In Islam, women are given great status and importance. Women are to be respected and treated nicely according to the teachings of Islam. With the emergence of Islam, the darkness from the lives of women also vanished as status of women was raised.
Before the advent of Islam, the Arabs used to treat their women very badly. Women were treated like animals and not less than a property. Women were used as a means to earn money in the pre-Islamic days. They were used as the objects of pleasure and were sold and bought like commodities. They had no right of inheritance and when a man died his son “inherited” all his wives except his own mother. Moreover, a savage and inhumane custom among Arabs was to bury the newly born female child as daughters were unwanted in those days of ignorance.
With the advent of Islam, the darkness from the Arab society was vanished. Women were given proper status. Mothers were given respect, wives were treated well, female infanticide was stopped and right of inheritance was given to the women. By relating the rewards to the services of mother, wife and daughter, Islam showed that it regards women humans plus the status of women in Islam was clearly reflected in the divine orders and ahadees.
“Paradise lies under the feet of the mother.” (Hadith)
This hadith shows the status of mother in Islam that is very high and thus, showing the position of women in Islam that is for sure great.
Moreover, in Islam the order of mother is more important to obey than going to jehad. Plus, the right of mother to be treated good is three times more than that of the father. All these things show the great status of women in Islam.
“I entreat you to treat women well for they have been created from a rib and the most crooked part of a rib is the upper part. If you insist on straightening it, you will break it. If you leave it, it will remain crooked. So, I entreat you to treat women well.” (Bukhari)
This hadith asks the men to treat their wives well and Holy Prophet (SAWW) himself treated his wives nicely. This shows that Islam gives respect to the wives and thus, reflecting a beautiful status of women in Islam.
Following are the two ahadees that show the position of daughters in Islam:
Both of the above mentioned ahadees show that Islam gives huge importance to the daughters and protects them from any kind of harm. By giving significance to the daughters, Islam also shows that it gives a great position and status to the women.
Islam is a complete way of life that guides the Muslims in every path of life. Similarly, it guides the Muslims about how they should treat their women. Thus, women have great status and respect in Islam.