“هُوَ الَّذِی خَلَقَكُم مِّن نَّفْسٍ وَاحِدَةٍ وَجَعَلَ مِنْهَا زَوْجَهَا لِیَسْكُنَ إِلَیْهَا” Translation: “He is the One who created you from a single soul and made from it its mate, that he might find comfort in her.”
This means each finds peace and tranquility with the other. In this noble verse, Allah Almighty describes spouses as a source of tranquility, a covering for each other in both this world and the Akhirah.
“وَالْمُؤْمِنُونَ وَالْمُؤْمِنَاتُ بَعْضُهُمْ أَوْلِيَاءُ بَعْضٍ يَأْمُرُونَ بِالْمَعْرُوفِ وَيَنْهَوْنَ عَنِ الْمُنكَرِ وَيُقِيمُونَ الصَّلَاةَ وَيُؤْتُونَ الزَّكَاةَ وَيُطِيعُونَ اللَّهَ وَرَسُولَهُ أُولَئِكَ سَيَرْحَمُهُمُ اللَّهُ إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَزِيزٌ حَكِيمٌ” Translation: “The believing men and believing women are allies of one another. They enjoin what is right and forbid what is wrong, establish prayer and give Zakah, and obey Allah and His Messenger. It is they upon whom Allah will have mercy. Surely, Allah is Almighty, All-Wise.”
Yes, in our Islamic worldview, the woman is a mother, a wife, a sister, a daughter, a teacher, a nurturer, and a caller to truth. Allah the Exalted grants superiority among His servants based on righteous deeds. He says: “إِنَّ الْمُسْلِمِينَ وَالْمُسْلِمَاتِ وَالْمُؤْمِنِينَ وَالْمُؤْمِنَاتِ وَالْقَانِتِينَ وَالْقَانِتَاتِ وَالصَّادِقِينَ وَالصَّادِقَاتِ وَالصَّابِرِينَ وَالصَّابِرَاتِ وَالْخَاشِعِينَ وَالْخَاشِعَاتِ وَالْمُتَصَدِّقِينَ وَالْمُتَصَدِّقَاتِ وَالصَّائِمِينَ وَالصَّائِمَاتِ وَالْحَافِظِينَ فُرُوجَهُمْ وَالْحَافِظَاتِ وَالذَّاكِرِينَ اللَّهَ كَثِيرًا وَالذَّاكِرَاتِ أَعَدَّ اللَّهُ لَهُم مَّغْفِرَةً وَأَجْرًا عَظِيمًا” Translation: “Indeed, the Muslim men and Muslim women, the believing men and believing women, the devout men and devout women, the truthful men and truthful women, the patient men and patient women, the humble men and humble women, the charitable men and charitable women, the fasting men and fasting women, the chaste men and chaste women, and the men and women who remember Allah much—Allah has prepared for all of them forgiveness and a great reward.”
In this noble verse, Allah introduces ten categories of virtuous men and women, or in another way, lists ten virtues that both genders may possess. He concludes by stating that those who possess these qualities will be granted His forgiveness and a great reward. One of the key messages of this verse is that it counters the false accusations made against Islam—that it does not value women. On the contrary, Islam grants women the highest of honors.
If we glance at the condition of women in the Age of Ignorance (Jahiliyyah), we see that women were not even considered human beings. They were stripped of all rights. Women were not given inheritance, as the Arabs of that time reserved wealth only for their sons—because sons could fight, plunder, and gain riches. Since women could not do that, they were denied any share of their fathers’ property.
The Status of Women in the Words of the Prophet (Peace be upon him)
The Messenger of Allah (PBUH) held women in special regard and frequently instructed others to treat them with love, kindness, and gentleness. He repeatedly said: “I have been made to love three things from your world: perfume, women, and prayer, which is the delight of my eyes.”
This statement was not born out of lust or base desire. Rather, by saying this, the Prophet (PBUH) sought to uplift the status of women, who at the time were considered worthless—no better than animals—by the Arabs. By placing women alongside prayer, an act of sacred worship, he elevated them to the highest level of honor.
It was the Prophet (PBUH) who, on the Day of ‘Arafah, publicly declared the rights of women and constantly reminded his companions (Sahaba) to uphold those rights. In a society that viewed daughters as a source of shame, Allah granted the Prophet (PBUH) four daughters and gave them long lives, such that he married them off to noble men and always showed them deep affection. According to Islamic reports, the Prophet (PBUH) would visit his daughters before and after traveling due to the deep love he had for them.
Given the honor Islam has given women, the sayings of the Prophet (PBUH) regarding the dignity, nobility, and value of women are preserved in many hadith collections. In a Sahih hadith, the Prophet (PBUH) said: “استوصوا بالنساء فإن المرأة خلقت من ضلع، وإن أعوج شيء في الضلع أعلاه، فإن ذهبت تقيمه كسرته، وإن تركته لم يزل أعوج، فاستوصوا بالنساء.” Translation: “Treat women kindly. Woman was created from a rib, and the most crooked part of the rib is its upper portion. If you try to straighten it, you will break it. But if you leave it as it is, it will remain crooked. So be kind to women.”
At a time when women had no value or dignity, the Prophet (PBUH) elevated them to the level of independent human beings with rights and personalities. He urged that their innate qualities be respected. In this hadith, he likened a woman to the curved rib bone and said: “A woman is like a rib; she is beneficial as she is. If you try to straighten her, you will break her.”
Imam Ahmad and Tirmidhi (may Allah have mercy on them) narrate from Umm al-Mu’minin Ayesha al-Siddiqa (may Allah be pleased with her) that the Prophet (PBUH) said: “إن النساء شقائق الرجال” Translation: “Women are the counterparts of men.”
That is, woman is the complementary half of man and constitutes half of society. She must fulfill her mission among her own kind. Lexicographers also state: “النساء شقائق الرجال” means women are similar to men in temperament and nature—as if they were separated from them.
In another hadith, the Prophet (PBUH) said: “واستوصوا بالنساء خيرًا فإنما هن عوان عندكم” Translation: “Treat women well, for they are like captives under your care.”
The word ‘awān means captive: the woman is like a dependent under your protection. A Muslim must therefore treat her with kindness, appreciate and honor her, be her supporter and caretaker, overlook her small mistakes, and encourage her to do good deeds so she doesn’t fall into error. A woman is a tender and affectionate being who loves kindness, and she naturally respects those who treat her kindly.
In another hadith, the Prophet (PBUH) said: “أكمل المؤمنين إيمانًا أحسنهم خلقًا، وخياركم خياركم لنسائهم” Translation: “The most complete in faith among the believers are those with the best character, and the best of you are those who are best to their women.”
In another narration, he said: “خيركم خيركم لأهله، وأنا خيركم لأهلي” Translation: “The best of you are those who are best to their families, and I am the best among you to my family.”
The Prophet (PBUH) was known to be the kindest in his dealings with his family. When Umm al-Mu’minin Ayesha (MABH) was asked about his behavior at home, she replied: “The Prophet (PBUH) would always enter the house with a smile and cheerful face.”
Despite the heavy responsibilities and concerns he bore for the Ummah—burdens that would have overwhelmed most people—he always treated his wives with gentleness and excellent character.
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