Abstract

This paper aims to clarify current situation of women in west and their misconceptions about the Islamic faith of women’s rights. The misconception is that Islam kept women at inferior position and oppresses them. The West thinks that Islam prefers men than women. But Islam divides duties to both according to their abilities not on the base of their status. Islam bestows women with honor, rights and high rank more than any other religion.

Key Words

Women’s Right, West, Misconceptions, Islam, Honor, Religion

Introduction

There are misconceptions and rumors about women's rights in Pakistan as well as in the West. People, especially women, think that Islam deprived women of fundamental rights, respect, and honor. Due to this misconception, some women organized rallies every year and raised different slogans on women's rights. Most of these slogans did not relate to women's rights as the Pakistan  nation starts following the western culture proudly and gives up their religious teaching. They think that Islam keeps women unvalued and inferior. 




Role of NGOs and Misconceptions

Different NGOs and human rights organizations arrange protests for this issue. They raise their voice for the protection of women’s rights. Pakistan  females are inspired by this propaganda and think they are oppressed and demand their rights and liberty. However, they did not know that Western manipulates and hocuses women in the name of women’s rights. They make propaganda against Islam and unaware females believe it. Famous western scholar JM Roberts writes:

“It kept women, for example, in an inferior position.”

This quotation of J. M. Roberts proves that he is either ignorant of Islamic teachings or a narrow mind. He thinks that Islam gave inferior rights to women and said:

“In an inferior position.”

It is only the Western prejudice, while Islam is the only religion that bestowed important and pious women's status. Another famous western scholar Edward William writes:

 “The fatal point in Islam is the degradation of women.”

This sentence is spread out not only in the West but also in Muslim countries. They think that Islam considers women inferior. However, infect matter is the opposite. Islam gives equal rights to both males and females. Both are the partners to spend a life. Perhaps, Islam fixed the rule of "Division," not similarity. Equality and similarity are two different things. Means, men and women are not similar in structure, education, intelligence, mental abilities and power. But both are equal in creation of Allah.

Infect, Islam did not say that females are inferior, but females are different in their structure, habits, Interests, activities and duties to men. When Islam says that they are equal, it does not mean that they are equal in activities and duties but rights. Moreover, no one can feel inferior or superior based on their assigned duties. About this, a Western writer and scholar, Dr. Alexis writes:  

“In reality, women are different profoundly from men. Every one cell of her body bears the marks of her sex. The same is true of her organs and above all, of her nervous system. Physiological laws are as inexorable as those of the sidereal world. Human wishes cannot replace them. We are obliged to accept them what they are.”

Every sensible person understands that they are different in their creation and cause of creation. If Islam says the same thing, what wrong or indecent in this. The doctor further says and advice to female:

“Women should develop their aptitudes following their nature, without trying to imitate the males. Their part in the progress of civilization is higher than that of man. They should not abandon their specific function.”

If a western scholar discusses this matter, he is admirable, but if Islam says anything, it means Islam is against women's rights and wants to degrade women. 

Western highlights this ayah:

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“Men are in charge of women.”

However, they misunderstand this verse. It does not prove that women have no value, but it is about leadership duties that only belong to men's duties. It does not mean that he is better to women, but man can easily carry the duties which are not assigned to women. For example, can it is said that if five people are traveling in a car, those four people are inferior to the driver? Are they inferior? No, they are equally respected like the one who is controlling the driving. This matter can be proven through another example. 

Let us take a bicycle and motorcycle, it has one wheel in front and the other on the back. Can it be said that the manufacturer took the back wheel as inferior, so he kept it on the back? So it would propitiate and would adjust on the front according to the rule of equality. If someone can do this, can that vehicle remain balanced, useful and beneficial as it was before? After this innovation, that one called wise and sensible?

Status of Women and the West

Muslim ladies, especially Pakistan ladies, should have to come out of this inferiority complex that Islam gives inferior status to a woman. If Islam relaxed females from some heavy duties, it does not mean that they are inferior, but it is for their comfort and relaxation because they are already busy with domestic duties. Moreover, they do not need to carry extra duties and burdens. There is a long column on the "Status of women" in which the columnist says:

“Concerning personality traits, men are characterized by greater dependency a stronger social orientation and the regency to be more easily discouraged by failure than men.”

Pakistan females want liberty in following Western women. Nevertheless, Pakistan women are unaware that Western women have lost all their rights in the name of rights and liberty. Moreover, every woman is responsible for her alimony and expenditures and when the Western woman came out for a job, she has to face troubles and insecure conditions. Their salary package is less than men's. Perhaps all Western people agree on the equality of men and women. A Columnist of encyclopedia of Britannica writes:

“In the economic sphere, women who work outside the home are heavily concentrated in the lowest paying work and have the lowest status. Women also earn less than men in the same kind of job. The medium pay of women workers in the US was 60 percent that of men in 1982”.

In the West, women are not given equal salary packages to men. There are high packages for men and fewer for women. It means they do not consider women's qualities and abilities equal to men. At that time, where goes their slogan of “Equality”? It is their behavior for women in financial matters. Now let us have a look at the political situation of women in the West. It is said in Encyclopedia of Britannica: 

“Politically, women are significantly underrepresented in national and local governments and political parties.”

It is hypocritical behavior of West for women. They claim respect and equal rights for women but do not act upon it.

Western women come out to earn side to side men, pay their bills themselves, bear the panic situation of the birth procedure, fulfill their domestic duties, reimburses their husband's rights; on the other hand, Western men earn liberty from all duties. They does not bear women's expenses, clothes, bills, etc. This situation has overburdened Western women. In the name of liberty, Western women are deprived of these rights:

i. Alimony

ii. Protection 

iii. Honorable lifestyle 

iv. Domestic life

v. Division of responsibilities in a fair way

vi. She has lost the feeling of motherhood




A woman has been assigned the responsibility of earning, so her fragile shoulders cannot carry the domestic duties, give birth to children, and upbringing them. She feels married life and children are hurdles for her carrier. So, she wants to live in relation with men without legal proceeding. They are facing psychological problems. Furthermore, the court is helping the women to get rid of the responsibility of childbirth. According to an outline of American history:

“In 1973 in case of Roe named Supreme Court permitted Abortion to that woman in her starting months”.

This permission was considered a glorious achievement for the feminist movement. It is not hidden how much this is harmful to women's health and often leads to women's death or lifetime health complication. Women want to get rid of the natural responsibilities and want to carry unnatural responsibilities on their shoulders for getting liberty in her sense. This so-called liberty destroyed the family system of society. A Western scholar J.D. Unwin wrote about this: 

“Any extension of sexual opportunity must always be the unmediated cause of the cultural decline.”

How we want to promote the culture of immoralities in the name of liberty which is opposed even from sensible people of the West and cause of the decline of nations

He writes more about the progress of the nation:

“If ever such a result should be desired, the sexes must first be placed on a footing of complete legal equality.”

If the relation system of men and women is based on legal procedure, then it is possible to cure decline. Now the western scholars can understand this point which Islam point out fourteen centuries before. 

Qur’an strictly prohibited this immoral act and says:

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“And do not approach unlawful sexual intercourse.”

It is ordered strictly to Muslims, either men or women, to stay away from every source promoting sin and immorality. These sins are harmful to every society as western is facing now-a-days, and Muslim society emulates the West without thinking about its harmful result. In Pakistan, some females have demanded in "Women Day" for this kind of liberty, and they did not know this is the cause of destroying the holiness of boundaries and four walls of family life. 

Some occupations that are against Islamic teachings are also causing of promoting sins. Some of them are given below:

i. Air hostess

ii. Bus hostess 

iii. Nurses in male wards 

iv. Receptionist

v. Sale girls 

vi. Women's participation in outdoor games. 




These departments can run decently without the participation of women. 

i. Do you think that the host's responsibility will justify only when the female will present water and meal to men with a smile in buses and airplanes? Otherwise, the demands of hosting cannot be fulfilled. 

ii. Are men not a good host, whereas these men serve as expert chefs in big hotels?

iii. The people will not use or buy this necessary thing if women will not dance and sing for the advertisement of toothpaste, toothbrush, oil, tea, species and etc?

iv. Cannot games be played according to the Islamic rules and limitations? 

v. Is this necessary that in male wards female nurse serve them? Women served in Q?dsiah, Yarm?k and other wars cannot be referenced of present peaceful situation because that was an emergency. An emergency cannot be a permanent example according to Islamic rules.




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“Emergency legitimizes prohibited matters.”

In male wards, the only male nurse can serve because there is not an emergency. It will keep women safe from evil eyes. Moreover, women serve in female wards; it will provide them mental relaxation and serve their duties better.

In Isl?m, women are free from every responsibility of earning. If women have no guardian, then their earning and marriage responsibility is on the ruling king. Islam says: 




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“A woman who has no guardian, the king will be a guardian for her.”

However, as compared to Muslim women, Western women is responsible for her all matters on her weak shoulders, whether she can do it or not. Maryam Jam?lah is a famous scholar of the Islamic world, and she was now Muslim after research she embraced Isl?m. She narrated the poor condition of Western women in her books; she described her personal experience,

“After my release, I returned home (from the hospital) my parents were most concerned that I earn my living. I was continually threatened with reminders”.

In Western society, women's condition is terrible. Even their parents are not ready to take responsibility for their young daughters. They do not spend much money on their daughter's education and do not agree to carry heavy marriage expenditures. If we, unfortunately, follow the Western relating to this matter, it will create extreme moral disorder. American newly Muslim lady Miss ?minah tells:

“Before twenty hundred years ago, buy or sell of women was common, and women can be sold less than the price of hours. In the dater century, women were not eligible for the property of their father and husband. Even if she brings one lac dollars to her husband's house during her marriage ceremony and after few months of marriage that money belongs to her husband if she wants to tare divorce”.

It was the past condition, but this scientific and educated century is not more different or better than the past. Women are facing financial instability. Instead of the "equality slogan," she is not entertained with equal facilities. Miss ?minah more writes: 

“In America and Europe, women are still degraded in society as compared to Isl?m. She works with men equally but is paid less than him. Parents did not want to take responsibility; at the age of fifteen, she has to stabilize. Moreover, after eighteen years, parents refuse all responsibilities of daughters.  After marriage, husbands did not want to bear the responsibility of her expenses, and in case of divorce, he pays on 50 dollars monthly per child through that money, it is impossible to buy a shoe”.

Islam and Women Rights

Islam is the only religion that divides the responsibilities of children in parents equally. So that vehicle of life can move in balance.

The Holy Prophet (PBUH) said:

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“It is children's right towards parents that parents give them a good name and good breeding and educate them as well.”

It means parents will carry their alimony till their marriage in Islamic society, and it is the husband's responsibility to pay expenditures at the time of marriage. Quran Says: 

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“And give the women [upon marriage] their [bridal] gifts graciously.”

Moreover, after marriage, it is man's responsibility to her alimony as Qur’an says:

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“Upon the fathers are the mothers' provision and their clothing according to what is acceptable.”

Furthermore, Islam does not limit the limit of any limit of expenditure, but it leaves according to men's status as it is said:

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“Let a man of wealth spend from his wealth, and he shoe provision is restricted- let him spend from what Allah has given him”.

Moreover further, women are given rights in the property of their parents, children, and husbands. People who blame that women are given less than men did not understand this rule's logic and wisdom. Women are given half a share than men, but they are free from all expenditure of life. In every situation, men are responsible for all their expenditures. The half share they are given is a bonus for them. Because it is not women's responsibility to spend money on expenses and if men are given double, he will spend on his family not only for themselves.

International Day for Women (8th March)

The day of 8th March is celebrated as a women’s Day. In this day many processions protest for women’s rights. Many resolutions presented about women’s rights. This day is celebrated with zeal and zest. The daughter of Eva seems to be raising slogans and charts on the roads, but it is realty that all of this hue and cry are useless and have not outcome. On women’s Day, the demands are requires as under,

i. Women should give the same rights as men. 

ii. Women should not be prisoned / caged at their homes. 

iii. Women should be freed from the look after at homage. 

iv. Women should free from vale. 

v. They should be given rights for divorce. 

Now it is analyzed according to the Islamic point of view. 




Equality of Women to Men

Today in Pakistan women are victimized due to give up Islamic values and uncontrolled liberty. Although women demand equality to men and affirm to participate in national progress side to side men but on other hand, they want exceptional facilities in life. They assume that they are equal to men but in buses they don’t want to stand. There, they want the man sitting on seat should stand and sacrifice for them. In all these type of cases women wants special protocol. If there is any matter about the obedience or domestic chores then they raise slogans of women rights. If it is comparing in this context that men and women have equal abilities then it is incorrect, and if it is evaluated in the sense of duties and rights then it is proved that both have assigned duties according to their abilities.

 If men are not oppressed after performing their duties, then how women are assumed oppressed due to their duties. Now there is discussed this topic in detail. 




Women Imprisoned in the House

The work of life is divided into two parts. 

1. Interior

2. Exterior




It is essential to run over the system of world properly that duties are divided in both of them equally. If both of them perform internal duties then who will work out external? And also not good to make busy both in outdoor duties. Islam distributes all duties with justice and said:

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“And abide in your houses”.

Description about men:

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“And live with them in kindness”.

And 

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“Upon the father is the mothers’ provision and their clothing according to what is acceptable”.

Women feel their duty is very tough like prisoner to perform for their domestic duties and look after their house. So what will they call for their husbands to earn and spend outside? Then how it is prison to look after domestic deeds? The Muslim women can do their jobs at the time of need, they can purchase their favorite things and meet to their relatives and go outside for entertainment. Is it called prison? It is against the reason and intellect that house holding, cooking favorite food, eat it, shopping, spending time with their children, attending them and enjoying life is called prison.




Women want to get Rid of Domestic Chores

If women will want to get rid of their duties then men also will not done their duties. If a men does not provide shelter and basic right to women then he consider as a culprit and wolfish. He is snubbed from everyone.  On the other hand, women want all rights but not ready to perform their duties, is this justice?

In Pakistan, men don’t try to celebrate their day naming “Men’s Day’ to get rid of their duties. Then why the female of Pakistan want adopted illegal and blind faith of Europe, and whey they are neglecting Allah Almighty’s order. The family system can run beautifully and peacefully when both live happily and also obey their duties.




Women Resolution and Independence against Veil

If women consider veil as hurdle in progress especially performing in their duties then what about Western women either they no hurdle in work pace and progress? Have they earn their all rights as under, 

1. Safety and honor.

2. Expenditure from guardian.

3. Free shelter from guardian. 




After observing their conditions, it is known that western women have deprived from these facilities. So, it is proved that veiling is not hurdle in earning rights. If it happened then women of Europe had achieved many rights. And if the women of Europe had all rights, then they never need for celebrating “Women Day”. 

The second thing, who is demanding for unveiling? Either it is from men? If from men, then all Muslim women whose stress the national women of Islam veil but these women can veil only to the order of Allah Almighty and in this way they protect those slues from the malicious men. If these ladies offer not to veil, then they will dislike this. 

In Europe there is a lot of unveil for women. Then the question is either female is protected from indication, or in-harassment. 




Rights for the Divorce of Women

This is such type of decision thought which the teaching of Islam is ignored. In Islam if men has given right to divorce women then women has also given the right. Islam has given priority to the rights, whose example is not found anywhere. Islam said:

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“Paradise is under the feet of Mothers”.

It is fact that heavens lies under the feet’s of mother. It is greatness of women that she is given rights like given shelter, give food, Residence and after the marriage, there are some responsibilities for men and if they have no guardian then said:

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“A woman who has no guardian, the king of the time is responsible”.

The person who called women as the root of evil then Muslim women doesn’t need for the procession of 8th March. It is the duty of international organization of rights of women help the victimized and helpless women of Europe. It is enough for the women to given rights by Islam. In Islam women are more safe, superior and prosperous then Europe. Islam does not disgrace women in any way. If Islam says to women to live in home, this is dividing of duties not inferiority. Islam has awarded to women duties which were according to their nature. Islam did not create men and women for competition but for lead a life with co-operation. 

Conclusion

Islam honors the women like a princess no other society had given. Islam awarded women that they do not need protest or Women's Day celebration because Islam has already provided them all facilities and rights. If anyone cannot pay for women's rights, this is his act, and he is accountable for this not only in this world but also hereafter. Based on the individual act, it is not right to blame all society or religion.

Women’s rights organizations and NGOs should protest for Western women's rights because they have more need to compare Islamic women. They are deprived of lifetime expenditure, alimony, inheritance, and honor also. They have lived their old age in shelter houses. So they are more oppressed than Muslim women.  

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