أعوذ بالله من الشيطان الرجيم
بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

"A'uzhu billahi minash shaitanir rajim"
"Bismillahir rahmanir rahim"

I seek shelter in Allah from the rejected Satan"
In the name of Allah, the most Gracious, the most Merciful.

Assalamualaikum warahmatulahi wabarakatuhu beautiful people. Yes, Alhamduillah I am back again and this time I have something very exciting to share with you. As my sister was very happy with my previous article (which is in issue one so be sure to read it if you haven't already done so!), she asked me to do two more for this book. So here I am - about to present to you my article... Women In Islam by Jasmine969946!

Us women, we are gems. Think about it! Diamond are kept in a dull looking box hidden away for safety. Just like that, we are kept at a dull looking home kept away from males for safety (no wrong intentions to fall on us). Diamonds are wrapped up to prevent damages. We are wrapped in our Hijab and abaiya to prevent damages - males to not look at us wrongly. Don't feel ashamed of your feminine qualities. Don't feel prevented from doing things! It is for your own benefit. Thank Allah SWT for making you a women! Remember- Jannah (Heaven) is under a mothers feet.

Brothers, for the sake of Allah SWT and him alone, I ask you to lower your gaze for it is said in the Quran :

"Tell the believing men to lower their gaze (from looking at forbidden things)" Quran 24:30

Education
Back in the 7th century, Muhammad (PBUH) declared that the pursuit of knowledge is obligatory on every Muslim – male and female. This declaration was very clear and Muslims throughout history implemented this. One of the most influential scholars of Islam was Muhammad's (SAW) wife, Aisha (RA). After his death, men and women would travel to learn from her because she was considered a great scholar of Islam. In fact she was the first women scholar of our Islam. The recognition of female scholarship and women's participation in academia has been encouraged and practiced throughout the majority of Islamic history. For instance, al-Qarawiyin Mosque and University, the oldest running university, was funded by a woman, Fatima al-Fihri, in Morocco in 859 C.E. Women are not seen as less intelligent in the eyes of Islam. Rather we encourage girls to stand up for their beliefs in a subtle manner.

Motherhood
In Islam, Allah (SWT) clearly gives mothers a high status and elevates their position in the family. In the Quran, Allah (SWT) mentions all the sacrifices mothers make in bearing children to remind people to treat their mothers with love, respect, and care. In order to emphasize the importance of mothers, the Prophet Muhammad (SAW) said that Jannah lies under the feet of your mother. On another occasion, a man repeatedly asked Muhammad (SAW), "Who amongst the people is the most worthy of my good companionship?" Each time, the Prophet (SAW) replied, "Your mother." When the man asked for the fourth time, he replied, "Your father."

Politics and Social Services.
Among the early Muslims, women were active participants in the cohesive functioning of the society. Women expressed their opinions freely and their advice was actively sought. Women nursed the wounded during battles, and some even participated on the battlefield. Women traded openly in the marketplace, so much so that the second caliph, Umar (RA), appointed a woman, Shaffa bint Abdullah, as the supervisor of the bazaar. In Islamic history, women participated in government, public affairs, law making, scholarship, and teaching. To continue to uphold this tradition, women are encouraged to actively participate in improving, serving, and leading the different aspects of the community. So any means of people saying that Muslim women are oppressed is completely incorrect and she's to sick minds of the media they think in such an ignorant way.

Inheritance
Before Islam, women all across the globe were deprived of inheritance and were themselves considered property to be inherited by men. Islam gave women the right to own property and inherit from relatives, which was a revolutionary concept in the seventh century. Whether a woman is a wife, mother, sister, or daughter, she receives a certain share of her deceased relative's property. This share depends on her degree of relationship to the deceased and the number of heirs. While many societies around the world denied women inheritance, Islam assured women this right, illustrating the universal justice of Islam's divine law.

Financial Responsibilities
In Islam, women are not obligated to earn or spend any money on housing, food, or general expenses. If a woman is married, her husband must fully support her financially and if she's not married, that responsibility belongs to her closest male relative (father, brother, uncle, etc). She also has the right to work and spend the money she earns as she wishes. She has no obligation to share her money with her husband or any other family members, although she may choose to do so out of good will

For instance, Khadija (RA), the wife of the Prophet Muhammad (SAW), was one of the most successful businesswomen of Mecca, and she freely spent from her wealth to support her husband and the cause of Islam. This is why many people say we need to give money to our husband. But we need to make sure we do not mix our obligations with our Sadaqah portrayed by our Prophet Muhammad (SAW) in the hadiths. At the time of marriage, a woman is entitled to a financial gift (dowry) from her husband. This dowry is legally owned by her and cannot be used by anyone else. In the case of divorce, she has the right to keep whatever she owned before the divorce and anything she personally earned after marriage. The former husband has no right whatsoever to any of her belongings. This ensures a woman's financial security and independence, allowing her to support herself in the case of divorce.

Marriage
A woman has the right to accept or reject marriage proposals and her approval is required to complete the marriage contract. She cannot be forced to marry someone against her will and if this occurs for cultural reasons, it is in direct opposition of Islam. By the same principle, women also have the right to seek divorce if they are dissatisfied with their marriage.
In Islam, marriage is based on mutual peace, love, and compassion. Allah (SWT) says about Himself, "And of His signs is that He created for you from yourselves mates that you may find tranquillity in them; and He placed between you affection and mercy..." (Quran 30:21). Muhammad (SAW) embodied the best character and is a role model for all Muslims. His example of being helpful around the household and treating his family with compassion and love is a tradition that Muslims strive to implement in their daily lives. Muhammad (SAW) treated his wives with the utmost respect and honour and was never abusive towards them. One of his hadiths clearly states, "The best of you are those who are best to their wives."

Dignity and Protection from Harm
Any form of emotional, physical, or psychological abuse is prohibited in Islam and the improper treatment of women is no exception to this rule. Indeed, there is no teaching in Islam, when studied in its complete context, which condones any kind of domestic violence. Islam clearly disallows any form of oppression or abuse, according to Dr. Zainab Alwani, a leading female Muslim scholar. It cannot be stated enough times that anyone who exercises unjust authority in the name of Islam is actually doing so to uphold their own cultural influences or personal interests. All of Allah (SWT's) creation is dignified and protected under Islamic law.

Modesty
In an environment which constantly emphasizes the physical form through various media, women are constantly faced with an unattainable standard of beauty. Although Muslim women are falsely classified as oppressed based on their modest dress, they are in fact liberated from such objectification by the society around them. This modest appearance, which includes veiling, highlights a woman's personality and character instead of her physical figure and promotes a deeper appreciation for who she is as a person. In this regard, Muslim women identify with Mary, the mother of Jesus (SAW), who is known for her piety and modesty. In conclusion, Islam has an extensive hadith of protecting the private parts of women based on the guidelines set forth by Allah (SWT) and Prophet Muhammad (SAW). Women are empowered with many rights and protections under Islamic law and are honoured with a dignified stature in society.

I hope you leave today understanding how media in society today has mixed the cultural beliefs with the hadiths and Islamic obligations. A women is not oppressed in Islam and clear evidence throughout the entire article proves this.

Jazakillahu khairan for reading and Allah Hafiz💙