Pioneer of Feminism – Muhammad (PBUH) | Islam & Women | Rights of Women in Islam

When we hear the word “feminism” and “feminist” the only thing we instantly perceive is “the women’s rights” and “the one who supports women’s rights” respectively.  Before going any further let’s just have a look at contemporary definitions of these two; “Feminism is a political, cultural or economic movement aimed at establishing equal rights and legal protection for women” and “Feminist is a person committed to making the lives of women better”. [Barbara Ryan]

There are abundant books and research papers have been written that seek the genesis of Feminism in the late 19th and early 20th century. All such books, however, named numerous personalities being the champion of Feminism i.e. Amelia Bloomer, Simone de Beauvoir, Betty Friedan, Chandra Talpade Mohanty, Angela Davis, Alice Walker, Lucretia Mott, Lucy Stone, Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Susan B and many more. Though, all of them really contributed a lot in reassuring women’s right in their respective ages, but the question is, “is this really the true history? Are they really the pioneer of Feminism”? The answer is NO!

The history of Feminism is actually as old as the Islam, i.e. 7^th century. The Champion and Pioneer of the Feminism is none other than Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), the one who, in the age of darkness, brought abundant social, economical and domestic rights for women. He (PBUH) took the women out of plight and gave them social status which was never given to them in any early age of mankind. Before the advent of Islam, the women had no social status/rights and even they (women) were oblivious of this suppression and have accepted this repression as destiny.    

In the early 7^th century the female infanticide was common, women had no rights in property, were given no rights in inheritance, had no right of divorce, they were nothing more than an object for men. The dower was given to father instead of wife, as the part of marriage contract between the two men. Even the woman was not considered being the “party” of a marriage contract. This situation was the worst a woman could suffer through. There was a dire need to assuage the plight of women which Muhammad (PBHU) did efficiently by giving essential rights to women. However, before putting down the detailed reforms of Muhammad (PBUH) regarding women’s rights, let’s have a look at what other religions have said about “Women”.

The relegation of the women to the social backwaters in the earlier societies had its impact on later times and undermined her standing in the eyes of the religious theocracy. Thus organized religion has been instrumental in perpetuating the dynamics of male power play and the continued subjugation of women. The Bible establishes a woman's inferior status and her subservience to man as divinely ordained. The New Testament declares: "Let the woman learn in silence with all subjection”. According to the 19^th century feminist, Elizabeth Cady Stanton, “the church and Bible have proved to be the greatest stumbling blocks in the way of women's emancipation."

The oldest Hindu religious scriptures contain discriminatory passages concerning women. The religious doctrine outlined in the Vedas encourages female infanticide, child marriage and the burning of the widow (sati). It relegates them to the position of serfs who do not possess an identity of their own and are completely dependent on the male for protection. Females, according to Hindu sacred texts, cannot own property and are unfit to study the Vedas. Girls can only marry within their caste, have no right to divorce and infidelity on their part carries the death sentence. The widow cannot enjoy life in public again nor can she remarry.

Buddhism and Jainism that emerged as protests against the Hindu Vedic system did oppose the custom of Sati. However, because they professed asceticism, women were considered as deviant. Buddha is said to have warned his disciples to stay away from females and to avoid even looking at them.

            However the Islam and Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) suggested otherwise; He (PBUH) did not only teach the fundamental equality of men and women in society but also took firm measures for the emancipation of women from such plight. Muhammad (PBUH) abolished the tradition of female infanticide and labeled the birth of female as “blessing”, He (PBUH) further added, “Blessed is a woman, whose first child is Daughter” [Bukhari, Muslim]. At that time, this was undoubtedly revolutionary.

            In early 7^th century the women of Arab were considered no more than man’s property and had no civil right and social status. Muhammad (PBUH) gave women the right to own the property and fixed their right in inheritance as much as half of their male counterparts (brothers). This proportion was set because of the level of responsibilities of males which goes for all ages.

            Muhammad (PBUH) made the women principal-party in a marriage contract, where she reserves all the rights to accept or reject any proposal as the case maybe. Instead of father, the dower has to be given to the wife now, and she holds the rights to spend it anywhere she wants. Not only this but also the woman was empowered with the right of divorce, she can now dissolve the marriage contract due to certain reasons at anytime according to given criteria. This was also revolutionary, since women have had never this right in the history of mankind.

            Muhammad (PBUH) taught to respect the women and wife; during his first marriage life with Khadija (R.A) He (PBUH) was found tremendously kind, caring and loving towards his wife – who was the first woman converted to Islam. He (PBUH) was often found doing “Housekeeping – (women’s work)” in order to support his wife. He (PBUH) said:

·        “Fear Allah in respect of women” [Bukhari]

·        “The best of you are they who behave best to their wives.” [Muslim]

·        “A Muslim must not hate his wife, and if he be displeased with one bad quality in her, let him be pleased with one that is good.” [Bukhari]

·        “The more civil and kind a Muslim is to his wife, the more perfect in faith he is.” [Bukhari, Muslim]          

            After the death of first wife – Khadija (R.A) – in his lifespan, Muhammad (PBUH) married as many as 12 wives out of which mostly were widows, divorced and/or captives. This was the reason behind allowing the (limited) polygamy – marrying more than one woman at a time. Despite the female infanticide, the women of Arab, in 7^th century, far outnumbered men because a big number of men were killed in the inter-tribal wars of that era.

            Muhammad (PBUH) was the biggest advocate of women’s education and promoted the equal educational opportunity for men and women. He (PBUH) said, “Acquisition of knowledge is binding on all Muslims (both men and women without any discrimination)” [Ibn Maja in al-Sunan]. It is reported in Al-Bukhari that some women said to the Muhammad (PBUH), “men have gone ahead of us (in terms of acquisition of knowledge). Therefore, appoint a special day for our benefit as well”. Then the Muhammad (PBUH) fixed one day especially for them. He (PBUH) would meet them on that day, advise them and educate them about commandments of Allah Almighty.

            To discourage female infanticide and to give deserved value to daughters He (PBUH) said, “Whoever has three daughters whom he provides shelter for, supports and marries off, Paradise becomes absolutely binding for him”. One of the followers abruptly asked, “'What if they are two (daughters)?” The Prophet said, "Even if it's two."

At another situation Muhammad (PBUH) said, “Whoever has a female (daughter) and doesn't bury her alive nor scorn her nor give preference to his male child over her, Allah will admit him to Paradise.” [Bukhari]

             The 7^th century had proven to be the revolutionary and golden period for the women of Arabia and rest of the world. The women got all the rights which they were deprived of ever before. Muhammad (PBUH) took stand for the women in the darkest hour of history which caused him to face the wrath of cruel Arab people but to bring women out from such plight He (PBUH) didn’t step back.

Howsoever, the problems currently being faced by the women are due to ignorance, lack of Islamic knowledge, misinterpretation of Islamic text (Quran & Hadith) and cultural imperialism. Don’t get confused between the Arab and Islamic culture since both these are somehow different in many ways. Furthermore, the people of subcontinent have had lived with Hindus for centuries so their Islamic traditions, customs and beliefs have been distorted awfully.

It’s my firm belief that our salvation lies in following the golden rules of conduct as given by Pioneer of feminism – Muhammad (PBUH). If we had been following the true Islamic teachings regarding women – as taught by Muhammad (PBUH) – there would have been no need of such contemporary feminist movements for sure.