Section 3

Human Rights & Status of

Women in Islam

Human Rights
Status of Women in Islam
Dignity of Men & Women
 Past Paper Questions
 Write a comprehensive note on the right of inheritance granted to women by Islam.
(2017)
 Describe the rights of women in Islam in the context of current wave of feminist
movement. (2019)
 “The last Sermon of the Holy Prophet (PBUH) is the basic document for awakening
of conscious of mankind for human rights”. Discuss. (2020)
 “Islam teaches the lesson of human respect and dignity irrespective of color, race
and creed”. Discuss (2020)
 Islam provides better rights to men and women than all other religions. Explore
with arguments. (2021)
 Human Rights in Islam
- The word ‘right’ is translated into Arabic as ‘haqq’.
- The Arabic word; ‘haqq’ has a number of meanings such as truth, correct, obligation,
legitimate etc. It is also one of the names of the All-Mighty. And it also means a legal
right.
- In terminology, it is defined as a legal right of a person given to him by Shariah (Islamic
law).
- Its plural is ‘huqooq’, and huqooq can be categorized into two types;
1. Huqooq Ullah – the rights of Allah SWT
2. Huqooq ul Ibad – the rights of the people
- The rights of Allah SWT are rights involving general welfare, and are not exclusive to
any individual. They also include worships.
- The rights of people are rights exclusive to individuals given to them by Shariah, such
as someone’s right to his property, dignity etc.
- Humans are the most superior creation of Allah SWT (Ashraf ul Makhlooqat)
“We have honored the Children of Adam, and carried them on land and sea, and
provided them with good things, and greatly favored them over many of those We
created.” (Bani Israel – 70)
“We created man in the best design.” (At-Tin – 4)
- Islam has given humans a great amount of respect and provided them with rights at a
time when the powerful had extraordinary amount of power and control over their
subordinates. (Treatment of Quraish with slaves)
- The Prophet SAW displayed an exemplary code of conduct while dealing with other
human beings, regardless of their race, color and religion.
- He remained a flag bearer of human rights all his life, before and after Prophet hood.
- And the sermon he delivered during Hajj is considered as the first charter of human
rights in mankind’s history.
 Key Takeaways from the Last Sermon
 Sanctity of Life & Property
“Your blood and your property are as sacred as are this Day and this Month and this city.”
- This statement alone encompasses a number of rights

 Rights of Women
“O people! Fear Allah concerning women. Verily you have taken them on the security of
Allah and have made their persons lawful unto you by words of Allah……. If your wives
refrain from impropriety and are faithful to you, clothe and feed them suitably.”

 Rights of Husbands
“It is incumbent upon them (wives) to honor their conjugal rights and not to commit acts
of impropriety which if they do, you have authority to chastise them, yet not severely.”
 Protection of Wealth
- By abolishment of usury/interest (riba)
“Allah has forbidden you to take usury.”

 No Superiority in Race/Color etc.

- “An Arab has no superiority over a non-Arab, nor does a non-Arab have any
superiority over an Arab; white has no superiority over black, nor does a black have
any superiority over white; (none have superiority over another) except by piety and
good action.”

 Rights of Those Not Present

- “All those who listen to me shall pass on my words to others and those to others again.”
 List of Human Rights Prescribed by Islam
1. Equality in the Sight of Allah SWT
“O people! We created you from a male and a female, and made you races and tribes, that
you may know one another. The best among you in the sight of Allah is the one who is the
most righteous. Allah is All-Knowing, Well-Experienced.” (Al-Hujurat – 13)

2. Sanctity of Life
“Whoever kills a person—unless it is for murder or corruption on earth—it is as if he killed
the whole of mankind; and whoever saves it, it is as if he saved the whole of mankind.”
(An-Nisaa – 32)
“Your blood and your property are as sacred as are this Day and this Month and this city.”
(Last Sermon)

3. Right to Basic Needs

“And give the relative his rights, and the poor, and the wayfarer, and do not squander
wastefully.” (Bani Israel – 26)
4. Sanctity of Property
“O you who believe! Do not consume each other’s wealth illicitly, but trade by mutual
consent.” (An-Nisaa – 29)

5. Religious Freedom
“There shall be no compulsion in religion; the right way has become distinct from the wrong
way.” (Al-Baqarah – 256)

6. Right of Inheritance is Gender Neutral

- Surah Nisa (verse 11 – 12) prescribes the inheritance shares for both the genders.

7. Right to Education is Gender Neutral

“Seeking knowledge is obligatory on every Muslim male and female.” (Muslim)
8. Right to Privacy
“And do not spy on one another, nor backbite one another.” (Al-Hujurat – 12)

9. Protection of Chastity
“Those who accuse chaste women, then cannot bring four witnesses, whip them eighty
lashes, and do not ever accept their testimony, for these are the immoral.” (An-Noor – 4)

10. Protection of a Child’s Identity

- The institution Nikah
- Strong punishment for adultery
- Giving the newborn a name is the newborn’s first right on his parents
 Status of Women in Islam
Introduction

- Women were treated in an inhumane manner during the time of the Prophet
- The people of Makkah felt embarrassed if a girl was born in their homes
“And when one of them is given news of a female infant, his face darkens, and he
chokes with grief. He hides from the people because of the bad news given to him.
Shall he keep it in humiliation, or bury it in the dust?” (An-Nahl – 58, 59)
- Female infanticide was a common practice
“When the girl, buried alive, is asked: For what crime was she killed? (At-Takwir – 8,
9)
- Women were treated as properties
- The son used to inherit his mother as well after the death of his father like all his other
wealth
 Status Granted by Islam
 Men & Women Equal in the Sight of Allah
“And so their Lord answered them: “I will not waste the work of any worker among you,
whether male or female. You are one of another.” (Aal e Imran – 195)
“Muslim men and Muslim women, believing men and believing women, obedient men and
obedient women, truthful men and truthful women, patient men and patient women,
humble men and humble women, charitable men and charitable women, fasting men and
fasting women, men who guard their chastity and women who guard, men who remember
Allah frequently and women who remember—Allah has prepared for them a pardon, and
an immense reward.” (Al-Ahzab – 35)

 Order to Respect Mothers Abundantly

“A man came to Allah's Messenger and said, "O Allah's Messenger! Who is more entitled
to be treated with the best companionship by me?" The Prophet said, "Your mother." The
man said. "Who is next?" The Prophet said, "Your mother." The man further said, "Who is
next?" The Prophet said, "Your mother." The man asked for the fourth time, "Who is next?"
The Prophet said, "Your father. "
 Order to Treat Wives in the Best Manner
“The best of you is the one who is best to his wife, and I am the best of you to my wives.”
(Ibn Maajah)
- The Prophet’s treatment of his wives, and how he showed affection towards them.

 Order & Encouragement to Treat Daughters Well

- The Prophet’s attitude towards Fatimah R.A.
- Right of inheritance
“Whoever has three daughters and is patient towards them, and feeds them, gives them to
drink, and clothes them from his wealth; they will be a shield for him from the Fire on the Day
of Resurrection.” (Ibn Maajah)

 Order to Respect Women in General

 Rights of Women Prescribed by Islam
1. Right to Live

2. Right of Having Consent in Marriage

3. Right to Education (Study & Teach)

4. Right to Re-Marry

5. Khul’a (Request from the courts for divorce)

6. Right to Own Property

7. Right to Trade and Do Business

8. Right to Inherit

9. Right to Being Provided with all the Basic Needs

10. Right to Charge for Breastfeeding

11. Right to Child Maintenance in Case of Divorce

 Dignity of Men & Women
 Humans are the most superior creation of Allah SWT (Ashraf ul Makhlooqat)
“We have honored the Children of Adam, and carried them on land and sea, and
provided them with good things, and greatly favored them over many of those We
created.” (Bani Israel – 70)

 Allah has created human beings in the best possible manner

“We created man in the best design.” (At-Tin – 4)

 Endowed humans with knowledge. Something exclusive to humans only

“And He taught Adam the names, all of them, then presented them before the
angels…..” (Al-Baqarah – 31)
 Ordered angels to prostrate before Adam

 Man; a vicegerent of Allah SWT

 Allah Himself has exclaimed His love for us

 Every other creation is created for the service of humans

 A high purpose of creation

 Granted humans with free will

 Actual cause of dignity; ‘Piety’