Dignity, Rights, and Empowerment of Women in Islam Tarique Bin Hamid (A gist from one of the Bengali writings

of Shah Abdul Hannan) Everyday we hear different things regarding the positions and rights of women. Presently, there are many theories to establish the rights of women, and most of them are acceptable. But opportunities are there to contradict with some theories. It is essential to establish the rights of both men and women, because our society is going forward as time elapses. Hence, neither men nor women should have their rights established, but rights of people of all ages must be established. Our society has progressed much during the last fifty years. By this time, women have advanced almost as much as men, and the then society of Begum Rokeya has found its place in history now. Begum Rokeya found women extremely underprivileged, and they did not have any opportunity to educate themselves. She grabbed this chance and took initiatives to educate the women. As a result, women in this sub-continent have so far advanced much. Throughout the world, especially in our country there is a foundation of oppression on women. Definitely, the torment does not come from the sky. Torment on women by men has an ideological foundation generally men believe that women are inferior to men, women have low quality, and they are lowly; this idea is also prevalent among women to some extent. This belief emanates from some prejudices hence, negligence, deprivation, and torture on women are standing on that belief. If torture on women can be annihilated from our society, Islam cannot be elapsed. It is guaranteed that this issue cannot be dealt with in this 90% Muslim country without Islam. Those who rebelled against Islam here in this country could not stay on power, and they will not do so in the future as well their consequences were severe. It is best and pragmatic to proceed in the framework of Islam. Definitely, there is an ideal framework in Islam, which can help women advance. Islam is not confined in certain timeframe. Truly, Islam has empowered and honored women. It has given rights to them. Before going to explain that lets introduce the ideological foundation which can be the base.

What is that base where equality between men and women is prevalent? Allah (SWT) has not created people with same appearance. From every side, no two humans are equal. One human is different from another in terms of weight, height, colour, education, and so on. But, fundamentally all human beings are equal all of them are equal to Allah. Four proofs are given here Firstly, Allah (SWT) has clarified that the original human is Ruh people term it as soul. Definitely, physical stature is not human, because body will decompose in the grave, but Ruh is everlasting which has been created to live forever we can hardly conceive the timeless concept in this running timeframe. Allah (SWT) has created all Ruh (human beings) in the same mould, and asked only one question all human beings replied Him with same answer unanimously. As it is narrated And (remember) when your Lord brought forth from the Children of Adam, from their loins, their seed and made them testify as to themselves (saying): "Am I not your Lord'' They said: "Yes! We testify,'' lest you should say on the Day of Resurrection: "Verily, we were unaware of this.'' (7:172) Thats to say, we all have a covenant with Allah (SWT) He (SWT) is our Sustainer and we will obey Him. Allah (SWT) has not made separate contract with men. So, the first thing in our ideological foundation is that humans are nothing but Ruh, and all Ruh are equal. If there remains any inequality after this equality, that is very trivial and insignificant. In short, humans are only one being both spiritually and humanly. This is the first base of equality between men and women. Secondly, men naturally feel proud of their physical stature, and think that women are inferior to them. Certainly, there are differences among human, but every human is first class. Allah (SWT) has revealed in the Quran Verily, We created human in the best form (95:4). Here, Allah (SWT) has not mentioned only men. Thats to say, we have differences in our body stature, social status, and so on. But we are all first class.

So, this is the second stage to establish equality between men and women. Men should not say women are inferior in terms of body structure, for Allah (SWT) is displeased with it. Definitely, believers do not utter such type of foul tongue. So, this is the second fundamental proof for equality between men and women fundamental because there are some minor differences. Thirdly, Allah (SWT) revealed that all humans are from the same family the family of Adam and Eve. Allah (SWT) revealed that O mankind! Have Taqwa of your Lord, Who created you from a single person, and from him He created his mate, and from them both He created many men and women (4:1). The verse shows us that we are all from the same family children of Adam and Eve. Allah (SWT) has mentioned ya bani Adam at least 20/30 times in the Quran. A family consists of father, mother, and children; similarly all human beings are one family in the light of Islam. The family of whole humankind is above all other families. Thats to say, our fundamental dignity and respect are equal. There may have differences due to trivial causes but worldly respect and dignity are not real ones. According to Statute, all people are equal in the eyes of laws; similarly everybody is equal to Allah (SWT). The only base of dignity to Allah (SWT) is Taqwa. Allah (SWT) has nowhere mentioned whether men or women are more preferable. Allah (SWT) has revealed Verily, the most honorable of you with Allah is that (believer) who has At-Taqwa. Verily, Allah is All-Knowing, All-Aware (49:13). If this is the standard to Allah (SWT), should we consider what other people think? Allah (SWT) has narrated He (SWT) does not distinguish between men and women based on anything but Taqwa. Therefore, we are all from the same family, and our fundamental dignity to Allah (SWT) depends on Taqwa. Besides, Allah (SWT) revealed in the Quran, and have Taqwa of Allah through Whom you demand your mutual (rights), and revere the wombs. Surely, Allah is always watching over you (4:1). Allah (SWT) is asking to fear the womb. Hazrat Sayyid Kutub has written, no such language was found in any literature before the Quran. Here, Allah (SWT) is asking human beings to respect mothers in a nutshell, it is said to revere whole female nation. Hence, it is vividly apparent that

both men and women have equal fundamental social status. This is the third proof of our ideological foundation. Fourthly, Allah (SWT) told human beings, you are the representatives (khalifah). He (SWT) said, I am appointing a vicegerent on earth (2:30). Allah (SWT) has not mentioned if He(SWT) is sending men or women. Even He (SWT) did not mention about human but vicegerents to send on the earth. He (SWT) told about vicegerents (khalifa), but sent human He(SWT) termed human as vicegerent. So, whole human kind is representative of Allah (SWT). Men Women indiscriminately, we are His (SWT) representative. It is true that we lose our representativeness when we commit sins, indulge in haram, kill innocent people, oppress others, and dwell on indecency. All empowerment belongs to the dignity of a representative. None can execute his/her responsibility without power. Every man and woman should have some power to execute the responsibility of a khalifah. Empowerment of women lies here in this concept of Khalifah. Let alone women, the concept of khalifah has built-in function to empower men, the poor, the weak and all others indiscriminately. So, this is the fourth proof of our ideological foundation. Islam urges every man, every woman, and every person to be empowered. If women are deprived, we have to help them empower. If men become deprived any day, we have to help them empower as well. But we have to prioritize and think of them who are deprived now we have to work heart and soul to empower women now. Question arises what women should do! Should they sit at home? Ok, if any woman decides to live at home, it is her right to do so. The same thing is applicable to men as well. But Allah (SWT) has nowhere mentioned that women have to stay at home, and they should not work outside. Rather, fundamental responsibilities are same for both men and women. As Allah (SWT) revealed The believers, men and women, are supporters of one another; they enjoin good, and forbid evil; they perform the Salah, and give the Zakah, and obey Allah and His Messenger. Allah will have His mercy on them. Surely, Allah is All-Mighty, All-Wise (9:71). This is one of the last verses in the Quran, so we have to analyze the aforementioned

revealed verse regarding this issue in the light of this verse. Anyway, this verse prescribes six (6) responsibilities such as: 1. They should command and enjoin good 2. Forbid evil 3. Establish Solat 4. Pay Zakah 5. Obey Allah (SWT) 6. Follow the Prophet (pbuh) Through these, Allah (SWT) is acknowledging women to participate in all good activities. Allah (SWT) has decided to bestow mercy on them who fulfill these 6 responsibilities. According to the Quran and Hadith, I do believe all men and women are equal in executing these 6 responsibilities. Hence, politics, social welfare, business, and others lay under these 6. Today we are busy with trivial things leaving the mammoth issues behind. We depend on human written chunks of junk. But we are leaving the Quran the Guidance far apart from our life. It is crucial to say: if anybody learns Islam from somebody else leaving the Quran, and Hadith behind, he/she definitely will deviate. So, everybody should read at least few Tafsirs, because many insert their own opinions in the translation. But you can definitely distinguish between junk and real if you read few tafsirs. Sadly, there has not been any famous Muslimah tafsir writer, for gender bias is prevalent in most of the writing. But there are some tafsirs free from gender bias such as The Message of the Quran by Mohammad Asad.