"Islam - Protector of women's rights"

 The Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) has described and detailed the rights of all human beings, has given guidelines for all walks of life and has given an eternal divine code of life.  The Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) has specially favored the fairer sex in that He has granted them all social, economic and educational rights to them.

 

            Nowadays, people try to criticize Islam in this regard that Islam has ignored women although the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) has granted women such basic rights that humanity was not even aware of such rights.  The Holy prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) granted them greatness, dignity and honor.  In those times when women were treated barbarously, when boys were preferred over girls, when girls were considered a burden, when only sons received a share from the inheritance and daughters were totally forgotten and women were oppressed and crushed in all facets of life, the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) granted them all rights which were due to them and gave them such a high place that no religion or philosophy of life had even thought of it.  The Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) said:  Fear Allah about women and accept this exhortation to treat them nicely.

 

            These are the words of Mufti Syed Ziauddin Naqshbandi Qadri, Professor, Islamic Law, Jamia Nizamia, Founder-Director, Abul Hasanaat Islamic Research Center, in the lecture session held at AHIRC on the occasion of Women’s Day.

 

The revered Mufti said that after declaration of Prophethood, the first favor of the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) was on the fairer sex.  On giving the glad tidings of the birth of the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam), the slave-girl Thuwayba was set free.  The revered Mufti said that Islam has granted educational rights also to women.  When the first divine revelation came, the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) recited the beginning verses of Surah ‘Alaq to Hadhrat Khadija (May Allah be well pleased with her).  In this way, a woman only has the honor of being the first person to whom the divine revelation was recited.

 

The Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) has specially favored women in regard to knowledge.  When the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) became anxious about His Ummah, displaying extraordinary foresight, Hadhrat Khadija (May Allah be well pleased with her) asked Him to recite the Holy Quran to Waraqa bin Nouful, because when the distinguished people of a community accept a message then those under them also will easily accept it. 

 

            The revered Mufti said that when a woman is adorned with knowledge, she can play her part in spreading the light of Islam.  The daughters of the community can reform the community, both outwardly and inwardly, by arming themselves with both Islamic and worldly education.  Reforming women, making them aware of their religious, educational and social responsibilities, making them aware of their responsibility in rearing children is something that can best be done by women.  With complete Hijab and proper following of the Shariah, they can perform social services as well.

 

The revered Mufti said that women can acquire modern education as well and can serve the community directly and indirectly as the need may be.  They should especially concentrate on the discipline of medicine and women’s diseases.

 

            The respected Mufti said that in the era of ignorance, when the birth of a daughter was considered a shame and daughters were buried alive, in such a time the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) granted them the right to lead a dignified life and declared them to be a means of divine mercy.

 

The Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) said:  When a girl is born to a person, Almighty Allah sends a group of angels.  Those angels announce to the family members:  O members of the family!  Peace be upon you!

 

Then the angels shade that girl with their wings and caress her head with their radiant hands and say: This is a weak one which has come from a weak one.  Those who look after her will be helped until the Day of Judgment.  (Mo’jam Tabarani).

 

            The session ended with the Dua of Mufti Syed Ziauddin Naqshbandi Qadri.  Maulana Hafidh Syed Ahmed Ghouri, Teacher, Jamia Nizamia, led the proceedings.