     Father Michaels | Unrecorded Date
Greeting in the name of the Lord.
What do you guys say to this?
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The Place of Women in Pure Islam
by M. Rafiqul-Haqq and P. Newton
Contents -
Men's Superiority
Women's Deficiencies
What is a Woman?
Husband's Rights
Woman's Rights
Man's Prerogatives
The Significance of the Marriage Contract
The Significance of the Dowry
Spiritual Standing of Women
Conclusion
The purpose of this booklet is to consider the place of women in the pure teaching of Islam. It must be recognised that not
every Muslim, nor every Muslim nation follows all of these teachings. These teachings come from both the Qur'an and the
Hadith. The Hadith is 'The Tradition of Mohammad', that is, the stories of Mohammad's deeds and sayings. This Hadith is of
"paramount importance side by side with the Qur'an in the formation of the religious life of a human being and for
the attainment of perfection. Indeed a Qur'an minus Hadith remains unintelligible in many cases in the work- a-day
life of a man."[1]
The commentator Galal-ud-Din as-Suyouti said that the Hadith "is the commentary on the Qur'an and its explanation"[2] This is
why almost all commentaries rely in the first place on the Hadith to explain the Qur'an. The authentic Hadith is believed to be
"nothing short of revelation, [for the Qur'an says of Mohammad] "he does not speak out of low desires. It is not
but inspiration which is inspired (Q. 53:3- 4)." The only difference between the Qur'an and the Hadith is that
whereas the former was revealed directly through Gabriel with the very letters that are embodied from Allah, the
latter was revealed without letters and words."[3]
"Thus, next to the Holy Qur'an, the Hadith is the second source of the Islamic Law of social and personal
behaviour, because the commandments of the Holy Prophet are as binding on the believers as the commandments
of Allah. 'Whenever Allah and the Apostle have decided a matter, it is not for a faithful man or woman to follow a
course of their own choice (Q33:36).'"[4]
The Hadith is to be followed exactly "for that which differs from the Hadith to the extent of a hair shall be given up."[5]
"A Muslim therefore stands in absolute need of a copy of the Qur'an and a copy of the Hadith for the guidance of
his life"[6]
MEN'S SUPERIORITY
The Qur'an expresses the equality of the works of the sexes and the oneness of origin of the sexes in the following verses.
"And their Lord answereth them, 'I will not suffer the work of him among you that worketh, whether of male or
female, to be lost. The one of you is the issue of the other." (Q. 3:195) Rodwell.
"Mankind fear your Lord, who created you of a single soul, and from it created its mate." (Q. 4:1) Arberry
So while the Qur'an holds the works of men and women in equal regard and acknowledges that they are completely
interdependent as to their very existence, they are not regarded as having equal worth as people. The men are a step above the
women and superior to them as is clear from the following two verses.
"And it is for the women to act as they (the husbands) act by them, in all fairness; but the men are a step above
them."[7] (Q. 2:228) Rodwell "Men have authority over women because Allah has made the one superior to the
other."(Q. 4:34) Dawood.
The famous commentator Ibn Kathir commented on (Q. 4:34) saying:
"Men are superior to women, and a man is better than a woman."[8]
Other commentators such as Razi, Baidawi, Zamakhshari, and Tabari are of the same opinion.
Razi, commenting on Q. 4:11, said:
"(The males share is that of two females). Man is more perfect than the woman in creation, and intelligence, and in
the religious sphere, such as the suitability to be a judge, and a leader in worship. Also, the testimony of the man is
twice that of the woman. So that whoever is given great responsibilities must be given correspondingly great
privileges. As the woman is deficient in intelligence and of great lust, if she is given much money, much corruption
will be the result. "[9]
He also added:
"The male is mentioned first in Q. 4:11 because the male is better than the female."[10]
This superiority according to Razi is due to mens natural superiority in "knowlege and power, and because the man gives his
wife the dowry and spends on her."[11]
A modern writer said about the previous verse:
"God established the superiority of men over women by the above verse (the Qur'an 4:34) which prevents the
equating of men and women. For here man is above the woman due to his intellectual superiority and his ability to
administer and spend on the woman."[12]
WOMEN'S DEFICIENCIES
1. WOMEN ARE DEFICIENT IN INTELLIGENCE AND RELIGION
The intellectual and religious deficiencies of women are stated in the following Hadith found in Sahih al-Bukhari which is
considered by Muslim scholars to be "The most authentic book after the Book of Allah (ie. the Qur'an)":[13]
"Allah's Apostle once said to a group of women :'I have not seen any one more deficient in intelligence and religion
than you. A cautious, sensible man could be led astray by some of you.' The women asked: 'O Allah's Apostle,
what is defi cient in our intelligence and religion?' He said: 'Is not the evidence of two women equal to the witness
of one man?' They replied in the affirmative. He said: 'This is the deficiency of your intelligence'... 'Isn't it true that a
woman can neither pray nor fast during her menses?' The women replied in the affirmative. He said: 'This is the
deficiency in your religion.''[14]
The authenticity of the above Hadith is undisputed. It is reported by the two most reliable collections of Hadith; Bukhari and
Muslim. The agreement of Bukhari and Muslim on its authenticity makes it (mutafaqun 'alayhi) 'agreed upon', which is the
highest degree of authenticity. The above Hadith has been accepted and used by eminent scholars, such as Ghazali, Ibn
al-'Arabi, Razi, Suyouti, Qortobi, Nawawi, and Ibn Kathir, in their writings.
The above Hadith does not describe women only in early Islam, but it is a description for all times, so long as 'women can
neither pray nor fast during their menses' and so long as 'the evidence of two women is equal to the witness of one man.' This
reasoning is not a temporary one, but is rooted in and derived from the Qur'an for all time until the day of resurrection.
Commenting on the Qur'anic verse Q. 30:21 which states "And of His signs is that He created for you, of yourselves, spouses,
that you may repose in them" Razi said:
"His saying 'created for you' is a proof that women were created like animals and plants and other useful things,
just as the Most High has said 'He created for you what is on earth' and that necessitates the woman not to be
created for worship and carrying the Divine commands. We say creating the women is one of the graces
bestowed upon us and charging them with Divine commands to complete the graces bestowed upon us, not that
they are charged as we men are charged. For women are not charged with many commands as we are charged,
because the woman is weak, silly, in one sense she is like a child, and no commands are laid upon a child, but for
the grace of Allah upon us to be complete, women had to be charged so that they may fear the torment of
punishment and so follow her husband, and keep away from what is forbidden, otherwise corruption would be
rampant."[15]
The above is consistent with the authentic Hadith that says women are deficient in intelligence and religion. This belief has been
accepted by Muslim scholars and writers for the past thirteen hundred years.
One modern writer said: "The woman's share of intellect does not reach man's level."[16]
He then went on to say that "al-'Aqad, one of the most eminent Arabic writers, in his book al-Mar'ah wal-Qur'an,
"has a valuable chapter in which 'Aqad demolished the intellectual equality of women and men."[17]
As a matter of fact the expression "naqisatan 'aqlan wa dinan" (deficient in intelligence and religion) is one of the bywords and
axioms of life on the lips of the masses in Arabic countries.
2. WOMEN ARE DEFICIENT IN GRATITUDE
Women are not only deficient in intelligence, but they also lack gratitude. Women's lack of gratitude is expressed in another
Hadith from Bukhari:
"Women are ungrateful to their husbands and are ungrateful for the favours and the good (charitable) deeds done
to them. If you have always been good (benevolent) to one of them and then she sees something in you (not of her
liking), she will say, 'I have never received any good from you."[18]
So according to this Hadith, women are not only intellectually and spiritually deficient but also deficient in gratitude.
3. WOMEN ARE DEFICIENT AS WITNESSES
The testimony of the woman is not equal to that of the man. Her testimony is half the testimony of the man with regard to
financial matters. The Qur'an states,
"And call in to witness two witnesses, men; or if the two be not men, then one man and two women, such witness
as you approve of, that if one woman errs the other will remind her."[19]
An educated Muslim woman in trying to explain why the testimony of the woman is half that of the man said,
'Woman was made to bear and feed children. Therefore she is very emotional. And she is forgetful, because if she
did not forget how it is to give birth she would not have another child. That is why she will not be as reliable a
witness as a man."[20]
Therefore in Islam, the woman is perceived as being deficient in three important areas: to others due to her denial of man's
kindness; to herself, due to her inadequate intelligence; and in relation to God, due to her inadequacy in religion.
WHAT IS A WOMAN ?
THE WOMAN IS A TOY
The previously mentioned deficiencies show the woman's inadequacy as a companion for man. Her deficiency in intelligence
and religion prevent her from exchanging secular or sacred ideas or participating in religious or related spheres. To what level
do these deficiencies reduce the woman?
"'Omar [one of the Khalifs] was once talking when his wife interjected, so he said to her: 'You are a toy, if you are
needed we will call you.'"[21]
And 'Amru Bin al-'Aas, also a Khalif, said: "Women are toys, so choose."[22]
This was not just 'Amru Bin al-'Aas and 'Omar's opinions. Mohammad himself said:
'The woman is a toy, whoever takes her let him care for her (or do not lose her)."[23]
The belief that a woman is a toy is of vital importance for the spiritual well being of a man. For according to the great
philosopher Ghazali
"In the company of women, looking at them, and playing with them, the soul is refreshed, the heart is rested, and
the man is strengthened to the worship of God...this is why God said: 'That he might rest in her.' (Q. 7: 189)"[24]
THE WOMAN IS 'AWRAH
Apart from the deficiencies of the woman, she is also has ten 'awrat. The Encyclopedia of Islam defines 'awrah as pudendum,
that is "the external genitals, especially of the female. [Latin pudendum (literally) a thing to be ashamed of]"[25]
"Ali reported the Prophet saying: 'Women have ten ('awrat). When she gets married, the husband covers one, and
when she dies the grave covers the ten."[26]
And according to the following Hadith, women not only have ten 'awrat, but the woman herself is perceived as 'awrah :
"The woman is 'awrah. When she goes outside (the house), the devil welcomes her."[27]
(This Hadith is classed as 'Sahih' that is sound or faultless.) So going outside the house is a form of exposure of the 'awrah; a
thing that delights the devil.
This is why women are discouraged from going outside the house, even to pray in the mosque, as the following Hadith
indicates.
"A woman is closest to God's face, if she is found in the core of her house. And the prayer of the woman in the
house is better than her prayer in the mosque."[28]
(This Hadith is classed as 'Hassan', that is approved.)
Dr. Buti a modern scholar said, "Muslim teachers unanimously agreed in every generation that the woman should cover all her
body except her hands and face, that is without any make up, from strangers."[29] While the followers of Hanbal and some
followers of Shafi'i consider even the hand and the face to be 'awrah, and therefore should be covered.[30]
"And those who allow the woman to show her hand and face -the Malikiyah and Hanafiyah- do so with the
provision that make up will not be used, but if the woman's face is naturally beautiful, then she must cover her face
for fear of being a temptation to men."[31]
Dr. Buti gives the reason behind the wearing of the Hijab.
"Allah, the most high, decreed that the woman should be veiled. He did so in protecting the chastity of the men
who might see her, and not in protection of the chastity of the woman from the eyes of those who look at
her."[32]
THE WOMAN IS LIKE A RIB
The character of women is likened to a rib, crooked. Bukhari reported the following Hadith:
"The woman is like a rib; if you try to straighten her, she will break. So if you want to get benefit from her, do so
while she still has some crookedness."[33] This Hadith is classed as agreed upon.
Another Hadith attributes this crookedness to the act of creation because the woman was created from man's rib.[34] This
crookedness then is inherent and incurable, the man has to live with it and make the most out of it. This belief is accepted not
only by the masses but by celebrated scholars such as Imam Shafi'i who said :
'three [persons] if you esteem them they will dishonour you and if you dishonour them they will esteem you : the
woman, the servant and the Nabatea.'[35]
and Ghazali who said:
"If you relax the woman's bridle a tiny bit, she will take you and bolt wildly. And if you lower her cheek-piece a
hand span, she will pull you an arm's length ... Their deception is awesome and their wickedness is contagious;
bad character and feeble mind are their predominant traits ... Mohammad said[36] : 'The likeness of a virtuous
woman amongst women is like a red beaked crow among a hundred crows."[37]
Thus it is believed that virtuous women are rare and their crookedness is as natural as the crooked rib.
HUSBAND'S RIGHTS
1. HUSBAND'S DESIRES MUST BE MET AT ONCE
Man's sexual needs are considered so urgent that it is better for food to burn in the oven than a man to burn in waiting for his
wife to satisfy his desire. If she refuses, the angels of heaven will turn against her.
"The prophet of Allah said: When a man calls his wife to satisfy his desire, let her come to him though she is
occupied at the oven."[38]
(The above Hadith is agreed upon, that is, no scholar doubts its authenticity.)
"The messenger of Allah said: Whenever a man calls his wife to his bed and she refuses, and then he passes the
night in an angry mood, the angels curse her till she gets up at dawn."[39]
The understanding that man's sexual needs are more important than the woman's was not only believed by the early Muslims,
but is also believed by modern-day Muslims. A contemporary scholar wrote:
"Allah the most high has fashioned the woman's psychological and physiological make up in such a way that man's
pleasures are satisfied in her more than her pleasures satisfied in him. Not only that but she also finds her
happiness in feeling so."[40]
Another contemporary scholar wrote:
"Sexual intercourse is an action, and the woman does not act."[41]
The famous commentator Qortobi said:
"The woman was created so that man can rest in her ... for by her he gets rid of his sexual storm. The female
sexual organ was created for men. For when Allah the most high said '(You) leave what your Lord has created for
you of your wives?'[42] Allah made it known that that place of the woman was created from man for man's sake.
So the woman must yield it whenever the husband calls her. If she refuses then she is an oppressor and in a grave
position. Sufficient proof of this was reported from Sahih Muslim in the Hadith that says 'When a man calls his
wife to his bed, and she refuses, the One Who is in the heaven will be angry with her until he [her husband] is
pleased with her"[43]
2. OBEDIENCE TO THE HUSBAND IS THE KEY TO PARADISE
All the woman's piety is considered useless if she disobeys her husband. Her disobedience to her husband represents an
unlawful and irrational act. But obedience to her husband is the key to Paradise as is clear from the following Hadith:
"There are three (persons) whose prayer will not be accepted, nor their virtues be taken above: The runaway
slave until he returns back to his master, the woman with whom her husband is dissatisfied, and the drunk until he
becomes sober."[44]
"Whosoever female dies while her husband is pleased with her, will enter Paradise."[45]
"The prophet once said to a woman: 'Watch how you treat your husband for he is your Paradise and your
Hell."[46]
3. HUSBAND'S RIGHTS ARE DIVINE
The obedience of the woman to her husband is an important prerequisite that shows her piety and guarantees her eternal
destiny. He is her Paradise or her hell. Man is thus so elevated that by comparison with the woman, he is placed on a divine
level. Her response to him approaches worship. That however, is impossible, as worship belongs to God alone.
Mohammad said:
"Had I ordered anybody to prostrate before any one, I would have ordered women to prostrate before their
husbands on account of men's rights over the women ordained by Allah."[47]
4. HUSBAND'S RIGHTS ARE GREATER THAN THE SACRIFICE OF WOMAN'S BREASTS
Man's status is so much higher than woman's that no sacrifice on the woman's part will ever gain her her full right in relation to a
man. Even in our own time (1985) a Muslim writer, Ahmad Zaky Tuffaha, seriously and reverently quotes the following Hadith :
"If a woman offered one of her breasts to be cooked and the other to be roasted, she still will fall short of fulfilling
her obligations to her husband. And besides that if she disobeys her husband even for a twinkling of an eye, she
would be thrown in the lowest part of Hell, except she repents and turns back."[48]
Although this Hadith is not mentioned in Bukhari, it is consistent with the other Ahadith quoted by Bukhari.
It is a noble sacrifice for a man to share his life with the woman as described in Bukhari's sound Ahadith; she being deficient in
mind, religion, and gratitude. It is condescension on the part of the man to spend his life with her. She can not repay this favour,
no matter what sacrifice she makes.
Indeed, the rights of the husband are so vast that
"If blood, suppuration, and pus, were to pour from the husband's nose and the wife licked it with her tongue, she
would still never be able to fulfil his rights over her."[49]
This Hadith is repeated, also with great reverence, five times by commentator Imam Suyuti who is regarded as one of the
greatest of all Muslim scholars.
WOMAN'S RIGHTS
While the Hadith enumerates the husband's rights, the woman's rights are simple, as the following Hadith shows:
"'O Messenger of Allah ! What right has the wife of one among us got over him?' He said: 'It is that you shall give
her food when you have taken your food, that you shall clothe her when you have clothed yourself, that you shall
not slap her on the face, nor revile her, nor desert her except within the house.'"[50]
MAN'S PREROGATIVES
1. MAN MAY BEAT AND SEXUALLY DESERT HIS WIFE
The Qur'an describes the natural relationship between the husband and the wife as one of love and mercy: "He has set between
you love (mawaddah) and mercy." Q. 30:21. A contemporary scholar, Sayyed Qotb sees that the love and the mercy spoken
of in this verse as the natural feelings the man has for the opposite sex that was planted by the creator. Earlier scholars saw that
"love" between the husband and the wife in the above verse refers to the sexual act, while "mercy" refers to the offspring of the
man and his wife.[51] The important thing to note is that this love and mercy is not found in the man apart from the woman, but
it is a mutual thing found in both. And the Qur'an commands men to "Consort with them (women) in kindness (ma'ruf)." Q. 4:19
According to the Dictionary of Qur'anic terms and concepts the word "ma'ruf" means "customary law; enjoining good and
forbidding evil."[52]
Elsewhere the word is translated many times as equitable as in Usif Ali's English translation of the Qur'an.[53] In other words
when women behave properly they are to be treated kindly, the treatment must be equitable according to the customary laws.
There is also a Hadith that describes the good husband; "The best of you are those who are the best to their wives."[54] (that
Hadith is mentioned only by Tirmizi). But how far this goodness will go in difficult times, when the wife does not behave
properly?
The man according to the Qur'an has the responsibility to admonish his wife, and the right to desert her sexually, and to beat her
to correct any rebelliousness in her behaviour.
The Qur'an states:
"Righteous women are therefore obedient, ... And those you fear may be rebellious (nushuz) admonish; banish
them to their couches, and beat them."[55]
Some translators add the word lightly after 'beat them'[56] in Q. 4:34. Others like Mohammed Pickthall and Rodwell translate
the word 'edrebouhon - beat them' as 'scourge them'.
The occasion in which Q. 4:34 was revealed sheds more light on the meaning of that verse. Most commentators mention that
"the above verse was revealed in connection with a woman who complained to Mohammad that her husband
slapped her on the face (which was still marked by the slap). At first the Prophet said to her: 'Get even with him',
but then added: 'Wait until I think about it.' Later on the above verse was revealed, after which the Prophet said:
'We wanted one thing but Allah wanted another, and what Allah wanted is best.'"[57]
The beating in the previous incident can hardly be described as light, unless that is what is meant by light beating. This beating
comes as the last corrective measure when sexual desertion fails. Light beating after sexual desertion is an anticlimax that serves
no purpose. But firm beating is the logical progression from admonishing, then sexually deserting, finally beating her. This
beating must be stronger than sexual desertion to have any effect.
This beating however is not like the whipping of a slave,[58] but "a beating without causing injury"[59] (agreed upon).
So the man has the right to beat his rebellious wife as long as that beating is not like the whipping of the slave and will not result
in injury.
The translator of Mishkat Al-Masabih wrote in a footnote of Fatwa by Qazi Khan that said beating the wife mildly is
"allowed in four cases (1) When she does not wear fineries though wanted by the husband, (2) When she is called
for sexual intercourse and she refuses without any lawful excuse, (3) When she is ordered to take a bath [to clean
herself] from impurities for prayer and she refuses and (4) When she goes abroad without permission of her
husband."[60]
In another footnote the translator of Mishkat Al-Masabih said,
"No wife shall refuse her husband what he wants from her except on religious grounds ie. at the time of menstrual
flow or fasting. Some theologians regard this refusal as unlawful as the husband may get enjoyment from his wife in
other ways, by embracing, kissing etc. The duty of the wife is to give him comforts in his bed whenever he wants
her."[61] (emphasis added)
This beating is the husband's unquestionable right.
Ibn Kathir in his commentary mentioned a Hadith on the authority of zal Ash'ath Ibn al-Qays who was visiting 'Omar and at that
time. 'Omar took his wife and beat her, then said to Ash'ath:
'Memorise three things from me, which I memorised from the prophet who said: "The man is not to be asked why
he beat his wife ..."'[62]
Man's right to 'beat his wife' does not belong to the distant past. The Guardian Weekly reported,
"In 1987 an Egyptian court, following an interpretation of the Koran proposed by the Syndicate of Arab Lawyers,
ruled that a husband had the duty to educate his wife and therefore the right to punish her as he wished."[63]
Sayyed Qotb a modern scholar and commentator tries to justify the provision for a man to beat his wife, found in the above
Qur'anic verse:
"The facts of life, and the psy chological observations of certain forms of deviations indicate that this approach
(beating the wife) is the most appropriate one to satisfy a particular form of deviation, reforming the behaviour of
the person...and gratifying her...at the same time!
Even without the existence of this form of psychological deviation, perhaps some women will not recognise the
power of the man whom they love to have as their guardian and husband, except when the man conquers them
physically! This is not the nature of every woman. But this kind does exist. And it is this kind that needs this last
treatment to be set straight, and remain within the serious organisation [marriage] in peace and tranquillity."[64]
Some intellectuals, referring to the above quotation, said:
"Women's rebelliousness (nushuz) is a medical condition. It is of two kinds: The first is the condition when the
woman delights to be the submissive partner who finds pleasure in being beaten and tortured. This is what is called
Masochism. The second is when the woman loves to hurt and master and dominate the other partner. This is what
is called Sadism. Such woman has no remedy except removing her spikes and destroying her weapon by which
she dominates. This weapon of the woman is her femininity. But the other woman who delights in submission and
being beaten, then beating is her remedy. So the Qur'anic command: 'banish them to their couches, and beat them'
agrees with the latest psychological findings in understanding the rebellious woman. This is one of the scientific
miracles of the Qur'an because it sums up volumes of the science of psychology about rebellious women."[65]
The above two quotations state that the Qur'anic injunction to beat the perverted masochist woman will cure her from her
disorder. But will it rather increase her perversion by giving her the pleasure she sought? Will giving alcohol to the alcoholic be
his remedy too? And why beat the sadist wife? Why not let her have her own way too, like the masochistic one? Why not let
her beat and torture others?
Even if this treatment is of benefit to the minority of women who are perverted, does this justify the command to beat the wife
who rebels for any and every reason?
Whether or not the beating of wives is justified, this is the man's right, and his alone.
The man who fears rebelliousness in his wife must admonish her first. If that does not work, the husband has the right to desert
her sexually. If that does not work either, he has the right to beat her.
Sayyed Qotb explains the dynamics of deserting the wife sexually if admonishing her does not work:
"Here comes the second phase ... the man has to make a superior psychological move against all her attraction
and beauty, by banishing her to her couch, for the couch (the bed) is the place of temptation and enticement,
where the rebellious woman reaches the summit of her power. If the man can conquer his disposition against her
temptation, then he has disarmed her from her sharpest and most treasured weapon."[66]
Another scholar reiterating the above said:
"This sexual desertion is a remedy that curbs the rebelliousness of the woman, and humiliates her pride, in that
which she treasures most, her femininity ... thus inflicting the most humiliating defeat on the woman. "[67]
The man then has the right to desert his wife sexually and beat her, if he fears rebelliousness in her.
The woman, however, can not resort to such measures, if she fears rebelliousness in her husband, as is clear from the following
verse:
"If a woman fears rebelliousness or aversion in her husband, there is no fault in them if the couple set things right
between them; right settlement is better."[68]
It is clear from Q. 4:128 & Q. 4:34 that the Qur'an commands diplomacy when a woman fears rebelliousness in her husband.
But when the man fears rebelliousness in hi |
