The question that is frequently asked is: “What is feminism really?” A general definition tells us that: ‘Feminism is believing in the idea of equality of men and women.’ It is the belief that men and women are neither superior nor inferior to each other.
Most of us when we hear the words ‘Islam’ and ‘feminism’ consider both ideologies to be opposite of each other which cannot be intertwined in any way. This is because the masses do not have enough knowledge about Islam. Islam is taken as a religion which suppresses the rights of women. Generally, people think women are oppressed and victimized in Islam. Those who truly understand Islam know that it is a religion of peace and equality giving equal rights to men and women. It neither prefers men over women nor women over men unless in certain circumstances as per the wisdom of our Creator.
Allah (عَزَّوَجَلَّ) says in the Qur’an:
يَا أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ اتَّقُوا رَبَّكُمُ الَّذِي خَلَقَكُم مِّن نَّفْسٍ وَاحِدَةٍ وَخَلَقَ مِنْهَا زَوْجَهَا وَبَثَّ مِنْهُمَا رِجَالًا كَثِيرًا وَنِسَاءً ۚ وَاتَّقُوا اللَّـهَ الَّذِي تَسَاءَلُونَ بِهِ وَالْأَرْحَامَ ۚ إِنَّ اللَّـهَ كَانَ عَلَيْكُمْ رَقِيبًا ﴿١﴾
“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. And fear Allah, through whom you ask one another, and the wombs. Indeed Allah is ever, over you, an Observer.”
[An-Nisa:1]
Allah (عَزَّوَجَلَّ) clearly here that there is no superiority of one sex over the other. They are created from single soul. Men and women will be equally judged for their deeds. There is no concession either for men or women at the Day of Judgment.
Allah (عَزَّوَجَلَّ) Himself states:
أَنِّي لَا أُضِيعُ عَمَلَ عَامِلٍ مِّنكُم مِّن ذَكَرٍ أَوْ أُنثَىٰ ۖ بَعْضُكُم مِّن بَعْضٍ
“Never will I allow to be lost the work of [any] worker among you, whether male or female; you are of one another.
[Al-i-Imran: 195]
The so-called feminists who mislead and misguide people about Islam say that Islam and feminism cannot be intertwined. Though, Islam is the religion which gives equal rights to women in society. It fixes the portion for women in inheritance and in fact upholds their rights and not the opposite.
Allah (عَزَّوَجَلَّ) says in Qur’an:
يُوصِيكُمُ اللَّـهُ فِي أَوْلَادِكُمْ ۖ لِلذَّكَرِ مِثْلُ حَظِّ الْأُنثَيَيْنِ ۚ فَإِن كُنَّ نِسَاءً فَوْقَ اثْنَتَيْنِ فَلَهُنَّ ثُلُثَا مَا تَرَكَ ۖ وَإِن كَانَتْ وَاحِدَةً فَلَهَا النِّصْفُ ۚ
“Allah instructs you concerning your children: for the male, what is equal to the share of two females. But if there are [only] daughters, two or more, for them is two thirds of one’s estate. And if there is only one, for her is half…”
[An-Nisa:11]
Islam has given women a share of inheritance, whether she is a wife a mother or a daughter. She receives a certain share of the deceased’s property depending on her relationship with the deceased.
In case of marriage, women have complete authority to accept or reject proposals. Women’s consent is prerequisite to the validity of the contract of marriage.
Abu Huraira (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ) reported Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) as having said:
“A woman without a husband (or divorced or a widow) must not be married until she is consulted, and a virgin must not be married until her permission is sought. They asked the Prophet of Allah (ﷺ): How her (virgin’s) consent can be solicited? He ﷺ said: That she keeps silence.”
(Sahih Muslim 1419a)
Islam gives complete freedom of expression to women. Women can express their thoughts, ideas, feelings and emotions just like the men. Allah (عَزَّوَجَلَّ) has created women delicate in nature therefore Allah (عَزَّوَجَلَّ) made men as their guardians and protectors.
Allah (عَزَّوَجَلَّ) says:
الرِّجَالُ قَوَّامُونَ عَلَى النِّسَاءِ بِمَا فَضَّلَ اللَّـهُ بَعْضَهُمْ عَلَىٰ بَعْضٍ وَبِمَا أَنفَقُوا مِنْ أَمْوَالِهِمْ ۚ
Men are in charge of women by [right of] what Allah has given one over the other and what they spend [for maintenance] from their wealth.
[An-Nisa:34]
Allah (عَزَّوَجَلَّ) made men as guardians of women. This does not mean that that can behave obstinately with women. Allah (عَزَّوَجَلَّ) guided men to behave nicely with their wives, daughters and their mothers.
In a hadith we learn Ayesha (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ) reported, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said,
“The best of you are the best to their families, and I am the best to my family.”
(Sunan At-Tirmidhī 3895)
Allah (عَزَّوَجَلَّ) made daughters as rahmah (mercy).
Allah (عَزَّوَجَلَّ) further says:
هُنَّ لِبَاسٌ لَّكُمْ وَأَنتُمْ لِبَاسٌ لَّهُنَّ ۗ
They are clothing for you and you are clothing for them.
]ٓAl-Baqara:187]
Abu Hurairah (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ) reported: A person came to Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) and asked,
“O Messenger of Allah! Who is most deserving of my fine treatment?” He ﷺ said, “Your mother, then your mother, then your mother, then your father, then your nearest, then nearest”.
(Al-Bukhari and Muslim)
In the last sermon of the Prophet ﷺ (Khutbah tul Wada), he ﷺ said: “Do treat you women well and be kind to them, for they are your partners and committed helpers.”
In the light of hadiths and Qu’ran it is clearly justified that women are given equal rights in Islam. Women are privileged in different aspects. A woman does not have to work and help husband in the expenses. Hence, she is designed in a way where she has the ability to bear children and become a nurturing mother.
Islam gives women more honor and recognition than any other religion to women There is a dire need to correct the concept of ‘feminism’ related to Islam to people. Our religion is the religion of equality and tranquility which supports women in every aspect and gives respect and dignity to women.
