NISHAT COLLEGE OF SCIENCE

MULTAN

Professor Nauman Ahmad Khan

Courtesy : Muhammad Umair

Women’s Place in Society

Basic Points:
(These points are for better comprehension. NOT to be written in the exam paper)
I. Introduction & Pre Islamic History (Para. 1,2,3) II Role as Mothers ,Sisters. (Para.4,5)) III As
Daughter & Wife (Para 6,7 ) IV Place. in Pakistan & Western Countries (Para 8,9) V. Suggestions
& Conclusion (Para 10)

Woman, the ''suitable helper'' according to the bible; to the man as part of God's design
in creation is an innate part of society. She is of the same noteworthiness as man. Man
and woman are the two parts of a whole. They have been rightly juxtaposed as the
wheels of the same carriage. The carriage cannot function properly if one of the wheels
is flawed. Men and women should be given the equal status to forge a better world.
Allah says in Quran : "It is He who created you from a single person, and made his mate
of like nature in order that he might dwell with her.'' Moreover, it is said that :

''Gender equality is critical to the development and peace of every nation.''

-Kofi Annan

Women are the inherent part of our society and cannot be neglected due to their less
power and ascendancy(dominace). They play roles as a mother, a sister, a daughter and
a wife. They play their roles with great responsibilities in upbringing of a healthy, solid
society. Women play a very vital role in human progress and have a significant place in
the society. They are not at all inferior to men. They are capable of sharing all the
responsibilities of life. But women in our so called modern world, are still living in chains.

''It is time that we all see gender as a spectrum instead of two sets of opposing ideals.''

-Emma Watson

Among the Greeks, the Romans and the Christians woman was regarded as the personal
property of man. Pre-Islamic Arabia was no exception to this injust and immoral
behaviour. With the advent of Islam, the women got the respect and status in they
society that they ever deserved. The Holy Quran when revealed to the Holy
Prophet(S.A.W.W.), gave a clear message that all mankind, men and women have been
created equal. So we should give them their just rights, as it's a smart thing to do.
 "Empowering women isn't just the right thing to do - it’s the smart thing to do."
-Barack Obama

As mothers, women have the role, that is the best of them all. The very first and best
school of a child is the mother’s nurturing(cultivating) lap. Mothers play a pivotal role in
emergence of a strong healthy society. A Jewish proverb rightly affirms what most of us
have experienced: “A mother understands what a child does not say.” Indeed there
exist a dynamic between mother and children, and only a mother knows the right and
wrong for her children. When woman is a mother, Jannah lies under her feet. If everyone
knew the true status of a woman in Islam, even the men would want to be women.

“Stay with her, for verily Paradise is beneath her feet.” -The Holy Prophet(S.A.W.W.)

The other role that women have to play in a Muslim society is that of sisters. Islam
ensures that in this role too, women enjoy utmost respect, equality and protection. In
history women have played their role as sisters in an efficient manner. Fatima Jinnah had
an indomitable(unbeatable) character. She accompanied her brother everywhere he
went, but worked quietly behind the scenes to ensure everything ran smoothly in his
political and personal life.

"A sister is a gift to the heart, a friend to the spirit, a golden thread to the meaning of
life."

-Isadora James

Women were affected the most during the pre-Islamic days. The new born baby girls
were buried alive because they were thought as an execration for the family and society.
They did not know that Allah’s blessings are upon that home and parents that have
daughters.

''He who has two daughters and takes care of them in a befitting manner, he and I will
be in Paradise (as close as two fingers).''

-Hadith

The fourth role that women have to play, which brings respect to them is the role of
wives. Islam is the first religion that established the rights of women as wives and
associated with them, the element of having a say in filial matters. They love and respect
their husbands, and furnish them with the best of counsels in the hour of need.

“Observe your duty to Allah in respect to the women, and treat them well.”

-The Holy Prophet(S.A.W.W.)

In Pakistan, some areas are still reeking with the inequality of women. The role of
Pakistani women in their families revolves around well-established conventions of male
supremacy and female sub-ordinance. Here the complete responsibility lies on the
shoulders of the male to educate and encourage the females to step forward and to play
their role in developmental processes. Women are not only for home-making and child-
rearing but they must also be given chance to put their hands a little forward in building
up of a good solid society. A good solid society is a good harbinger of development.

"I raise up my voice — not so I can shout, but so that those without a voice can be
heard ... we cannot succeed when half of us are held back."

-Malala Yousafzai

The western countries have tremendously developed in all fields of life. Their education,
their health departments, the departments of information technology are the in the
highest rankings. In western countries men and women are working shoulder to
shoulder in the same pace and are contributing equally in the developmental processes.
They are given basic education as well as fundamental and higher education without any
restrictions from the society. That is why the West is that much developed.

''Give me an educated mother, I shall promise you the birth of a civilized, educated
nation.''

-Napoleon Bonaparte

It is now acknowledged that women are undoubtedly as salient(very important as men.

They should be given every chance of betterment of their own and of the society. There
is practically no field where women are not working side by side with men. In business,
trade, administration, scientific research, literary and artistic activities, in flying, diving
etc. they are beating the world into shape, same as men. In Pakistan too, there should
be complete liberation of women as they are the same as men.

P.S. Best of luck. And take it easy. :)