The Prophet (Peace Be Upon Him) And The Status Of Women
The Prophet (peace be upon him) gave women rights that Western women did not enjoy until centuries later, like the right to own property independently of her husband
Recently, we have witnessed instances of the horrific treatment of women around the world.
In the time of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), similar cruel practices were enacted by his society, and he opposed all such forms of oppressing women.
Indeed, at the sight of a tragedy of any human being, Prophet Muhammad’s (peace be upon him) heart would be saddened, and his eyes would flow with tears.
One of the most spectacular examples of this is the following story, which concerns the practice of shunning daughters.
Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) was born in a society where women had been subjected to much violence, which often took the form of female infanticide. Daughters were considered a burden, and getting rid of them was sometimes considered a necessity, which they did most violently: by burying them alive!
Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) was very kind and polite toward women. At a time when they were treated very badly, the Prophet (peace be upon him) gave women honor and dignity equal to men.
Umar (radi Allahu anhu) reported: “We did not have much regard for women in Makkah; however, they were better treated in Madinah. The Prophet (peace be upon him) established women’s rights through his sayings and commands, which strengthened their position and status”. (Mishkat ul Masabih)
He took special care of them and always treated them with kindness. Since men were always around the Prophet, women were prevented from listening to him or asking about matters of concern to them. Therefore, they requested him to appoint one day a week when they could have free access to him, a proposal to which he agreed. He took special care of them and always treated them with kindness so that they would feel free to ask him about anything.
Once, when the Prophet (peace be upon him) was traveling, an Abyssinian slave named Anjsha was leading the camels that some of the Prophet’s wives were riding. While Anjsha was singing, the camels began to move quickly. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said to him: “Anjsha, take care that the glass (the woman) does not break.” (Al Bukhari & Muslim)
Asmaa (radi Allahu anha), daughter of ‘Umais, one of those who had immigrated to Abyssinia in the early period of Islam, returned with the others to Madinah during the Khaybar campaign. One day, she came to see Hafsah (radi Allahu anha) when Umar (radi Allahu anhu) was present. Seeing her, Umar (radi Allahu anhu) inquired about her, and Hafsah (radi Allahu anha) told him the details. Umar (radi Allahu anhu) said:
“O, that Abyssinian”.
Asmaa (radi Allahu anha) replied: “Yes, the same.”
Umar (radi Allahu anhu) said that they (his group) had emigrated before them and therefore had more right to God’s Messenger. Asmaa (radi Allahu anha) became angry and exclaimed:
“Not so! You people lived with God’s Messenger, who fed the hungry, while we were away from home, living among strangers (the Abyssinians) who often mistreated us. We were in constant fear for our lives”.
During this conversation, the Prophet (peace be upon him) entered the house. Asmaa told him:
“O God’s Messenger (peace be upon him), Umar (radi Allahu anhu) has said this”.
Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) asked:
“What did you reply?”
She (radi Allahu anha) told the whole story, after which the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: “Umar (radi Allahu anhu) has no more right over me than you have. Umar (radi Allahu anhu) and his Companions emigrated only once, whereas you people emigrated twice”.
When the news of this incident spread in Madinah, the Abyssinian emigrants came running to Asmaa’ (radi Allahu anha) and listened to the Prophet’s (peace be upon him) words again and again. According to her account, nothing in the world was more pleasing to them than the Prophet’s (peace be upon him) words. (Al-Bukhari and Muslim)
Once, many of the Prophet’s (peace be upon him) female relatives were sitting around him and talking loudly to him. When Umar (radi Allahu anhu) entered the house, they all left the room, and the Prophet (peace be upon him) laughed. Umar (radi Allahu anhu) said:
“O God’s Messenger, may God keep you smiling. Why did you laugh?” The Prophet (peace be upon him) replied that he was amazed that these women, upon hearing Umar’s voice, had all hidden themselves. Umar, addressing them, said:
“You fear me but do not fear God’s Messenger”. They all replied: “You are hot-tempered in comparison with God’s Messenger”. The Prophet agreed with them. (Muslim)
One day, the Prophet (peace be upon him) was sleeping in Aisha’s (radi Allahu anha) house with his face covered. It was the day of Eid, and so the young girls were singing. Abu Bakr (radi Allahu anhu) entered the house and told them to stop. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said:
“Let them sing. It is the day of Eid for them.” (Al-Bukhari)
As a result of the Prophet’s (peace be upon him) good temperament and kindness, women used to ask him questions. Although the companions were often surprised at their boldness, he never showed any dislike or intolerance for their questions… In fact, Abu Sa’id (radi Allahu anhu), Aisha (radi Allahu anha), Anas (radi Allahu anhu), Ibn Abbas (radi Allahu anhu), Jabir (radi Allahu anhu), and many other companions related that Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said:
“Whoever has two or three daughters or sisters and treats them well will go to Paradise.” (Abu Dawud)
These stories are reflective of the Prophet’s (peace be upon him) mercy and kindness towards women. But he went even farther. He tried to liberate women from all kinds of injustice, maltreatment, and oppression. He can genuinely be viewed as a liberator of women. He gave women such rights and privileges that even Western women did not enjoy until centuries later, like the right to own and use property independently of her husband and family. She also had a voice in the public sphere and politics, as the example of the Prophet’s giving audience to women shows.
By Ibrahim H. Malabari