User:Maryamsafi/sandbox

=Gender equality from Islamic perspective= Islam is considering all the aspects of regulations and humans life, even before born and after dead of human beings because Islam has rules and regulations about the child who is still not born and the person who is dead. Islam in its early stage has attracted the thoughts of reflectors and public people to women’s right and Islamic values are for all human beings. In no level of knowledge and logic we can separate half of the community that is women from the community. This is obvious that in creation there is no difference among human beings and no human has more privileges on other. In Islam discrimination is not existed. The root or principle of equality in men and women in creation, equality in qualification and intelligence and equality in values system is proven by Qur’an verses and Sunnah of the Prophet Mohammad (PBUH). Here we are considering the position and role of woman in society from an Islamic perspective. The topic is divided into spiritual, economic, social, and political aspects.

The Spiritual Aspect
O mankind, fear your Lord, who created you from one soul and created from it its mate and dispersed from both of them many men and women. And fear Allah, through whom you ask one another, and the wombs. Indeed Allah is ever, over you, an Observer. 
 * Equality in creation (all human beings created from one soul), According to the Qur'an, men and women have the same spiritual human nature. The Qur'an makes it clear that the sole basis for superiority of any person over another is piety and righteousness not gender, color, or nationality:

As Prophet Muhammad (P) explained, "... You all belong to Adam, and Adam was created from dust." In the process of human reproduction there is no superiority or inferiority; kings and paupers, males and females, are created from what the Qur’an describes as "despised fluid."

And when I have proportioned him and breathed into him of My [created] soul, then fall down to him in prostration."
 * Both genders are recipients of the "divine breath" since they are created with the same human and spiritual nature (nafsin-waahidah).

Islam is a school with common perspective and the ideology of unity. The united soul that is generating the nature of creations, likewise it’s fluent in all creations including inside we human beings and also it should be fluent in our thoughts and actions. This is the reason that when Allah is calling human beings in order to guide them, he considers no difference and discrimination between men and women. The only difference between human beings is knowledge and good deeds.


 * Both genders are dignified and are trustees of Allah on earth.

And we have certainly honored the children of Adam and carried them on the land and sea and provided for them of the good things and preferred them over much of what we have created, with [definite] preference

In Islam the prayers and religious obligations are intended for both men and women: Prayers, Fasting, Charity and Haj (Pilgrimage to Mecca). We can consider one of the clear evidence of unity in Haj (Pilgrimage to Mecca). There we can see no difference and discrimination between tribes and nations, nor between races, and neither between men and women. The focus is on unity, equity, justice and equality.
 * Men and women have the same religious and moral duties and responsibilities. They both face the consequences of their deeds.

The Economic Aspect
The Islamic Shariiah recognizes the full property rights of women before and after marriage. With reference to Qur’an and Hadith it becomes clear that Islam has given the property rights as an independent individual to have property and keep her property for business and investment. And do not wish for that by which Allah has made some of you exceed others. For men there is a share of what they have earned, and for women is a share of what they have earned. And ask Allah of his bounty. Indeed Allah is ever, of all things, knowing

Almost all Muslims, has awareness about Prophet Mohammad’s (PBUH) relation with Bibi Khadeja. The apparent cause of their relation was Prophet Mohammad’s (PBUH) introduction with Bibi Khadeja in a business trip.

The Social Aspect
The Qur'an effectively ended the cruel pre Islamic practice of female infanticide. Parents are duty bound to support and show kindness and justice to their daughters. Prophet Muhammad said:
 * As a Daughter

"Whosoever has a daughter and he does not bury her alive, does not insult her, and does not favor his son over her, Allah will enter him into Paradise." [Ahmad]

"Whosoever supports two daughters till they mature, he and I will come in the Day of Judgment as this (and he pointed with his two fingers held together)." [Ahmad] Education is not only a right but also a responsibility of all males and females. Prophet Muhammad said:

"Seeking knowledge is mandatory for every Muslim ("Muslim" is used here in the generic meaning which includes both males and females).

Marriage in Islam is based on mutual peace, love, and compassion, not just the satisfaction of man's needs: And of His signs is that He created for you from yourselves mates that you may find tranquility in them; and He placed between you affection and mercy. Indeed in that are signs for a people who give thought? The female has the right to accept or reject marriage proposals. Her consent is prerequisite to the validity of the marital contract according to the Prophet's teaching. It follows that if by "arranged marriage" is meant marrying the girl without her consent, then such a marriage is nullifiable if she so wished.
 * As a Wife

"Ibn Abbas reported that a girl came to the Messenger of God, Muhammad, and she reported that her father had forced her to marry without her consent. The Messenger of God gave her the choice ... (between accepting the marriage or invalidating it). "(Ahmad, Hadeeth no. 2469). In another version, the girl said: "Actually I accept this marriage but I wanted to let women know that parents have no right to force a husband on them." [Ibn Majah] 3. Kindness to parents (especially mothers) is next to worship of Allah: And your Lord has decreed that you not worship except Him, and to parents, good treatment. Whether one or both of them reach old age [while] with you, say not to them [so much as], "uff," and do not repel them but speak to them a noble word. Mothers are accorded a special place of honor in Hadeeth too:
 * As a Mother

A man came to the Prophet Muhammad asking: O Messenger of Allah, who among the people is the most worthy of my good companionship? The Prophet said, your mother. The man said then who is next: the Prophet said, your mother. The man further asked, and then who is next? Only then did the Prophet say, your father. (Al Bukhari).

The Legal/Political Aspect
Both genders are entitled to equality before the law and courts of law. Justice is genderless. [As for] the thief, the male and the female, amputate their hands in recompense for what they committed as a deterrent [punishment] from Allah. And Allah is Exalted in Might and Wise

Political involvement is a means to fulfill one’s obligations to society. Involvement in the political system can take many forms, from voting in elections, to holding a position as a legislator or a judge, to being a head of state. Islamic history provides precedents for each of these roles for women. You are the best nation produced [as an example] for mankind. You enjoin what is right and forbid what is wrong and believe in Allah. If only the People of the Scripture had believed, it would have been better for them. Among them are believers, but most of them are defiantly disobedient. And O my people, give full measure and weight in justice and do not deprive the people of their due and do not commit abuse on the earth, spreading corruption. Therefore, Islam obliges Muslims to advocate for justice and to work for an ethical society. Furthermore, Quranic teachings state the application of justice is a collective responsibility. The community should be empowered to assume this responsibility through, education, free interaction between citizens and the government, and awareness of human rights. Participation in election aims to elect and to be elected, and to vote or select someone for a position. The issue of corporation with leader during Prophet Muhammad instant was based on Bai’ah that is declaring the base of political participations. In early Islam women were included in the giving of the bai’ah. Prophet Muhammad received the bai’ah from the people. The Quran addresses the issue of women giving the bai’ah to Prophet Muhammad and God tells Muhammad to accept the pledge of the women. O Prophet, when the believing women come to you pledging to you that they will not associate anything with Allah, nor will they steal, nor will they commit unlawful sexual intercourse, nor will they kill their children, nor will they bring forth a slander they have invented between their arms and legs, nor will they disobey you in what is right - then accept their pledge and ask forgiveness for them of Allah. Indeed, Allah is Forgiving and Merciful. In 645 A.D. (23 A.H.) Umar, the second head of state after the death of Prophet Muhammad, convened a group to determine his successor. One of the group, Abdul Rahman, went to the people to consult with them as to who should be the next leader. Abdul Rahman consulted both women and men, thus women had a say in who would be their leader. Through this process Uthman was selected to succeed Umar. In addition to participation in the electoral process, women have also been involved in political activities. These activities appear to be sanctioned by Islamic law. In Islam, community decisions must be made through a process of consultation (shura) and Shura, is a cardinal principle of governance in Islam. And those who have responded to their lord and established prayer and whose affair is [determined by] consultation among themselves, and from what we have provided them, they spend. Women as Imams The word imam as used in the Quran means a source of guidance (e.g. Quran 2:124). And [mention, O Muhammad], when Abraham was tried by his Lord with commands and he fulfilled them. [ Allah ] said, "Indeed, I will make you a leader for the people." [Abraham] said, "And of my descendants?" [ Allah ] said, "My covenant does not include the wrongdoers." The meaning is not limited only to prayer. The role of the leader is to follow the teachings of Islam and to act as a role model. The criteria for leading prayer are an ability to read the Quran, knowledge of the Quran, and knowledge of the teachings of Prophet Muhammad (Hadith, Sahih of Muslim). Thus, maleness is not a criterion. Furthermore, Umm Waraqa, an Ansari woman who was well versed in the Quran, lead her people in prayer (Hadith, Sunan of Abu Dawud); (Musnad Ahmed Ibn Hanbal). The Qur'an even speaks favorably of the Queen of Sheba and the way she consulted her advisors, who deferred to her good judgment on how to deal with the threat of invasion by the armies of Solomon. She (the Queen of Sheba) said, `O chiefs, advise me respecting my affair; I never decide an affair until you are in my presence.' They said, `We are possessors of strength and possessors of mighty prowess, and the command is thine, so consider what thou wilt command.' She said, `Surely the kings, when they enter a town, ruin it and make the noblest of its people to be low, and thus they do. And surely I am going to send them a present, and to see what (answer) the messengers bring back.' “Hazrat Ayesha (RAa), the first woman leader of Islam was a teacher of men and women. In turn her students, men and women, taught others how to govern, how to organise Muslim communities, and how to arrange Muslim family and social life. The great scholars of hadith got their learning from Ayesha. The Noble Prophet bore witness to Hazrat Ayesha’s intellect, understanding, and rational approach to life. At a time of crisis she had no hesitation in taking over command of the Islamic army and directing it in the field of battle. In peace time she gave religious rulings and helped the most learned of the Companions of the Prophet differentiate between the right and the wrong. All the Fiqh and Laws of Islam are related to Hazrat Ayesha. It is about time that Muslims started remembering Hazrat Ayesha.
 * Women's Participation in the Bai'ah (participation in elections)
 * Women and Shura

=References= The Qur'an and Hadeeth 1. The Holy Qur'an: Text, Translation and Commentary by A. Y. Ali, The American Trust Publication, Plainfield, IN 1977. http://quran.com 2. Matn al Bukhari, Al Bukhari (compiler), Dar Ihya al Kutub al Arabiyah, Cairo, Egypt, n.d. 3. Musnad Ahmad Ibn Hanbal, Ibn Hanba l(compiler), Dar Ihya' al Kutub al Arabiyah, Cairo Egypt, 1950 and 1955. 5. Sahih Al Bukhari, M. Khan (translator), Maktabat Al Riaydh Al Hadeethah, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia 1982. 6. Silsilat Kunuz Al Sunnah: Al Jami al Sagheer, 1st ea., 1410 AH, a computer software. 7. Sunan Ibn Majah, Dar Ihya al Kutub al Arabiyah, Cairo: 1952. 8. Woman,Shariah,Gender, 9. http://www.mwlusa.org/topics/rights/polirights.html 10. http://www.jannah.org/genderequity/equitychap2.html 11. Political Jurisprudence, Dr. Yousaf Qarzawe