The life of the Holy Prophet of Islam — Page 9
women were equal to men as the creatures of God, and were not the slaves of men and should not be beaten. The Prophet admonished men and told them that those who treated women with unkindness could never win the favor of God. Thereafter, the rights of women were established, and for the first time women began to be treated as free individuals in their own right. Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) was so careful of the feelings and sentiments of women that he always exhorted those who had to go upon a journey to finish their errands quickly and return home as soon as possible so that their wives and children should not suffer separation longer than was necessary. Whenever he returned from a journey he always came home during the daytime. If he found night approaching towards the end of his journey, he would camp outside Medina for the night and enter in the morning. He also told his companions that when they returned from a journey they should not come home suddenly without giving a notice of their return. It is misunderstood that Islam neglects the women and does not give any right to them, or women are considered inferior to men. It is a lack of Islamic knowledge. If the Holy Quran and the sayings of the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) be studied, it becomes very clear that it is Islam that has really elevated the status of women. Before Islam, women were sold as personal commodities. Female children were buried alive because they were considered as curse for family. It is Islam that gave every respect and honor to women, and brought them at the level of men; otherwise women were mistreated in every sphere of life. Islam always provides equal rights and equal opportunities for men and women, as the Holy Quran says: Surely, men who submit themselves to God and women who submit themselves to Him, and believing men and believing women, and obedient men and obedient women, and truthful men and truthful women, and men steadfast in their faith and steadfast women, and men who are humble and women who are humble, and men who give alms and women who give alms, and men who fast and women who fast, and men who guard their chastity and women who guard their chastity and men who remember Allah much and women who remember Him—Allah has prepared for all of them forgiveness and a great reward. (Holy Quran, 33:36) It is misunderstood that Islam does not permit equal opportunities to women to seek knowledge with men. It is entirely a wrong notion; such concept is never presented by Islam. The Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) says in this regard, “It is the duty of every Muslim man and Muslim woman to seek knowledge”. The Holy Quran says: He it is who created you from a single soul and made there from its mate, that he might find comfort in her. And when he knows her, she bears a light burden and goes about with it. And when she grows heavy, they both pray to Allah, their Lord, saying, ‘If thou gives us a good child, we will surely be of the thankful. ’ (Holy Quran, 7:190) Woman has different roles in the society. Some time she appears as mother, some time as wife and some time as daughter, all these roles are respected and dignified in Islam. Woman as a mother In connection with the respect, honor and status of woman as a mother, the Holy Prophet of Islam (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) has a great regard. Once a Companion consulted him to seek advice to participate in a war, when he said, “Do you have a mother?” He said, “Yes. ” Then Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said, “Be with her, because paradise is under her feet. ” (Nasa’i)