Tuesday, 24 June 2014

WOMEN RIGHTS…

One claim by some
non Muslims is that Islam treats
women unfairly over inheritance
stating that it gives the man double
the share of the woman.
Here's how to explain this... Islam’s
inheritance laws guaranteed women
property rights in the seventh century
when much of the known world
considered women barely human.
Meanwhile, the ruling ‘to the male, a
portion equal to that of two females’
is line with the obligation of husbands,
sons and brothers to financially
provide maintenance [Nafaqah] for
the family which is enshrined in the
economic system of Islam. Here
balance is observed within the Shariah
and it’s view towards men and women
in society. They are not competitors to
the same role, but rather partners
and committed helpers with roles to
help preserve and promote the family
unit. Therefore the males receive
twice the share in inheritance but are
obligated to provide for their wives,
mothers and sisters.
Allah (SWT) states: “Let the rich man
(dhu sa’atin) spend according to his
means”. [At- Talaq: 7]
The word “dhu” is not used except in
the masculine gender i.e. referring to
the men. And Allah SWT stated: “But
the father of the child shall bear the
cost of the mother’s food and
clothing”. [Al-Baqarah: 233]
Therefore Allah SWT made it
obligatory on the males to provide
maintenance according to the societal
norms for their family. However any
wealth that the woman has even
through her career is her money and
she is not obliged to spend it on
anyone else. If the husbands or
brothers are negligent in utilizing
their wealth properly then a judge
can decide that the organization and
control over the finances falls within
the control of the wife/mother/sister
even though the man is still obliged to
work, in fact the woman can be
granted sole access to the funds.
Hind came to the Messenger of Allah
(peace and blessings be upon him)
and said, “O Messenger of Allah!
Indeed Abu Sufyan is a miserly man.
He does not provide me with the
maintenance that my children and I
need.” So the Messenger of Allah told
her “Take that which suffices you
and your children in a fitting
manner (bil ma’roof).” [Agreed upon,
narrated on the authority of Aisha
(ra)]
Thus we can conclude that far from
being unjust and discriminatory
Islamic inheritance laws fit in to a
well-defined social and economic
order set by Islam which helps to
safeguard the family and guarantee
the economic and societal rights and
obligations of all citizens in the
community. Let others
know..JazakaAllah kharyan

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