The Woman: An Outlook from the Light of Islam - Part One
There's
so such much literature about women in general that one sometimes
wonders whether it has not gradually become cliche-like to write about
them. Yet with all the innumerable 'texts' that flood everywhere I stand
to be corrected when I posit that 'The Woman' remains largely
misunderstood both in the context of the male-dominated worldview as
well as from the prism of many women's self-perception. For instance how
else would you explain the endless abuse that women continue to
endure.
Anyway, let me not digress from
the crux of this writeup which I put up in an attempt to discuss
Womanhood from the standpoint of Islam.
To
start with let us begin with 'Genesis'. As is common knowledge the
first Woman - Hauwa'u(AS) - was created from the rib of Adam (AS). In
the Holy Quran Allah (SWT) said:
.وَمِنْ كُلِّ شَيْءٍ خَلَقْنَا زَوْجَيْنِ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَذَكَّرُونَ.[Wamin kulli shay-in khalaqn[a] zawjayni laAAallakum ta[th]akkaroon(a)]"And of everything We have created pairs: That ye may receive instruction."Al-Qur'an, 051.049 (Adh-Dhariyat [The Winnowing winds])
سُنَّةَ اللَّهِ الَّتِي قَدْ خَلَتْ مِنْ قَبْلُ وَلَنْ تَجِدَ لِسُنَّةِ اللَّهِ تَبْدِيلا[Sunnata Allahi allatee qad khalat min qablu walan tajida lisunnati Allahi tabdeelan]
"(Such has been) the practice (approved) of Allah already in the past: no change wilt thou find in the practice (approved) of Allah."
Al-Qur'an, 048.023 (Al-Fath [Victory, Conquest])
The woman thus became the perfection of humanity's vicegerency on earth whereby she completes a man and each becomes a protection for the other.
Next, let us look at the essence of a woman. Islamically, the woman is considered to be a unique being by virtue of her constitution. It is evident that being that she was created from Man's 'rib' the male would be naturally inclined towards her as well as desire to 'protect & nurture'...as stated in the Holy Quran:
الرِّجَالُ قَوَّامُونَ عَلَى النِّسَاءِ بِمَا فَضَّلَ اللَّهُ بَعْضَهُمْ عَلَى بَعْضٍ وَبِمَا أَنْفَقُوا مِنْ أَمْوَالِهِمْ فَالصَّالِحَاتُ قَانِتَاتٌ حَافِظَاتٌ لِلْغَيْبِ بِمَا حَفِظَ اللَّهُ وَاللاتِي تَخَافُونَ نُشُوزَهُنَّ فَعِظُوهُنَّ وَاهْجُرُوهُنَّ فِي الْمَضَاجِعِ وَاضْرِبُوهُنَّ فَإِنْ أَطَعْنَكُمْ فَلا تَبْغُوا عَلَيْهِنَّ سَبِيلا إِنَّ اللَّهَ كَانَ عَلِيًّا كَبِيرًا
[Alrrijalu qawwamoona AAala alnnisa-i bima faddala Allahu baAAdahum AAala baAAdin wabima anfaqoo min amwalihim fa'al ssalihatu qanitatun hafithatun lilghaybi bima hafitha Allahu wa'allatee takhafoona nushoozahunna faA'Aithoohunna wa'ohjuroohunna fee almadajiA'Ai wa'idriboohunna fa-in ata Anakum fala tabghoo Aalayhinna sabeelan inna Allaha kana Aaliyyan kabeeran.]
"Men are the protectors and maintainers of women, because Allah has given the one more (strength) than the other, and because they support them from their means. Therefore the righteous women are devoutly obedient, and guard in (the husband's) absence what Allah would have them guard. As to those women on whose part ye fear disloyalty and ill-conduct, admonish them (first), (Next), refuse to share their beds, (And last) beat them (lightly); but if they return to obedience, seek not against them Means (of annoyance): For Allah is Most High, great (above you all)."
Al-Qur'an, 004.034 (An-Nisa [Women])
With regard to the special status of women, Allah who created us complimented by providing mankind with guidance and as evidence we can see that in the Final Revelation (Al-Quran al-Karim) a whole Chapter was devoted to Women; (An-Nisa [Women] 004).
Furthermore, this fact is enshrined in all the legislations affecting women in that every woman is seen as deserving of: care, respect, honor, pampering, and a persevering disposition towards them regardless of their status i.e. married, single, widowed, divorced, a sister, a wife or a mother. All must be taken care of.
We see this in the way we are enjoined to fend for the women in our lives from birth till death. At every point a male is required by law to be responsible for her upkeep; her comfort; her needs.
To be continued...
Haidar Wali
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