Opinion | Are Women Inferior to Men?

‘Islam and the believers of Islam suppress, oppress, and subjugate the women. This is biased statement that has been propagated through media (both print and electronic). Is Islam an oppressor or liberator of women? Are Muslims really oppressing her? These are the questions that need an authentic answer.

The fact is that having a look on the primary sources of Islam the Quran and Hadith one comes to know that such statements are nothing but a slander. All humans have descended from a single male and female Adam and Eve (Quran, 4: 1; 49: 13: we have created you from a male and female). Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) emphasized on the social position of woman when he said the first woman called Hawa had been derived the rib (near the heart). This states that a womans place is in the heart of man; neither in the feet nor on head.
If we talk about the education, the Prophet (PBUH) encouraged both the man and woman equally to seek the knowledge. He preached that it is compulsory for every Muslim to seek the knowledge (Sunnah Ibn Majah). Islam does not discriminate between the genders, but has laid down certain guidelines and restrictions for the mixing and mingling of the two genders.
Most people are spreading wrong or incorrect information (especially through the social media) that Islam does not give women any rights, including the right to choose the spouse. But it is incorrect; in fact, Islam has honored the woman to choose her spouse and keep the name of original family after the marriage. Forced marriages are cultural practices of some, without any basis in Islam; it is rather prohibited. It is now clear that Islam has honored the woman to choose her spouse as she wants but Islam does not allow the woman to create the lesbianism, which is totally against the law of nature.
The Messenger of Allah (PBUH) encouraged men to treat their wives in best way. The best of you are those who are best in (treatment) to their wives, is a Prophetic statement recorded in Trimidhi. A girl came to the Prophet (PBUH) and said that she was forced to marry her cousin. When the Prophet (PBUH) heard this, he (PBUH) ordered and gave the girl option of remaining married or nullifying the marriage (Ibn Majah).
Islam, on the one hand, gives rights to both the genders (men and women) equally; on the other hand, Islam also emphasizes and preaches us making differences between them. It seems to be unwise and impulsive to treat both the genders same and to ignore their physical and biological differences. Islam preaches that men and women have complementary, yet different, roles to play, is best suited of their nature. Because there are lots of differences between the two genders, and a female is more sensitive and a bit fragile than a male, therefore, a male has more responsibilities of family than a female. On the basis of gender studies and socialism, some people say that a man and woman should have equal responsibilities but it seems to be and irrational and unwise because of their various differences.
In Sahih al-Bukhari, it is stated that a person came and asked to the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) for rectifying the rights of parents. The messenger of Allah replied to the person that your mother deserves more respect, for her role as mother and the pain that she undergoes before and on the birth of a child. Thus, if we analyze this hadith, it clearly reveals the rank of a mother in the life of a son; it also teaches us the rights and rank of a woman.
Considering all this, it is unwise to say that in Islam women are inferior to men or women are not treated well by Islam. Snatching of certain rights from women is a result of socio-cultural issues or religious interpretations; Islam teaches equality of humanity and both male and female have to play their respective roles.

(About Writer : Mudasir Ahmad Wani is BSc 4th Sem Student at Govt. Degree College Sogam (Lolab), Kupwara.)