Q. The world has been moving steadily toward globalization and there seems to be nothing to check its march. The issue of women’s empowerment has been pushed through with the help of different agencies of the UN, particularly the UNDP. I do not have a problem with such empowerment or with women’s going out to work, if allowed by their families. However, in practice, this raises questions about the way they dress and their presence in a mixed working environment, where they have no Mahram. At work people develop friendship. Is there any provision in Islam for such friendship between man and woman? Please comment on this issue in detail.
Mujtaba Hasan
A. We always assert our belief that Islam is God’s final message to mankind, and that it is suitable for all societies, in all generations. At the same time, we make clear that God has placed man in charge of the earth and required him to build a good and virtuous human society that maintains freedom and justice for all. God says in the Qur’an: “Worship God alone. You have no deity other than Him. He it is who brought you into being out of the earth and settled you therein.” (11: 61) By settlement, the Qur’an means a settlement that ensures progress. Human civilization has achieved much material and scientific progress, but unfortunately it has not ensured similar progress in human issues. Hence, there is much injustice, particularly at the social level, in our world. Women bear a considerable share of such injustice, but in varying degrees in different societies.
In Muslim countries, injustice to women is often at a high level. What is more, some aspects of injustice are often given an Islamic appearance although they are contrary to Islam. Islam treats men and women equally in all respects, with some differences that are required to help them fulfill their two complementary roles in life. Where such differences occur, they always give women a special advantage or privilege. Shortly before the blessed life of the Prophet (peace be upon him) came to its end, he repeated enjoining his followers not to lose sight of three most important things: prayer as well as fair treatment of slaves and women. Prayer provides a bond between man and God, keeping man always aware of the need to obey divine orders and implement the Islamic code of living. The other two injunctions aim to establish justice for the two most vulnerable groups in society. If we look at the position of women in Muslim societies today, we find that there are still some Muslim communities that deprive women of their share of inheritance, assigned to them by God Almighty. It is ingrained in the culture of some Muslim communities that women have to defer to their husbands or parents in aspects where Islam gives them complete freedom. In marriage, Islam establishes that a woman should have a dowry, paid by the husband, and it becomes her own property, which she is free to use the way she likes. In some Muslim communities, the dowry is used to buy furniture, while in others, the woman is told by her parents to forgo it on her wedding night. In fact, the husband is paid in gold to ensure that the marriage is completed. If a woman is working, it is often the case that the man claims part or all of her income, when he is responsible to provide for her and the rest of his family.
The gulf between the position Islam gives to women and our inherited concept of that position is wide indeed. We always tend to think of certain aspects, such as the dress code, segregation between men and women, and the Mahram, or the presence of a close relative when a woman travels or is in the company of men. When a woman is in her waiting period, after her husband’s death or her divorce, we want her not to leave home until that period is over. Look at the following authentic Hadith reported by Jabir ibn Abdullah: “My maternal aunt was divorced. She wanted to go to her date farm to supervise its harvest, but a man tried to prevent her (because she was in her waiting period). She asked the Prophet and he said to her: “Yes, you can go and supervise your harvest. You may then be able to give something in charity or do some other good thing.” (Related by Muslim.) Here is a woman companion of the Prophet who owns a farm. The Prophet tells her that although she was in her waiting period, she could go and supervise the work in her farm. Of course she would not be the one who collects her dates from the trees. She would employ some men for the task and she would ensure that they do the work properly. As she will be doing this, she would be in charge and she can then give away a portion of her harvest in charity. We note that the Prophet did not tell her to take with her a Mahram, i.e. a close relative whom she cannot marry, because relations in Islamic society are based on trust.
Should women be empowered? Should they be allowed to work? Should they have control of their income? Should they have the freedom to conduct their own affairs? From the Islamic point of view, the answer to all these questions is, ‘Yes, by all means.’ However, we insist that all this should be in accordance with Islamic teachings, as these were given to us by the Prophet. What does this mean in practice? It means that there are differences between men and women in certain issues and these must be observed. These are meant to ensure fairness to women and priority for family concerns. Islam differs greatly with modern civilization in this regard. Modern civilization tries to establish equality between man and woman in absolute terms, giving the family two equal heads. This has resulted in the practical collapse of the marriage institution in the West. In some European countries, nearly half of all marriages end in divorce within two or three years. Morality is discarded as old-fashioned and women are often treated as sex objects.
The Islamic way is a middle way, providing a holistic approach to the needs of the individual, the family and society, and upholding a very high and serious standard of morality. However, we need to learn more about Islam and the place of women in Islamic society.
In Arab News, we have been carrying a series of articles on this issue with an approach relying only on the Qur’an and the authentic Hadith. We hope that readers will see the wide gulf between their inherited conceptions and the true Islamic view.
