Islam respects the Woman

In the Islamic society the woman has an honored position and, beside

her legal and civil rights, enjoys special respect, love, affection

and the gentle feelings which she deserves most.

Is she not the compassionate mother, the beloved wife and the

affectionate daughter? The best expression of this reality is provided

by the following verses from the Glorious Qur'an.

"And We have enjoined man concerning his parents - His mother bears

him in weakness upon weakness, and his weaning takes two years - Be

grateful to Me and to your parents. To Me is the eventual coming. And

they strive with you to make you associate with Me that of which

you have no knowledge, do not obey them. Keep company with them in the

world kindly, and follow the path of him who repents to Me. Then to Me

is your return, and I shall inform you of what you did."

                                   The Holy Qur'an (31: 14&15)

"And We have commanded man to be kind towards his parents. With

trouble did his mother bear him, with trouble did she bring him forth;

and the bearing of him and the weaning of him was thirty months; until

when he attains his maturity and reaches forty years, he says: My

Lord! Arouse me that I may give thanks for your favour which you have

bestowed upon me and my parents, and that I may do good which pleases

you. And be gracious to me in the matter of my offspring. Surely I

turn to you and surely I am of those who submit (Muslims)".

                                      The Holy Qur'an (46:15)

"Your Lord has decreed that you worship none save Him, and (you show)

kindness to parents. If one them or both of them reach old age with

you, say not `Fie' to them nor repulse them, but speak to them a

generous word, And make yourself submissively gentle with compassion

and say: Oh, Lord! Have mercy on them both as they did care for me

(when I was) little."

                                      The Holy Qur'an (17: 23&24)

"And of His signs is this: He created mates for you from yourselves

that you may find rest in them, and He ordained between you love and

mercy. Most surely there are signs in this for a people who reflect."

                                                Holy Qur'an (30: 21)

"...And treat them (women) kindly..."

                                      Holy Qur'an (4: 19)

"...And they (women) have rights similar to those (of men) over

them in a just manner..."

                                       Holy Qur'an (2: 228)

"When you have divorced women, and they have reached their

prescribed term, then either retain them in honour or release them in

kindness..."

                                            Holy Qur'an (2: 231)

The Traditions of the Prophet, like the Qur'an, also lay emphasis on

the honor and status of the woman and grants her a respectable place

in society. When a Tradition speaks of a woman and her social

position, it surrounds her with a frame of love, endearment and

affection, especially when it speaks of the mother, the wife and the

daughter.

The Messenger of Allah (s.a.w.), addressing the Muslims on the

occasion of the farewell Pilgrimage warned them against the values

which he feared would be neglected after him, and referred to woman as

one of the important issues about whom he said:

"Observe your duty to Allah in respect to the women, and recommend

them to be well treated."

According to the Imam Ja`far Al-Sadiq (a.s.), the Prophet stressed

his proximity to woman and her position in his life, by saying:

"It is of the manner of the Prophets to love women."

He is also quoted to have said:

"I do not think that a man gets better in faith without loving women

better."

A man once sought the Imam Al-Sadiq's (a.s.) advice concerning women,

saying that as his wife, who was agreeable to him, had died, he wanted

to marry again. The Imam told him, "See where you put yourself, whom

you take as a partner in your life, and to whom you disclose your

religion and secrets. So, if you have to, then marry a virgin known to

be righteous and of good behavior".

A man came to the Prophet (s.a.w.) and asked him, "O Messenger of

Allah! Whom should I be more dutiful to?"

The Prophet (s.a.w.) 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."

It is narrated that a foster-sister of the Prophet (s.a.w.) visited him

one day. He was very pleased with her, spread out his cloak for her to

sit on, and conversed with her merrily. After she went away, her

brother arrived, but the Prophet did not receive him as warmly as he

had received his sister, Later on when some one asked him the reason

for receiving the sister more courteously than her brother, although a

man, the Prophet replied, "Because she was more dutiful to her parents

than he."

Abu Khadijah quotes the Imam Al- Sadiq (a.s.) as follows:

"A man came to the Prophet and told him," "A girl was born to me. I

brought her up till she reached puberty, I then dressed her, adorned

her, brought her to a well and pushed her into it. The last thing I

heard was her pitiful cry: `O father!' So, what atonement may I

offer?"

The Prophet asked him, "Is your mother alive?" He replied, "No." He

asked, "Do you have an aunt? He said, "Yes," The Prophet instructed

him, "Then be dutiful to her, as she is like a mother, this will be

your atonement for what you have done."

Abu Khadijah asked the Imam; "When the incident took place?" He

replied, "During the period of Ignorance. As they used to kill the

girls for fear that they would be taken captive and give birth to

their children among other people".

The Imam Al-Sadiq (a.s.) is also quoted to have said:

"Whoever provides sustenance for three girls or three sisters,

Paradise will surely be his." He was asked. "What if two? He said,"

Even if two. "He was also asked." What if one? "He said, `Even if one.'

The Imam Abu Al-Hasan Al-Rida (a.s.) is quoted to have said:

"The Prophet (S.A.) said "Allah the Exalted is more kind to females than

males. Whoever brings pleasure to a woman of his close relatives,

Allah will please him on the Judgement Day".

The Imam Al-Sadiq (a.s.) said:

"Sons are a favor and daughters are good deeds, Allah questions

about the favors, but rewards the good deeds."

The above were some of the examples from Islamic texts concerning

woman. It is clear that Islam has called her to be honored,

affectionately treated and cared for in an unprecedented way, which no

other civilization, culture and society has ever done.

What we have just related is a proof of the spirit of Islam, which

came to honor mankind, protect their rights and to spread the wings

of mercy all over the world.

We have not sent you but as a mercy to the worlds."

The Holy Qur'an (21: 107)

Therefore, Islam, through the above-mentioned text, speaks