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Womens' Rights in Islam

The concept of equality between Men and Women in Islam
The Nature of the relation between Man and Woman in Islam

The relation between men and women in Islam was explained in details in the holy Quran and by Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him. It is based on love, compassion and integration not competition.


A- In the holy Quran

In the holy Quran the presence of a wife is considered a sign of Allah. The holy Quran states: “And one of His signs is that He created mates for you from yourselves that you may find rest in them, and He put between you love and compassion; most surely there are signs in this for a people who reflect." (Al-Ruum:21)

“O people! be careful of (your duty to) your Lord, Who created you from a single being and created its mate of the same (kind) and spread from these two, many men and women; and be careful of (your duty to) Allah, by Whom you demand one of another (your rights), and (to) the ties of relationship; surely Allah ever watches over you." (Al-Nissa:1)

Also in Islam marriage is considered as a garment that gives protection, warmth, comfort and decency. A husband and wife offer each other intimacy, comfort and protection from committing adultery.

“It is made lawful for you to have sexual relations with your wives on the night of As-Saum (the fasts). They are Libas [i.e. body cover, or screen, or Sakan, (i.e. you enjoy the pleasure of living with her - as in Verse 7:189) Tafsir At-Tabari], for you and you are the same for them." (AlBaqaraa:187)

The holy Quran states: "And they (women) have rights similar to those (of men) over them, and men are a degree above them." (2:228).

Such degree is Quiwama (maintenance and protection). This refers to that natural difference between the sexes which entitles the weaker sex to protection. It implies no superiority or advantage before the law. Yet, man's role of leadership in relation to his family does not mean the husband's dictatorship over his wife.

Islam emphasizes the importance of taking counsel and mutual agreement in family decisions. The Qur'an gives us an example: "...If they (husband wife) desire to wean the child by mutual consent and (after) consultation, there is no blame on them..." (Qur'an 2: 233).

The holy Quran states: "...But consort with them in kindness, for if you hate them it may happen that you hate a thing wherein God has placed much good." (4: l9).


B- In the teachings of Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him

In the teachings of Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him, he empathized that a man should kindly treat his wife

Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him, said: “The best of you is the best to his family and I am the best among you to my family". Also: "The most perfect believers are the best in conduct and best of you are those who are best to their wives".

Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him, encouraged marriage and assured its importance.

Some of Prophet Muhammad’s sayings that encourage marriage are [all the following hadiths are found in Sahih Bukhari, Volume 7, Wedlock, Marriage (Nikaah), Book 62]

  • Hadith Number 1: Narrated Anas bin Malik: A group of three men came to the houses of the wives of the Prophet asking how the Prophet worshipped (Allah), and when they were informed about that, they considered their worship insufficient and said, "Where are we from the Prophet as his past and future sins have been forgiven."
    Then one of them said, "I will offer the prayer throughout the night forever."
    The other said, "I will fast throughout the year and will not break my fast."
    The third said, "I will keep away from the women and will not marry forever."
    Allah's Apostle came to them and said, "Are you the same people who said so-and-so? By Allah, I am more submissive to Allah and more afraid of Him than you; yet I fast and break my fast, I do sleep and I also marry women. So he who does not follow my tradition in religion, is not from me (not one of my followers)."
  • Hadith Number 4: Narrated 'Abdullah: We were with the Prophet while we were young and had no wealth whatever. So Allah's Apostle said, "O young people! Whoever among you can marry, should marry, because it helps him lower his gaze and guard his modesty (i.e. his private parts from committing illegal sexual intercourse etc.), and whoever is not able to marry, should fast, as fasting diminishes his sexual power." I.e. Even poverty is not considered an excuse not to marry
  • Hadith Number 80: Narrated Sahl bin Sad: The Prophet said to a man, "Marry, even with a (Mahr) equal to an iron ring." (Mahr is the dower of the bride)
  • Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him, showed the base on which to choose the right wife. It is her piety. Hadith Number 27: Narrated Abu Huraira: The Prophet said, "A woman is married for four things, i.e., her wealth, her family status, her beauty and her religion. So you should marry the religious woman (otherwise) you will be a losers.
  • Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him, encouraged Muslims to have children and he cared a lot for these children and emphathized their rights. Even before they are born, before the husband has sexual intercourse with his wife he has to say a certain supplication where he asks Allah Almighty to protect the may-be offspring from Satan (Shaitan) He says in Hadith Number 94: Narrated Ibn Abbas: The Prophet said, "If anyone of you, when having sexual intercourse with his wife, says: (Bismillah, Allahumma jannibni-ish-Shaitan wa jannib-ish-Shaitan ma razaqtana) Which means : In the name of Allah, Thanks to Allah, O’Allah keep me away from Satan and keep Satan away from what you have bestowed on us[meaning off springs]. This is a supplication for seeking Allah’s protection against Satan and that if it is destined that they should have a child, then Satan will never be able to harm him.
  • It is important in Islam that a wedding banquet is made so that people would know of the marriage because in Islam secret marriages are not acceptable. Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him said the following hadiths on how this wedding banquet should be made

  • Hadith Number 106: Narrated Abu Huraira: The worst food is that of a wedding banquet to which only the rich are invited while the poor are not invited. And he who refuses an invitation (to a banquet) disobeys Allah and His Apostle .
  • Hadith Number 108: Narrated Nafi': Abdullah bin 'Umar said, "Allah's Apostle said, 'Accept the marriage invitation if you are invited to it.' " Ibn 'Umar used to accept the invitation whether to a wedding banquet or to any other party, even when he was fasting.
  • Hadith Number 116: Narrated 'Abdullah bin 'Umar: The Prophet said, "Everyone of you is a guardian and everyone of you is responsible (for his wards). A ruler is a guardian and is responsible(for his subjects); a man is a guardian of his family and responsible (for them); a wife is a guardian of her husband's house and she is responsible (for it), a slave is a guardian of his master's property and is responsible (for that). Beware! All of you are guardians and are responsible (for your wards)."
  • Hadith Number 120: Narrated Abu Huraira: The Prophet said, "A woman should not fast (optional fasts) except with her husband's permission if he is at home (staying with her)."
  • Hadith Number 121: Narrated Abu Huraira: The Prophet said, "If a man Invites his wife to sleep with him and she refuses to come to him, then the angels send their curses on her till morning."
  • Hadith Number 127: Narrated 'Abdullah bin 'Amr bin Al-'As: Allah's Apostle said, "O 'Abdullah! Have I not been formed that you fast all the day and stand in prayer all night?" I said, "Yes, O Allah's Apostle!" He said, "Do not do that! Observe the fast sometimes and also leave them (the fast) at other times; stand up for the prayer at night and also sleep at night. Your body has a right over you, your eyes have a right over you and your wife has a right over you."
  • Hadith Number 132: Narrated 'Abdullah bin Zam'a: The Prophet said, "None of you should flog his wife as he flogs a slave and then have sexual intercourse with her in the last part of the day."
  • Hadith Number 144: Narrated 'Aisha: that during his fatal ailment, Allah's Apostle, used to ask his wives, "Where shall I stay tomorrow? Where shall I stay tomorrow?" He was looking forward to Aisha's turn. So all his wives allowed him to stay where he wished, and he stayed at 'Aisha's house till he died there. 'Aisha added: He died on the day of my usual turn at my house. Allah took him unto Him while his head was between my chest and my neck and his saliva was mixed with my saliva.
  • Hadith Number 152: Narrated Anas: While the Prophet was in the house of one of his wives, one of the mothers of the believers sent a meal in a dish. The wife at whose house the Prophet was, struck the hand of the servant, causing the dish to fall and break. The Prophet gathered the broken pieces of the dish and then started collecting on them the food which had been in the dish and said, "Your mother (my wife) felt jealous." Then he detained the servant till a (sound) dish was brought from the wife at whose house he was. He gave the sound dish to the wife whose dish had been broken and kept the broken one at the house where it had been broken.