ARE WOMEN NOT FREE IN ISLAM? | UNIVERSITY ISLAMIC CENTRE

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ARE WOMEN NOT FREE IN ISLAM?

Humans in general are creatures that are glorified by Allah SWT as in His words :

And We have certainly honored the children of Adam and carried them on the land and sea and provided for them of the good things and preferred them over much of what We have created, with [definite] preference.

Meaning: And indeed We have honored the children of Adam, We have carried them on land and sea, We have provided them with good things and We have preferred them above most of those We have created. ( al-Isra ': 70)

Based on the word, this respect includes both men and women. The honor of men is elevated because they are responsible people as leaders in this world. Similarly, women have a certain role that is in accordance with their nature. Allah SWT elevates the status of women and never oppresses them in what they are entitled to from their rights. In addition, Allah SWT does not burden women with things beyond their ability from nature because He knows what is appropriate from rights and responsibilities.

Prof. Dr. Syeikh Ali Jum'ah in Al-Quds Fi al -Hadarah al-Islamiyyah states that:

"Men and women are equal, even all humans and all of Allah SWT's creatures are equal in the origin of devotion. Allah SWT equates men and women in the origin of the Sharia law , reward and retribution for following it or abandoning it."

Women are the same as men on the basis of taklif . The difference that exists between the two is in the outward rights and responsibilities in terms of the form of tasks and roles. The difference in tasks is not a form of demeaning one group over another, but it is placed in accordance with the ability and nature of each.

Understanding Women's Freedom from an Islamic Perspective

The freedom brought in Islam is freedom based on the Sharia. The concept emphasized in Iá¸¥yÄa 'UlÅ«muddin by Imam al-Ghazali is:

Freedom is to escape from the slavery of desires and preoccupation with sins and return to the true servitude of God

Meaning: Freedom is getting out of the slavery of lust and attachment to sin and returning to devote oneself to the true Allah SWT.

The word of Allah SWT:

And whoever does righteous deeds , whether male or female, while he is a believer - those will enter Paradise and will not be wronged, [even as much as] a speck .

Meaning: Whoever does good deeds, whether male or female, and is a believer, then they are the ones who will enter Paradise and will not be wronged in the least. ( al -Nisa:124)

Imam al -Ghazali stated that freedom in Islam is freedom framed by a sense of responsibility towards Allah SWT. Women are free in their lives as long as they obey the Sharia and do not violate the laws of Allah SWT and this is proof that Islam gives equal opportunities to women and men to achieve happiness and success in this world and the hereafter.

The Concept of Freedom in the Western View

Freedom is defined in the Cambridge Dictionary as "the right to live in the way you want, say what you think, and make your own decisions without being controlled by anyone else".

Prof. Syed Muhammad Naquib al-Attas in The Concept of Freedom in Islam and the West asserts that the concept of freedom in the West tends more towards materialism by emphasizing individual freedom without taking into account moral and spiritual responsibilities. Their freedom includes the freedom to promote the exploitation of women's bodies, especially in the media and entertainment industry. He states that:

“Western civilization emphasizes the material aspects of freedom, often neglecting the spiritual and moral dimensions. This leads to a fragmented worldview that undermines the holistic understanding of man as envisaged in Islam.”

He discussed the differences between Islamic and Western views on the concept of freedom. He emphasized that in Islam, individual freedom is closely linked to moral and spiritual responsibility . While in the West, the concept of freedom is often associated with secularism, which is a belief that rejects religious values â€‹â€‹in human social life.

Women's Rights in Islam

1. Education

Islam establishes education as a basic right for men and women. The Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said:

Seeking knowledge is an obligation upon every Muslim.

Meaning: Seeking knowledge is obligatory for every Muslim. [HR: Ibn Majah]

The Muslims referred to include both men and women. One of the role models in women's education is Saidatina Aisyah RA who became a teacher for Muslims and the main reference for the Companions RA in matters related to Islamic law and religion.

2. Social

Muslim women also have the responsibility to spread the message through amar makruf, nahi munkar . Islam allows women to work for the good of religion, society and the country as long as they do not neglect the main responsibilities according to their respective roles. At the same time, Islam recognizes the differences between men and women, especially in terms of physical strength. Some jobs are suitable for men and some are suitable for women. This does not mean that Islam denies the contributions of men and women in work. What is emphasized is that the suitability of a job is according to gender boundaries and does not contradict Islamic teachings.

Islam also gives women the right to choose a life partner according to their circumstances and Islamic requirements, including matters related to their rights as a wife and life after marriage. The Prophet SAW said:

A widow shall not be married until her permission is sought, and a virgin shall not be married until her permission is sought.

Meaning: A widow cannot be married until her consent is sought and a virgin cannot be married until her permission is sought. [HR: Bukhari]

In addition, women are also given the right to dissolve or end the marital relationship through a fasakh claim if the husband is unjust or does not fulfill his proper responsibilities.

3.
Islamic economics gives women the right to own property and be free to manage their property. The word of Allah SWT:

For men is a share of what they have earned, and for women is a share of what they have earned.

Meaning: For men there is a share of what they earn and for women there is a share of what they earn. (al-Nisa : 32)

Apart from that, women also have the right to receive a share in inheritance of property according to the degree of family relationship. Allah SWT says:

For men is a share of what parents and close relatives leave, and for women is a share of what parents and close relatives leave, be it little or much - an obligatory share.

Meaning: For men there is a share of what parents and relatives leave behind, and for women there is a share of what parents and relatives leave behind, whether little or much, according to the share that Allah has ordained . (al-Nisa: 7)

The determination of rights and responsibilities for each gender has its own wisdom. These rights show how Islam honors and preserves the dignity of women. Islam also gives them a fair position in the family and society. The issue of justice and equality for women should be viewed comprehensively and cannot be viewed from the perspective of rights alone. However, it also requires deeper research and includes aspects of responsibility for social relationships among human beings as well as responsibility for the relationship between a servant and his Creator.

Islam places women in the family and society in their proper position. There are many verses of the Quran and hadith that mention the equality between men and women, whether in terms of human values, law, civil affairs, crime, and so on. The equality that Islam intends between men and women is not complete equality. This is because in some matters women cannot fully perform men's duties and vice versa.

Claims There Is No Freedom for Women in Islam

The fact that there is no freedom for women in Islam has been a topic of discussion in international human rights forums, whether under human rights treaties or conventions. Where, CEDAW (Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women) is a platform for some Western influencers to pressure Islamic countries and accuse Islam of oppressing women and being unfair to Muslim women by saying that Muslim women have no rights in Islam.

However, Malaysia has placed several reservations (exceptions) on several articles issued by CEDAW, especially those considered to be contrary to the Federal Constitution, sharia law and local cultural norms that have long been the lifeline of the Muslim community in Malaysia. Most of these reservations are related to the jurisdiction of the Sharia Court and issues of marriage, divorce, child custody and maintenance which are subject to Islamic law for Muslims in Malaysia. These exceptions have been linked to the need to comply with Islamic family laws practiced in Malaysia.

In Islam, equality between men and women does not mean being equal in all respects but rather fair in accordance with the roles and responsibilities set by Islamic law. Therefore, some of the principles of CEDAW that demand absolute equality are in conflict with the concept of justice in Islam which emphasizes the balance of rights and responsibilities.

Conclusion

Islam teaches that women's freedom is not absolute freedom. Rather, it is freedom guided by the Sharia. Islam honors women by giving them freedom that is based on the Sharia, in contrast to Western culture which tends towards unlimited freedom or following culture. Islam positions women's freedom as something that is dignified and beneficial to society. The true meaning of freedom for a Muslim woman is when she understands her rights and carries out her responsibilities in accordance with what is commanded by Allah SWT.

Date of Input: 17/06/2025 | Updated: 17/06/2025 | asmunir

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