In this era, women’s position are equally with men. Women has the same rights as men have, so there is no reason to discriminate women for now. Beside that, women has a role in society, especially in muslim society. Here is the roles of women in muslim society.
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1. Women as a Person
Before we start to elaborate the role of women, we will explain about the women itself. Women, or Woman in other terms and many definition, described as an adult female person. Sometimes, its definition refers to the gender or sexual, which is bring us to the further research. Nevertheless, women are special. Because we are born from the woman who call mother, and give the everything she had to birth us. Women, as a person or individual, have the right to do so with the consequences and benefits they derive. There was, at least, two verse which implied the women. The first verse came from An-Nahl verse 97 :
“Whoever does righteousness, whether male or female, while he is a believer – We will surely cause him to live a good life, and We will surely give them their reward (in the Hereafter) according to the best of what they used to do”
In Al-Ahzab verse 35 narrated that :
“Indeed, the Muslim men and Muslim women, the believing men and believing women, the obedient men and obedient women, the truthful men and truthful women, the patient men and patient women, the humble men and humble women, the charitable men and charitable women, the fasting men and fasting women, the men who guard their private parts and the women who do so, and the men who remember Allah often and the women who do so – for them Allah has prepared forgiveness and a great reward.”
Those verse are narrating about women, although not so explicitly. But it shows that men and women position are equal. The only thing to differentiate is their faith.
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2. Women as a Wife
Prophet Muhammad Saw. in hadith from At-Tabrani and Al-Hakim narrated that:
“Whoever is given by Allah a righteous (or shalihah) wife, then He has helped him to complete the half of his religion. Therefore, let him be piety to Allah for the other half.”
However, this hadith can happen otherwise; in a state where a wife is awarded a righteous husband, it has been perfected by half his religion, and a Muslim woman should be cautious of the other half. Nevertheless, it is depends on us if we want a righteous husband, we must became a righteous with aim only to Allah swt.
See also : Muslim Wife Duties for Her Husband
3. Women as a Mother
Household sakinah mawaddah warahmah is the essence of the formation of a rabbani generation, the generation that loves and is loved by Allah swt. Generations are shidiq, as well as weighted by useful science and practices that muntijah. Therefore, forming a family requires a lot of preparation, such as economic, physical, ruhiyah, science, economic, and social preparations.
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4. Women as a Teacher
Not only as a a mother, woman also became a teacher. In family, we must understand that we are the first and primary educators for a child. This is conveyed in the hadith narrated by Bukhari and Muslim:
“Every child is born in a holy state, both parents who make him a Jew, a Christian, or a Majusi.”
Moreover, we became a teacher in school or university, where we teach many students in it. Most of Mother in the world, especially Moeslem, know about Aims of Muslim Education to teach their children.
5. Women as a Child/Kid
In this role, we are focus the age when it was a child to teenage. As a child, Allah swt order not to associate Him with doing good to our parents, as stated in the letter Al-Isra verse 23 :
“And your Lord has decreed that you are not worship except Him, and to parents, good treatment. Whether one or both of them reach old age [while] with you, say not to them [so much as], “Ugh”, and do not repel them but speak to them a noble word.”
6. Women in Jihad/War
Women are not required in jihad, but if they want to help men for jihad, then it is permissible. As active in the soup kitchen, treating the sick; in some of the narrations mentioned may enter the battle if it has the ability to fight as proficient in using weapons or have martial ability. This is mentioned in one of hadith by Ahmad and Bukhari, Aisha ra. asked Prophet Muhammad saw :
“Is it a jihad obligation for women, Messenger of Allah?” He replied, “The jihad that does not have the battle is the pilgrimage and umrah.” In another narrative, “But the most jihad for you is the pilgrimage.”
7. Women in Preaching (Da’wah)
Recently, there are many woman who preaching in many places. Whether is in small environment such as in mosque or majlis, or in a wider scope. This is relatively normal because in some case or terms, there was a group of women who wants a female teacher or ustadzah, because of gender reason and sometimes an awkwardness if women ask to men about something which is a little bit taboo or sensitive.
8. Woman as a Relative
As a member of family, beside father and mother, we have another relative such as, aunt, uncle, nephew, cousins, etc. A kinship and bonding has a high position in Islam. Rasulullah saw has told in hadith narrated by Bukhari and Muslim.
“Whoever wants to extend his life and extend his age, then tighten the relationship.”
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9. Women as a Member of Society
In Islam, there is no prohibition or restriction for women to be active in society. Women has rights to develop and explore her skill and potential inside of her. Even so, Islam advise for women to balancing between her activity outside the house with the ultimate task as a mother and wife.
10. Women as Economic Drivers
Recently, there are many women who work outside the home to help and provide the economy family, as the ultimate factor. The cause also varied. Some of them are single parent, so they must work outside to provide it. Some of them work as a form of ‘independence’; it means that they want to stop asking money to her family or husband, just in case there something bad happen, they can help. There is no wrong to do that, if she understand the first and ultimate job : as a mother and wife.
11. Women as a Leader
It is not a taboo things if woman become a leader. In Indonesia, we had once a female president, and some of country in the world had a female leader. As we mentioned before, it is no wrong to do that. Although some people doubt that women became a leader, because women often emphasize ego and emotion in making decision.
12. Women as a Worker
Associated with point number 10, we found that many women work outside the house, whether as a labour or in an executive position. The reason is similar; to support the economy family.
13. Women as Role Model
When we were born in the world, we saw our mother as a first women in our life. That is the point when we found a role model in our life. And then, we saw our sister, relatives, teacher, or anyone else that we put as a role model. To be role model is not always being success in our field. We can show it by the attitude or something that it bring a positive vibe to people.
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14. Women as a Protector
When a woman know that she is pregnant, she will do anything to protect the baby inside. When the baby is born, she keep protect, because the baby is very vulnerable and fragile. But when the baby is growing up, she still protect her children, with her pray to Allah swt. She realize that she can’t always beside her children; the only thing that she can do is pray, and Allah always hear the mother’s pray.
15. Women as Reminder
Humans are created to be paired : men and women. This is not the ultimate job; but as a muslim ummah, we are obliged to remind each other in good deeds. The aim is to keep ourselves in Allah’s way and reach His bless
16. Women as a Guardian
This theme refers to a woman to guard herself form the things that cause her in danger or guard anything that she can. The way women guard herself is wearing hijab, because not only Islam’s order, but also for her virtue.
17. Women as Helper
In this point, there are many roles in society. We are interact with many people, so we have to know how to act with them. First, with neighbor. Our closest relatives is our neighbor, because we are not only living side by side, but also we have to treat them right and kindness, and don’t be arrogant or boastful. This is similar with surah An-Nisa verse 36 which is narrated that :
“Worship Allah and associate nothing with him, and to parents do good, and to relatives, orphans, the needy, the near neighbor, the neighbor farther away, the companion at your side, the traveler, and those whom your right hands possess. Indeed, Allah does not like those who are self-deluding and boastful.”
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18. Women as a Inventor
Women can invented anything that she want. No need to invented something bigger, a small things like safe and sound atmosphere around, or doing a good habits will bring a huge effect for us.
19. Women as Creator
Sometimes, we are stuck by anything. We don’t know how to do and etc. As a woman, we can create something that will help us to solve the problem we had.
20. Women as Herself
And last but not least, be yourself. Nothing best to do than be ourselves. You may have a role model for your life, but you don’t have to be and act like your role model 100%. Just be yourself, and you can find your spot in society.
Finally, those are women’s role in Muslim Society. If we look closer, Women really play most important roles to make a new generation with a strong foundation of Muslim religion with Sign of Strong Iman on their soul.