It is sometimes argued that the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him)
advocated the oppression of women as shown in his actions and the
principles that he taught his followers. Some ask: how can one dismiss
the oppression of women as wrongful acts perpetrated by some misguided
Muslims, when it was endorsed by the very Prophet of Islam? Further,
since the Prophet Muhammad
prescribed laws for women from the perspective of a man and the
patriarchal, tribal society in which he lived, this would naturally lead
to diminishing the status of women. Therefore, the argument goes,
Islamic attitudes and laws should be viewed as outdated and in need of
revision.
But is it really the case that the Prophet’s teachings and practices
endorse an oppressive way of life for women? Moreover, were his
teachings based on his personal knowledge, experience or the conditions
of the society in which he lived? Are Islamic attitudes toward women
related to personal, social and historical conditions? As stated in the
Qur’an:
It is He who created you from one soul and created from it its mate that he might dwell in security with her. (Al-A`raf 7:189)
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The Prophet (peace be upon him) taught his companions that “women are exactly like men.”
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This important verse expresses equality in the essence of both men
and women. It is a principle that is grounded in an overarching view of
humankind in Islam: that men and women are at the most fundamental level
equal in the pursuit of ultimate happiness. While Islamic law takes for
granted certain biological and social differences between men and
women, this overarching view of gender equality is never sacrificed. At
the same time, the rules and regulations that apply to women that seem
discriminatory from a modern perspective were not based on the Prophet’s
personal opinion or historical contingencies. Rather, Muslims believe
that the Prophet was the conveyer of divine speech which carries
far-reaching wisdom. Grasping aspects of God’s wisdom requires learning,
spiritual insight and experience. Thus, for a Muslim, it is not to be
refuted simply because they run contrary to some modern sentiments.
It should be added that although there are biological and social
differences between the genders, the Prophet’s ethics connect man and
woman in a very significant way: in their pursuit of good works. The two
are meant to be agents of good and help one another in doing what is
ultimately virtuous. The Qur’an not only endows women with the lofty
ideals of attaining virtue and knowledge but also inextricably links the
function of men with that of women; thus one gender is not privileged
over another. In describing the relationship of a husband to his wife,
the Qur’an says
You are a garment to her and she is a garment to you. (Al-Baqarah 2:187)
Both are to be mutually supportive in the pursuit of good. The
Prophet not only treated women fairly and equally but also raised her
status in a society that treated women as a curse and as inferior. This
was a society that buried alive newly born girls to protect a skewed
view of honor.
Two critical instances demonstrate the care and rank he assigned to
women. First, at the time of his death, when one would be concerned with
the most significant of matters, the Prophet strongly advised his
companions to treat women gently and compassionately.
Another occasion was his farewell speech on his only Pilgrimage which
was reportedly attended by one hundred and twenty thousand people. He
purposely used that unique and rare occasion to instruct his companions
to treat women fairly and compassionately, lest people go back to their
old and unjust practices.
Hundreds of examples can be cited from his own life that show how he
treated women compassionately and with utmost dignity and respect. He
showed respect and dignity not only towards Muslim women but also
non-Muslim women as well. Women from various backgrounds, race and
colors found in him a refuge and a merciful protector. This claim can be
substantiated by many incidents which are beyond the scope of this
article.
He taught them that “women are exactly like men.” This is an explicit
statement from the Prophet proclaiming the equality of women and men in
status and rank. Once a person came to the Prophet and asked, “Who
deserves my best rapport?” The Prophet replied, “Your mother”. The
person repeated the question three times and the Prophet repeated the
same answer. On the fourth time he said: “Your father.” (Al-Bukhari) To
those unfamiliar with Arabic expression, the Prophet’s answering “your
father” on the fourth occasion indicates the lofty status of motherhood
over fatherhood, and the highly regarded status of women in Islam.
On another occasion he said “A believer must not hate a believing woman.
If he does not like an aspect of her character, he should like
another.’’ (Muslim) Whenever his daughter Fatimah would come to his
home, he would stand to greet her, kiss her, and seat her in his place.
Whenever he visited her she would do the same: stand up to greet him,
kiss him and seat him in her place. Old women, slave girls, and women
who many would consider unimportant were able to take his hand and go
around the streets of Medina to fulfill some of their needs. In the
Prophet they would always find a helping hand; such was his humbleness,
tenderness and mercy towards women.
Hundreds of examples can be cited from his own life that show how he
treated women compassionately and with the utmost dignity and respect.
He showed respect and dignity not only towards Muslim women and women of
his community, but also to non-Muslim women and outsiders alike. Women
from various backgrounds, races and ages, found in him refuge and mercy.
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Source: Taken from the author’s book “Ten Questions and Answers about the Prophet Muhammad.”
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