The Position of Women in the Light of Prophetic Hadiths
One of the key indicators of the honor bestowed upon women in Islam is the special attention and care they received from the Holy Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him). The Prophet would often address Muslims during the days of Eid, directing specific remarks and advice to women. Recognizing the value of these discussions, the women would often request more time from the Prophet (PBUH). According to Abu Saeed Khudri (may Allah be pleased with him), one such occasion is narrated where a woman approached the Holy Prophet (PBUH) and expressed, “Men receive more of your blessed presence than we do; appoint a day for us on which you will teach us.” The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) agreed and specified a day. Women would gather on that day, and he would offer them sermons and necessary guidance.
Among the notable teachings, the Prophet (PBUH) stated, “Any woman among you who loses three children, they will be a veil for her that will save her from the fire of hell.” When a woman asked, “What if someone has lost two children?” the Prophet (PBUH) responded, “If there are two, it is the same.”
Furthermore, it is narrated in a hadith from Umm al-Mu’minin Hazrat Ayesha Siddiqa (may Allah be pleased with her) that “A woman who had two little girls came to me begging. I had nothing but a single date, which I offered to her. That woman divided the date into two parts and gave them to her daughters without eating anything herself.” Shortly after, the Holy Prophet (PBUH) entered the house. Upon informing him about the story of the beggar woman, the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: “Whoever is entrusted with raising one or two daughters and treats them well, on the Day of Judgment, those daughters will be a shield for their caretaker against the fire of Hell.”
Above all, Islam has granted women the right to express their opinions in choosing the caliph. When Hazrat Abd al-Rahman bin Awf (may Allah be pleased with him) was appointed head of the six-member council after the martyrdom of the second caliph, Hazrat Amir al-Mominin Umar bin Khattab (may Allah be pleased with him), he actively sought people’s opinions, including both men and women, young and old. He even visited homes to gather their views on who was qualified for the caliphate.
The Holy Prophet (PBUH) considered women to be a trust from Allah and repeatedly urged men to treat them with respect. At the end of his blessed life, during the “Haj Al-Weddah” ceremony, he emphasized, “Fear Allah concerning women, for you have taken them as a trust from Allah Almighty, and you have made their private parts lawful for yourselves by the word of Allah.”
Moreover, the Prophet (PBUH) made the good treatment of women a standard for the character of men, stating: “The best of you is the one who is best to his family, and I am the best among you to my family.”
