Women’s Status – As It Is Actually in Islam And As It Is Portrayed!

Shrouded, shackled, suppressed, and disrespected are the terms in which the west describes the status of women in Islam. Women in veil, wreck-aged personification are the crux of the spectrum of views regarding Muslim women in West that indeed are nothing but product of ignorance and oblivion from the teachings of Islam. A woman supposedly is an entity envisaged as subservient who is under the abuse of dictatorial male chauvinists but despite all odds the gender most embracing Islam is Female.

West though claimed the women liberation but it was the religion Islam back in Arab peninsula when they embarked the rights to women in equal perspective as men. Allah says in Quran that:

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“O mankind, fear your Lord, who created you from one soul and created from it its mate and dispersed from both of them many men and women.” [Quran 4:1]

West has targeted the cultural aspects of a society and has tarred everyone with the same brush calling Islam a conservative and barricaded religion for women. The facade of truth has rendered which had adamantly been followed by people of all creeds but irrespective of all the religion Islam has given the freedom to women as assigned to men that is why Quran has used the same status for men and women as stated:

“Indeed, the Muslim men and Muslim women, the believing men and believing women, the obedient men and obedient women, the truthful men and truthful women, the patient men and patient women, the humble men and humble women, the charitable men and charitable women, the fasting men and fasting women, the men who guard their private parts and the women who do so, and the men who remember Allah often and the women who do so – for them Allah has prepared forgiveness and a great reward.” [Quran 33:35]

The status which is portrayed in different countries are intertwined with cultural rituals like in Saudi Arabia women are not allowed to cast vote and drive car which is not at all part of Islamic dogmas as Islam has given equal rights to both male and female irrespective of domain.

 Men and Women are Equal for Allah Almighty

Insight of Allah the stature of male and female are same except for the fact that female is born delicate and man are strong but it does not make woman a subjugated liberty for male or society. In rights, men are equal to women but they are not same physically because of the chores Allah Almighty have selected and entitled them. No one is of high distinction in front of Allah nor there exist gender discrimination but the noble is the one bearing highest level of Taqwa (piety):

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“O mankind, indeed We have created you from male and female and made you peoples and tribes that you may know one another. Indeed, the most noble of you in the sight of Allah is the most righteous of you. Indeed, Allah is Knowing and Acquainted.” [Quran 49:13]

Stature of Women in Islam

Quran and prophet Muhammad (PBUH) Sunnah are absolute beacon and source of guidance for the Human kind. The naysayers should consult the biography of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) if they want to contemplate the status of women in Islam. Women were given the rights to dispose off their marriage if they have no consent or are not happy, have rights to own property, trade, education, and keeping their identity after marriage.

“A woman came to the Prophet and complained that her father had married her to his nephew without asking her consent first. She stated that the purpose of that marriage was that her father wanted his reputation enhanced through that marriage. The Prophet annulled that marriage. When he had done, and the woman was free again, she said to the Prophet: “Now I am free. I willingly consent to this marriage. I only wanted it to be known that men have no say over women in their marriages.” [Ibn E Majah]

Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) own Wife Hazrat Ayesha (RA) was the epitome of Islamic learning and was the scholar of all time for imparting education. Hazrat Khadija (RA) was a famous trade-woman with no male inclusion in her business prior marrying to Prophet. These examples let alone are suffice to explain the respect and value that women enjoy in the shade of religion Islam.

Back in 14th century women were permissible to vote as in historic narratives when any woman came to Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) and swore her alliance, Prophet Muhammad would accept it. In most of the pseudo liberal countries women still are deprived of vote casting rights and then they point Islam for conservativeness.

What Islam is Portrayed is Cultural Issue

In the illiterate society of different nations be Pakistan, Afghanistan or India women are salve to their father, brother and husband latterly with zeroistic self-esteem and respect. This is a cultural perspective of a society where women are treated and considered an inward grief. Women are forced to do what they hate and are killed for raising their voices as many of these cases have been reported recently in the backward areas of developing countries but this all even did not mark Islam as barbaric religion for women. Islam has given social, civil and human rights to the females that is eminent from the entire life of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) and his followers.

women status

“O you who have believed, it is not lawful for you to inherit women by compulsion. And do not make difficulties for them in order to take [back] part of what you gave them unless they commit a clear immorality. And live with them in kindness. For if you dislike them – perhaps you dislike a thing and Allah makes therein much good.” [Quran 4:19]

Concluding, the stature and persona that western media propagate is opposite to what Islam has defined and declared for Muslim women. All the beard men are not Muslim terrorist in the same fashion not all veiled women are suppressed and dejected souls. Islam is blessed religion for all then how can it be a conventional for the faith Muslim women bearers. What you see is not always what it is as a book cannot be judged by its cover likely a veiled women cannot be judged by her appearance.

women status portrayed

O you who have believed, enter into Islam completely [and perfectly] and do not follow the footsteps of Satan. Indeed, he is to you a clear enemy.” [Quran 2:208]