Prophet Muhammed(s) : A Misconstrued Luminary in Women Empowerment

(First Prize-Awarded Essay of Milad-UL-Nabi Contest Conducted by SKSSF India)

Women empowerment is the only topic that has been discussed by the entire world and still, no solutions and conclusions cannot arrive. There are plenty of debates, discussions, campaigns etc are going on this issue. But still, women are in the clutches of male domination. At this point, it is clear that we don't want more confabulations and augmentations. But, we need changes and transitions; we need advancement in thoughts, deeds, perspectives and attitudes. The culture and traditions are the real criminals which make the ideologies and Outlooks more rigid and orthodox. But the charge sheet is filed upon the religion and the whole community is blamed upon that. Islam is a religion that is always placed under a lot of misunderstandings and controversies. The role of women in Islam is a war of words. Islam is portraited as a religion of women oppression and subjugation. Prophet Muhammad(S) is considered as a misogynist and anti-feminist but when we trace the authenticity of the events, it is obvious that all the accusations and allegations are fabricated and distorted. Actually, Muhammad (S) was a great feminist who stood for women's upliftment and empowerment. He raised the status and value of women and gave back the deprived rights and dibs of women. His life reflected his teachings. He was a very kind, generous, benevolent and lovable person. He vanished a lot of atrocities and abominations against women and grant them equal status to men in society.
'A religion full of oppression and suppression against women'. 'A system which denies freedom and liberty to women'. 'An orthodox culture which wraps women in Partha and burkha ' are some unscrupulous demonstrations of oriental writers about Islam on women status but in fact, all these are a bunch of misunderstandings which rooted in the minds of people due to the misrepresentation of Islam and its values. There is no other religion that gives more respect and reputation to women than Islam. If we are going back to the history, the olden Arabian days from where Muhammad (S) started his propagation of Islam, it was a dark, uncivilized and uncultured society. The whole Arabian people led a barbarous life. Women were the only sexual object and she was deprived of all rights and freedom. If a girl child was born she was buried alive. Girls were considered bane and whammy. To this scenario, Prophet Muhammad(s) emerged as an emancipator and he became a social reformer and stood for women empowerment.

                 Many critics are blaming Islam on the issue of women. They argue that Islam is curtailing her freedom and crippling her with a lot of regulations. But when we analyse the truth and how Islam treats women we will be astonished!. Many of the negative stereotypes around women in Islam arise not from Islamic guidance or laws but from the orthodox and conservative cultural practices which not only disparage the rights and sacrifice of women but also stand against the actual core of the teaching of Allah (SWT) and his prophet (S). We can say that Prophet Muhammad (S) is a great feminist who gave much respect and love to women. He said that "Heaven lies under the feet of your mothers " as mothers play a pivotal role in preparing the children and making them great assets to both the eternal and ephemeral world.

Prophet Muhammad (S) loved girl children more than boys and gave more status to them. He said that "whosoever had a daughter and he does not burry her alive, does not insult her and does not favour his son over her god will enter him into Paradise" this was the way he treated women. He respected his daughter Fathima (R) and loved her very much. When the Prophet(S) see Fatima(R) approaching he will welcome her, stand up and kiss her and take her by the hand and sit her down in the place where he was sitting. He was teaching the world how to treat a woman and how to respect them. It was the pagan period and the whole people considered women as inferior and subordinate creations. They were considered slaves and the male society kept them under their complete control and power. It was Prophet Muhammad (S) who changed this horrendous situation and give women more respect and honour.

Once a man came to Prophet Muhammad(S) and asked "oh messenger of God ! who among the people most deserving of my fine treatment? ". He said "your mother". He again asked, "who next? ".The Prophet Muhammad (S) replied again "your mother". He asked again "next?". He said again "your mother" again he asked" then who? " thereupon the prophet (S) said, "then your father".
So it is clear that women are in the superpower and men are considered after that. Most often people consider girl children as a great burden because of the expenses and other complications but Prophet (S) teaches that "whoever has three daughters or sisters or two daughters of two sisters and lives along with them in a good manner and has patience with them and fears Allah with regard to them will enter paradise".what a wonderful teaching it is ! is there any religion in this world gives such a privilege to women as like Islam gives?

Marriages of Prophet Muhammad Sallallahu Sallam is always a subject of great controversy and he is condemned as licentious, goatish, salacious etc. But in the south, he was protecting the weak women and giving them life. The 7th century Arabia was the period of wars and clashes. Many women lost their partners in the battles and it is clear that their life was so pretty, miserable and downcast. There was nothing to safeguard them. In this situation, the prophet (s)married widows and protected them and gave shelter to them. Among his wives, only Ayesha was a virgin, all others were Widows. A person like Muhammad (S ) who is most reputed and esteemed doesn't want to marry widows or women from a poor family. Because the people of Arabia were ready to marry their daughters with Muhammad (S) because of his good character and conduct. But his intention was not mere lust and sex. It was sincere and honest. He wants to give asylum to the downtrodden and he wants to be a sanctuary for the subdued. Any of his wives didn't complain about him because he was such a dutiful and pliable person. Every woman in Arabia wishes to be his wife.

The atrocities against women and Subjugations she is facing is not the rule of Islam or it is not the teachings of Prophet Muhammad (S). It was created by the people and culture. We cannot blame Islam or prophet (S) for the fallacy of the Muslim named people. They are only Muslims in their names but in fact, they are against the principles of the religion. Nowadays, many non-Muslims are very much interested in the issues of Muslim women. In the name of women empowerment and women freedom, they are criticizing prophets and Islam, they are questioning Islamic laws and rules but these so-called reformers want to understand that religion is not the criminal here but those who are following it in their way are the culprits. Prophet Muhammad (S) was a great reformer and his actions speak louder than his words. He doesn't make agitations, slogans, campaigns etc for women empowerment. But through his Bonafide life, he taught the very core of women empowerment. If everybody follows his path and procedure surely there will not be any kind of exasperation and vexation. Women under Prophet Muhammad (S) and his companions didn't fight for their rights and they didn't complain about any oppressions, they were absolutely enjoying and relishing their life. Because the past was very horrible for them they were subjected to many quells and quashes. But when Prophet (S) came it was a transformation from all these enslavements and a new light of enlightenment and empowerment blew around the dunes of Arabia and women got in nine clouds to enjoy the real gist of life.

Khadija (R) wife of Prophet Muhammad (S) was a great entrepreneur. She helped prophet (S) in many ways. She was the source of his emotional and spiritual comfort. It was Khadija (R) who believed in his religion first and foremost from the women community. She instilled confidence and comfort in him at the time of his first revelation. She was a well-known business person and the prophet never resisted her from engaging in business instead of that he supported her and moreover he also joined her business. Those people who are arguing that women should stay at home and they don't have the right to work or earn should understand the life of Prophet Muhammad (S). How did he encourage her to work and earn and what is the stance of Islam in this case?. So Islam cannot be accused on this issue because Allah is allowing her to do whatever she likes (it should be Halal )and it is the patriarchal, orthodox and narrow-minded people who are depriving her of all of these rights.

Ayesha (R) prophet's most intelligent and insightful wife was a great scholar. She was a granary of knowledge. She reported many Hadeeses from Prophet Muhammad (S). Many of his companions consulted her for clearing the doubts and found a solution for religious issues. She played a major role in transmitting the messages of the prophet (S) to the world and become a key reference point for Islamic tradition. Prophet (S) invigorated her to accumulate knowledge. He taught her a lot of information, facts and skills. He never impeded or inhibited her from acquiring knowledge. So through this instance, he was declaring the right of women to education which gives more importance to education and knowledge. It is not meant for one section of the society that is the male section but it is for both women and men but some people who are still under the veil of ignorance and dopiness are believing that educating women is useless and worthless. And they are charging the guilt upon the religion and religious teachings. But the fact is that the male section fear women appraisal and in order to sustain their patriarchy they are making the religion scapegoat.
Fathima (R), the prophet’s beloved daughter was really lucky to have such a wonderful father for the way he treated his daughters and the way he loved and cared for them is very substantial. People are always giving importance to their sons rather than daughters because they had a misconception that boys only look after them at the time of their retirement and also boys will only earn money for them. So they are considering daughters inferior to sons. But the Prophet (S) gave more respect, love, dignity to daughters. He preferred his daughters over his sons. Prophet (S) said that" Fathima is part of me and she is my heart and soul which is between my two sides ". The prophet(S) also said "when I long for the fragrance of Paradise I smell the neck of Fatima ". He loved Fatima(R) more than everything. He gave ample respect, affection, love and care to his daughter. This is a great lesson to humanity on how to deal with women. How do take care of them?
                               Prophet Muhammad (S) never fought for women's rights or never raised slogans or banners for their emancipation. But he was teaching through his life how to deal with them and how to live with them. He was an ardent supporter of women. At the time of War and Battle, he usually advises and commands his companions to spare women and keep them safe. From his life, it is very apparent that he cared for women very much and he gave them significant status. The negative stereotypes and allegations are intentionally created by the Enemies of Islam to destroy the true spirit and light of the religion. Islam or prophet cannot be alleged for the practices of people who belong to the religion. They are not following the trait of Islam or prophet but they are advocating male domination and self-oriented notions. Prophet Muhammad(S) is the epitome of modesty, sincerity, affection, love etc. We cannot see such a person in history or the coming future anymore.

Every religion is teaching virtues and rectitude. God created man and women and give them equal rights and powers. But when time passes men took the power and potentialities and subjugated women. For the justification of this dominance, he made the religion scapegoat. Islam is really a scapegoat which is abused and tormented by the fundamentalists and zealots. Women have equal rights to men in Islam but many of the Muslims (only in names) who are enjoying the power of patriarchy and want to continue the Supremacy are misinterpreting the religion and making advantage. They are misconstruing the prophetic preaches and making the religion anti-feminist and sexist. The Prophet Muhammad(S), the leader and propagator of Islam, is severely attacked by many fallacies and faults. He is depicted as sexist, male chauvinist and women- hater but he was a fervent supporter of women and he also strived for women empowerment. It is the discontented envy people who fabricated a lot of cooked up stories and mutilated the picture of Islam in front of the world; they presented Prophet Muhammad(S) as a misandrist and bigot. But we cannot bury the truth. It is in the pages of history and if we flip through that we can understand the truth. Prophet (S) was a person who cannot be replaced by anyone and the whole world loves him and even those who didn't see him also loves him Because he never speaks what he never does. His deeds speak louder than his words. His entire life journey was a great lesson to humanity. A man of ethics, a man of modesty and a man of honesty. It will be unbelievable to humankind to accept that such a person had lived on this earth because he was that much perfect and magnificent.