Dr. Zakir Naik points out that the picture portrayed by western media is that women are subjugated as per the teachings of Islam and that Women's Rights in Islam are outdated. However, an impartial study of the Qur'an and the teachings of the Prophet Muhammad indicates that women's rights are modernising and not outdated. Status of women in Islam should be judged according to these two authentic sources of the teachings of Islam on the subject and not by observing what individual Muslims do or what any Muslim society does.
Dr. Naik states that all talk of Women's liberation in the West is actually a disguised form of exploitation of woman and her body, depriva-tion of her honour and degradation of her soul. Islam gave women their due status and rights in society in times of the "Days of Ignorance" more than 1,400 years ago. Islam believes in equality between men and women. Equality does not mean identicality; it means equity. Islam presents the roles of men and women as complimentary roles and not contradic-tory or conflicting roles; the roles of partners with a common set of goals and objectives and not roles that conflict with each other with each of them having the objective of striving for supremacy.
In Islam Women are over all equal but not identical in each and every aspect. In Islam are over all equal, but in some aspects men have a degree of advantage (and the related responsibility) and in some aspects women have a degree of advantage (and the related responsibility), while in other aspects both are equal. In his talk Dr. Zakir Naik discusses the rights of women in Islam under six major headings: Spiritual, Economical, Social, Educational, Legal and Political. The Qur'an makes it clear that both men and women have the same spiritual nature.
The Qur'an does not blame Eve for tempting Adam to eat the forbidden fruit or for the downfall of man, as has been done by the Bible. The only criteria for judging a person in the sight of Allah is "Taqwa" that is God-consciousness or righteousness. Sex, race, colour or wealth does not make a person superior than the other. Righteousness is the only criteria before Al-mighty God for judgment. More than 1,300 years before the west gave econom-ical rights to women, Islam recognised the rights of adult women.
Any adult woman has the right to possess or to own or to dispose any of her own property in any way she feels fit irrespective of whether she is single or married. The first time that rights of married women was recognised in the west whereby she could own and dispose property without the control, approval or consent of her husband was in 1870s in England under the "Married Women Property Act". This Act was later amended in 1882 and 1887. Woman is considered as a Homemaker in Islam and not a housewife because she is not married to a house. She can also work and is entitled to get equal pay if she does the same job as that of a male.
There is no text in the Qur'an or the Sunnah, which makes it unlawful for the women to work or to do any lawful job or profession (provided it is within the modesty level and within the purview of the shariah). She cannot take up jobs, which are based on exhib-iting her beauty and body such as modeling, dancing, acting in films, etc. A true Islamic Society should have some women as professionals such as women physicians (doctors), women nurses, women teachers, etc. If a woman earns any income from investments or works or engages in business during her marital life, the income is entirely hers and she is not entitled to spend a single penny on the household.
She can spend it in any legitimate manner, as she may desire.
Socially Islam gives women four different statuses: As a daughter, wife, mother and as a sister Dr. Zakir Naik explains and clarifies the system of divorce in Islam. According to Prophet Muhammad (pbuh), among the permissible things in Islam, the most hated in the sight of Allah is divorce. In Islam, obedience, respect and love for parents is next to the worship of Allah. It is mentioned in several places in the Qur'an that one should to be kind to one's parents. According to several authentic hadith, "Paradise lies at the feet of the mother". Islam gives a great deal of importance to educa-tion. According to Prophet Mohammed pbuh "It is obligatory for every Muslim male or female to acquire knowledge (Al-Bayhaqi).
Dr. Naik gives several examples of great Muslim women scholars. In Islamic law woman is accepted as a witness. This right was given to a woman 1,400 years back by Islam at a time when most of the societies rejected the evidence of a woman. Even till as late as 1980s Jewish rabbi were debating wheth-er to allow women as witnesses or not.
Muslim women have participated in law making. If the need arises, women may participate in the battlefield: Muslim women took part in battlefields. After the talk, several members of the audience sought Dr. Naik's replies and clarifications to their queries and doubts regarding this subject based on their past knowledge and experience. Dr. Zakir Naik in his usual distinctive style gave precise and enlightening replies to each of the questions.
