade women to study the Bible
when the first En&h Translations began to appear.
The
women in the west had to fight hard for their rights. In 1919 women in England
fought for their rights to he elected to parliament. Because of their demands,
they were imprisoned by the government and suffered tremendously.
However;
due to their struggle the women in the west recently came to enjoy their rights
and privileges.
In
the Arabian peninsula the woman had no right or esteem as well. She was just a
chattel to form part of the property of a father or a husband. Most of them
were ashamed of having a daughter, because,
according to these tribes a daughter could not become a warrior to
defend the tribe or she might be taken captive by their enemies in the future.
Some of these tribes used to bury their daughters alive. The Holy ~an mentions some of the sufferings of the woman under the burden of these Tribal Laws which were strongly condemned by Islam. The Qur'an states.
"And when a daughter is announced to one of
them his face becomes black and he is full of wrath. He hides himself from the
people because of the evil of that which is announced to him Shall he
keep it with disgrace or bury it (alive) in the dust? Now surely evil is what
they judge?' Qur'an 16:58-59
The
Arabs' contact with different nations had brought the traditions of various
religions to Arabia, such as Judaism, Christianity, Star-Worshipers and Zoroastrianism.
The culture and way of life of these tribes were
a mixture of the customs and cultures of Persians, Romans, Ethiopians,
Egyptians, Jews, and the Christian of Iraq and Yemen.
This
was a brief account of the status of woman in the pre-Islamic period. And now
we shall move with the reader to the next chapter to reveal how Islam treated
woman.
In
this chapter 1 am going to shed the light on the status of women in Islam.
When
Prophet Mohammad declared Islam the people of Arabia heard about his Message,
its universality and that men and women were equal.
In the first place, Islamic history indicates to us that it was a woman who was the first martyr in Islam, to rise up and revolt against her master, to break the chains of slavery and crush the shackles of customs and traditions which dominated Arabian women.
From the very beginning of Islam, it considered
man and woman as two human beings with due respect to their physical
construction one being a male and the other a female, and did not differentiate
between them on the grounds that every single human in general was the result
of procreation between the male and the female.
“1 suffer not the work of any worker inale
orfemale to be lost, you proceed one from another” Qur'an 3.195
On the other hand Islam sent a
clear message to the human race as a whole that men and women, be they of any
nation, tribe, clan or colour occupying any part of the earth, are the children
of ADAM and EVE.
“0 mankind! We created you from a male and a
female and made .you nations and tribes that you may know each other.
Verily the most honoured of you in the sight of God is the most righteous. And
God has full knowledge and is well acquainted (with all things).' Quean
49:13
This
verse makes clear the view point of Islam with regards to human life on earth.
It is addressed to all mankind, as mankind is descended from one pair of
parents.
The
distribution of people into nations, tribes, communities and societies is only
for the purpose of knowing and recognising each other.
In this, of course lies the great importance of
Prophet Mohammad's saying: 'Do not pride over your births and your tribal
or national superiority".
“0
mankind! Be careful of your duty to your Lord Who created you from a single
soul and from it created its mate and from twain scattered countless men and
women....' Qur'an 4:1
“He
it is Who created you from a single soul."
Qur'an 7:189
This
message to humanity as a whole clarifies that all men and women are from the
same essence and kind.
Anyhow,
the Holy Qur'an is the most authentic source to tell us about the treatment of
female children before Islam.
"When the girl-child that was buried alive,
is asked, For what sin was she killed"" Quean 81:8-9
The Holy Qur'an put before us the trial of this female child which is going to take place on the Day of judgement. This innocent female infant wffi be questioned about the crime she had committed to deserve such injustice. Certainly! The crime was committed by the father. But in the world of justice she will be able to give evidence for she had not committed any crime herself. Her only crime was that she was born a female baby.
To
that degree was the treatment of the female infants in the pre- Islamic period.
They were buried alive and having a daughter was considered to be a shame.
In
that age Of darkness, Islam put an end to this shameful act of female infanticide.
When
Prophet Mohamniad heard how a nian buried his daughter, he cried.
In
this society Islam gave the woman her rights and made her a respectable member
of the community and saved her from the prison of customs and traditions and granted
her the freedom of willpower and work and made her inherit from her father,
brother, husband, uncles and her next of kin.
She
was able to choose a career she may like. There was esteem and respect for her
work, she was empowered to demand her rights and to make a formal request
directly to the authorities or take legal action if she was assaulted or
subjected to any harassment.
In all circumstances, her rights were fully
preserved without any restrictions. The man had no power over her and had no
right whatsoever to control and dominate her.
“'There
shall be no blame on you in what they may do with themselves in fairness.' Quran 11.234
Islam
honored women as mothers, daughters, wives and as working mothers.
A
man came to Prophet Mohammad and asked him: "O Messenger of Allah! Whom
should 1 be more dutiful to?' The Prophet replied: 'To your mother." He
asked: "Then to whom?' He replied: 'To your mother.' The man again asked:
'Then to whom?' The Prophet said: 'To your father.”
In
addition, he crowned women with the best crown in the entire history when he
said: “Paradise lies at the feet of mothers.”
The
Holy Qur'an considered both female and male babies as gifts from God to be
rejoiced over and nurtured to maturity. It has been narrated that Prophet
Mohammad said: 'the girl is a mercy from God and the boy is a grace from God.
God will reward and compensate for that mercy and will ask (or question you)
about that grace.'
The Holy Qur'an also instructed logical and practical
doctrines towards the mother and father:
"Your Lord has decreed that you worship
none but Him, and that you be kind to parents, whether one or both of them
attain old age in their life@ Say not to them a word of contempt nor repel
thein. But address them in terms of honour. And out of kindness lower to them
the wing of humility,- and say: 'My Lord! Bestow on them Your mercy even as
they cherished me in childhood.” Qur'an 17.24-26
It is worth noting that one of
the chapters of the Qur'an was named "Surat AI-Nisa' - 'The Women' which
glorifies them. Twelve women were mentioned in the Qur'an. Mary the mother of
Jesus was among them and a chapter of the Holy Qur'an was assigned to her name
'Surah Mariam'. (Chapter 19) Another example was the wife of Pharaoh who is
historically known as Asiya, one of the four perfect women. The other three are
Mary the Mother of Jesus, Khadija the wife of Prophet Mohammad and Fatima his
daughter.
Asiya
faced Pharaoh, his arrogance, and his wrong doings and preserved her faith and
her righteousness. She was probably the same woman who saved the life of the
infant child Moses.
“And
God sets forth, as an example to. those who believe, the wife of Pharaoh.
Behold she saiil- '0 my Lord! Buildfor me, in nearness to you a mansion in the
Garden, and save me from Pharaoh and his doings, and save mefrom those that do
wrong.' Qur'an 66..II
Khadija the wife of Prophet Mohammad won the distinction of being the believer and the first Muslim and the mother of believers. Her love of God and devotion to her husband and her commitment to support Islam religiously, politically and economically were an example for womanhood in Islam to imitate.
Meanwhile,
her daughter Fatima was the owner of the values of her father Prophet Mohammad.
She was born in a society which
regarded a daughter's birth as a disgrace which could only be overcome with her
burial.
This
is why history looks in amazement at the way Prophet Mohammad treated his young
daughter Fatima, the way he spoke with her and the way he praised her.
Whenever
the Prophet went on a journey, Fatima was the last person to farewell him and
the first person to welcome him when he returned. He was kind to her. Islamic
history recorded that he used to kiss the hands of Fatima his youngest
daughter. This "e of behaviour on the part of the Prophet carries a great
meaning.
It opens the eyes of important people,
politicians and the majority of the Muslim community towards the greatness of
Fatima. It teaches mankind about the importance of women. It invited men to
release women from the shackles of cultures, the tribal traditions and customs which were imposed on them.
It helps women in their endeavour to achieve their potential and to reject
inferiority, humiliation and indignity.
He
also made his daughter's happiness correlated to his happiness and said:
'Whosoever loves my daughter Fatima loves me, whosoever makes Fatima content
makes me content, whosoever makes Fatima unhappy makes me unhappy. Fatima is a
part of my body.'
As
a little girl she was watching her father's suffering in his mission. With her
small loving hands she cleansed her father's head and face from the dust which
was thrown on him by his opponents and comforted him.
She
was supporting him through all his adversities, troubles and sufferings in
order to lead people forth from the. depths of darkness into light. It is
because of that she came to be called 'The mother of her father'. This is how Prophet Mohammad
revolutionised the position of women.
It
is related that when Prophet Mohammad was attacked by the pagan tribes at the
battle of Huneyn and was victorious, a large number of their people were
taken prisoners and a great amount of booty was seized. Once it had been
brought to the Prophet's attention that his wet nurses were among the
prisoners, he remembered the kindness of his wet nurses at the time of his
childhood. Tears filled his eyes and he immediately gave away all his share and
the shares of all his family back to the prisoners. On the following day, he
freed all the prisoners and gave them back all the booty.
When
his foster-sister visited him one day, he received her warmly and spread out
his cloak for her to sit on. In these actions lies the great respect of Prophet
Mohammad towards women,
Since
the early Message of Islam, women enjoyed full political rights, and
participated in all Socio-Political and Religio-Political activities. Their
pledge was to worship none but the one true God; not to indulge in sex outside
marriage; not to assign illegitimate children to their husbands; not to commit
infanticide; not to steal; not to indulge in slander or scandal and generally
to obey the law and principles of Islam.
These
points were similarly prescribed for men, on the grounds that the Islamic Law
treats a woman as a complementary part of human society with rights equitable
to those of a man.
Islam
regarded both man and woman as being created by God to rise to the full stature
of the perfect human and proclaims that in God's eyes, there is no difference
between a man and a woman. Each being is a precious soul.
All that makes a woman or a man stand out from
the other is their excellence, in justice, piety, spiritual and ethical
equalities. it is open to both men and women to achieve this type of
distinction and to enjoin good and forbid evil.
”Whoever works a righteous deed male or female
and is a believer, verily We will endow him with a good, pure life, and We
shall pay them a recompense in proportion to the best of what they used to do.” Qur'an
16:97
There is no distinction of
gender in according the reward for righteousness. A righteous one shall be
rewarded. The above verse indicates that both men and women are both treated
equally and both have their duties to perform.
Islam
bestowed dignity, liberty and freedom on women. Therefore, many Muslim women
throughout Islamic history have achieved the highest peak of true humanity and
played an important role in Islamic State affairs; holding heated political and
social debates with the Muslim rulers and their governors.
They
were never meant to live segregated and isolated lives. On the contrary, Islam
encouraged women to play their role in society and fuffil their duties in the
community. They became scholars, warriors, political activists and writers in
various fields of knowledge.
Ibn
Sa'ad in his book 'AI-Tabaqat al-Kubra' has recorded a great number of women
who transmitted traditions (Ahadith) from Prophet Mohammad. By the time of the
Prophet's death, there were many women scholars.
Muslim
women used to accompany the army to the war ftonts and help in nursing the
wounded.
Nasibah bint K'ab took part in battles alongside the Prophet as a surgeon, and in the famous battle of Ohod when she noticed that the Prophet was surrounded by the enemy she rushed towards the Prophet to defend him and joined in the battle, fighting with a sword and shooting arrows until she was heavily wounded. During the battle of Yamamah she fought until she lost her hand.
Zeinab
bint Ali the heroic sister of Imam al-Husain played a key role on the stage of
political events of the Islamic State. Her name was connected with Islamic and
human history in the tragedy of the baffle of Karbala, which historians
unanimously agreed was one of the most decisive and important battles in
Islamic history.
Certainly,
no-one ignored the roles she played in this tragedy and some of them had called
her 'The heroine of Karbala' because she was the first lady to appear in this
serious event, treating the wounded, comforting the orphans and enraged that
the corpses of the martyrs were abandoned on the sands of Karbala under the
burning heat of the sun.
It
is safe to say that her stand after the massacre of Karbala gave this tragedy a
permanent place in history. Zeinab did not live long after this tragedy. In
this short period of time she was able to inflame the grief in the Muslims
souls for the cause of the martyrdom of Imam al-Husain.
Her
sermons in Iraq after the massacre of Karbala and her stand in the court of the
Umayyad government in Damascus changed the course of Islamic history and
agitated the flames of the revolution against the Umayyad rulers which led to
the collapse of the Umayyad dynasty.
Another example is Hamidah, the wife of Imam ja'far al-Sadiq who took care of the needy in Madina. No-one can pass through Islamic history without realising the impact which Nafisah bint al- Hasan has left on the scholars of her time and whose intellectual discourses were famous throughout Egypt at that time.
Imam
al-Shafii was one of the most respected scholars who used to hear 'ahadith'
traditions of the Prophet from her. On his death bed he requested Nafisah to
pray over him.
After al-Shafi'i passed away the Muslims brought his corpse to her house and she prayed over him with a number of respected muslin women after Abu Yacoub al-Bouti prayed over him.
It must be borne in mind that Islam has given the woman the
right to
persue her education on the grounds that Prophet Mohammad made education
incumbent on every Muslim male and female and said. 'Seek knowledge from the
cradle to the grave.'
For fourteen centuries Islamic Law (shariah) has given women total financial independence, their right to own and dispose of property without surveillance or control by any man, to conduct business; trade and all transactions relating to profit and loss; including the execution of deeds and gifts without having to check with anyone. Whatever a woman earns is her own and she has complete control over that as mother, wife, sister or daughter.
It
is quite clear that Islamic Law has given woman the right of inheritance and
warned against depriving her of her shares in the inheritance of the family
(Qur'an 4:19) and specifies that her dowry (mahr) should belong to her alone
and never be taken by her husband (Qur'an 2:229, 4:19-21,25) unless offered by
the woman as a free gift.
It
is also obvious that under Islamic Law parents cannot force their daughters to
marry against their will or without their consent, such a marriage is regarded
as invalid.
In her marriage she should be protected by her
husband and feel safe. Additionally, she has the right of retaining her maiden
name. No matter how independently wealthy the wife may be, the husband should
support her and provide her with the necessities of life to the best of his
financial capacity. Also, in some cases, Islam says that if necessary the
husband must employ a servant for his wife.
In
Islam, the duties of house keeping, like cooking, cleaning, laundry, and even
child rearing do not necessarily belong to the woman, and she can claim a
salary from her husband in return for such work.
Under
Islamic Law it is a criminal act to perpetuate any form of violence against
women.
During
the life of the Prophet, women came to him and complained about their husbands
treatment towards them. He told them "They are not from us, those men who
hit their wives."
Another
source of information reported that Prophet Mohammad said: 'Verily, the best of
you is the best to his women and 1 am the best of you to my women.' He has also
stated: 'God the exalted is more kind to females than
When
Khaula bint Walaba was disappointed at the conduct of her husband and reported
that to the Prophet, her pleadings were heard by God and these verses were
revealed to Prophet Mohammad:
"God has heard the statement of the woman who pleads with you
concerning her husband and complains to God and God hears your colloquy, For
God hears and sees (all things).' Qur'an 58:1
Islam insists that the wife should live in peace, equality, justice and harmony with her husband and children.
"And from His signs is that He created for
you spouses from amongst yourselves that you may find tranquillity with them
and He has placed between you love and mercy. Verily in that are signs for
those who ref7ect "" Qur'an 30:2'1
“And live with them (your wives) in kindness for
if you take a dislike to them, it may be that you dislike a thing, and God
brings about through it a great deal of good.” Qur'an 4:19
Islam also insists on a happy environment for
the mother during her
pregnancy on the grounds that the foetus is affected by his\her mother
physically, psychologically and morally..
As a mother of the child she has the right to
claim payment from her husband for breast feeding their baby if she chooses to do
so. And above all, the husband cannot force his wife to conceive if she does
not want to.
It is essential to remember that the husband
should take an active part with the mother in the spiritual, physical and
emotional development of their children.
Of course! Islam renders these affectionate acts for the woman and considers them good deeds and a way of approaching God.
It
is quite clear that throughout the Message of Islam, Prophet Mohammad continued
to stress the importance of women in society.
Moreover,
on the occasiod of the farewell pilgrimage 'Hojjat al- Weda'. The
Messenger Prophet Mohammad addressed Muslims and referred in his sermon to
women’s status as one of the important issues they should always remember. He
said "Observe
your duty to God in respect to the women and treat them weIL”
The
Qur'an also called for equal rights for women and men in divorce proceedings. "If a wife fears cruelty or
desertion on her husband's part there is no blame on them if they arrange an
amicable settlement between themselves and such settlement is best.” Qur'an
4:128
"But if they disagree (and must part) God
will provide abundance for all from His all reaching bounty. For God is He that
cares for
all and is wise.” Qur’an 4:130
Of all the permitted acts, the one disliked most
by God is divorce, as it has been reported by the Prophet.
Under
Islamic Law there are three forms of marriage dissolution:
1- by death of the spouse.
2- By an act of one or both the parties.
3- By Judicial process.
In
addition the judge (qadi) annuls a marriage on application of a wife who has
some due cause for divorce, such as non- maintenance, abuse, desertion,
infectious disease or impotence to name a few.
On
one hand if Islam regards the right of divorce as exclusive to man, on the
other hand he was strictly given instructions; advice, admonitions and warning
not to misuse this right.
"When you divorce women, and they fulfil
the term of the (Iddat), either take them back on equitable terms or set them
free on equitable terms; But do not take them back to injure them (or) to take
undue advantage; if anyone does that he wrongs his own soul Do not treat God's
signs as a jest; but solemnly rehearse
God's favours on you. And the fact that He sent down to you the Book and wisdom
for your instruction and fear God, and know that god is well acquainted with
all things..Qur'an
2:231
Note the warning to the divorcing husband against any cruelty, unjust or unfair treatment to the wife to be divorced.