Women in Jahiliya and Islam |Dr. Omar Ahmed

Page:01Women In Jahiliya & ISLAM صرى S DR. OMAR AHMED النساء BD الجاهلية
Page:02Table of Contents INTRODUCTION.... ................ 4 CHAPTER ONE: WOMEN IN OTHER CIVILIZATIONS........7 CHAPTER TWO: WOMEN IN JAHILIYYAH. 1. WOMEN IN PRE-ISLAMIC JAHILIYYAHH 2. WOMEN IN MODERN JAHILIYYAH....... .................... 10 10 19 .26 .38 1. INTEGRATION AND COMPREHENSIVENESS OF ISLAM.......... 38 3. SUBSERVIENCE AND BLIND FOLLOWING. CHAPTER THREE: WOMEN IN ISLAM. 2. WOMEN'S POSITION IN ISLAM IN THE IDEA OF CREATION........ 51 3. WOMEN'S SPIRITUAL STATUS IN ISLAM.... 4. RESPECT FOR THE CHASTITY OF WOMEN..... 5. WOMEN'S RIGHTS IN ISLAM REGARDING EDUCATION CHAPTER FOUR: ISLAM, A RELIGION THAT PROMOTES KNOWLEDGE.......................................... TRADITIONS OF SCHOLARSHIP. 52 .53 .55 .56 .61 3
Page:03Introduction As it has been declared by the Holy Qur'an, Islam is the perfect religion and in fact the completion of the Lord's favour upon man so far as the regulation of his life is concerned: (This day I have perfected your religion for you, completed My favours upon you and have chosen for you Al-Islam as your religion) (5:4) Islam provides answers to all spiritual and secular questions and offers to humanity not only a new metaphysical outlook, but also a comprehensive programme of revolution in human life, both in its individual and social aspects. For a Muslim, Islam comprehends the whole of life, its pattern of thought and behaviour. It posits the ideal of a life in which, from the cradle to the grave, not a single moment is spent out of tune with or merely unprovided for by a religious ruling. No sphere is left in which the thoughts and deeds of a Muslim, both in his personal and public life, are inconsequential to his fate in the Hereafter. In short, in Islam one cannot find a no-man's land to which religion does not lay a claim. That is the reason why Allah exhorts people to accept Islam in its entirety: (O you who believe! Come all of you into submission (to Him); follow not the footsteps of the devil. He is an open enemy for you) (2:208) Islam is the only religion of the world, which knows no distinction between the religious and secular, but views in one sweep the entire life of man. Allah says in the Qur'an: (Verily my prayers and my sacrifices and my life and death are all for Allah) (6: 163) It means that the whole life of man in all its spheres should be an expression of complete submission to Allah, the Creator of this Universe and the Rightful Master. The basic concept of religion in Islam is that it is as vital a necessity as the sunshine and air. Just as the Sustainer and the Nourisher of the world had made provision of all those things which a man needs for his physical development, in the same way, He has vouchsafed to him the Divine Knowledge not only for the satisfaction of his religious yearnings, but for the fullest growth of his spiritual and moral self: (His is the creation and the Command) (7:54) It should be remembered that the teachings of Islam are based essentially on the Qur'an (Allah's Revelation) and Hadith (elaborations by Prophet Muhammad). The Qur'an and Hadith provide the basic source of authentication for any position or view, which is attributed to Islam. This book starts with a brief survey of the status of women in previous civilizations and religions, and in the pre-Islamic era (Jahiliyyah). It then provides a fair evaluation of what Islam contributed towards the restoration of woman's dignity and rights, 5