Rasuler (SAWS) Juge Nari Shwadhinota
(Women's Right at the time of Prophet (SAWS))

This book is the product of great effort of the learned writer that he exerted to clarify the proper right and responsibility of woman in Muslim society. To realize his goal, the writer made a good attempt to re-evaluate the position of women in the golden society of Madina during the time of the Prophet (SAWS). He has accommodated almost all the proofs from the Holy Qur'an and the authentic Sunnah in favor of his argument. His proofs from the text clearly show the high position of women and also the rights and duties that a Muslim woman is supposed to pursue.

The picture that the writer presents in the book indicates that the position of woman in the traditional Muslim society does not correspond to her position in the prophetic period. It cannot be denied that women are mistreated and oppressed in various forms through misuse and misquotation as well as misinterpretations of the Scriptures. Woman is treated like a 2nd class or lower grade of person, and not as a member of the human family where the consideration of gender essentially makes no difference as far as the Islamic teachings are concerned. This book establishes that the rulings of Shariah for man and woman are essentially same. The writer has prepared the book with the original title in Arabic "Tahreerul Mar'at fi Asrir Risalah" after an arduous research of 24 years with this result.

A sense of cooperation between man and woman is essential to form an Islamic society in true sense. In a true Islamic society women are not considered the servant of men and not vice versa; rather they are friends, co-operator and protectors of each other. In Islam women are basically free agents. For the last few centuries, women's rights have been curtailed to a greater extent (both in religious and social level) which is very unfortunate. Women are not allowed to attend the congregation in the mosque. They can't earn money even if they need it acutely. Whereas in the early period of Islam, women could carry out all activities outside home wearing Islamic dress. The negative attitude and the harshness against woman are mainly for two reasons:

  1. Lack of balanced knowledge of the Shariah, which is very kind towards the woman.
  2. Lack of understanding of some proofs of Shariah regarding woman.

The writer made painstaking research on the above two issues. He has established that:

  1. Women had great urge for higher knowledge for which they used to approach the Prophet (SAWS).
  2. They used to attend the Masjid-e-Nababi in general meetings called by the Prophet (SAWS).
  3. Women like Ummul Mu'munin Hazrat Jainab Binte Jahsh used to earn and give financial help to the ones who were poor. Hazrat Ibne Masood's (R) wife used to maintain her husband and her children.
  4. Hazrat Umme Atia (R) participated in six wars with her husband.
  5. Hazrat Umme Haram (R) asked the Prophet (SAWS) to pray so that she should be among the men who would go on the high sea for taking part in Jihad. The Prophet (SAWS) prayed for her and she participated in a naval expedition.
  6. Hazrat Hafsa (R), sister of Hazrat Abdullah Ibne Omar (R), used to explain Fatwa of Ibne Omar.
  7. Hazrat Asma Binte Shikle (R) never hesitated to assimilate any sort of Knowledge.
  8. Hazrat Omar's wife Ateka Binte Zayed got her rights by attending and speaking out in open meetings.
  9. Hazrat Umme Kulsum (R), a maiden, made Hizrat (migration) to Madina after embracing Islam, leaving her all relatives in Mecca.
  10. A female Companion of the Prophet (SAWS) pursued her right to initiate divorce.
  11. Hazrat Sabi Ata binte Hareth (R) knew how to take decision in any critical moment.
  12. Hazrat Umme Darda (R) expressed her displeasure about the administration of Abdul Malek Ibne Marwan.
  13. A maiden of Khas'Amia performed Hajj on behalf of her father.
  14. Muslim women attended in the mosque to perform Salah.
  15. Muslim women attended the Jum'ah prayer.
  16. Women used to stay in the mosque in the month of Ramadan for I'teqaf.
  17. Women used to approach the Prophet (SAWS) for any query regarding Islam.
  18. Women were active in the mission of "Amru bil Ma'ruf and Nahi anil Munkar" (enjoining what is right and forbidding what is wrong).
  19. They used to be hospitable to the invited guests and serve them and there was an occasion when the Prophet (SAWS) was one of the guests in the house of a Muslim woman.

The author supported the above-mentioned points with the verses from the Holy Qur'an and the authentic Prophetic traditions. Then he gave his full attention to some misinterpretation of some of the verses of the Holy Qur'an and some Hadeethes. He explained in detail the chain of narration in terms of the Hadeethes, which are weak. And in the case of the authentic hadeethes he tried to give a proper interpretation.

Abdul Halim Abu Shukkah's "Tahrirul Mar'at fi Asrir Risalah" in 6 volumes was first published in Kuwait in 1991. In its original form it is about 2000 pages. The 1, 2, and 3 volumes have been translated in Bengali and these are available in the market now. The translators are Moulana Abdul Munem, Prof. Abul Kalam Patwari and Moulana Monwar Hossain and Abdul Mannan Talib being the editor. International Islamic Federation of Students Organizations (IIFSO) and International Institute of Islamic Thought (IIIT) have jointly published the Bengali translation. The Pioneer can also help the interested readers get the book. *The writer Abdul Halim Abu Shukkah is an Egyptian origin.

by Abdul Halim Abu Shukkah
Reviewd by : Atiq Ahah


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