4. THE STATUS OF WOMAN

4. The status of woman ~ 59 ~ people to increase the amount of dower, whereas God says in His book: O believers, it is unlawful for you ... to force them to give up a part of what you have given them ...”49 The woman had actually misquoted the text, but ‘Umar did not choose to assert himself and simply said, “Everyone knows more than ‘Umar.”50 With these words he relented on the question of the dower. Here was a common woman criticizing the ruler of an empire, and the latter withdrawing his words. The right of absolute freedom of expression as we find in this incident, is a clear indication that woman has been granted her full rights in Islamic society. 49. Qur’an, 4:20. 50. Al-Baihaqi, as-Sunan al-Kubra, Kitab as-Sudadq, 7/533. HOME MANAGEMENT IS NOT AN INFERIOR TASK A certain woman called Nasibah once came to the Prophet Muhammad and said: “O Messenger of God, Men have excelled in meriting the rewards of