Women Empowerment

"No nation could rise to the height of glory, unless your women are side by side with you; we
are victims of evil customs. It is a crime against humanity that our women are shut up within
the four walls of the houses as prisoners. "QUID-E-AZAM MUHAMMAD ALI JINNAH
(1942)
"There is no chance for the welfare of the humanity unless the condition of women is
improved: it is not possible for a bird to fly on only one wing, "said Sami Vivekanada, an
advocate of women empowerment. Accordingly, the state is considered as a bird along with
two wings; man and woman to fly in the air. But through the centuries, societies in the world
over have been trying to fly on only and wing, denying women their rightful place.
The human society is a component of males and females-men and women. Both the species
are complementary to each other; one cannot survive oneself without the other. Despite slight
physical and nominal psychological differences between the two, the ALMIGHTY GOD has
bestowed them with some wonderful attractive and emotional elements that have ultimately
made them interdependent and interactive. Moreover, both of them were created
simultaneously from the same clay, as ALMIGHTY GOD says in the first verse of surah anNisa (the women):
Mankind, be dutiful to your LORD, WHO created from a single person (Adam) and from him
(Adam) He created his wife (Eve), and from them both HE created many men and women...."
But with the passage of time, Shatan (Iblees)-the worst creature of the universe, (being
himself male I think) induced man to dominate woman and exploit his physical strength
which the ALMIGHTY GOD has gifted to the former, not to dominate but to protect and
safeguard the latter. As a result, a male dominated society based on gender discriminations.
Inequality and patriarchy prevailed in the world. Furthermore, the religious lords, who were
entitled to protect and promulgate the DIVINE LAW, began to misinterpret it. Man was
empowered in every sphere of life and woman was made his servant and subordinate. She
was not given the equal rights in the society. But with the evolution of modern civilization,
liberal education and true religious knowledge, a campaign in form of organization followed
by many sub struggles, was launched in international platform of the United Nations-The UN
WOMEN. This body urged the member countries to resolve the issue of women
empowerment which has also tremendously affected the economy of the world, especially
that of the third world.
Women empowerment refers to the ability of women to transform economic and social
development when empowered to fully participate in the decisions that affect their lives
through leadership, training, coaching consulting and the provision of enabling tools for
women to lead within their communities, religions and countries.

Women empowerment generally has three components, firstly, women's sense of self-worth.
Secondly, their rights to have a power of control their own lives, both within and outside
home. Lastly, their ability to influence the direction of social change to create a just social
and economic order nationally, internationally and universally.
Empowerment has multiple, interrelated and interdependent dimensions: economic, social,
personal and political dimensions. Economic empowerment means to empower women
economically by giving her rights of properties. Lands, financial responsibilities, adequate
shares in jobs, business opportunities etc. In social dimensions, it means women's social
status should be equal to that of man by avoiding all discriminations based on injustice and
inequality. Accordingly the women are required to have respectable status in society,
importunity to raise voice, struggle etc. Politically, women should be empowered by
reserving their seats in national as well as provincial assemblies and providing their
independent right of one woman one vote. Personally, they should be given equal liberty and
freedom in their personal affairs, such as, in case of marriage, vocational pursuit etc. As a
whole, women empowerment aims at providing women with their social, economic, political
and personal rights.

Islam constitutes no problem in case of women empowerment, rather Islam advocates it.
Certain known and hidden elements having vested interests within and outside the country
have initiated a disgusting campaign of malign Islam. Man and woman in Islam enjoy equal
rights but equality does not mean similarity. In consideration of physiological and
psychological makeup of men and women both have equal rights and claims on each other,
except for protection, guardianship and leadership in complete conformity with those natural
physiological and psychological differences verified and accepted by modern scientific study.
The ALMIGHTY ALLAH says in the verse no.34 of surah an-Nisa (the women):
"Men are the protectors and maintainers of women, because ALLAH has made one of them
to excel the other."
Similarly, at another place, the ALMIGHTY ALLAH says in the verse no.228 of surah al
Bakarah (the cow):
"And they (women) have rights similar to those (of man) over them and men have a degree
over them".
Such degree is qaiwama (maintenance and protection).This correctly refers to those natural
differences between the two which entitle the weaker one to be protected by the stronger
other. The latest scientific research has also discovered the slight difference in physical
structure the two and has experimented the distinct behavior between the them. Man has
often bigger and thicker legs and arms than those of women. The difference also lies in the
structure and shape of the elbow. Women have a wider pelvis where baby grows and moves

while taking birth. Moreover pregnancy and menses are such particular characters of women
which cause weakness and demand more nutrition and protection for her.

Psychologically women have different characteristics such as shyness, passiveness and

frequently changing temperament whereas man has different characters such as aggression,
boldness, strength, hardness and rudeness etc. Due to these positive women are exempted
from jihad (jihad bil saif) and congregational prayers. In the same way women are made free
from certain obligations during their particular days. However man's role of leadership in
relation to his family doesn't mean husband's dictatorship over his wife and man's superiority
and advantage before law. Islam emphasizes the importance of taking counsel and mutual
agreement in family decisions as well. Islam also gives the option of divorce to the women
and warns man to make a gracious end to the relationship if it cannot be continued.

Islam empowers women in the personal, social, economic and political spheres of life.
Personally take an example of marriage where she is allowed to choose her life partner freely.
To secure her right, Islam has managed a fair method of process known as Nikah. In this
process, both bride and groom are asked not less than three times and an advocate along with
two eye witnesses under the supervision of a judge (qazi) is involved to complete the process.

In social matters, women have been granted more respect and veneration than that of man. It
is made in the garb of modesty, equal rights and relationship. A woman in form of a sister,
daughter and mother is more respected than brother, son and father. Overall, in a true Islamic
sense, the women are regarded as an angel in the house.

In economic sphere of life, women have also been empowered. In this regard, Islam gives
them a number of rights that were not even enjoyed by the western women until the 19th
century. For example, until 1882, the property of women in England was given to their
husbands on their wedding ceremony, but Muslims always favored the women in this respect
and gave her due share in inheritance of the property of her husband or father. In market
place, women have also been empowered to do business and trade on the basis of morality.
Hazrat Khadijah-the first and beloved wife of the holy prophet (pbuh) was a wealthy business
woman of Makah. Hazrat Umer (R.A)-the second caliph of Islam, appointed a women Saffah
bint Abdullah to control the market place.

In political dimension, women are allowed politically to participate in political affairs of the
state. the historical example of it is the Battle of Camel which was fought in the companions
of the holy prophet(pbuh) and in the reign of Hazrat Ali (R.A)one of the four Orthodox
caliphs of Khulfai Rashideen (an ideal Islamic state).when Hazrat Aisha (R.A) -the favored
wife of the Holy Prophet (pbuh) assumed the leadership of the battle, many Sahabas
including Talha and Zubair(R.A)-two of the ten ashra-e-mubashira, fought under the
leadership of Aisha(R.A).This event shows the possibility of leadership of woman in the time
of need and also allows the women to take part in the military services of the country. The life
of Hazrat Aisha (R.A) is an example of the woman who can be far more learned than man
and can teach the scholars and experts. She narrated 2210 hadith of the Holy Prophet (pbuh)
and authenticated a number of traditions in Islamic fikah and jurisprudence as an authority
over them.