In Islam, the right between men and women is indeed distinguished by one level. If the main rights of men as priests are slightly higher than one level above women, then women basically have special rights where they must be honored.
What is meant by glorification is how Islam elevates the degree of a woman so that she becomes one of the important aspects of worshiping Allah. What are the proofs of Islam glorifying women? Before we examine carefully, let us consider the following Kitabullah Al-Qur’an. Allah SWT said in Surah An-Nisa’ verse 1:
يَا أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ اتَّقُوا رَبَّكُمُ الَّذِي خَلَقَكُم مِّن نَّفْسٍ وَاحِدَةٍ وَخَلَقَ مِنْهَا زَوْجَهَا وَبَثَّ مِنْهُمَا رِجَالًا كَثِيرًا وَنِسَاءً
“O men, fear your Rabb who has created you from one soul and from that one soul He created his partner, and from both He multiplied many men and women.” (An-Nisa’: 1)
In the letter above, it is explained that Allah created women as male partners. So, basically, women do exist as companions for men who are on Earth. So, where is the proof of Islam glorifying women? We will study it with the following 12 points.
- Allah Creates the Surah An Nisa’
One of the ways God glorifies women is by creating An Nisa’s letter. QS. An Nisa’ explains about various kinds of problems concerning women’s issues. In it, there is an explanation about rights, obligations, and stories about womanhood. It is a very noble thing where one chapter in the Quranic Book in each verse fully discusses the subject of women.
- Women are Given Special Exemptions in Worship
In certain times, women are allowed (in this case even required) by Allah not to perform prayer. Menstruation and childbirth are exceptions from Allah so that women (temporarily) do not pray and fast. It is a special right that no man has at all.
- Must Always Be Protected
Women are prohibited from traveling far (Safar) without being accompanied by their mahram. It is clear that women must always be protected. This is explained in the Prophet’s Hadith which reads:
“Do not ever have a woman who is alone except with her mahram.” (Narrated by Bukhari 2844 and Muslim 1341)
As for the letter explaining the obligation to protect women, Allah says in QS. An-Nisa’ verse 34 which reads:
.ٱلرجال قومون على ٱلنسآء بما فضل ٱلله بعضهم على بعض وبمآ أنفقوا من أمولهم فٱلصلحت قنتت حفظت للغيب بما حفظ ٱلله وٱلتى تخافون نشوزهن فعظوهن وٱهجروهن فى ٱلمضاجع وٱضربوهن فإن أطعنكم فلا تبغوا عليهن سبيلا إن ٱلله كان عليا كبيرا
“Men (husbands) are protectors for women (wives) because Allah has exaggerated some of them (men) over some others (women) and because they (men) have provided income from their wealth.” (Surah An-Nisa’: 34)
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- Women Are the Dignity of Men
In Islam, women are likened to jewelry. Described in the Hadith, from Abdullah bin ‘Amr radhiallahu‘ anhuma that the Messenger of Allaah ‘alaihiwassalam said:
“This world is jewelry/pleasure and the best jewelry/pleasure of the world is a righteous woman.” (Narrated by Muslim, Nasa’i, Ibn Majah and Ahmad)
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- Women Are Used As A Benchmark for Pious Children
In a household, a woman is the first assembly that a child enters before they enter the assembly which is administered by a religious teacher. That is why the knowledge of a woman becomes a decisive aspect in educating children.
Even because of the importance of women in educating children, the Prophet sallallaahu ‘alaihi Wasallam forbids parents to suckle their babies in women who are weak in reasoning. It is because milk can inherit maternal traits to the baby.
- Obligations to Be Fulfilled
In glorifying women, Allah SWT requires every man (who is already his mahram) to provide a living for his wife’s welfare. Women are not obliged to make a living because it is their right to receive and prosper.
- His Glory Above Men is Extraordinary
If a woman is given pleasure with knowledge, she can become a very valuable human figure, both from the perspective of God and fellow humans. In fact, it was explained that the women who were good were better than 70 young people who were pious.
- Can Go To Heaven from Any Door
The Messenger of Allah explained that women can go to heaven from any door if they fulfill the following four criteria:
- Perform prayers
- Fast in the month of Ramadan
- Steer clear from adultery
- Devote to husband
This is explained in the Hadith:
“If a woman performs five daily prayers, fasts in the month of Ramadan, keeps her genitals, and obeys her husband; undoubtedly it will be said to her: “Enter into heaven from any door you want.” (Narrated by Ahmad)
- His Efforts in Pregnancy and Childbirth are Equated with Jihad
Proof of Islam glorifies the following woman where the business of a woman who is pregnant and gives birth is the same as jihad. The Messenger of Allah referred to a woman in conceiving her child as an extraordinary sacrifice. That is explained in another Hadith:
“There were 7 martyrs apart from those killed in the way of Allah; people who died because of thaun, people who drowned, people who die due to a severe wound in his stomach, people who die of stomach aches, people who are burned to death, people who die from hard objects, and a woman who dies while there is a fetus in the womb.” (Narrated by Abu Daud 3111 and is almighted by al-Albani)
- Awarded the Equivalent of Many Years
Doing a small thing but God gives a tremendous reward. Some of them are:
- A woman who serves a husband without betrayal will get a reward of 12 years of worship.
- The woman who died was followed by her husband’s pleasure so she would go to the heaven.
- If a husband teaches his wife one problem, he will get 80 years of worship.
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- The Degree is 3 Levels Higher than the Man When She Becomes A Mother
Women are also glorified by elevating their degrees as mothers. The Prophet said when a friend asked,
“O Raslullah! Who should I treat well?” The Apostle replied, “Your mother.” The man asked again, “Then who?” He sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam replied, “Your mother.” The man asked again, “Then who?” He sallallaahu’ alaihi wa sallam replied, “Your father.” (Saheeh al-Bukhari, no. 5971 and Muslim, no. 2548)
- Heaven Under the Mother’s Feet
The last thing is, in Islam, it is explained that heaven is said to be under the mother’s feet because it is so important to worship and respect our mother as an effort to worship God. This is a form of how God is very fond of women for their efforts in educating their children. Even the prayers of God are counted as the charity of Jariyah in the eyes of Allah.
Those 12 aspects are the ways of Islam in glorifying women. It should be underlined that women are basically companions and khilafah on Earth. Even the Prophet Muhammad taught how important it is to respect women so that we can think and stay away from every prohibition.