“Islam: The reason behind women’s elevation”

[Al-fateh]

<b>“Islam: The reason behind women’s elevation”</b>


4/7/2007 6:00:00 PM GMT


Even though Islam is brutally fought by allegations that it is a demeaning religion for women’s right all over the world, history corrects such false claims. As a matter of fact, Prophet Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him) along with Islam were the first to transform women’s status from being property to someone who is essential and vital for the survival of communities and families, according to an article on Khaleej Times.


History has in its pages the suffering of girls, who were considered a burden and therefore had to be either eliminated or at least neglected. The time before Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) was the time when girls were feeling unwanted by the ignorant people until Islam came to enlighten everyone about the importance of women to the survival of the community.


The Holy Qur’an says “'And when the news of (the birth of) a female (child) is brought to any of them, his face becomes dark, and he is filled with inward grief! He hides himself from the people because of the evil of that whereof he has been informed. Shall he keep her with dishonour or bury her in the earth? Certainly, evil is their decision.' (Quran, 16:58-59)


Despite the fact that the so-called modern societies claim that all the women rights are preserved in their countries under their religion, many women are abused everyday and viewed as objects of desire that play a little part in life. On the contrary, under Islam, the fastest-growing religion in the world, Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) encouraged Muslims to treat women with respect asking them to welcome them with warmth to their lives. 'Whoever takes care of two girls until they reach adulthood — he and I will come together on the Day of Resurrection like this' interlacing his fingers (meaning fathers of girl children will be with the Prophet in paradise).' (Reported by Muslim)


As a matter of fact, Prophet Muhammad’s (PBUH) life itself was a live example of how to treat women. Even though he is always criticized for the number of women he married, Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) was a perfect man when it came to his wives and daughters. Among many examples of his well being was for example 'One day he (PBUH) led his Companions in prayer whilst carrying Umaamah bint Zaynab (May Allah Be Pleased With Her) when he made ‘rukoo’ he would put her down, then when he stood, he would pick her up.' (Reported by Al-Bukhari and Muslim)


Muslims wish everyday that the world would stop viewing Islam as being biased towards women and instead look back to the history of how women elevated through Islam along the years with the moral values and the character that can help them survive in today’s world.