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Ramadan reflections: Women have a special place in society

Islam says both men and women, in their own spheres of activity, can claim functional superiority over each other

The rights of Muslim women were given to us by Allah , who is All-Compassionate, All-Merciful, All-Just, All-Unbiased, All-Knowing and Most Wise. These rights, which were granted to women more than 1,400 years ago, and were taught by the perfect example of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), were given by the one who created us and who alone knows what rights suit best to the nature of women.
Allah says in the Quran: "O You who believe! You are forbidden to inherit women against their will, and you should not treat them with harshness, that you may take away part of the Mahr (bridal-money given by the husband to his wife at time of marriage) you have given them unless they commit open illegal sexual intercourse. And live with them honourably. If you dislike them, it may be that you dislike a thing and Allah brings through it a great deal of good." (An-Nisa 4:19)
In Islam, the rights and responsibilities of women are equal to those of men, but they are not necessarily identical. Equality and sameness are two very different things. Although men and women are equal to each other in other important ways, they are physically very different from one another.
The modern concept of equality of sexes is the product of human mind and, like other achievements of human mind, is far from being perfect in nature. It will always remain open to debate, discussion and change in search of an ideal relationship - such ideal being ever elusive and never attainable by human effort except in the relationship which has been determined by Allah in consonance with their (men and women) respective natures.
The concept of equality of sexes - given to mankind by the Holy Quran - is the only abiding and natural ideal which traces itself to the importance of origin. The Holy Quran says: "O mankind! Reverence your Guardian-Lord, Who created you from a single person, created, of like nature, his mate, and from them twain scattered (like seeds) countless men and women" (An-Nisa 4:1).
The Quranic verse has firmly and for all times removed the stigma of contempt and lowliness which was the lot of women in the earlier social structures or ways of life ordered by beliefs of antiquity. Islam declared the right and proper status of women by disclosing her origins which was the same as that of man, and thus the woman came to occupy a place as important and indispensable as that of the man.
Both men and women in their own spheres of activity, can claim functional superiority over each other which they should not be proud of in any way, or to consider the other in any way inferior or lowly, nor should they be envious of such functional superiority of the other.
In the interest of a balanced life pattern and happiness of society, the natural difference in the two sexes have to be taken into account; their physical appearance and style of their respective rights and obligations so adjusted that one should complement the other for the contentment and happiness of society. The courses of life of the two sexes, the men and women, must run parallel in the same direction without crossing each other.
The capabilities and God-given gifts, peculiar to the respective sexes, contribute their share in making a happy home, a pure, virtuous and honest society and to the march of humanity. The importance and value of a woman's share in the progress and happiness of mankind was first recognised by Islam when her rights and obligations were pronounced as part of the code of life.
Allah in all His wisdom and grace has created things in pairs - male and female or our hands, legs, eyes. So both are important, for example right hand and left hand, both have different and respective strengths and functions that are required for a good life. But the right can never be left or vice versa. They are both important and valuable in their own spheres, and in harmony with each other but with the difference which always distinguishes one from the other.
The concept of equality of sexes in Islam basically rests on the fact that the method and manner in which Allah has created them has a special purpose. A man is entitled to his rights, respect and has his own special place in a society, and so does a woman.
(The writer is former Khaleej Times staffer)