Author: Shukran Ahmadi
Women and Their Role in Society (Part 4)
The Sources of Identifying Women’s Duties
Is it fair for men to judge the way women live? And is it possible to rely on gender theories that naturally don’t judge the opposite sex fairly? Is it true that men who live with sensual, carnal motives and unreal attractions are the ones who determine the duties and lifestyle of half of the society? And is it possible to leave the fate of a class and a gender to the desires, wishes and tendencies of the opposite gender?
As you have noticed, in ancient and contemporary societies, women have always been the victims of men’s selfishness and tyranny. With the difference that in ancient societies, men’s oppression and the way they treated women was due to forgetting that women are human beings, and in contemporary societies, by defending women and saying that they are no different from men, they forgot that they are women, and so on. It seems that they do not believe in the femininity of a woman who was created by her creator with feminine features and characteristics. In addition, as mentioned, the slogan of defending women is also a hypocritical and untrue slogan.
Therefore, what has happened throughout the history of cruelty in this matter has been the result of the imposition of the will and decision of the human race against its fellow man. And it must be acknowledged that any interpretation and analysis that causes humiliation and insult to the dignity and high position of a woman, even if it is accompanied by demagogic titles and religious and religious make-up, is far from justice and fairness; Because a woman is far above that, even in religious and Islamic societies, her sanctity and dignity should be sacrificed to the preferred opinions of jurisprudence, or in order to organize another segment of the society (young people) and solve their problems, and in the name of preventing corruption and immorality. The dignity and value of women should be ignored, and it should be used as a solution to solve some of the problems in the society by trampling on the status and dignity of women, like the issue of “Chastity Houses”; While such a plan will not solve any problems except putting women on the playground by lustful men and increasing the negative consequences for future generations.
Therefore, in order to recognize the duties of a woman and explain her way of life, one should look for a source other than human intellectual sources and resort to the commands and teachings of the one who is the creator of man and woman and the creator of the entire universe and whose knowledge covers the interests of all creatures. The essence that says in the description of men and women:
«يا أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ إِنا خَلَقْنَاكُمْ مِنْ ذَكَرٍ وَأُنثَى وَجَعَلْنَاكُمْ شُعُوباً وَقَبَائِلَ لِتَعَارَفُوا إِنَّ أَكْرَمَكُمْ عِنْدَ اللَّهِ أَتْقَاكُم»
Translation: “O people! We have created you from male and female and divided you into tribes and Nations so that you may know each other. Undoubtedly, the most honorable of you in the sight of Allah is the most pious of you.”
In Allah’s view, the standard of superiority of humans is cultivation and piety, faith and good deeds, morals and good deeds, knowledge, honesty and piety. Everyone, both male and female, is entitled to a reward in the hereafter to the extent of their righteous deeds, and there is no difference between men and women in deserving it. Almighty Allah says:
«فَاسْتَجَابَ لَهُمْ إِنِّي لَا أَضِيْعَ عَمَلَ عَامِلٍ مِّنْكُمْ مِنْ ذَكَرٍ أَو أُنثَى بَعْضُكُم مِنْ بَعْضٍ…».
Translation: “Their Lord accepted their prayer and answered them that I will not waste the actions of anyone, be it a woman or a man, some of you are from another part (and you are all of the same kind and sex).
A woman in line with her nature
Acknowledging the fact that Islam is a religion in accordance with human nature as Allah says: «فَأَقِمْ وَجْهَكَ لِلدِّينِ حَنِيفاً فِطْرَةَ اللَّهِ الَّتِي فَطَرَ النَّاسَ عَلَيْهَا لا تَبْدِيلَ لِخَلْقِ اللَّهِ ذَلِكَ الدِّينُ الْقَيِّمْ وَلَكِنَّ أَكْثَرَ النَّاسَ لا يَعْلَمُون»
Translation: “So turn your face to the pure religion of Allah!” This is the nature on which Allah created humans; Transformation isn’t in divine creation; This is the steadfast ritual; But most people don’t know!”
Islamic orders and solutions have always been compatible with nature and in line with the purpose of human creation; Because Allah Almighty is both the creator of man and the creator of his nature, the commands and justifications issued by the creator of nature are in harmony with nature. Although in understanding the nature, people make mistakes and perhaps due to this ignorance, they turn to something that is against nature, and certainly the anti-nature theories in the world and movements that are contrary to nature are caused by this ignorance. The positions that have been taken regarding women throughout history aren’t exempted from this principle, and often, human intellectual resources have been in conflict with nature in this matter, and as a result, it has caused bitter consequences in the lives of all human beings, and on the contrary, those sources of revelation Allah, who is limited in the circle of the divine book and prophetic tradition, (subject to correct inference) has always been a pioneer in this matter and has useful results.
Below, we discuss some issues regarding women from the perspective of Islam, which are the same as the correct nature and in accordance with the noble nature of women.
Continues…