Islam and Women

Islam and Women

1998 9-10 September-October 22-25 Islam and Women (1076) Islam, one of the most misunderstood religions, is essentially dynamic. It is wrong to say that it is antifeminist and does not encourage change. A dispassionate study of its basic tenets would make it exceedingly clear that its sole purpose is to enable both men and women to follow the straight path leading to peace and bliss in this world as well as in the world to come.

In order to have a correct understanding of women’s status in Islam we should first address the question – Is the idea of change and adaptation to a new environment created by the passage of time obnoxious to it?

Every question whether it is the abrogation of the age-old infamous law of polygamy as envisaged by the apex court in its recent judgement or any other suitable alteration to be made in the Shariat Act has to be answered with reference to the question posed above.

To begin with, Islam is not opposed to change if it is in the interest of the common people inhabiting the globe. We cannot sidetrack the fact that Islam was necessitated by the momentous changes that were taking place in Arabia.

Those who insist that each and every word written in the Holy Book is to be followed irrespective of the changed circumstances are certainly mistaken in their belief. Change is the law of Nature and to set one’s face against the wind of change sweeping across the world today is to do violence to one’s reason. It is not necessary to follow every word written in the sacred books without a frame of reference to the time when it was conceived and acted upon for the benefit of the contemporary society. Those words may have no use for us today and, therefore, to insist on their observance is not just and proper.

The Holy Qur’an enjoins on us the sacred task of following only those verses which are basic to it; if anybody follows the verses which are not its foundation, he is charged with perversity. It categorically lays down:

“In it are some verses basic or fundamental. They are the foundation of the Book; others are allegorical. But those in whose hearts is perversity follow the part thereof that is allegorical seeking discord and searching for its hidden meanings. (Sura 3: Verse 7).

The condition of women in the Muslim world in seventh century AD was appalling. By and large women were treated as goods and chattel. Female infanticide was in vogue. Both the Holy Qur’an and the Sunnah condemn this evil practice in the strongest possible words. The Qur’an says: “Kill not your children on a plea of want. We provide sustenance for you and for them.” It further says: “Verily the killing of them is a great sin.” It was Islam which, for the first time in the history of the world, took bold steps to outlaw the cruel practice of female infanticide.

Prophet Muhammad made no distinction between men and women. His sons died young and the children who continued to live were all daughters. He looked after them with great love and care as if to set an example for others to emulate. He said: “Whoever has a daughter and does not bury her alive scold her or prefer his male children to her may God bring him into paradise.” According to a hadith the Prophet had once articulated that the greatest human virtue is to do good to one’s daughter after she has been returned by her husband. It is a totally wrong belief that polygamy had been introduced by Islam. It is a fact that every civilised nation had practised polygamy in the past. Till 1955 polygamy was in vogue in Hindu society. It was an approved form of marriage in Christendom only a few hundred years ago.

The custom of polygamous marriage still exists in many parts of the world. In our neighbouring country, Tibet, for example, a woman is allowed to marry a number of men. Thus polygamy and polyandry have been existing side by side.

Islam did not encourage plural marriage on the contrary, it restricted the number of wives to four. Even this liberty to marry more than one woman was made subject to the rule that one could not take more than one wife if he was not sure of giving equal and just treatment to all of them. The Holy Qur’an is very clear on this point. It lays down; “Marry women of your choice, two or three, or four; but if you fear that you shall not be able to deal justly (with them), then only one.”

Muslim personal laws are not entirely scriptural. Most of these laws are of recent origin. The Shariat Act, for instance, was enacted by the British legislature in 1937 and later on came to be regarded as the Muslim Personal Law. Many of its provisions relating to marriage, divorce, inheritance, maintenance and custody of children are outdated and require timely alteration without touching the fundamental rules of conduct enjoined on the whole mankind by the Holy Book and the Hadith.

Notwithstanding the natural differences between men and women Islam accords equal status to them. Besides conferring innumerable rights on women, Islam has enhanced their prestige in family and community. At the time of Prophet Muhammad women were exhorted to act as Imams and could lead congregational prayer.

The Prophet was very emphatic on giving respect to women He said, “A Muslim must not hate his wife and if he be displeased with one bad quality in her, let him be pleased with another which is good.” “Heaven lies at the feet of mother” this and other sayings of the Prophet show his mental attitude towards women in general

After the passing away of Prophet Muhammad around 632 AD the strong edifice of women’s rights started to crumble down.

Although the Qur’anic legislation sought to improve women’s status considerably, many evil practices crept into society. Triple divorce in one sitting is one such evil. The conferment of absolute right on the husband to divorce his wife at will cannot be justified. This practice is not in conformity with the true Islamic principles relating to dissolution of marriage.

Time has come to understand and interpret Islamic laws correctly and to do away with discrimination based on sex, place of birth, colour, creed and caste.

(By Himanshu Shekhar Jha, The Hindustan Times, June 26, 1995).