ISLAM has granted the most respectable position to women in the society. In Islamic society a woman is given a constructive role to play. She has been given such a great honour that has no parallel in any other culture or religion.

Before Islam woman had hardly any status. She was disliked and frowned upon. She had little dignity. Her self-respect and social status was seldom recognised.

Let us see some examples of the attitude of people towards women in pre-Islamic times:

In Greek civilisation woman had no importance. At best she was considered as “a symbol of sin”.

In Roman civilisation a woman was placed under the ownership of her husband. He treated her as he wished. No punishment was inflicted upon him even if he killed his wife.

Jewish behaviour with women, too, was quite harsh and aggressive. They did not believe even in the truth of her statements. A tradition named “Satti” was very common among Hindus according to which if a woman’s husband died, she had to be burnt alive with the dead body of her husband, because with the death of her husband she lost her right to exist.

The Arab society before Islam, was full of miseries for women. There was hardly any evil in thought or behaviour that was not present in that society. In the polytheistic society of Arabia, people’s behaviour and attitude towards their wives and daughters was very immoral and inhuman. In that society woman was not recognised as a distinct personality. She had no identity of her own. She was not given any share in the inheritance of her father, brother or even husband. People used to bury their daughters alive for the fear of providing them with food and shelter.

The Holy Qur’an mentions this fact when it says:

“And when the female, buried alive, was questioned for what sin was she killed?”

Islam raised a protesting voice against this atrocious trend of the society toward womenfolk. It recognised a set of rights for woman; as a mother, wife, daughter and sister, she was granted an honourable position in the society. Moreover, she was invited as a believer to share the general responsibilities of the Muslim society. She carried out her responsibility as mainly as a mother, a wife, and daughter.

Islam has accorded a very high and respectable position to woman as a mother. The esteem and respect of mother has been made obligatory upon every Muslim under the teachings of the Holy Qur’an and Sunnah. The Prophet Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him) said: “Jannah lies under the feet of the mother.” Once a companion of the Prophet (Peace Be On Him) came to him and asked: “O Prophet of God, who is entitled to my best treatment?” The Prophet replied: “Your mother”. He asked the same question three times and got the same answer. When he asked for the fourth time, Holy Prophet ( Peace Be Upon Him) said: “Your father”.

Islam has commanded its followers to look after their parents specially in their old age. Allah has dictated in His book:

“Say not to them a word of disrespect nor shout at them but address them in terms of honour”.

At the time of the conquest of Makkah, all the Makkans were, brought before the Holy Prophet (Peace Be Upon Him). Among them was the foster mother of Holy Prophet named Haleema. The Prophet was extremely delighted to see his mother, and accorded to her his highest respect.

Hazrat Owais Qarni was a very pious and noble person. He was a great follower of Islam. He had embraced Islam while the Holy Prophet (Peace Be Upon Him) was still alive. He naturally had a very strong desire to see the Prophet (Peace Be Upon Him) but since his mother was old and she needed his help and care, he could not visit the Holy Prophet (Peace Be Upon Him). As a reward of his service to his mother, he was treated as a Sahabi by the Prophet even though he could not see him personally. His name entered the list of Sahaba only because of his strong intention to see the Holy Prophet (Peace Be Upon Him).

Allah Almighty says in the Holy Qur’an: “And be good to your parents”. Islam has given an honourable status to a wife. Before Islam a person was allowed to marry multiple times but in Islam this practice was strictly prohibited. The permission of marriage was restricted to four wives only with the condition that the person should treat his wives justly and kindly. He should neither tease them nor make any discrimination among them.

The Holy Prophet’s own conduct with his wives was the best specimen of kind and sympathetic treatment. He treated them with love, regard and affection. The Holy Prophet ( Peace Be Upon Him) says: “The best amongst you is the one whose treatment is best with his family members”.

Islam has awarded following rights to wife: According to Islamic Shari’ah a woman can seek separation from his husband in case she does not want to spend her life with him on account of his failure to fulfil his obligations toward her.

Dowry is linked with Nikah. It is an obligatory bridal money given by the husband to his wife at the time of marriage. The Holy Qur’an gives the following instructions in this regard:

“And give to the women (whom you marry ) their dowry with a good heart “.

A woman deserves 1/8th of her husband’s inheritance.

In pre-Islamic society daughters had no status in the family. They were considered the symbol of dishonour and disgrace. A person having a girl considered himself as the most unfortunate of all. Often people used to bury their daughters out of the fear of having to provide them with food and shelter. The Holy Qur’an has described this attitude of theirs in the following words:

“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”.

Islam eliminated this attitude altogether. The crime of burying daughters alive was strictly prohibited as well as strongly condemned by Islam. Once a Sahabi told to the Holy Prophet (PBUH):

“I had a girl. My wife hid her. When she grew up, my wife told that she was her niece. As the time passed she became familiar with me. One-day my wife told me that she was actually his own daughter. Upon hearing this I became mad with anger and indignation. I took the girl to the woods and buried her alive. O Prophet ( Peace Be Upon Him) how cruel and inhuman I was?” And kill not your children for fear of poverty. We provide for them and for you. Surely, the killing of them is a great sin.

Islam has accorded following rights to daughter: It is obligatory for parents to provide their daughters with good education and adequate upbringing. Parents should equip their daughters with the knowledge of Holy Qur’an and Sunnah and should bring them in the light of Islamic principles.

Parents are obliged to enable their daughters to marry well-educated, decent and polite persons when they grow up to the proper age. Daughter deserves 3rd of her father’s inheritance.

Rasulullah (Peace Be Upon Him) had an intense love for her daughter Fatima. He used to spread his own sheet as a mark respect for his beloved daughter.

According to Islam, a brother is considered to be the guardian of his sister. He is responsible for her food, shelter, higher education and proper training.

Rasulullah (Peace Be Upon Him) had immense love for his sister Sheema. Once she came to meet him. Rasulullah PBUH became happy and gratified to see his sister. He rose to honour her. In short, Islam has given such lofty and honourable status to woman that was not granted to her in any other society in the whole history of mankind. In the eyes of the Poet of the East; “The colourful sight of the cosmos is due to the existence of the female”.