The Respect for Woman in Islam

In the Islamic society the woman has an honored position and,
beside her legal and civil rights, enjoys special respect, love,
affection and the gentle feelings which she deserves
most.

Is she not the compassionate mother, the beloved wife and the
affectionate daughter? The best expression of this reality is
provided by the following verses from the Glorious
Qur'an.

"And We have enjoined man concerning his parents - His mother
bears him in weakness upon weakness, and his weaning takes two years
- Be grateful to Me and to your parents. To Me is the eventual
coming. And
they strive with you to make you associate with Me that of
which you have no knowledge, do not obey them. Keep company with
them in the world kindly, and follow the path of him who repents to
Me. Then to Me is your return, and I shall inform you of what you
did."

The Holy Qur'an (31: 14&15)

"And We have commanded man to be kind towards his parents.
With trouble did his mother bear him, with trouble did she bring him
forth; and the bearing of him and the weaning of him was thirty
months; until
when he attains his maturity and reaches forty years, he
says: My Lord! Arouse me that I may give thanks for your favour
which you have bestowed upon me and my parents, and that I may do
good which pleases you. And be gracious to me in the matter of my
offspring. Surely I turn to you and surely I am of those who submit
(Muslims)".

The Holy Qur'an (46:15)

"Your Lord has decreed that you worship none save Him, and
(you show) kindness to parents. If one them or both of them reach
old age with you, say not Fie' to them nor repulse them, but speak
to them a generous word, And make yourself submissively gentle with
compassion and say: Oh, Lord! Have mercy on them both as they did
care for me (when I was) little."

The Holy Qur'an (17: 23&24)

"And of His signs is this: He created mates for you from
yourselves that you may find rest in them, and He ordained between
you love and mercy. Most surely there are signs in this for a people
who reflect."

Holy Qur'an (30: 21)

"...And treat them (women) kindly..."

Holy Qur'an (4: 19)

"...And they (women) have rights similar to those (of men)
over them in a just manner..."

Holy Qur'an (2: 228)

"When you have divorced women, and they have reached their
prescribed term, then either retain them in honour or release them
in kindness..."

Holy Qur'an (2: 231)

The Traditions of the Prophet, like the Qur'an, also lay
emphasis on the honor and status of the woman and grants her a
respectable place in society. When a Tradition speaks of a woman and
her social position, it surrounds her with a frame of love,
endearment and affection, especially when it speaks of the mother,
the wife and the daughter.

The Messenger of Allah (s.a.w.), addressing the Muslims on
the occasion of the farewell Pilgrimage warned them against the
values which he feared would be neglected after him, and referred to
woman as one of the important issues about whom he
said:

"Observe your duty to Allah in respect to the women, and
recommend them to be well treated."

According to the Imam Jafar Al-Sadiq (a.s.), the Prophet
stressed his proximity to woman and her position in his life, by
saying:

"It is of the manner of the Prophets to love
women."

He is also quoted to have said:

"I do not think that a man gets better in faith without
loving women better."

A
man once sought the Imam Al-Sadiq's (a.s.) advice concerning women,
saying that as his wife, who was agreeable to him, had died, he
wanted to marry again.

The Imam told him, "See where you put yourself, whom you take
as a partner in your life, and to whom you disclose your religion
and secrets. So, if you have to, then marry a virgin known to be
righteous and of good behavior".

A
man came to the Prophet (s.a.w.) and asked him, "O Messenger of
Allah! Whom should I be more dutiful to?"

The Prophet (s.a.w.) replied, "To your mother." He asked,
"Then to whom?" He replied, "To your mother." The man again asked,
"Then to whom?" The prophet said, "To your father."

It is narrated that a foster-sister of the Prophet (s.a.w.)
visited him one day. He was very pleased with her, spread out his
cloak for her to sit on, and conversed with her merrily. After she
went away, her brother arrived, but the Prophet did not receive him
as warmly as he had received his sister, Later on when some one
asked him the reason

for receiving the sister more courteously than her brother,
although a man, the Prophet replied, "Because she was more dutiful
to her parents
than he."

Abu Khadijah quotes the Imam Al- Sadiq (a.s.) as
follows:

"A man came to the Prophet and told him," "A girl was born to
me. I brought her up till she reached puberty, I then dressed her,
adorned her, brought her to a well and pushed her into it. The last
thing I heard was her pitiful cry: O father!' So, what atonement
may I offer?"

The Prophet asked him, "Is your mother alive?" He replied,
"No." He asked, "Do you have an aunt? He said, "Yes," The Prophet
instructed him, "Then be dutiful to her, as she is like a mother,
this will be your atonement for what you have done."

Abu Khadijah asked the Imam; "When the incident took place?"
He replied, "During the period of Ignorance. As they used to kill
the girls for fear that they would be taken captive and give birth
to

their children among other people".

The Imam Al-Sadiq (a.s.) is also quoted to have
said:

"Whoever provides sustenance for three girls or three
sisters, Paradise will surely be his." He was asked. "What if two?
He said," Even if two. "He was also asked." What if one? "He said,
Even if one.'

The Imam Abu Al-Hasan Al-Rida (a.s.) is quoted to have
said:

"The Prophet (S.A.) said "Allah the Exalted is more kind to
females than males. Whoever brings pleasure to a woman of his close
relatives, Allah will please him on the Judgement
Day".

The Imam Al-Sadiq (a.s.) said:

"Sons are a favor and daughters are good deeds, Allah
questions about the favors, but rewards the good
deeds."

The above were some of the examples from Islamic texts
concerning woman. It is clear that Islam has called her to be
honored, affectionately treated and cared for in an unprecedented
way, which no

other civilization, culture and society has ever
done.

What we have just related is a proof of the spirit of Islam,
which came to honor mankind, protect their rights and to spread the
wings
of mercy all over the world.

We have not sent you but as a mercy to the
worlds."

The Holy Qur'an (21: 107)

Therefore, Islam, through the above-mentioned text, speaks
respectfully of woman- the mother, the wife, the daughter, the
sister, endears her and takes care of her, stressing her being
worthy of affection, mercy and generosity. It recommends woman
before recommending man. It regards the love of woman as a sign of
faith.

Nay, it even raises this love of woman to the level of being
a prophetic conduct', and it looks at her as a trustee who looks
after a person's wealth, religion and secrets.