Mankind consists of men and women. Both of them have
contributed to the development of
human civilization throughout ages. Before
the advent of Islam women were in a very low position. They were
treated like animals. It was considered that women are created only to serve
men. Islam raised women’s status from chattels and playthings to respectable
human beings, equal to men in all respects. Islam has granted definite rights
to women as daughters, sisters, mothers and wives. Islam has granted woman due
social and economic rights, elevated her status, and provided moral and legal
safeguards in its system for the protection of her rights and status. Woman
enjoys the rights to inheritance from her husband, father, children and other
near relations. All this wealth is her own property
and she can use it, invest it, or give it away to others in any manner as she
wishes. She has complete freedom to choose her husband and no one has the right
to marry her to anyone without her consent. In Islam women have the same right
as men to acquire knowledge. In fact, Islam has given real freedom and emancipation to women and elevated
them to the status of humanity with dignity, honour and grace. It is said in
the holy Quran: “O mankind! fear your Lord Who created you from a single soul
and from it created its mate.” (Sura Nisa: Ayat 1) “O mankind! Indeed I (Allah)
have created you from male and female and made you people and tribes that you
may know one another.” (Sura Hujurat: Ayat 13). In holy Quran we see that Allah
Jalla Shanuhu says: “Men shall have the benefit of what they earn and women
shall have the benefit of what they earn.” (Sura Nisa: Ayat 32). Allah Jalla
Shanuhu says: “I never let go to waste the labour of anyone who works among you
whether male or female, for in My sight all of you are alike.” (Sura Al-Imran:
Ayat 195). Islam has changed the mentality not only of men about women, but
also of women about themselves.
The writer is an Islamic
Thinker and a former Director, Islamic Foundation, Bangladesh.
0 comments:
Post a Comment