By Hesham A. Hassaballa, MD, Chicago
As the Taliban hastily retreated from city after city, the women of Afghanistan slowly came out from underneath the shadows and their burkas. All hailed the new-found freedom for the Afghan people, most especially Afghan women, from the fanatic stranglehold of the Taliban. The calls have gone out for the newly formed government of Afghanistan to ensure equal rights of women, and I am happy to report that two women have been included as government ministers. Yet, the pervading impression of Islam is still that it oppresses women and ensures their inferiority. Lisa Beyer wrote in Time magazine, “Even as he [Prophet Muhammad] proclaimed new rights for women, he enshrined their inequality in immutable law, passed down as God’s commandments and eventually recorded in scripture.” She reaches this conclusion by a superficial study of Qur’anic verses and Islamic law combined with an observation of the horrible way women are treated in Muslim countries. Hardly a scholarly approach. The truth of the matter is, Muslim women have been as important, and in some instances, more important than Muslim men throughout Islamic history. The horrors that we see committed against women in Islam’s name is an abandonment of Islam’s principles, ideals, and teachings.
In the Quran
In describing the ideal believer, the Qur’an cites the example of two women: “And God sets forth an example for those who believe the wife of Pharaoh and Mary, the daughter of Imran” (66:11-12). This “Mary” is none other than the Virgin Mary, Mother of Jesus. The Qur’an could have easily picked any one of the Prophets, yet chose the example of two women. Hardly misogynistic.
On the development of Islamic law
Women were an essential element in the development of Islamic law, whose two main sources are the Qur’an and Hadith (sayings of Prophet Muhammad). There were numerous women transmitters of the hadiths. Most notable among them is the Prophet Muhammad’s own wife, A’isha. She was a scholar of Islamic law, and she routinely issued independent religious rulings, or “fatwas.” A great number of the Prophet’s companions learned Islamic law from her directly. Over 2,200 hadiths were transmitted by A’isha alone, and it is safe to say Islamic law could not have been formulated without her. Yet, there were other women scholars of hadith. These include Karimah bint Ahmad Al-Marwaziyah and Amat al-Khaliq, who was the last of the greatest transmitters of the hadiths of Al-Bukhari. Al-Bukhari’s compilation of prophetic sayings is the most authentic of all hadith collections. Some of the more modern Muslim women scholars are Khunaathat bin Bakkar (d. 1746), the Scholar-Queen, Aminah bint Muhammah of Isfahan (d. 1890), Bint Sadr ad-Din al-’Amili al-Musawi (d. 1847), and Al-’Alawiyah al-Aminiyah of Isfahan (d. 1983).
Muslim Women Benefactors
The “Saint of Fez,” Fatimah al-Fihriyah (d. 880), was from a very wealthy family. She inherited a considerable amount of wealth, and she used this wealth to build a school and mosque in Qarawiyiin (Kairouyine), Morrocco. The Kairouyine mosque and school has been the center of Islamic learning in Morocco for more than 1000 years and is the oldest university in Morocco. Other women school-builders were Maryam bint ash-Shams (d. 1313), Barakah bint ‘Abd-Allah (d. 1372), and Al-Udar al Karimah of Yemen (d. 1360), who built great schools and mosques throughout that country. Banafshaa’ ar-Rumiyah (d. 1008) renovated Baghdad and established her own school and endowment there. It is clear that Muslim women have been an integral part of the rich educational heritage of Islam.
Muslim Women Warriors
This may seem oxymoronic to many readers, but many of the most famous warriors of Islam were women. This dates back to the Prophet Muhammad’s time. Many a female companion of the Prophet fought along side him. Nusaibah bint Ka’b al-Ansariyah was wounded defending the Prophet Muhammad in one battle, and the Prophet’s aunt Safiyah saved the Muslims from attack during the Battle of the Trench of 626 C.E. After the death of the Prophet, there were other famous women warriors. The most notable of these was A’isha, the Prophet’s wife, who led an army to avenge the assassination of Uthman (d. 656), the third Caliph of Islam. Asma bint Abi Bakr, Juwairiyah bint Abi Sufyan, and Umm Habib bint al-’As were three women warriors who played a significant role in the Muslim victory over Byzantium in the Battle of Yarmuk of 638 C.E. Azdah bint al-Harith led the Muslims to victory during the Battle of Maisan with the Persian Empire, and Khawlah bint al-Azwar, “The Black Knight,” fought valiantly with the Muslim army. In addition, she freed the women captives of the Battle of Sajuuraa in Greater Syria in a brilliant strategem of war.
In Modern Times
The important contributions of women to Islamic societies are not just found in the history books. All around the Muslim world today, despite what one might imagine, Muslim women play a key role in society. Iran has some of the most politically active women in the Muslim world. A woman ran for President in the last election in Iran, and women have been appointed to the vice presidency under President Mohammad Khatami. In addition, 40% of university students are women in Iran. The current President of Indonesia, the most populous Muslim country in the world, is a woman: Megawati Sukarnoputri. Pakistan, the second most populous Muslim country, twice elected a woman Prime Minister: Benazir Bhutto. In addition, Bangladesh, another Muslim country, twice elected Khalida Zia to be Prime Minister. She succeeded Haseena Wajid, another Muslim woman.
Far from being oppressed by Islamic law and doctrine, Muslim women have played a most significant role in Muslim society through Islamic history. They have helped shape the Islamic landscape and greatly contributed to the greatness of Islamic civilization. Some may argue that Muslim women advance when Islam becomes less prominent as a social force. History belies this notion. The Muslim women heroes I have discussed lived when Islamic civilization was at its peak. The violation of the rights of women in many Muslim societies is being perpetrated despite Islam, not because of it. It is high time Muslim women take back what is rightfully theirs, and we Muslim men must stand firmly behind our sisters in this struggle.
Hesham A. Hassaballa is a columnist with the Independent Writers Syndicate. He is a physician and resides in Chicago.