WOMEN IN ISLAM

WOMEN IN HISTORY AND TODAY in any human society. There may be many such workplaces that are best suited to the talents and aptitudes of women. The Prophet’s wives are role models for women in Islam. We learn that the women of those days participated in all kinds of religious and worldly activities while preserving their femininity. For instance, the Prophet’s wife, Aisha, having gained full knowledge of Islam from the Prophet, was able, after the death of the Prophet, to perform the task of teacher and guide to the Muslim community for about fifty years. Umar Farooq, the second caliph of Islam, once made a speech in Madinah as a caliph. During the speech, an ordinary woman of Madinah rose to tell him that what he had said was not by the Quran. Umar Farooq, in deference to her opinion, changed his statement forthwith and thanked the woman. These instances tell us how high a place is accorded to women in Islam. It is true that in actual practice, we find many examples of women not being granted their rightful status in present Muslim society. But so far as the actual teachings of Islam are concerned, there is no discrimination between men and women. GENDER EQUALITY In a seminar in Delhi, I met a retired Judge who asked, “Maulana Sahab, do you know what the weakest point in Islam is? Islam does not admit gender equality!”