Men in every society abuse their wives not because of scriptural teachings, but because of a natural instinct of domination and aggression. God, knowing this, has therefore decreed a perfect law to help men control their temper and to solve any problems before resorting to physical aggression. The failure of modern immoral and lewd societies in treating this perilous condition in men has made women victims of untold misery. Even, women are becoming violent, aggressive and beat their spouses for domination and intimidation. Despite advances in modern psychology and improved understanding of behavioural patterns of men, civilized and uncivilized, a successful solution to this aggressive behaviour has not been found by man.
A solution has however been presented to the world in the Quran, the Final Testament, more than 1400 years ago, in verse 4:34. The men are made responsible for the women, and Allah has endowed them with certain qualities, and made them the bread earners. The righteous women will cheerfully accept this arrangement, since it is Allah's commandment, and honour their husbands during their absence. If you experience rebellion from the women, you shall first talk to them, then (you may use negative incentives like) deserting them in bed, then you may (as a last alternative) beat them. If they obey you, you are not permitted to transgress against them. GOD is most High, Supreme. At first glance this verse may appear as if promoting physical abuse of women. But when reading 4:34 carefully one realizes that it actually prohibits abuse and beating of women by using the best psychological approach.
In Islam, rights and responsibilities of a woman are equal to those of a man but they are not necessarily identical with them, and constitute no problem: equality and sameness are two quite different things. This difference is understandable because man and woman are not identical anatomically, physiologically and biologically, but they are created equals. With this distinction in mind, Muslims treat her as a comfort rather than a discomfort. She has equal human rights; she is equal to man in intelligence, intellect and wisdom; she can be as good as a man in doing almost everything except in some physical tasks because Allah has created her differently anatomically, biologically and physiologically for the process of child bearing and giving birth, which is the hardest thing imaginable in the world, and I am sure men should thank Allah for saving them from this laborious duty.
As a mother, she enjoys more recognition and higher honour in the sight of Allah (31:14-15;46:15). The Prophet acknowledged this honour when he declared that Paradise is under the feet of the mothers. She is entitled to three-fourths of the son’s love and kindness with one-fourth left for their father. As a wife she is entitled to demand of her prospective husband a suitable dowry that will be her own. She is entitled to complete provision and total maintenance by the husband. She does not have to work or share with her husband the family expenses. Prophet Mohammed (SAW) said in his last sermon, "Treat your women well and be kind to them for they are your partners and committed helpers”. She is vital to his life and that she is not inferior to him nor is she one of the lower species. It is said that four out of every five Western converts to Islam are women.
In the West, it is a misconceived notion that for a Muslim woman even to have a driving license would mean some sort prestigious award, when so many of them are doctors, academics, teachers, lawyers, solicitors, engineers, nurses, social workers, policewomen, army officers and even pilots. It is a preposterous and perfidious thing to say that Muslim women are restricted and housebound and maidservants when as a matter of fact, they are ones who are at the wheel and driving force in the running of their families and the households. They are far more empowered than the non-Muslims think and in many cases are the decision-makers, and good ones. Muslim women are participating fully and equally in the construction of Islamic societies and contributing positively in the development of their countries. They are respected; have their dignified status and are not considered as objects of bare flesh, lust, good for TV commercials, good-time girls, strip-tease dancers and whores as in the Western countries as well as in India.
Finally, I would like to say that Islam demands that a woman should remain a reasonable being as everyone else. It does not expect her to become either an angel or a demon. If non-Muslims wish to compare or contrast her position with other civilizations or legal systems, one should look into all facts and not merely isolated practices as wearing a burqa or not having a driving license etc. In fact, with regard to certain aspects of morality, Islam is more rigid and more puritan than other systems and non-Muslim societies. Since Islam attaches particular importance to morality, it suppresses promiscuity by every means.
Muslim women are entitled to enjoy and exercise those rights which are considered to be the privilege of men, as Islam treats both men and women at par as far as their rights are concerned. In the Quran it is mentioned that if women have duties, they have equal rights also. Both sex have distinct roles but their duties and rights regarding marriage, divorce, inheritance, property, litigation, family matters etc have been defined in clear-cut terms and transgression is forbidden. Islam does not permit a woman to be subjugated by a man/husband but she must be treated with affection, respect and dignity; and above all afforded all rights entitled to her as a wife, mother, daughter and even if she becomes a widow with children. Men and women are subjected to same restrictions or prohibitions upon themselves as far the tenets of Islam are concerned but some leniency has been allowed to women in many matters concerning biological and physiological compulsions and limitations.
source:www.pakistanthinktank.org
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