An
interesting problem is the equality of man and woman. In non-Muslim
societies this problem arose due to unrestrained independence of
women. But in the Muslim world the problem arose due to ignorance
of the masses and rebellion against the Qur’an. Before the
advent of Islam woman was considered very low, mean and wretched
and she had no status in the society. But the rights Islam gave
to women and honor and prestige early Muslims gave to their women,
slowly and gradually, induced other nations to behave well with
their womenfolk and the result is that their women are claiming
to have equality with men in all respects. As opposed to this, with
the gradual degradation and decline of Muslims, their women have
once again become dum-driven cattle. Now again its reaction has
started and educated women often claim that in the eyes of Islam
man and woman are equal in all respect. And for this reason there
is a demand that women should be employed in all the departments
of the Government n proportion to their population.
In my opinion so far wretchedness of women and their plight at the
hands of man are concerned it is the duty of the society as well
as the Government to raise the status of women legally and morally
which has been given to them by Allah but so far “in all respect”
equality and representation in Government service are concerned
I do not support it. Whatever equality Allah has given to man and
woman, they are rights of behavior and equality in the management
of the state or in household duties.
It has been very clearly and explicitly told in the Holy Qur’an
that Muslim men should treat Muslim women with grace, honor and
justice. They should take particular care for their food, clothing,
house and other necessities of life and they should keep their women
happy and content. The house in which the woman is not happy looks
barren and deserted. Children brought up in such homes are ill-tempered,
un-mannered, pungent and haughty. There is a tradition of the Holy
Prophet that if a man tolerates the indecent behavior of his wife,
God Almighty will compensate him with reward equal to the reward
Hazrat Ayyub received for bearing his affliction. Tell me, can there
be any better example of good behavior? But if Muslims do not act
upon this injunction, is the religion to be blamed? Allah says:
“Women have rights on men as men have on women”. Can
there be any better declaration of equality about the rights of
men and women?
Yet at other place Allah says in the Holy Qur’an “Women
are your garments and you are their garments”. Can any writer
of the world produce a better effect than is conveyed by these words
about social equality, evenness, mutual secrecy and to live with
love and affection? But so far state’s management or household
affairs are concerned and their division of work, the position of
women is of a valuable beloved and of man as a protector and supporter.
Hence it is in the Holy Qur’an: “Women are your lands”.
Apparently there is no equality I any form between the tiller and
land. But nothing is dearer to the tenant than his land. Land is
the real basis of al wealth, costly dwellings and clothing. Gold
and silver tinkering treasures and diamonds and jewels all are procured
through lands.
If there is no food, man cannot survive by eating gold, silver,
diamonds and jewels. The tenet works and perspires for months, days
and nights and looks after his lands and then and then alone he
is rewarded and derives benefit from it. At another place the position
of man and woman is has been very clearly laid down in the Holy
Qur’an in these words “Men are guardians unto women”.
The translators often have done it as a ruler. By this many people
have begun to think that woman is servile and servant while man’s
position is of a ruler. Hence he has the right to oppress and tease
the woman.
This
can come to the head of only those who have the image of rulers
of present-day of the ruler to oppress and pressurize the people.
The duty of the ruler is to manage and arrange the daily necessities
of life of the people, to maintain system of life, to protect from
enemies, to come to the rescue of oppressed and to serve them in
every way. In Great Britain officers are called public servants.
So even I the word Quwwam is translated as ruler it does not lead
to any ill-affect. There are examples of orthodox caliphs. Were
they the same type of rulers as are the present-day rulers, Not
to speak of orthodox caliphs, even the rulers of civilized Christian
states are not so dishonest, cruel and arrogant as are generally
the rulers of Muslim States.
The synopsis of this narration is that the social equality between
man and woman cannot remain and continue in state’s management
and household affairs. Emotions apart, no body can deny and change
the reality that not from intellectual point of view but physically
woman is weak and delicate specially after child-birth and after
it for a considerable time she is not in a position to manage the
affairs of the state as well as man can do it. This is the reason
why sine creation women have not played any outstanding role in
the affairs of the state. If any where anytime women have performed
any noteworthy work in police, judiciary or army it must be an exception
and cannot be accepted as a principle and even if it is accepted
as such it will bring in harm rather then benefit.
For example, in that position women will not be able to perform
household duties and home arrangement will come to an end. And then
the condition will: Life will be spent in hotels and death will
occur in hospitals. Secondly if equal status is given to women in
police and army the fate of such a force will be simply deplorable.
Thirdly the free mixing of men and women will bring in its trail
evils which will be difficult to control. The social evils that
have been brought about due to free-mixing in Europe and America
have become a source of headache to their inhabitants. Fourthly
even today are those poor women working in offices because of their
poverty or even willingly side by side with men leading a happy
life? Those chaste ladies who are living a life of honor and prestige
in their homes among them none is envisions of those ladies who
are working in offices. In spite of these facts we accept that a
few departments should be assigned to women alone, for example,
women Madrasas and College, women prisons and women hospitals should
be managed entirely by women.
This will help raise their social and mental status. In spite of
this Islam never allows so much freedom to women so that they become
disobedient and hesitate to look after man or as is done these days
among the gentry in imitation of the west that Begun is in front
and behind her follows the husband and without her express permission
he cannot do any thing. Prophet (saw) has said that if after Allah
if anybody else should have been allowed prostration, then I would
have ordered women to prostrate before their husbands.
In fine, this is the position for husband and wife in Islam. Husbands
should respect and love their wives and should meet their needs
with pleasure. Similarly wives should give full respect to their
husband, love them manage the household affairs diligently and without
murmur and rear the children and obey their husbands and should
sacrifice their pleasure for the comforts of their husbands.
(for
detail pls read book) |