Syeda Bakhtawar Rashdi
The women have been the victim throughout the history of one or another society. They have been persecuted, victimized, tortured, and humiliated. Before the arrival of Islam, women had no importance in their society. In so many religions, the men treated them so badly and disrespectfully that they considered women their slaves and did not give them honor and dignity. Women were considered material, having no feelings and emotions. Men had thoroughgoing legal rights that they could kill them without reason, sell them to any person, and force them to marry any person without their consent and will. Women had no right of inheritance from their parents’ or husbands’ property. Most people treated them as the object of their entertainment and made them fulfill their evil desires. The newly-born daughters used to bury alive by their fathers. They had a prejudice that the birth of a daughter was a bad omen and curse for them and considered them the cause of their dishonor.They had no rights and had no share in the inheritance. They were abused and mistreated by men. Even if any woman’s husband died, she had to burn herself. But Islam provides a comprehensive system of life that covers all aspects of livings from birth to death. Almighty Allah has created men and women for his worship and to play specific roles in society according to the teaching of Islam. But there is no superiority and inferiority; the best in the sight of the creator are those who are pious and conscious of Allah. Both men and women have equivalent rights in this world. Holy Quran says in Surah An-Nahl that “And Allah has made for you from yourselves mates……..”. The men and women originated from the same source, and therefore, their souls are alike.Having been the advent of Islam, women get their position, respect, honor, and dignity. Islam declares that there is no concept of subordination or inferiority. Men and women both have equal rights. It guarantees women the right to life, liberty, security, dignity, and privacy in the face of unlawful aggression. Further, it also provides the right to education, social justice, heritage, carrying on business, liberty to marry according to her wish and will, and a privilege to have the name, keep or change it. Simply, it gives women equal rights and privileges that men enjoy.Though men have a slight preference over women because they spend their wealth on women and guard them; however, Islam urges to treat women nicely and respectfully. Islam provides the right of inheritance to women according to their relationship being a mother, daughter, wife, and sister. Islam permits women to marry according to their choice, profess any suitable profession, and enter into business. It directs the sons and daughters to respect their mothers and treat them politely, even never utter the word “uff” to them. Women are the most reputable and estimable in Islam. If she is in the place of a mother, heaven is under her feet; if she is performing the role of wife, she is your life partner; if she is bestowed upon you as a daughter, she is a blessing by your God. Almighty Allah ordains in surah An-Nisa that “O humanity, Be biddable to your creator, who created you from a single spirit and it created its partner (of similar kind) and from them, a pair has grown in a multitude of male and female”.Islam requires men to be gentle, polite, loving, caring, and respectful towards their women. Mal-treatment and ill-treatment are strictly forbidden in whatsoever manner they may be. Suppose any woman is disrespected, not getting her rights, and being treated with cruelty by men. In that case, the person responsible will be held accountable for his deeds on the day of judgment. Hazrat Muhammad (P.B.U.H) said that “The greatest amongst you are those who are nice to their women”.
