The Muslim Woman: Her Status in the Ummah

The status of the Muslim woman in Islaam is a very noble and lofty one, and her effect is very great in the life of every Muslim. Indeed, the Muslim woman is the initial teacher in the building of a righteous society, providing she follows the guidance from the Book of Allah and the Sunnah of His Prophet sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam. Since adherence to the Qur’aan and the Sunnah distances every Muslim - male or female - from being misguided in any matter. The misguidance that the various nations suffer from, and their being deviated, does not come about except by being far away from the path of Allaah - the Most Perfect, the Most High - and from what His Prophets and Messengers, may Allaah’s peace and prayers be upon them all, came with. The Prophet sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam said: "I am leaving behind two matters, you will not go astray as long as you cling to them both, the Book of Allaah and my Sunnah." (Hasan: Related by Maalik in al-Muwattaa 2/899 and al-Haakim 1/93, from Ibn ‘Abbas radiallaahu ‘anhu. It was authenticated by al-Albanee in as-Sahaahah no.1871.)

The great importance of the Muslim woman’s role - whether as wife, sister or daughter, and the rights that are due to her and the obligations due from her - have been explained in the noble Qur’aan, and further details of this have been explained in the purified Sunnah.

The secret of her importance lies in the tremendous burden and responsibility that is placed upon her, and the difficulties that she has to shoulder - responsibilities and difficulties some of which not even a man bears. This is why from the most important obligations upon a person is to show gratitude to the mother, and kindness and good companionship with her. And in this matter, she is to be given precedence over and above the father. Allaah - the Most High - says:

"And we have enjoined upon man to be dutiful and good to his parents. His mother bore him in weakness upon weakness and hardship upon hardship, and his weaning is in two years. Show gratitude and thanks to Me and your parents. Unto Me is the final destination." (Soorah Luqman 31:14)

Allah -the Most High - said:

"And we have enjoined upon man to be dutiful and kind to his parents. His mother bears him with hardship, and she brings him forth with hardship. And the bearing and the weaning of him is thirty months." (Soorah al-Ahqar 41:15) A man came to Allaah’s Messenger sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam and said: O Messenger of Allaah! Who from amongst mankind warrants the best companionship from me. He replied: "Your mother." The man asked: Then who? So he replied: "Your mother." The man then asked: Then who? So the Prophet replied again: "Your mother." The man then asked: Then who? So he replied: "Then your father." (Related by al-Bukhaaree no.5971 and Muslim 7/2 from Abu Hurayrah radiallaahu ‘anhu.) So this necessitates that the mother is given three times the likes of kindness and good treatment that the father.

As regards the wife, then her status and her effect in making the soul tranquil and serene, has been clearly shown in the noble aayah (verse), in His - the Most High’s - saying:

"And from amongst His signs is this: That He created for you wives from amongst yourselves, so that you may find serenity and tranquility in them. And he has put between you love and compassion. Indeed, in this are signs for those who reflect." (Soorah Room 30:21)

Al-Haafidh Ibn Katheer (d.774H) - rahimahullaah - said, whilst explaining the terms mawaddah and rahmah which occur in the above verse: "Al-mawaddah means love and affection, and ar-rahmah means compassion and pity - since a man takes the hand of a woman either due to his love for her, or because of compassion and pity for her; by giving to her a child from himself ..." (Tafseer Quraanul -‘Adheem 3/439 of Ibn Katheer.)

And the unique stance that the Prophet sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam’s wife Khadeejah - radiallaahu ‘anhaa - took, had a huge effect in calming and reassuring Allah’s Messenger sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, when the angel Jibreel - ‘alayhis salaam - first came to him in the cave of Hiraa. So the Prophet sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam returned to Khadeejah with the first revelation and with his heart trembling and beating severely, and he said to her: "Cover me! Cover me!" So the covered him until his fear was over, after which he told Khadeejah - radiallaahu ‘anhaa - everything that had happened, and said: "I fear that something may happen to me." So she said to him: "Never! By Allaah! Allaah will never disgrace you. You keep good ties with relations, you help the poor and the destitute, you serve your guests generously and assist those who have been afflicted with calamities." ( Related by al-Bukhaaree 1/22 and Muslim 1/139, from the lengthy narration of ‘Aaishah radiallaahu ‘anhaa.)

And do not forget about ‘Aaishah - radiallaahu ‘anhaa - and her great effect. Since even the great Sahabah (Companions) used to take knowledge of Hadeeth from her, and many of the Sahaabiyaat (female Comanions) learn the various rulings pertaining to woman’s issues from her ...

And I have no doubt that my mother - may Allaah shower His mercy upon her - had a tremendous effect upon me, and has a great excellence over me, in encouraging me to study; and she assisted me in it. May Allaah greatly increase her reward and reward her with the best of rewards for what she did for me.

And there is no doubt also, that the house in which there is kindness, gentleness, love and care, along with the Islaamic tarbiyah (education and cultivation) will greatly affect the man. So he will become - if Allaah wills - successful in his affairs and in any manner - whether it be seeking knowledge, trading, earning a living, or other than this. So it is Allaah alone that I ask to grant success and to guide us all to that which He loves and is pleased with. And may the prayers and peace of Allaah be upon our Prophet Muhammad, and upon his Family, his Companions and his followers.

This small article was a response to a particular question concerning the position and status of Muslim women, and has been taken from his Majmoo’ Fataawaa wa Maqaalaat Mutanawwa’ah 3/348-50.

This article was originally published in Al-Istiqaamah Newsletter Issue no. 1.