Islam has raised the status and prestige of women. Islam has bestowed honor to women and she has been respected in Islam more than in any other religions.
The women in Islam, therefore, enjoy fraternity with that of men. The most virtuous from among the people is the one who treats his household very well and that include women.
Therefore, a Muslim woman in her childhood has the every right to receive equal upbringing to that of man such as suckling, nursing and care. Moreover, she is the delight to eyes of her parents, who keep her close to their heart and give every care while raising.
Thus, no parents intend to cause her any discomfort and take every care to see her safe and secured from any type of infliction.
Her marriage would be consummated in the Words and Names of Allah under the protection of His unbroken bond. After marriage a woman under the Islamic teachings lives in dignity and leads a prestigious life in the home of her husband. She enjoys full protection as Allah ordained man to take care of all needs of his wife.
In the Divine Laws, Allah ordained man to honor his wife, treat her with kindness and see that she is not hurt physically or emotionally.
Qur’an has narrated in detail about the kind treatment meted out to women and when they become mothers. The Qur’an emphasized it after mentioning about the duties to Allah. Qur’an also warned against offending or hurting her. This has mentioned in the Qur’an after mentioned about ascribing partners with Allah and committing corruption on earth.
Woman being a sister, Islam commands the man to honor her as being a member of the family and urges him to feel happy and zealous for having such a relationship.
In case a woman’s status is of a maternal aunt in the family’s relationship, she deserves to be treated with kindness and total amity, because Islam treats her being in the place of a mother.
A woman’s status becomes increasingly respectable if she attains the age of a grandmother or a great-grandmother. At this age, she deserves full attention from her children or grand children in the family lineage as well as from the close relatives.
Extra care should be given to her at this age although the usual practice in this fast life tends to be quite different. Her requests for any needs and the opinion are ignored and considered as futile. Islam has strongly censures and prohibits such a practice among the Muslims.
Islam holds the woman in high position and she is indeed entitled for certain rights in Islam. She deserves full protection and the company of human beings at an old age when she cannot move. She deserves company either from the members of her family or the neighbors. She should be supported in all her needs of life.
No societies in the non-Muslim world treat women as the Islam and the Muslim societies care for their welfare and freedom. The women in the Muslim communities around the world entertain full rights and freedom as ordained in Islam. Under the Islamic teachings the women feel secured, safely and live in dignity.
In the meantime, Islam allows women to own properties, engage in trade and business activities and hiring, buying and enter a whole gamut of other categories of contract.
Women have every right to attain education and teachings, as long as it does not violate the doctrines of Islam. Moreover, it is mandatory on the Muslim women to acquire knowledge, which essential in life. Forsaking studies is considered as a sinful act as most men do.
The verdicts Islam imposed on human beings are equal for both men and women in terms of implementation and adhering to them. The general exception in the rule for women is in certain circumstances, as proven by the text of the Divine Laws. Otherwise, both genders are equal in Islam in a manner that suits to their very nature.
By all means Islam has honored women. It is necessary here to briefly mention that what Islam has ordained for women is for her own safeguard aimed at preserving her honor and to protect her modesty from immorality.
Therefore, the dress code Islam has commanded for women is in full conformity required to maintain her decency by covering the body (veil).
To further explain this point, Islam has ordered her not to reveal her inner and outer beautifies. This could be best achieved by staying away from the company of the men, who are stranger. Hence, Islam has prohibited the mingling of people of opposite sex under a common roof, as this leads to temptation and invites the risk of sexual assault and or immorality.
The commandment of Islam to husband to bear all the expenses of his wife is yet another honor that this religion has bestowed on women. Apart from earning livelihood, the husband should give his wife a good company cautiously taking care of all needs as not to commit any unjust and oppressive act against her.
Similarly, in certain circumstances when it becomes hard for the couple to compromise and live together under the marriage agreement Islam has permitted them to be separated from one another.
However, before taking an irreversible decision every effort for the reconciliation between the husband and wife should be exerted so as the couple lives a happy married life. Despite all efforts for the reconciliation, the couple failed to reach to a common understanding that then husband is allowed to divorce his wife
In certain oppressive conditions when the treatment of husband to wife is inhumane and the woman thinks that she could no more manage to keep the marriage contract, Islam allows her to seek separation from that man.
A compensation, in this regard, that agreeable by both parties (husband and wife) should be paid. Accordingly, she should pay him as a financial settlement or should be reconciled against a certain amount, thereafter, she is absolutely free to relinquish her husband.
The decision for divorce should be considered as the last resort if the life of both partners has become a living hell. Islam has made divorce as an applicable law if both partners felt ending of the marriage contract is in the best interest and they could live happily afterwards.
The permission to man for polygamy (marrying up to four wives simultaneously) is yet another honor Islam has bestowed to women.
A man is not allowed to keep more than four wives at the same time. However, the necessity of polygamy for man in Islam is optional and he should be able to meet stern conditions.
The prerequisites of polygamy include treating all the wives equally and fairly. The equality in polygamy is defined that the husband should strictly impartial in terms of the expenditure on each such wife and while meeting others needs of life such their clothing and food.
Another most important prerequisite for man to exercise utmost caution in terms of sharing time with his wives based strict equality.
As it was mentioned earlier that polygamy is optional and if a man wishes to live happily with his only one wife, it is entirely his prerogative.
The concept of polygamy in Islam contains beautiful wisdom. The polygamy offers several benefits to women. Nevertheless, certain people who indulge in blasphemy attack Islam without prior knowledge and a thorough study of the issue.
It is amazing to note that such arrogant people and bigots with their superficial knowledge about the basics of Islam and its Divine Laws speak loudly to misguide the people.
Islam has laid down the preconditions for polygamy as the only solution, as mentioned below:-
(1) Islam, in the strictest terms, has prohibited fornication and adultery. Illicit sexual relationship leads to unhealthy environment in the society besides causing many communicable diseases. The other social evils that stem from this practice which include the following:
(a) Unknown parentage,
(b) It leads to wanton thoughts and promiscuity; the result is disappearance of bashfulness and shame.
(c) Elimination of woman’s dignity and honor.
The women by indulging in immoral acts besides losing shame for herself, she passes the similar unscrupulous traits in her offspring and to the close relations then to the society.
Some of the ill effects of such unnatural practice are:
(i) It is a felony by all standards and a serious crime committed by a mother to her own fetus reproduced through by illicit sexual communion. Moreover, it would lead to broken lineage or parentage besides bringing humiliation and disgrace to women.
(ii) There are many contaminated diseases by psychopathic and physical disorders, which could hardly get any medicament. Rather, such a person should depart his life after subjected to a cureless illness such as gonorrhea, syphilis, herpes, venereal disease, acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS), etc.
To focus again on the legal practice of polygamy, as allowed in Islam it really ensures dignity to woman. It is noteworthy here that when Islam has strictly prohibited all means that lead to immorality, it opened a legal gate through which man can achieve comfort and happiness -- polygamy.
What Islam has permitted, in this context, is the concept of marriage for man one after another maximum four at the same time, which guarantees happiness for the inner soul and tranquility for both partners. This could be achieved simply through a legal marriage contract.
It is worth mentioning here that marriage is considered as a holy act ordained to the humanity while polygamy is purely optional. Islam has permitted polygamy and its prevention is no doubt an act of oppression and injustice to both man and the woman.
On the other hand, preventing a man from practicing polygamy will in turn lead to committing of the illegal sexual acts. It is the fact that the ratio of the number of women is higher than that of men in all times and places, particularly this phenomenon is more obvious when the nations at war.
Other reason for polygamy is that marrying of a man to only one woman would inevitably lead to a large number of spinsters in the society.
This would, of course, cause embarrassment, disappoint and many other psychological problems among the unmarried women. In worst circumstances, the situation may even compel a woman to indulge in immoral activities resulting in serious consequences for herself and the society as a whole.
There would be a possibility of illegitimate progeny and unwed mothers sometimes, as is commonly found in the Western society.
(2) The concept of marriage is mere meant only to gain physical enjoyment and pleasure, rather marriage brings decency, comfort and peace in one’s life. Allah also bestows the married couple with children, which unlike in other societies where women are figures of enchantment.
Children in Islam have their own significant rights that the parents have to fulfill. When the woman delivers a child and engages in his/her upbringing she would enjoy all delights of motherhood and achieves utmost pleasure in life.
Based on the above explanation a woman can reach to a decision as to which path she should follow -- a path in which she enjoys the protection in the company of a man (married life) or staying independent just to be a sex object spreading immorality among men?
(3) Islamic view of women is counterbalanced with equality, justice and moderation.
This simply indicates the consequences that the spinsters or those young widows might face in the society
To redress such a problem Islam has ordained polygamy. Allah has granted permission to man to practice polygamy marrying more than one woman up to four, who direly need man’s protection and company.
Should it not be the responsibility of the society to redress issues related to women who remained spinsters or widows?
Now the decision is yours. Whether a woman should lead a married life enjoying full protection under man’s custody or as an spinster vulnerable due to several perceptible reasons?
The benefit of marriage for a woman that she would bear children by Allah’s mercy and feel delighted after looking after them while an unmarried woman feels dejected and frustrated besides being vulnerable in the society dominated by man.
Which is the most virtuous path of the two options explained above? It needs no further explanation. Let every person choose the path of his/her choice that is good individually and to the society as a whole.
Should the polygamy be practiced well, indeed the society, free itself from the problem of growing number of spinsters or widows.
Alternatively, if the man feels satisfied after marrying only one woman the communities would beset with wickedness, corruption, and immorality.
Would you ponder a little while as to which way is better. Should a man marry two, three and/or four wives or stay satisfied with keeping a number of girl friends, changing from time to time fulfilling his lustful desires and physical pleasures?
(4) However, polygamy is not obligatory in Islam. The common practice is that in most cases Muslims are satisfied after marrying to only one woman. As mentioned earlier that as long as the ratio between man-woman is equal and that man thinks that he might not offer justice and treat equally to more than one wife there is no need for polygamy to be practiced.
(5) The physical nature of woman totally differs from that of man in terms of sexual urge. The other reason is biological, which needs to be mentioning here. A woman, in fact, would not be ready for sexual communion when she is in her menstrual period of approximately 10 to two-week time every month.
Similarly, a woman during her post-natal period of approximately forty days would not be available for sexual contact with her husband.
In both these periods as mentioned above Islam has ordained the couple to stay away from engaging in sexual practice, as it might carry the risk of contracting harmful diseases and other health complications for both husband and wife.
Moreover, the sexual urge for a pregnant woman lessens compared to the normal days.
Unlike woman, the man has different biological needs and if forced to stay with only wife throughout his life he might probably look for illicit means of satisfying his sexual desires.
Should a man prohibited from practicing polygamy the chances for his indulging in illicit sexual relationship become more because of the obvious reasons as already mentioned relating to woman’s different periods and her lesser degree of sexual urge.
(6) Another reason for polygamy is because of the woman’s infertility. She might sexually satisfy her husband but could not bear his children. In such a case, a man may marry a second wife instead of divorcing his first wife because of her sterility. The first wife could remain under the full protection of her husband and lead her life.
Now a question arises that a productive woman could marry second time if her husband is barren?
In this case, she has the right to first break her marital relationship with her husband and marry second time with another man. It should be clear here that unlike man a woman could not keep more than one husband at the same time. Islam strictly forbids the polyandry.
(7) Sometimes a wife becomes chronically ill with medical problem such as paralysis. In such a situation, she would not be able to serve her husband anymore. A man can marry a second wife without the need for divorcing her first wife.
(8) In certain cases, the couple cannot lead a normal life because of the differences of opinion between the two. Due to the prolonged quarrels, immoral characteristics and her ineptness to tackle the domestic issues a man can bring a second wife while giving the first wife full protection keeping her under his custody.
Such an act should, of course, be like honoring and being faithful to the first wife and safeguarding her rights, household and to maintain the family integrity intact for the well being of their children.
(9) Man’s capability of procreation is stronger than woman. A man could be sexually potent as long as he reaches 60 years of age or more, perhaps it may prolong after hundred years of age preserving his stamina and strength for the potentiality of procreatio