THE Constitution of Pakistan states that men and women are to be given their fundamental rights without any discrimination. It is also in concurrence with the Islamic viewpoint of the rights of both sexes. Needless to say, in the development and prosperity of any country, empowering women and protecting their rights is of pivotal importance. However, in today’s patriarchal world, women suffer a lot; they are even denied their fundamental rights.
In today’s male-dominated world, there are a myriad of problems women are faced with. They face humiliation, subjugation and brutal treatment at the hands of men. They suffer privations and domestic violence and are the victim of so-called ‘honour’ killing. They do not have access even to their own legal and constitutional rights and their self-expression is overtly and covertly denied. Most importantly and most worryingly too, they are the victim of sexual violence and rape.
Women bear the wrath of men and are made a scapegoat for their mischievous acts. The incidents of woman sufferings — killing after rape, domestic and sexual violence, oppression, bullying, honour killing, sexual harassment, intimidation, etc.—have been occurring blatantly. Along with this, misogyny is on its pinnacle in today’s’ modern’ society. And Pakistanis no exception. Incidents of sexual violence and killing after rape, especially of minor girls, occur every other day.
Islam, the religion of peace and a torch-bearer of women’s rights, strongly condemns such vile acts. It teaches us goodness, tolerance and mutual respect. It confutes harsh and animalistic treatment of women. Rather, it not only obliges men to treat women fairly, but also praises those who treat women fairly. The Last Prophet (PBUH) said: “Best amongst you is he who is good to his wife” (Tirmizi). This hadith shows that the gauge of man’s humanity in an Islamic society is his fair treatment of his wife.
In conservative societies, such as ours, women are oppressed by and considered inferior to, men. However, Islam does not allow such acts. It rather despises those who commit such heinous acts. Islam is the religion of parity and equality. It does not make woman subservient to man. Muslim woman (wife) owes as much rights to man (husband) as he owes back to her. The Holy Quran states: “And the believers, men and women, are guardians of one another. They encourage good and forbid evil…” (Surah-e-Tauba: 71). On another place, the Almighty says: “I shall not lose sight of the labour of any of you who labours in My way, be it man or woman; you are equal to one another” (Surah Aal-Imran:195). Similarly, the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said: “Women are equal counterparts of men”.
Thus, it can be inferred from the aforementioned verses of the Holy Quran and a hadith that man and woman are equal and women are in no way less than, or inferior to, men. Islam, in some cases, has given woman a status even superior to men. The following hadith bears testimony to this fact. Once a person came to the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) and asked: “Who has the first claim to my good treatment?” The Prophet (PBUH) replied: “Your mother.” The man asked: “And then who?” Allah’s Apostle (PBUH) said: “Then your mother”. The man said: “And then?” He (PBUH) said: “Again, it is your mother!” The man once again asked: “And then?” Thereupon, He (PBUH) said: “Then it is your father!”—Muslim and Bukhari. Besides giving woman such a great respect, Islam has charged man with the duty of supporting her and providing for her all the requirements.
Furthermore, Islam does not allow oppressing women. Islam despises beating woman (wife) and believes in love, mutual understanding and perpetual sympathy rather than brutality. Says the Holy Quran: “Consort with them [wives] in kindness” (An-Nisa: 19). The Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said: “Fear Allah with regards to women, for you have taken them as a trust from Allah…” (Saheeh Muslim). Also, there is a hadith-e-Qudsi which says: “O My servants, I have forbidden oppression for Myself and have made it forbidden amongst you, so do not oppress one another” (Muslim). Islam preaches revolt rather than obedience to and raising voice against, oppression and injustice.
It is crystal clear that Islam has delineated all aspects of women’s rights and no one can deny them these rights. Islam was the first to grant economic independence to women. Hazrat Khadija (RA), the first wife of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), was an opulent businesswoman of Makkah. Similarly, on the education front, Islam not only allows women to get education but also makes the acquisition of it obligatory on them: “Acquiring knowledge is a must for every Muslim [man and woman]” (Ibn-e-Majah). Islam has given a woman the right of expression as well as the right to arrange her own marriage. The Apostle (PBUH) said: “A widow must not be married until she is consulted and a virgin must not be married until her permission is sought and if she keeps quiet, her silence is her consent” (Sahih Muslim). Islam does permit a woman to work in fields and factories in case she has no male breadwinner.
In conclusion, it goes without saying that societies prosper on the basis of equality and justice. For prosperity and progress of a country, women’s participation in every sphere of life is vital. Women’s rights ought to be given first priority. After all, “ladies”, as the famous saying goes, “first!”
—The writer is gold medalist and serving as a lecturer in KP government.
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