Equality of men and women in Islam

Islamic law, which Allah (Glorified and Exalted be He) sent down to His Messenger Muhammad (SAW), came to announce that women are full human beings exactly as men are. Women, like men, are, therefore, required to follow the way appointed by Allah.

A woman, like a man, is, therefore, obligated with all three degrees of this religion: Islam (outward submission to Allah); Iman (inward faith in Allah); Ihsan (perfection of worship of Allah).

It is thus required for every woman to testify that there is none deserving worship but Allah, and that Muhammad is Allah’s Messenger; to pray; to give charity; to fast; and to make a pilgrimage to Allah’s House if she has the means.

It is likewise required for every woman to believe in Allah, His angels, His scriptures, His messengers, the Last Day, and to believe in Allah’s decree (and that the good and evil consequences thereof are from Allah).

These are the fundamentals of Islam and Iman.

It is likewise required for every woman to worship Allah as if she sees Him. For although she cannot see Allah, she must believe that He sees whatever she does in secret and in public.

Women (exactly like men) have been commanded with these three levels of the religion: Islam, Iman, and Ihsan.

Women are also obligated to command good and forbid evil; to wage jihad by saying that which is truthful; and to adhere to all noble behaviour, like truthfulness, trustworthiness, courage, modesty and self-respect.

Every Muslim woman is commanded to be steadfast in her religion and not to be negligent with her faith. It is impermissible for her, under any pressure or compulsion, to open her heart to accept the word of disbelief. Hence every Muslim woman falls under Allah’s statement: “Whose disbelieves in Allah, after he has believed - excepting him who has been compelled, and his heart is still at rest with the Faith - but whosoever’s breast is expanded in unbelief, upon them shall rest anger from Allah, and there awaits them a mighty chastisement.” (Qur’an 16:106)
Clearly when Islam charged women with all these duties and in all these obligations made her equal to men, the intent was to honour her and permit her to reach the highest degree of perfection of her being. The duties that Allah has obligated humanity with are but a means to honour us. Prayer, as well as fasting, is an honour for the servant and a means to raise his rank. To adhere to Allah’s straight path and the manners of Islam are, without doubt, a means to honour us and not to humiliate us as imagined by those who are ignorant of Allah and follow their desires.

Such (ignorant) people think and imagine that a human being who does not believe in Allah, does not uphold the trust of these duties, and does not perform what Allah has commanded him is of a higher standing than the believer who adheres to the obligations of Islam. Such an idea is ignorance and renders human beings on a par with the animals. Humans have been created to be tried by Allah and have been charged with fulfilling these duties to Allah (Glorified and Exalted be He) and His creatures.

As for animals, while they have been created by Allah, they have not been charged with this trust. Whoever considers that a human being who does not uphold what Allah has obligated as equal to those who fulfill what Allah has obligated is like those who consider humans and animals to be equal. For this reason, Allah has said: “Shall we treat that those who have surrendered (as Muslims) as We treat the guilty?” (Qur’an 68:35)

And He has said: “We have crated for Hell many of the jinn and humanity; they have hearts, but understand not with them; they have eyes, but perceive not with them; and they have ears, but they hear not with them. These are like cattle; nay, rather they are further astray! Those - they are the heedless.” (Qur’an 7:126)

The disbeliever in Allah is a guilty criminal, for he does not accept whom He is to worship, i.e., his Creator, his Protector, his Lord, and He Who created this universe in which he lives. The disbeliever enjoys what Allah has blessed him with and yet ignores the One Who blessed and preferred him with such blessings. As for the believer, he is the honourable servant who knows his Lord and Creator, Allah, Whom he worships.

He fulfills what Allah has obligated and travels upon the path that Allah has delineated for him.