Woman’s status in Islam

WHEN the whole world was steeped in the grip of immorality and other heinous social vices, the holy Prophet (peace be upon him) came as a mercy unto mankind and raised the human beings from a fallen state to the highest plane of glory. He was greatly moved by the miserable conditions of women and established a new order to raise their status.

The Prophet of Islam declared that: paradise lies at the feet of the mother, and the woman is sovereign in the house of her husband. In his farewell sermon, he called upon Muslims to treat their wives with decency, kindness and respect, for they were given into their hands as trust from Almighty Allah.

He gave women the fullest liberty and liberated them from the bondage of the males by allowing them to choose their husbands. He made it lawful for the womenfolk to enjoy the share of her father’s and deceased husband’s property.

The holy Prophet put a complete ban on the killing of a female child for ever. He wiped out the age-long injustice and oppression to the womenfolk. He set them free from the shackles of all superstitions.

According to one well-known Hadith, women are also entitled to as much education as men. In respect of acquiring knowledge, the Prophet did not distinguish between man and woman, and thus enhanced her status in the world.

It may be stated that the person who first accepted Islam was a woman, i.e. Hazrat Khadija (R.A). She believed in the mission of the Prophet and acknowledged the truth of Islam. According to Ibne Hasham, whenever the holy Prophet heard something that grieved him, she reassured and supported him.

Several Traditions reflect the feeling of love, respect and friendship which was enjoined between the ideal husband and the ideal wife. The holy Prophet also lent a helping hand in domestic work. From these traditions it appears that the husband and wife are like the two wheels of the same chariot and domestic work is not the duty of a woman only, the husband is also required to help her.

Thus the women in Islamic world have played a most valuable part in the great task of building the nation and maintaining its solidarity. Being prime architects of the character of the youth, they have strengthened the backbone of the Millat. Besides working in their own homes, they have helped the Muslim soldiers in the battlefield and always proved to be a beacon for their less fortunate brothers and sisters at the time of crisis.

Before the advent of Islam, the women were looked down upon with utter contempt and treated as chattels in society. Nowhere in the world, they received the treatment they were entitled to as men’s partners in life. Even among the Athenians, the most cultured nation of the ancient era, the wife was treated as slave and required to satisfy every caprice and whim of her husband. She was marketable and transferable to others on the sweet will of the head of the family. She was deprived of all shares in the property of her father as well as of her husband.

The pre-Islamic concept about the female sex was subservient and her duty was to serve the members of the male sex, to obey them and satisfy their physical desire. If we go through history the role of women is seen ranging from subordination to subjugation. According to Will Durant’s Story of Civilisation (Vol. III, pp.596-7), Paul had instructed the women to take a subordinate place in the church. He was of the view that woman was created for man, as such she ought to wear upon her head something to symbolize her subjection.

In ancient times the husband had a proprietary right over his wife. The father could sell his daughter into bond-service and might cause a prodigal daughter to be burnt alive. In Talmud, the property right of women were limited; their earnings and the income from their properties belonged to their husband.

Among the Greeks, the woman was left in complete seclusion. She was strictly ordered to stay at home and not allow herself to be seen at a window. Most of her life was spent in the women’s quarter at the rear of the house. In Roman Law, a woman was considered legal minor under perpetual tutelage of father and husband.

Generally, the women were not considered economic individual. On the other hand, if they had property or earned wages, or were made to earn wages, their income was spent only to provide economic relief to their husband. Thus, their position was of subjugated individuals.

As for the social condition of pre-Islamic Arabia, it is sufficient to say that the country was steeped into vice, ignorance and superstition. Wine and woman was the main lust of life of the Arabs in that dark age. They used to bury their female children alive. Besides a plurality of wives, a man could have immoral relations with as many women as he liked and prostitution was a recognized profession in society.

Apathy, anarchy, lack of coordination: CITYSCAPES

NO ONE in his or her right mind could oppose ‘decentralization’ in this day, age and time, yet many people from smaller provinces suspecting its motives opposed the present government’s plans for that profound change in the country’s local government system in the name of “Devolution”.

After full nine months since the dawn of the new local body system that seem to have hastened the disintegration of infrastructure of our cities like Karachi without a gleam of light at the end of the tunnel, those apprehensions may now start to appear prophetic.

Everyone has been saying that there can be no devolution or autonomy of action at local level without financial and administrative independence, yet neither appears to have been accorded to the newly-elected or selected councils. Earlier this week a commitment was made by federal cabinet regarding transfer of funds, raised by 2.5 per cent enhancement in GST pool in lieu of abolition of octroi and Zila tax, to the provinces and in turn local councils. However, a similar pledge was also made at the time of abolition, yet till date the local councils have been complaining about paucity of funds, even their inability to pay employees salaries on time.

Meanwhile, at least in Karachi, things are getting so bad that just one look at the pathetic condition of deteriorating city infrastructure is enough to explain the reason for widespread allegations that the authorities at city government do not know how to finish a job. In August last year, the same city government had jump-started the carpeting of Nishtar Road, lying in a shambles for many years. Reconstruction work was also started at Rashid Minhas ear Sharae Faisal along with many other similar initiatives. However, all those works gradually came to a halt in the months that followed. Only a portion of one track of Nishtar Road saw some improvement. The traffic is still plying over one track of Ibn-i-Sina Road even though the KWSB authorities claim that they have completed the task of replacing that portion of water main, as well as the repair of those controversial joints.

Even after tons of mudslinging, the approach roads and the infrastructure below and around Liaquatabad Flyover remain in a shambles. On main Nawab Siddique Ali Khan Road that passes through Nazimabad there are numerous potholes that appear to grow in size and stature by the day. The roads around Garden are in as pitiful condition as around the Central Prison or near Banaras Chowk in Orangi. Maybe the Sharae Orangi or the one connecting Nagin Chowrangi with Sohrab Goth or even the road like Dr Ziauddin Road that was cut up by some agency a few days back to make way for laying of some utility has been left unattended. Soon the traffic shall ply smoothly promises the responsible at City Government.

Yet there seems to be no relief in sight. What justification could there be for that several ton loose girder to continue to sit atop those three flimsy columns that must have been originally constructed to restrict mini-buses, trucks and tankers from entering Bund Road or the so-called Shaheed-i-Millat extension near Defence. Sooner than later this girder will drop over some unsuspecting Suzuki or Volkswagen, crushing the vehicle as well as its occupants while heavy vehicles continue to ply from both sides on the

same track of road just going around the crumbling obstruction to service the illegally constructed mega housing project. The authorities responsible for such omissions have to be blind, insane or immensely callous.

Another track of road that leads traffic from Ziauddin Hospital in North Nazimabad to Block A has also been dug up for a while, presumably for laying of a water pipeline. No one even bothers to put diversion signs that may not cost more than a few hundred rupees to be put up. Instead, ugly commercial messages continue to spring up with vengeance all over the city footpaths creating even more obstructions for the pedestrians.

The railings over Yasinabad Bridge, Qauidabad Bridge, and even Bund Road (just to name a few) are missing at many locations. Main roads as well as internal roads in Gulshan-i-Iqbal, Gulistan-i-Juhar, Federal B. Area, Societies and old city areas are in as bad a condition as in muzaffats (suburbs) of Korangi, Malir or Khokharapar. The condition of missing streetlights seems to be equally bad all over the city as never before.

One really wonders if the high-ups at Traffic Engineering Bureau, Road maintenance and Water Board honestly believe that Karachiites have become so used to their apathy, negligence, or just plain lack of coordination that they will continue to suffer quietly while bosses are being paid those hefty perks for stretching their slumber.

It is like a game of hide-and-seek or just plain checkers that the rulers continue to play while winds for a violent change gusts ever stronger. When the chief descends on Karachi to address his pre-referendum rally, the Nazim-i-Ala exits the city. For lack of funds if the newly-born cannot dish out contracts, should we allow them to transform the city into a jungle of billboards and hoardings?

Neither plan is being unveiled to build a library, a school or a dispensary, nor any commitment is offered for maintenance of the ones that exist. Most of the parks and playgrounds, specially the ones in poorer neighbourhood, continue to die while some are being converted into marriage halls or allowed for Sunday bazaars. Gone are the days when the city used to announce spring plantation campaigns or distribute free saplings. Those saplings were supplied by provincial department of horticulture at a meagre 50 paisas per piece. Every omission is justified in the name of transformation, yet no one bothers to explain the failure of the existing departments and the dissipation of their will to perform the duties that they used to deliver. Good governance is not just good English, it has more to do with harmony, grey matter and good will.