Zeenut Ziad, an MWC speaker
and member of our local community participated in an interfaith panel on March 26, 2006 in Arlington at the event: Women
of Faith- Celebrating a Day of Unity
The role
of women in Islam
As I contemplated this question - the position
of women and men – what came immediately to mind was: Equal and privileged in different realms. This will become clear as I
share some facts about Islam with you.
What are the main beliefs of a Muslim?
The
first article of faith is the belief in One, Absolute, Transcendent God who created the universe. Muslims believe in Mohammad
(peace be upon him) as God’s Messenger. They believe in all His Prophets and their holy Books, in angels and in the Day of Judgment.
From this it follows:
- Since God is the Creator, everything
else is created. Therefore, if we are all His creation, we must be equal in our createdness
regardless of gender, race, religion or color.
- Human beings were placed on earth to
obey God’s moral law through our actions, for which we will be accountable
to Him on the Day of Judgment.
- If He created all humanity equal then
everyone must receive His moral law. He, therefore, sent Prophets and Messengers to every corner of the world. Muslims believe
124,000 Messengers were sent and we revere them all. Muslims particularly love and revere Abraham, Moses and Jesus and the
holy Bible and Torah.
- Moral law and accountability demand free will. I must be able to choose between right and wrong if I am to be judged.
In addition, to understand the moral law, I must possess reason.
- Therefore, every Muslim has to take full responsibility for his or her actions, which should be to use our God-given
talents for the benefit of humanity.
- There is no clergy in Islam, since
all human beings have to forge their own relationship with God and all paths to God are valid.
- Clear as a bell is the command of the
Quran, “Let there be no compulsion in religion.” (2:256)
So, in the context of faith, there is no distinction between any Muslim, man
or woman. Everyone has the same rights and obligations. Everyone can enjoy God’s bounties and is promised the same rewards
in heaven.
The Quran illustrates this through the
story of Adam and Eve. They were created together from one cell, both broke the moral law together, both repented and both
were forgiven. Thereafter, both had to earn God’s pleasure through good
actions on earth.
Within the context of society, Muslim women and men are privileged in different realms. There is no blind equality because,
under Islam, the foundation of social order is the family, not the individual and, therefore, there are different obligations,
depending on age and gender.
Over 1400 years ago, during the time of
the Prophet, what was the status of women? A few points should make this clear:
- A woman did not take her father’s
name or her husband’s, because she was an individual in her own right.
- She could inherit and own property and
dispose of it as she wished.
- She had a right to education and to work.
She could keep her income and her husband was still required to care for her. In the absence of a husband, the male members
of her family were obligated to look after her (even if she worked).
- She exercised her religious choice by
taking the pledge of faith on the Prophet’s hand.
- She could choose her husband, stipulate
conditions in the marriage contract and divorce him unconditionally. If she was not satisfied with his sexual performance
she could also lodge a complaint about that, and get him to change!
- The inviolable status of mothers was
set forever when the Prophet declared, in one of his most famous sayings, “Heaven lies beneath the feet of a mother”.
The Prophet’s marriage to Khadija
(peace be upon her) set a precedent which even today is considered too progressive. This confident, independent lady was a
successful businesswoman. The Prophet was her employee. She was so impressed with his character that she proposed marriage
to him. Twice widowed, she was then 40 years old and 15 years his senior. They were blissfully happy for 25 years until her
death and he remained devoted to her memory for the rest of his life. She was the first person to accept Islam and was his
counselor and support in the long years he suffered terrible persecution and hardship.
That was the role model Muslims were given.
But ask any male today, whatever his religion, if this is his ideal and we all know the answer! Recent studies done in the
US prove this fact. Muslim men, too, have a very long way to go to even approach
their Prophet’s path-breaking ways.
Tell us what it is about
your faith that has meant the most to you. Share your inspiration
or prayer for the unity of all women of faith.
What has meant the most to me is the message
of humanism and universalism in Islam, because it has liberated me and allowed me to embrace and enjoy everyone and everything
in this world.
When we stereotype people or consider them
the “Other”, we, of course, hurt them for which we will answer to God. But equally, we imprison ourselves; we
limit and constrain our thoughts and behavior; and most of all we deprive ourselves of the incredible richness and diversity
that different individuals and different cultures and traditions can bring to our lives.
Let me read a verse (49:13) from the Quran,
which is addressed to all humankind, not to Muslims alone.
“O men! Behold, We have created
you all out of a male and a female, and have made you into nations and tribes so that you might come to know one another.
Verily, the noblest of you in the sight of God, is the one who is most deeply conscious of Him. Behold, God is all-knowing,
all-aware.”
This verse states clearly that all humans
are created equal, and their outward diversity is meant to foster understanding and appreciation of their essential oneness.
Everyone will be judged equally, on their own actions.
Extolling God’s wonders, another
verse (30:22) declares:
“And among His wonders is the creation
of the heavens and the earth, and the diversity of your tongues and colours; for in this, behold, there are messages indeed
for all who are possessed of [innate] knowledge!”
Note: The translations of the verses
of the Quran are from “The Message of the Quran”, translated and explained by Muhammad Asad.1980.
