Islam's Response to Contemporary Issues — Page 91
Social Peace 91 Through the teachings of segregation, sexual anarchy was brought to a sudden halt. Order between male and female relationship was established on the basis of deep moral principles. The status of women was simultaneously raised to such high standards that they could no longer be treated as helpless commodities. They were given an equal share in the affairs of life. Whereas previously they were distributed as chattels of inheritance, now they could inherit not only the estate of their fathers but also of their husbands, children and next of kin. They could now stand up to their husbands and talk back to them. They could reason with them and, of course, had the full right to disagree. They could not only be divorced but they had equal rights to divorce their husbands if they so pleased. As mothers, they were treated with such profound respect in Islam as is hard to find a similar example in other societies of the world. It was the Holy Founder sa of Islam who was to stand for the rights of women by declaring under Divine instructions, that, ‘Paradise lies under the feet of your mothers. ’ He was not only referring to a promise to be fulfilled in life after death, but to the social paradise which was promised to a people who showed profound respect and reverence to their mothers, and were dedicated to please them and provide every possible comfort to them. The teaching of segregation should be understood in this context. It was not the outcome of any male superiority but was designed to establish the sanctity of the home; to create greater trust between man and wife; bring temperance to basic human urges; and to harness and discipline them so that, instead of being released as powerful demons in the society, they play a constructive role, just as harnessed forces play a role in nature.