Islam has ensured the equitable rights to men and women. It has given the security of life and property and the highest honor to women. When in the age of darkness and ignorance female child was buried alive, women were being sold like animals in markets and were used as slaves, and parents became depressed hearing the news of birth of female child, then God criticizing it in the holy Koran said: "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!" (Surah An-Nahl: Verse 58). Being sympathetic to the women community the Prophet Muhammad said: "Female child is the symbol of prosperity and benevolence". He also said: "He who raises three or two or at least one female child appropriately will be placed in heaven."
Introduction
God has created the human race with a combination of one woman and one man. In the case of giving birth to a child the role of one man and one woman is almost the same rather it can be said that the contribution of woman in this regard is comparatively more than man. A mother hides her coming child for more than ten months in her womb. At one stage gives birth to a new born child taking the risk of her life. This is not the end rather she feeds milk to her child until the age of two-and-a-half year with care and responsibility. In this regard, God says in the holy Koran: "I have given orders to mankind to be kind to their parents. His mother (because during birth) bears him with much sufferings and gives birth through much pain as well." In addition to giving birth to children, women are also contributing to many vital sectors of the society. Role of women is profound in all sectors from conjugal life to family, societal, political, and economy. Contribution of women in protecting the country and independence of the country is also worth mentioning.
However, in today's civilized society some human like animal are appearing in the role of hyenas and are carrying out oppression on those beautiful helpless women. The process of development is being hindered assaulting the race of mothers who are advancing the world to development with each passing day by their activities and without those the social backbone would have been perished. It is to be noted that people of different religions and different ethnicity showed inhuman attitude to women. Women are being belittled in Hindu religion by terming various names like Lakshmi, Padmini, Rakkhashi, Opoya, etc., and the freedom of women has been denied by kicking off the Sati Daho system (Hindu practice of burning of widow with her husband's corpse). There were no rights of women in the Jewish philosophy and Christianity. For example, it can be said: "The British women before 1807, German women 1900, Swiss women 1907, and Australian women before 1919 could not be the owner of any type of property" (Abdul Karim Biajar Siraji, Nari Nirjaton Jugey Jugey (Women Oppression in Different Ages), Dhaka: Cultural Center of Islamic Republic of Iran, December 1992: 5).
At that time people used to give preference to male child over female child. But the Prophet Muhammad said: "If any of you have son and daughter, and if you bring something for them, give it to your daughter first and your daughter will give the rest to her brother after taking hers."
The messenger of freedom of humanity Prophet regarding significance of wife said: "Good wife is a symbol of the good luck" (Muslim). He also said about the value of wife said: "He among you is the best who is best to his wife." (Tirmizi Sharif).
About the rights of widow the Prophet of Islam said: "Those who take the responsibility of widows are the participants of jihad in the path to God and are the diligent practitioners of prayer and fasting" (Bukhari, Muslim).
A separate and long Surah in the holy Koran has also been alighted on rights and responsibilities of women titled "Women" which have not been for male. Therefore, George Barnard Shaw said: "Only Hazrat Muhammad has given the appropriate honor to women."
When in the human society there was no right for women, the merciful God declared clearly abolishing that confusion:
"And they (women) have rights (over their husbands as regards living expenses, etc.) similar (to those of their husbands) over them (as regards obedience and respect, etc.) to what is reasonable" (Surah Al-Baqarah: verse 228).
Protesting the oppression that had been carried out on women in the pre-Islam period it is said in the holy Koran:
"Treat with them fairly" (Surah An-Nisa: Verse 19).
No nation recognized the personal right of women on anything. After the emergence of Islam it recognized the economic freedom of women. As for instance, words of God:
"For men there is reward for what they have earned, (and likewise) for women there is reward for what they have earned" (Surah An-Nisa: verse 32).
In the age of darkness and ignorance, people used to marry wealthy women for the love of property. After the death of husbands of those women, people used to consider their widows as their successors forcibly like the properties. They used to marry them against their will. But God issued order:
"O you who believe! You are forbidden to inherit women against their will" (Surah An-Nisa: verse 19).
When women were kept imprisoned to deprive them from paying their due dowry, God declared:
"Nor should ye treat them with harshness, that ye may take away part of the dower ye have given them" (Surah An-Nisa: verse 19).
The people used to think that women have been created to serve the male only.
But God declared that: "They are your garments. And ye are their garments" (Surah Al-Baqarah: verse 187). That means, in this life one completes other.
Men used to raise allegations of adultery or something like that against their wives having the ill-motive of marrying another, so that that wife leaves on her own will leaving her own property and share. But the merciful God declared:
"But if ye decide to take one wife in place of another, even if ye had given the latter a entire treasure for dower takes not the least bit of it back: would ye take it by slander and a manifest wrong?" (Surah An-Nisa: Verse 20).
Islam has recognized the right of women in the property of parents. As for instance God said:
"From what is left by parents and those nearest related there is a share for men and a share for women, whether the property be small or large,-- a determinate share" (Surah An-Nisa: Verse 7).
The Prophet Muhammad in the last Hajj said:
"Careful! You have rights on women and they too have rights on you" (Tirmizi, He termed this Hadith "Hasan Hadith," said Riyadus Saleheen 1/276).
Sources of Properties for Women
In the pre-Islam era, women themselves were products let alone owner of properties. Islam has given rightful rights of women on property. About the ownership of property by women God in the holy Koran said: "Give the prefixed dowry to your wife." It is also been said: "Men will be owner of their earnings and women will be the owner of their earnings" (Surah An-Nisa). There are three major sources of wealth for women: 1. Mahr (amount of money or property that is given to the wife by the husband as a non-returnable dowry in the marriage contract), 2. Inheritance to parents, close relatives, husband, and children, and 3. Personally earned income. Despite the existence of sources of income, they have no head of expenditure. Even the cost of her maintenance is not on her. As for instance, before marriage all of her responsibilities lie with father, after marriage it is on the husband and in old age it is on children.
Preference to Men Over Women
Regarding this the merciful God said in the holy Koran: "Men are responsible for women because God has given supremacy (in terms of creating) of one on other, and for that they (men) spend (for paying Mahr and maintaining)." In that verse two causes of the supremacy of men over women have been cited: the first reason is natural or related to creation and the second reason is social or earned. If we give some of our attention, we would find that men and women are not equal at all. There are differences among them for natural cause. As for instance, speed, food habit, likings, hobbies, etc., of men and women are not the same. Moreover, there are huge differences in terms of weight, height, pulse, blood pressure, hormone, and brain structure.
Supporters of so-called equality say: "Men and women are equal biologically; but women are lagging behind in different sectors due to discrimination in male dominated society". Here we would say: "Why there are clear differences between male and female among other living entities in the nature except mankind although they live in female dominated family or society? As for instance, lion has mane but the lioness does not; tiger has moustache but tigress does not; rooster has tuft of hair on his head but the hen does not have that; male duck has curly feather in its tail but the female duck does not; ox has fat on his shoulder but the cow does not have any; etc.
Workplace, Responsibility, and Duty of Men and Women
As women and men are not equal biologically, therefore, their responsibilities and duties and workplace are not the same. As for example, men will serve the duty of defense with their masculine strength and courage and will earn, while women with their feminine softness will serve in the family, bear children and raise them through affection and love. As it is not possible for men to bear children, it is also not easy for women to do the difficult tasks, including defense. Therefore, it is not the equal rights of men and women rather is would be rightful rights or balanced rights, i.e., not equality rather equity. Rights depend on responsibilities and if the rights are to be made equal then the responsibilities are to be divided equally and that would be against the nature and nonscientific.
Islam is the religion of nature and, therefore, the rules of Islam are in favor of nature. Therefore, the meaning of opposition of Islam is showing rude attitude to nature. Civilization faces destruction if it opposes nature. For natural causes in the Muslim society and in human civilization the responsibilities of men are more than the women. As the workplace and scope of duties are not the same for men and women, therefore the equal distribution of property between the two is not justified. For that reason, Islam has told about giving more to the son in terms of inheritance. These reasons are: (a) preservation of family, (b) manage the relatives, (c) performing family and social duties, (d) paying Mahr to wife and bear the cost of maintaining, (e) bearing the cost of maintaining and raising children, and (f) render support and looking after old parents.
It is to be noted that a man has three Farz (must do) heads of expenditure that a woman does not have. There are: (a) bearing cost of his maintenance after being adult, (b) bearing cost of maintenance of wife after marriage, and (c) bearing cost of maintenance of children. Therefore, after 1947 in India and Pakistan and after 1971 in Bangladesh till now this rule is in effect for Muslim inheritance. Even the Indian government has not intervened into the Muslim inheritance law. Even Islamic laws are part of the syllabus in the universities of India. Therefore, it is not appropriate to enact any law against not only Islam in Bangladesh but also against any religion.
The Women Development Policy 2011 is not only against Islam rather it is against all religions, including Hindu, Buddhism, Jainism, and Christianity. Similarly the Convention of the Elimination of all forms of Discrimination Against Women charter of the United Nations is against all the religions. For that reason, many countries in Europe and the United States are not implementing the charter although they signed it.
In this regard one issue deserves serious consideration that in the human civilization starting from the pre-historic era to the present time men are playing lead roles. Even in the so-called developed world Europe and the United States men are leading in different religious groups, including Jewish, Christians, Hindu, and Buddhists because it is natural. Until today almost 80 percent women in countries like the United States, the United Kingdom, and Russia are housewives and recently many ultra-moderns are being attracted to Islamic family system in search of peace. What Islam has given to women in terms of rights and facilities have not been implemented fully until today. Therefore, for the development of women let the rights recognized by Islam be implemented and let the policy be prepared according to that.
Introduction
God has created the human race with a combination of one woman and one man. In the case of giving birth to a child the role of one man and one woman is almost the same rather it can be said that the contribution of woman in this regard is comparatively more than man. A mother hides her coming child for more than ten months in her womb. At one stage gives birth to a new born child taking the risk of her life. This is not the end rather she feeds milk to her child until the age of two-and-a-half year with care and responsibility. In this regard, God says in the holy Koran: "I have given orders to mankind to be kind to their parents. His mother (because during birth) bears him with much sufferings and gives birth through much pain as well." In addition to giving birth to children, women are also contributing to many vital sectors of the society. Role of women is profound in all sectors from conjugal life to family, societal, political, and economy. Contribution of women in protecting the country and independence of the country is also worth mentioning.
However, in today's civilized society some human like animal are appearing in the role of hyenas and are carrying out oppression on those beautiful helpless women. The process of development is being hindered assaulting the race of mothers who are advancing the world to development with each passing day by their activities and without those the social backbone would have been perished. It is to be noted that people of different religions and different ethnicity showed inhuman attitude to women. Women are being belittled in Hindu religion by terming various names like Lakshmi, Padmini, Rakkhashi, Opoya, etc., and the freedom of women has been denied by kicking off the Sati Daho system (Hindu practice of burning of widow with her husband's corpse). There were no rights of women in the Jewish philosophy and Christianity. For example, it can be said: "The British women before 1807, German women 1900, Swiss women 1907, and Australian women before 1919 could not be the owner of any type of property" (Abdul Karim Biajar Siraji, Nari Nirjaton Jugey Jugey (Women Oppression in Different Ages), Dhaka: Cultural Center of Islamic Republic of Iran, December 1992: 5).
At that time people used to give preference to male child over female child. But the Prophet Muhammad said: "If any of you have son and daughter, and if you bring something for them, give it to your daughter first and your daughter will give the rest to her brother after taking hers."
The messenger of freedom of humanity Prophet regarding significance of wife said: "Good wife is a symbol of the good luck" (Muslim). He also said about the value of wife said: "He among you is the best who is best to his wife." (Tirmizi Sharif).
About the rights of widow the Prophet of Islam said: "Those who take the responsibility of widows are the participants of jihad in the path to God and are the diligent practitioners of prayer and fasting" (Bukhari, Muslim).
A separate and long Surah in the holy Koran has also been alighted on rights and responsibilities of women titled "Women" which have not been for male. Therefore, George Barnard Shaw said: "Only Hazrat Muhammad has given the appropriate honor to women."
When in the human society there was no right for women, the merciful God declared clearly abolishing that confusion:
"And they (women) have rights (over their husbands as regards living expenses, etc.) similar (to those of their husbands) over them (as regards obedience and respect, etc.) to what is reasonable" (Surah Al-Baqarah: verse 228).
Protesting the oppression that had been carried out on women in the pre-Islam period it is said in the holy Koran:
"Treat with them fairly" (Surah An-Nisa: Verse 19).
No nation recognized the personal right of women on anything. After the emergence of Islam it recognized the economic freedom of women. As for instance, words of God:
"For men there is reward for what they have earned, (and likewise) for women there is reward for what they have earned" (Surah An-Nisa: verse 32).
In the age of darkness and ignorance, people used to marry wealthy women for the love of property. After the death of husbands of those women, people used to consider their widows as their successors forcibly like the properties. They used to marry them against their will. But God issued order:
"O you who believe! You are forbidden to inherit women against their will" (Surah An-Nisa: verse 19).
When women were kept imprisoned to deprive them from paying their due dowry, God declared:
"Nor should ye treat them with harshness, that ye may take away part of the dower ye have given them" (Surah An-Nisa: verse 19).
The people used to think that women have been created to serve the male only.
But God declared that: "They are your garments. And ye are their garments" (Surah Al-Baqarah: verse 187). That means, in this life one completes other.
Men used to raise allegations of adultery or something like that against their wives having the ill-motive of marrying another, so that that wife leaves on her own will leaving her own property and share. But the merciful God declared:
"But if ye decide to take one wife in place of another, even if ye had given the latter a entire treasure for dower takes not the least bit of it back: would ye take it by slander and a manifest wrong?" (Surah An-Nisa: Verse 20).
Islam has recognized the right of women in the property of parents. As for instance God said:
"From what is left by parents and those nearest related there is a share for men and a share for women, whether the property be small or large,-- a determinate share" (Surah An-Nisa: Verse 7).
The Prophet Muhammad in the last Hajj said:
"Careful! You have rights on women and they too have rights on you" (Tirmizi, He termed this Hadith "Hasan Hadith," said Riyadus Saleheen 1/276).
Sources of Properties for Women
In the pre-Islam era, women themselves were products let alone owner of properties. Islam has given rightful rights of women on property. About the ownership of property by women God in the holy Koran said: "Give the prefixed dowry to your wife." It is also been said: "Men will be owner of their earnings and women will be the owner of their earnings" (Surah An-Nisa). There are three major sources of wealth for women: 1. Mahr (amount of money or property that is given to the wife by the husband as a non-returnable dowry in the marriage contract), 2. Inheritance to parents, close relatives, husband, and children, and 3. Personally earned income. Despite the existence of sources of income, they have no head of expenditure. Even the cost of her maintenance is not on her. As for instance, before marriage all of her responsibilities lie with father, after marriage it is on the husband and in old age it is on children.
Preference to Men Over Women
Regarding this the merciful God said in the holy Koran: "Men are responsible for women because God has given supremacy (in terms of creating) of one on other, and for that they (men) spend (for paying Mahr and maintaining)." In that verse two causes of the supremacy of men over women have been cited: the first reason is natural or related to creation and the second reason is social or earned. If we give some of our attention, we would find that men and women are not equal at all. There are differences among them for natural cause. As for instance, speed, food habit, likings, hobbies, etc., of men and women are not the same. Moreover, there are huge differences in terms of weight, height, pulse, blood pressure, hormone, and brain structure.
Supporters of so-called equality say: "Men and women are equal biologically; but women are lagging behind in different sectors due to discrimination in male dominated society". Here we would say: "Why there are clear differences between male and female among other living entities in the nature except mankind although they live in female dominated family or society? As for instance, lion has mane but the lioness does not; tiger has moustache but tigress does not; rooster has tuft of hair on his head but the hen does not have that; male duck has curly feather in its tail but the female duck does not; ox has fat on his shoulder but the cow does not have any; etc.
Workplace, Responsibility, and Duty of Men and Women
As women and men are not equal biologically, therefore, their responsibilities and duties and workplace are not the same. As for example, men will serve the duty of defense with their masculine strength and courage and will earn, while women with their feminine softness will serve in the family, bear children and raise them through affection and love. As it is not possible for men to bear children, it is also not easy for women to do the difficult tasks, including defense. Therefore, it is not the equal rights of men and women rather is would be rightful rights or balanced rights, i.e., not equality rather equity. Rights depend on responsibilities and if the rights are to be made equal then the responsibilities are to be divided equally and that would be against the nature and nonscientific.
Islam is the religion of nature and, therefore, the rules of Islam are in favor of nature. Therefore, the meaning of opposition of Islam is showing rude attitude to nature. Civilization faces destruction if it opposes nature. For natural causes in the Muslim society and in human civilization the responsibilities of men are more than the women. As the workplace and scope of duties are not the same for men and women, therefore the equal distribution of property between the two is not justified. For that reason, Islam has told about giving more to the son in terms of inheritance. These reasons are: (a) preservation of family, (b) manage the relatives, (c) performing family and social duties, (d) paying Mahr to wife and bear the cost of maintaining, (e) bearing the cost of maintaining and raising children, and (f) render support and looking after old parents.
It is to be noted that a man has three Farz (must do) heads of expenditure that a woman does not have. There are: (a) bearing cost of his maintenance after being adult, (b) bearing cost of maintenance of wife after marriage, and (c) bearing cost of maintenance of children. Therefore, after 1947 in India and Pakistan and after 1971 in Bangladesh till now this rule is in effect for Muslim inheritance. Even the Indian government has not intervened into the Muslim inheritance law. Even Islamic laws are part of the syllabus in the universities of India. Therefore, it is not appropriate to enact any law against not only Islam in Bangladesh but also against any religion.
The Women Development Policy 2011 is not only against Islam rather it is against all religions, including Hindu, Buddhism, Jainism, and Christianity. Similarly the Convention of the Elimination of all forms of Discrimination Against Women charter of the United Nations is against all the religions. For that reason, many countries in Europe and the United States are not implementing the charter although they signed it.
In this regard one issue deserves serious consideration that in the human civilization starting from the pre-historic era to the present time men are playing lead roles. Even in the so-called developed world Europe and the United States men are leading in different religious groups, including Jewish, Christians, Hindu, and Buddhists because it is natural. Until today almost 80 percent women in countries like the United States, the United Kingdom, and Russia are housewives and recently many ultra-moderns are being attracted to Islamic family system in search of peace. What Islam has given to women in terms of rights and facilities have not been implemented fully until today. Therefore, for the development of women let the rights recognized by Islam be implemented and let the policy be prepared according to that.
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