WOMAN’S ROLE IN ISLAM

WOMAN’S ROLE IN ISLAM Equal Status, Different Role T HE Quran calls Islam a religion of nature. This is because Islam is, in fact, based on the laws of nature. The commands of the Quran are a direct expression of those laws which have operated in the world of nature since its creation. The teachings of Islam regarding women are based on the same laws of nature. Accepting them is not akin to the acceptance of general human laws, where both acceptance and refusal are possible. The rejection of Islamic laws as regards women is actually a rejection of the laws of nature, and by doing so, man can never successfully construct his life in the present world. Study of the Quran and Hadith informs us that one of the laws of nature is that all the things in the world have been created in the form of pairs. The Quran states: And We created pairs of all things so that you might reflect. (51: 49) The scientific study of the universe has further corroborated this law of nature. The primary unit of the universe, the atom, is composed of negative and positive particles. In the absence of any one of the two, the atom cannot come into existence. Even trees have male and female characteristics. The whole world is said to exist in pairs. Nature’s entire factory has functioned all along on this binary basis. The gender binarism shows that if anything in this world is to function properly, it must first recognize its true position and adhere strictly to the limits set for it by nature itself. For instance, if the negative particles of atoms tried to change themselves into positive particles, or vice versa, the entire structure of the atom would be shattered. In a similar way, if men, animals and trees wanted a change in their position and they opted for a change in their roles—the entire system of nature would be disrupted. Islamic law regarding women is rooted in this system of nature. According to Islam, men and women are equal as regards honour and status, but physically, biologically and psychologically they are different. In order to maintain the system of nature between men and women socially, Islam advocates that women should work in their capacity while remaining within the bounds of modesty and piety thereby ensuring their safety in every way.