The Essential Role of a Muslim Woman in Society

I grew up in a small town where you’ll find mansions that were built at the time of the Spanish Colonial. These ancestral houses are captivating and still standing firm like the Mount Makiling that you’ll get a glimpse of from our balcony. This is my hometown where my grandmother raised me.

My grandmother got married at a very young age to an older man who came from a well-off family. She was illiterate and could only write her name for signing legal papers. She sacrificed her early age to look after her younger siblings, which caused her not to attend school. But despite this, she is contemplative, selfless, affectionate, and a loving daughter. Even with her husband's problematic habits and age difference, she remained committed to being a dutiful wife. She neither disrespected her husband nor rebelled against him. Her passion for keeping the house tidy, and cooking delicious dishes are among her skills to please my grandfather, and I admire her for that.

"Men are in charge of women by [right of] what Allah has given one over the other and what they spend [for maintenance] from their wealth. So righteous women are devoutly obedient, guarding in [the husband's] absence what Allah would have them guard…”

(QS. An-Nisaa 4: Verse 34)

 

My grandmother was strict, but caring. One time when I was a kid; I wanted to leave to attend a mass. I asked permission, but she disagreed and told me, “You don’t need to go to church to pray. You can pray at home.” When I converted to Islam ten years ago and learned the basic law; the words that my grandmother uttered made sense. And Alhamdulillah a week ago she converted to Islam. For this reason, I intend this article as her good deed, and may Allah the Most Merciful and All-Wise accept it from her. 

In this article, I want to discuss the essential role of a Muslim woman in society. In our fast-changing world, it's crucial to reflect on the purpose and significance of women's existence.

But before that, let’s turn back the clock:

 

“In ancient societies, most women married and began raising children soon after reaching puberty. They remained at home, received no formal education, and had little economic or social power. 

In medieval and early modern societies, Islam, the religion of the Muslims, spread through the Middle East, northern Africa, and parts of Europe and Asia from the 700s to the 1200s. Like Christianity and Hinduism, Islam taught women to obey their husbands. Men were allowed to have more than one wife. Muslim women began wearing veils over their faces and many men secluded their women in the harem. But Muslim women did have the right to own property and to divorce their husbands.”[1]

If I include every word from the Worldbook, you will find out even a non-muslim historian couldn’t deny the exception of honor that is given to Muslim women. Truly, Allah the Almighty has raised our status in this world. 

A man came to Allah’s Messenger peace be upon him and said: O Messenger of Allah! 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." [2]

 

Now, let’s talk about some of the greatest women in Islam throughout history: 

 Allah’s Messenger peace be upon him said: 

 “Many from the men attained perfection but amongst women, none attained perfection except Maryam the daughter of Imran, and Asiya, the wife of Firaun. And the superiority of ‘Aishah to other women is like the superiority of Tharid (i.e. Arabic dish) to other meals.” [3]

‘A’ishah Bint Abu Bakr 

“Several Ayat of the Noble Qur’an which were revealed were associated with her, and she was justifiably proud of this honor. She was enviable position among the Mothers of the Believers in that she was considered the foremost among them. She had a brilliant mind and remarkable memory and the distinction of being the source of the most Ahadith because of her long association with Prophet Muhammad(peace be upon him). Her knowledge of the many branches of religion like Fiqh (jurisprudence) and Shariah (Islamic legislation)her wisdom in interpretation, her mastery of the teachings of the prophet, her trustworthiness and integrity–all these qualities made her one of the most remarkable personalities of the time.” [4]

 

Umm Al-Darda.

"She is an excellent model of the virtues of the muhaddithat. Ibrahim ibn ‘Ablah narrates that a man came to her and told her that a certain individual had criticized her before the caliph, ‘Abd-al Malik ibn Marwan. She said: "If we are rebuked for something that is not found in us, very often we are also praised for something that is not in us." It is wonderful how gently she criticizes the one who sought to bring her into the caliph’s disfavour, without needing to say she has no awe or dread of the caliph’s rank and power." [5]

 

Princess Noura bint Abdul Rahman Al Saud

“It was said she had the “minds of 40 men” and great wisdom. She encouraged King Abdul Aziz to regain the leadership of the country. She is Noura Bint Abdul Rahman, the trusted sister of the country’s founder.

Princess Noura was charismatic and held strong political ideas, resulting in King Abdul Aziz asking her opinion on many important issues.

Researchers say she was an exceptional woman. In her book “Famous Women from Najd”, Dr. Dalal Al-Harbi, a researcher, cited several aspects of the life of Princess Noura, who was a year older than King Abdul Aziz. The researcher addressed Princess Noura’s influential role in several aspects of social and political life after King Abdul Aziz regained and settled his family in Riyadh. Al-Harbi also mentioned her role in encouraging the King to regain the rule of his fathers.” [6]

 

Interesting Facts

 

In one period of our history, there were 3000  men and 400 women scholars. [7]

In the major compilations of hadith, there are over 300 narrators from Aishah, Al Mizzi has listed them in alphabetical order together with reference to the books where their hadiths are recorded.[8]

 

Major scholars who narrated from women: 

Iman Ahmad ibn Hanbal d.241,,

Abu Ibrahim Al Tajrumani d.236 [9]

Hafiz Ibn Asakir d571 narrated from over 80 women and dedicated a whole book to biographical accounts of them.[10]

Imam Ibn Taymiyyah d.728, probably the greatest thinker and jurist of his time, received hadith from a number of women and included some hadiths from them in his Forty Hadiths, He expressed very high esteem for their knowledge, understanding, and intelligence, as well as their righteousness and piety, and he praised some of them fulsomely for their efforts in preaching and reform. [11]

 

Mohammad Akram Nadwi said in his book: Al Muhaddithat: The Women Scholars in Islam:

“The source of that record of the work of the Muhaddithat of later centuries does not provide many details as to their manners, how they did their work. They are described not specified but generally as pious, virtuous, deeply learned, intelligent, generous with their time and their wealth, and despite teaching for most of the day, of astonishing patience and forbearance.” [12]

 

Sheik ‘Abdul-’Azeez Ibn Baaz described the status of Muslim women beautifully, he said:

"The status of the Muslim woman in Islam is 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, provided she follows the guidance from the book of Allah and the sunnah of his prophet peace be upon him. Since adherence to the Quran and the Sunnah  distances every Muslim- male or female- from being misguided in any matter." [13]

In conclusion, Muslim women in Islam are honorable, and have a big contribution to this Ummah. Though one of the purposes of the creation of man and woman is to be in tranquility with each other; to reproduce as to continue the existence of humanity—still one of the most essential roles of woman is to be the initial educator of the future generation. To raise the young Muslims to be God-fearing, beneficial to the Ummah, and a resident of the promised Paradise.

My sisters, let’s make time to seek beneficial knowledge and practice it sincerely and consistently. So, we can be an authentic source of knowledge of our children, an excellent role model to the righteous, and a woman of integrity who raises her children in a manner that Allah will be pleased with. And without further ado, I want to end this article with a quote:

 

“ …The Sunnah which that scholarship is meant to serve is not an academic pursuit but a way of living.”  -Mohammad Akram Nadwi [14]

 

May Allah bless us with the knowledge of the prophets and may he give us humility. Until next time, assalamu’alaykum.

 

Reference:

[1] ]  Worldbook Vol 21, pg 383-384 

[2] Related by Al Bukhari (no.5971) and Muslim (7/2), from Abu Hurayrah radiallaahu ‘anhu

[3] [Sahih Al Bukhari, Vol 5, chapter 30, hadith 3769, narrated by Abu Musa Al-Ashari (may Allah be pleased with him) 

[4] Great Women of Islam by Mahmood Ahmad Ghadanfar, pg 40 

[5] Al Dhahabi, Siyar a’lam al nubala, iv. 279.

[6] Noura a trusted sister of the Kingdom’s founder, Saudi Gazette 

[7] Al Dhahabi, Siyar a’lam al nubala, xxiii. 133.

[8] .[Al mizzi, tahdhib al kamal, xxxv. 228-33

[9] Al-Khatib al Baghdadi, Tarikh Baghdad, xiv. 432

[10] Al Muhaddithat: The Women Scholars in Islam by Mohammad Akram Nadwi

[11] Al Muhaddithat: The Women Scholars in Islam by Mohammad Akram Nadwi

[12] Al Muhaddithat: The Women Scholars in Islam by Mohammad Akram Nadwi, pg 141

[13] Majmoo’Fatawaa wa Maqaalat Mutanawwi’ah

[14] Al Muhaddithat: The Women Scholars in Islam by Mohammad Akram Nadwi