House arrest obligatory for women, they fall under the category of wealth, are possession and prisoners of their men as horses and dogs, have to prostrate before them, cannot divorce, Arab tribes treated Women far better than Muslims did.
Here is the other passage used by Muslims:
O believers, it is not lawful for you to inherit women against their will; neither debar them, that you may go off with part of what you have given them, except when they commit a flagrant indecency. Consort with them honourably; or if you are averse to them, it is possible you may be averse to a thing, and God set in it much good. S. 4:19 Arberry
Muslims say that this text exhorts men to deal honorably with women and not to inherit them against their will. Yet it is strange that the Qur’an only adds "against their will" instead of abolishing the whole concept of inheriting a woman/person as if she was a thing. Although realizing that there is something wrong the author of the Qur’an does not lead the issue to its logical conclusion. On the contrary, the Qur’an still treats women as the possession of their husbands, and commands women to stay at home. This is a form of house arrest, as we will see shortly.
We agree that the Qur’an gives certain exhortations how to treat women, certain rules, and gives them some rights, but it is still clear that the men are in charge. The fact of the matter is that the Qur’an nowhere gives women equal rights and equal honor as men, it does not command men to treat women equally as themselves. The concept of honor is vastly different in various societies. What did "honorably" mean in the context of 7th century Arabia? The word is not self-explanatory, but needs to be filled with meaning. Its original meaning may not at all include of what we consider essential today.
Furthermore, it is this very same Surah which says that (a) a man’s inheritance equals that of two women, (b) that men can beat their wives whom they fear are being rebellious, and (c) is even discriminating in the rights of divorce:
And if a woman fears ill usage or desertion on the part of her husband, there is no blame on them, if they effect a reconciliation between them, and reconciliation is better, and avarice has been made to be present in the (people's) minds; and if you do good (to others) and guard (against evil), then surely Allah is aware of what you do. S. 4:128
In the above text, instead of warning the men from mistreating their spouses, women who fear mistreatment or desertion are told that they can seek a means of reconciliation. What many don’t realize is that this text refers to Muhammad’s mistreatment of his wife Sauda bint Zamah because she had gotten old. Muhammad no longer felt attracted to Sauda and wanted to abandon her because she was fat and old. Hence, Surah 4:128 gives men the right to simply ignore wives whom they are no longer attracted to, denying them the pleasure of love and intimacy!
We now turn to one final text used to support the claim of Islam’s honorific view of women:
And of His signs is that He created for you, of yourselves, spouses, that you might repose in them, and He has set between you love and mercy. Surely in that are signs for a people who consider. S. 30:21 Arberry
Muslims say: Wives are from men, implying their equality, and Allah has demanded the two sexes to show love and mercy towards one another.
Far from proving the equity between men and women this passage actually shows that women are created for the pleasure of man. Note the wording of the reference very carefully. The text is addressing the men and telling them that the women were created for them so that they can repose in their wives. What this verse is basically saying is that women exist for the pleasure of men much like the other things that Allah created. Check Surahh 2:29; 16:5 and 43:10-12.
For not being accused of distorting what Surah 30:21 is actually saying note what one renowned Muslim commentator wrote:
"His saying 'created for you' is a proof that women were created like animals and plants and other useful things, just as the Most High has said ‘He created for you what is on earth’ and that necessitates the woman not to be created for worship and carrying the Divine commands. We say creating the women is one of the graces bestowed upon us and charging them with Divine commands to complete the graces bestowed upon us, not that they are charged as we men are charged. For women are not charged with many commands as we are charged, because the woman is weak, silly, in one sense she is like a child, and no commands are laid upon a child, but for the grace of Allah upon us to be complete, women had to be charged so that they may fear the torment of punishment and so follow her husband, and keep away from what is forbidden, otherwise corruption would be rampant." (Ar-Razi, At-tafsir al-kabir, commentary Surahh 30:21)
Another Muslim myth that needs to be addressed is the assertion that Islam elevated women to a higher level and gave them much better treatment from what they were receiving in the pre-Islamic period. One Muslim source actually says that there was one Arab tribe which treated their women better than the Muslims did, and that women had the upper hand:
Narrated ‘Abdullah bin ‘Abbas: …We, the people of Quraish, used to have authority over women, but when we came to live with the Ansar, we noticed that the Ansari women had the upper hand over their men, so our women started acquiring the habits of the Ansari women. Once I shouted at my wife and she paid me back in my coin and I disliked that she should answer me back. She said, ‘Why do you take it ill that I retort upon you? By Allah, the wives of the Prophet retort upon him, and some of them may not speak with him for the whole day till night.’… I said chatting: "Will you heed what I say, O Allah’s Apostle! We, the people of Quraish used to have the upper hand over our women (wives), and when we came to the people whose women had the upper hand over them…" (Sahih al-Bukhari, Volume 3, Book 43, Number 648)
In another narration, Muhammad’s child bride even admitted that Muslim women were treated far worse than any other women she knew:
Narrated ‘Ikrima: Rifa’a divorced his wife whereupon ‘AbdurRahman bin Az-Zubair Al-Qurazi married her. 'Aisha said that the lady (came), wearing a green veil (and complained to her (‘Aisha) of her husband and showed her a green spot on her skin caused by beating). It was the habit of ladies to support each other, so when Allah’s Apostle came, ‘Aisha said, "I have not seen any woman suffering as much as the believing women. Look! Her skin is greener than her clothes!..." (Sahih al-Bukhari, Volume 7, Book 72, Number 715)
So much for Islam’s elevation of women!
Putting this all behind us we now proceed to an examination of Islam’s degradation of women.
Women are Inferior to Men
The following prove that women are second rate and not at all comparable to men:
…And call in to witness two witnesses, men; or if the two be not men, then one man AND TWO WOMEN, such witnesses as you approve of, THAT IF ONE OF THE TWO WOMEN ERRS THE OTHER WILL REMIND HER Surahh 2:282 Arberry
Allah commands you as regards your children's (inheritance); to the male, a portion equal TO THAT OF TWO FEMALES; if (there are) only daughters, two or more, their share is two thirds of the inheritance; if only one, her share is half. For parents, a sixth share of inheritance to each if the deceased left children; if no children, and the parents are the (only) heirs, the mother has a third; if the deceased left brothers or (sisters), the mother has a sixth. (The distribution in all cases is) after the payment of legacies he may have bequeathed or debts. S. 4:11 Hilali-Khan
These passages presuppose that women are inferior in worth and intellect in comparison to men, something that Muhammad is reported to have believed:
Narrated Abu Said Al-Khudri: …"O women! Give alms, as I have seen that THE MAJORITY of the dwellers of Hell-fire were you (women)." They asked, "Why is it so, O Allah's Apostle?" He replied, "You curse frequently and are ungrateful to your husbands. I have not seen anyone more deficient in intelligence and religion THAN YOU. A cautious sensible man could be led astray by some of you." The women asked, "O Allah's Apostle! What is deficient in our intelligence and religion?" He said, "Is not THE EVIDENCE OF TWO WOMEN EQUAL TO THE WITNESS OF ONE MAN?" They replied in the affirmative. He said, "This is the deficiency in her intelligence…." (Sahih al-Bukhari, Volume 1, Book 6, Number 301); see also Volume 2, Book 24, Number 541)
And: Narrated Abu Said Al-Khudri: The Prophet said, "Isn't the witness of a woman equal to half of that of a man?" The women said, "Yes." He said, "THIS IS BECAUSE OF THE DEFICIENCY OF A WOMAN’S MIND." (Sahih al-Bukhari, Volume 3, Book 48, Number 826)
Muhammad indirectly makes reference to Surah 2:282 regarding the testimony of two women being equivalent to one man as a basis to show why women are intellectually inferior. Thus, Muhammad’s own interpretation of Surah 2:282 establishes the case that the reason why two women are required to testify is because they are inferior intellectual beings! Sunni Qur’an exegete ar-Razi made these comments on Surah 4:11:
"(The males share is that of two females). Man is more perfect than the woman IN CREATION, AND INTELLIGENCE, and in the religious sphere, such as the suitability to be a judge, and a leader in worship. Also, the testimony of the man is twice that of the woman. So that whoever is given great responsibilities must be given correspondingly great privileges. As the woman is deficient in intelligence and of great lust, if she is given much money, much corruption will be the result."
One Muslim source states that women were made stupid because of the sin of Eve:
According to Yunus- Ibn Wahb- Ibn Zayd … God said: Now it is My obligation to make her bleed once every month, as she made this tree bleed. I ALSO MAKE HER STUPID, although I had created her intelligent (halimah), and must make her suffer pregnancy and birth with difficulty, although I made it easy for her to be pregnant and give birth. Ibn Zayd said: Were it not for the affliction that affected Eve, the women of this world would not menstruate, AND THEY WOULD BE INTELLIGENT and, when pregnant, give birth easily. (The History of Al-Tabari: General Introduction and From the Creation to the Flood, translated by Franz Rosenthal [State University of New York Press, Albany], Volume 1, pp. 280-281)
Also notice that Muhammad, in the first narration, claims that the majority of those in hell are women! This teaching of Muhammad is found in virtually all of the major hadith collections such as that of Al-Tirmidhi:
Narrated Zaynab, the wife of Abdullah
Allah's Messenger (peace be upon him) addressed them saying, "You women should give alms even if it consists of your jewellery, for you will be THE MAJORITY of the inhabitants of Jahannam on the Day of Resurrection." Tirmidhi transmitted it. (Al-Tirmidhi Hadith, Number 573; ALIM CD-ROM Version)
In fact, Sahih Muslim has a whole section on this very topic {1}:
Chapter 1: THE MAJORITY IN PARADISE WOULD CONSIST OF THE POOR PIOUS PERSONS AND THE MAJORITY OF THE DENIZENS OF HELL WOULD CONSIST OF WOMEN, AND THE TRIAL BY MEANS OF WOMEN
… and the majority amongst them who entered there was that of women. (Sahih Muslim, Book 036, Number 6596)
… I looked into the Fire and there I found the majority constituted by women. (Sahih Muslim, Book 036, Number 6597)
Allah's Messenger …said: Amongst the inmates of Paradise the women would form a minority. (Sahih Muslim, Book 036, Number 6600)
There are other Qura’nic passages which make the point of men being above and superior to women even more explicit:
…and the men are A DEGREE ABOVE THEM …. S. 2:228 Shakir
About the right to beat their women, here you have a list of my posts:
http://islaminitsownwords.blogspot.com/2009/04/is-wife-beating-allowed-by-allah.html
http://islaminitsownwords.blogspot.com/2009/04/does-allah-permit-domestic-violence-in.html
http://islaminitsownwords.blogspot.com/2009/04/is-wife-beating-allowed-by-allah.html
http://islaminitsownwords.blogspot.com/2009/04/ten-reasons-why-quran-oppresses-and.html
http://islaminitsownwords.blogspot.com/2009/04/about-status-of-wifes-in-islam.html
In this hadith a man beats his wife for praying too much and Muhammad says nothing to rebuke him!
Narrated Ab uSa'id al-Khudri: A woman came to the Prophet (peace_be_upon_him) while we were with him. She said: Apostle of Allah, my husband, Safwan ibn al-Mu'attal, BEATS ME when I pray, and makes me break my fast when I keep a fast, and he does not offer the dawn prayer until the sun rises. He asked Safwan, who was present, about what she had said. He replied: Apostle of Allah, as for her statement "he beats me when I pray", she recites two Surahhs (during prayer) and I have prohibited her (to do so). He (the Prophet) said: If one Surahh is recited (during prayer), that is sufficient for the people. (Safwan continued:) As regards her saying "he makes me break my fast," she dotes on fasting; I am a young man, I cannot restrain myself. The Apostle of Allah (peace_be_upon_him) said on that day: A woman should not fast except with the permission of her husband. (Safwan said:) As for her statement that I do not pray until the sun rises, we are a people belonging to a class, and that (our profession of supplying water) is already known about us. We do not awake until the sun rises. He said: When you awake, offer your prayer. (Sunan Abu Dawud, Book 13, Number 2453)
In the earliest Muslim biography, the Sirat Rasul Allah, Ibn Ishaq reports:
You have rights over your wives and they have rights over you. You have the right that they should not defile your bed and that they should not behave with open unseemliness. If they do, God allows you to put them in separate rooms AND BEAT THEM but not with severity. If they refrain from these things they have the right to their food and clothing with kindness. Lay injunctions on women kindly, FOR THEY ARE PRISONERS WITH YOU HAVING NO CONTROL OF THEIR PERSONS. You have taken them as a trust from God, and you have the enjoyment of their persons by the words of God, so understand… (Alfred Guillaume, The Life of Muhammad [Oxford University Press, Karachi, Tenth Impression 1995], p. 651)
The above narrations shamefully state that women are not only to be beaten if they rebel but that they are the prisoners of their husbands!
Messenger of Allah, may my father and mother be ransom for you, and then I told him (the whole story). He said: Was it the darkness (of your shadow) that I saw in front of me? I said: Yes. He struck me on the chest which caused me pain, and then said: Did you think that Allah and His Apostle would deal unjustly with you? … (Sahih Muslim, Book 004, Number 2127)
Even Muhammad’s son-in-law and first cousin, Ali ibn Abu Thalib, didn’t hesitate to beat up women such as Aisha’s slave girl:
"As for ‘Ali he said: "Women are plentiful, and you can EASILY change one for another. Ask the slave girl; she will tell you the truth.’ So the apostle called Burayra to ask her, and ‘Ali got up and gave her A VIOLENT BEATING, saying, ‘Tell the apostle the truth’, to which she replied, ‘I only know good of her…’" (Guillaume, The Life of Muhammad, p. 496)
Not only did Ali beat women he also believed they were quite expendable, easily replaceable!
There was even one Muslim who was known for being a great woman beater!
… So far as Abu Jahm is concerned, he is A GREAT BEATER OF WOMEN, …. (Sahih Muslim, Book 009, Number 3526)
.. and Abu'l-Jahm is very harsh with women (or he beats women, or like that), you should take Usama b. Zaid (as your husband). (Sahih Muslim, Book 009, Number 3527)
Instead of reprimanding Abu Jahm for beating women and for being harsh with them, Muhammad simply mentions these negative qualities in order to discourage Fatima from marrying him.
Muslim translator Muhammad Asad, in footnote # 45 regarding Surah 4:34 found in his English Qur’anic translation of Surah 4:34, stated:
…When the above Qur'an-verse authorizing the beating of a refractory wife was revealed, the Prophet is reported to have said: "I wanted one thing, but God has willed another thing - and what God has willed must be best" (see Manar V, 74). (Source)
How interesting that Muhammad showed more mercy and refrain than Allah himself, since the former didn't want men to beat women whereas the latter did!
At this point we need to mention the fact that the Qur’an NOWHERE demands that the beating of women should not be harsh, that a man must not severely hit his wife. The text simply says that men may beat or hit their rebellious spouses without any qualification:
It is rather obvious that the hadith literature is trying to do some damage control. The compilers of the hadith literature obviously saw the need to improve on the Qur’an’s blanket statement by adding a specific qualification to the nature and extent of the beating since the Qura’nic injunction clearly gives men the complete license to batter women they fear are rebellious.
Surah 2:228, and other verses like it, granted men the power of divorce and therefore gave them the upper hand:
Yahya related to me from Malik that he had heard that Ali ibn Abi Talib used to say that if a man said to his wife, "You are haram for me," it counted as three pronouncements of divorce.
Malik said, " That is the best of what I have heard on the subject." (Malik’s Muwatta, Book 29, Number 29.1.6 and Number 29.1.7)
Yahya related to .. that Said ibn al-Musayyab said, "Divorce belongs to men, and women have the idda." (Malik’s Muwatta, Book 29, Number 29.24.70)
Even when a woman sought for a divorce it was the man who had to grant and pronounce it:
Narrated ‘Ikrima:…the Prophet ordered Thabit to divorce her…" (Sahih al-Bukhari, Volume 7, Book 63, Number 198)
Narrated Ibn 'Abbas:…and the Prophet told him to divorce her. (Sahih al-Bukhari, Volume 7, Book 63, Number 199)
Narrated Abdullah ibn Abbas:…. The Prophet (peace_be_upon_him) said to Abdu Yazid: Divorce her. …." (Sunan Abu Dawud, Book 12, Number 2191)
Narrated Rukanah ibn Abdu Yazid: (Rukanah) divorced his wife absolutely; so he came to the Apostle of Allah (peace_be_upon_him). He asked (him): What did you intend? He said: A single utterance of divorce. (Sunan Abu Dawud, Book 12, Number 2202)
Narrated Aisha: Take them and separate yourself from her. (Sunan Abu Dawud, Book 12, Number 2220)
Imam Malik records traditions where men CAN give women the right to pronounce a divorce, but didn’t have to, and in some occasions this right was restricted to only one pronouncement and not to an irrevocable one which would entail three pronouncements of divorce:
(1128) It reached Malik that a man came to ‘Abd Allah b. ‘Umar and said: O Abu ‘Abd al-Rahman, I gave the right of divorce to my wife. She has divorced herself. What is your opinion now? Ibn ‘Umar replied, As she said, so is my opinion. The man then said, Oh, do not do so. Ibn ‘Umar replied: Did I do it? YOU DID IT YOURSELF.
(1129) Nafi’ reported that ‘Abd Allah b. ‘Umar used to say: If a man should authorize his wife in the matter of divorce, she could declare herself divorced any time she liked; but if the husband should object and say: I gave you option of only divorce and swears to it, he would have the right over her until the period of ‘iddah probation.
(1130) Kharija b. Zaid b. Thabit reported that he was sitting with Zaid ibn Thabit when Muhammad b. Abi Atiq came and tears were flowing from his eyes. Zaid said: What is the matter with you? He said: I had given my wife the option of divorce and she has left me. Zaid asked: Why did you give her the authority? He replied: It was my fate. Zaid said: If you wish, you can get her back, for only one divorce has become effective. YOU ARE STILL HER MASTER.
(1131) Qasim b. Muhammad reported: A man of Thaqif gave his wife the option of divorce. She gave herself one divorce. He kept quiet. She then gave herself another divorce. He said: Stones be in your mouth. She then gave herself the third divorce. He said: Stones be in your mouth, and they went quarreling to Marwan b. Hakam. Marwan took an oath from the man to the effect that he had given option only for one divorce and handed her back to him. (Muwatta’ Imam Malik, English translation with exhaustive notes by Professor Muhammad Rahimuddin [Sh. Muhammad Ahsraf Publishers, Booksellers & Exporters, Lahore (Pakistan), reprinted July 2000], pp. 246-247) This shows the superiority of man over women.
Again, notice that the power of divorce lies solely with the men who weren’t required to grant this right to their spouses. In fact, when the women did want to divorce their husbands the men were told that it was their own fault for giving their wives this privilege in the first place!
Finally: Narrated Thawban: The Prophet (pbuh) said: If any woman ASKS her husband for divorce without some strong reason, the odour of Paradise will be forbidden to her. (Sunan Abu Dawud, Book 12, Number 2218)
Note two important things from this narration. First, the woman needs to ask for a divorce, which means she can’t simply pronounce one even though the man can do so and doesn’t need to ask. Second, she must have a strong reason to want a divorce, which is another way of saying that it is either up to her husband or the Muslim authority to decide whether her request is valid or not! So the women only have such a right if the husband gave it to them, otherwise, and that is the implication, they do not have a right to divorce in general. Quite interesting.
Not only do women not have power to initiate a divorce unless granted to them by their husbands, Muhammad wouldn't even allow a woman to give either herself or another woman away in marriage:
Narrated AbuHurayrah: "A woman may not give….herself in marriage, for the immoral woman is the one who gives herself in marriage." Ibn Majah transmitted it. (Tirmidhi Hadith, Number 935; ALIM CD-ROM Version)
Yet it was ok for women to give themselves to Muhammad!
Narrated Aisha: I used to LOOK DOWN upon those ladies who had given themselves to Allah's Apostle and I used to say, "Can a lady give herself (to a man)?" But when Allah revealed: "You (O Muhammad) can postpone (the turn of) whom you will of them (your wives), and you may receive any of them whom you will; and there is no blame on you if you invite one whose turn you have set aside (temporarily)." (33.51) I said (to the Prophet), "I feel that your Lord hastens in fulfilling your wishes and desires." (Sahih Al-Bukhari, Volume 6, Book 60, Number 311)
The following texts provide indirect evidence for the Qur’an’s low view of women
Women are categorized as those who are clothed with ornaments and are unable to speak in their defense or speak plainly, implying that they are intellectually deficient (Surahh 43:16-18)! Sunni Muslim scholar and commentator Ibn Kathir wrote regarding the above:
Similarly, out of the two kinds of offspring, sons and daughters, they assigned to Him THE WORST AND LEAST VALUABLE (in their eyes), i.e., daughters, as Allah says…(Source)
The words in parentheses are not part of Ibn Kathir’s comments, but are the additions of the translators in order to do some damage control. They were obviously embarrassed by Ibn Kathir’s degrading views of women and so decided to distort what he actually said.
The two Jalals commented: … [unable] to argue clearly because of an [inherent] inability [in this respect] as a result of [that person belonging to] the female sex. (Tafsir al-Jalalayn)
And more: Narrated Qays ibn Sa'd:…He (the Apostle of Allah)… If I were to command anyone to make prostration before another I WOULD COMMAND WOMEN TO PROSTRATE THEMSELVES BEFORE THEIR HUSBANDS, because of the special right over them given to husbands by Allah. (Sunan Abu Dawud, Book 11, Number 2135)
Narrated Aisha: … If I were to order anyone to prostrate himself before another, I SHOULD ORDER A WOMAN TO PROSTRATE HERSELF BEFORE HER HUSBAND. If he were to order her to convey stones from a yellow mountain to a black one, or from a black mountain to a white one, IT WOULD BE INCUMBENT ON HER TO DO SO." Ahmad transmitted it. (Al-Tirmidhi Hadith, Number 963- ALIM CD-ROM Version)
Notes
{1} As a sheer act of desperation, one Muslim claims that the reason why there are more women in hell is because the ratio of women is greater than that of men:
If the ratio of women to men here on planet earth is larger, then it is only logical that the ratio of women to men in hell would also be larger.
http://www.statistics.gov.uk/census2001/implications.asp
http://www.census.gov/population/pop-profile/2000/chap20.pdf
Go to this site and check out the ratio of women to men in every country. You will see that most of them are larger. (Source)
Besides this being a rather gross distortion of the facts (cf. this article) the author completely and conveniently ignores the very reasons given by Muhammad why there are more women in hell than men. Muhammad didn’t say that the reason why the majority of those in hell are women is because they outnumber the men on earth. Instead, he said that it was because of their lack of intelligence, religiosity and gratefulness that landed them in the majority spot of those burning eternally:
Narrated Abu Said Al-Khudri: …Why is it so, O Allah's Apostle?" He replied, "You curse frequently and are ungrateful to your husbands. I have not seen anyone more deficient in intelligence and religion than you" (Sahih al-Bukhari, Volume 1, Book 6, Number 301)
… "I also saw the Hell-fire and I had never seen such a horrible sight. I saw that most of the inhabitants were women." The people asked, "O Allah's Apostle! Why is it so?" The Prophet replied, "Because of their ungratefulness." It was asked whether they are ungrateful to Allah. The Prophet said, "They are ungrateful to their companions of life (husbands) and ungrateful to good deeds" (Sahih al-Bukhari, Volume 2, Book 18, Number 161)
Muslims wants us to show that one hadith shows that there are more women in Paradise
. The first group that would be admitted to Paradise would be like the face of the full moon and the description of their qualities and their spouses. Muhammad reported that some (persons) stated with a sense of pride and some discussed whether there would be more men in Paradise or more women. It was upon this that Abu Huraira reported that Abu'l Qasim (the Holy Prophet) (may peace be upon him) said: The (members) of the first group to get into Paradise would have their faces as bright as full moon during the night, and the next to this group would have their faces as bright as the shining stars in the sky, and every person would have two wives and the marrow of their shanks would glimmer beneath the flesh and there would be none without a wife in Paradise. Sahih Bukhari Book 040, Hadith Number 6793
(Actually, this hadith is taken from Sahih Muslim, not Sahih Bukhari). It does not in any way support the claim it is supposed to prove. The author presumably thinks that the statement "every person (i.e. every man) would have two wives" refers to women who had previously lived as female Muslim believers on earth, implying that more "earthly women" will enter Paradise than "earthly men", actually at least double the number of men since every man will have (at least) two wives.
Two major observations are important here. First, this hadith, something we have seen so many times before, only makes promises to the male believers and what they will get, i.e. women. It is not a promise for women, they are not addressed. The first and the second group will be men who have different merits.
If anything, looking at this narration from the viewpoint of a woman, it is more a threat of punishment than a promise of reward, since it means that even those pious Muslim women who lived in a monogamous marriage on earth will in the future have to share their husband with at least one more woman, and that for eternity. The women among our readers will surely be thrilled.
Second, the wives who will be the rewards for the believers in Paradise are not necessarily related to the female believers on earth, but may primarily be those houris who are especially created for the pleasure of Muslim men as the following narrations show:
Narrated Abu Huraira: … everyone will have two wives FROM THE HOURIS, (who will be so beautiful, pure and transparent that) …Sahih al-Bukhari, Volume 4, Book 54, Number 476)
Notice here that the two wives are said to be from the houris, not from earthly women.
Continuing our observation from above, this means that if a Muslim woman makes it into Paradise at all, she will have to share her husband with at least two houris whose beauty is beyond comparison to their own.
Far from solving the problem of the number of believing women who make it into Paradise, this hadith adds the painful aspect that those who may make it there will have very little to look forward to.
The question is not what kind of beings Allah will create only for Paradise, but among those who are believers on earth, how many of the men and how many of the women will enter Paradise? On this issue, the Islamic narrations are clear: the majority of earthly women will go to hell, and only a minority of them will make it to Paradise just as this next hadith states:
Imran b. Husain reported that Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) said: Amongst the inmates of Paradise THE WOMEN WOULD FORM A MINORITY. (Sahih Muslim, Book 036, Number 6600)
We now turn to another passage:
The love of desires, of women and sons and hoarded treasures of gold and silver and well bred horses and cattle and tilth, is made to seem fair to men; this is the provision of the life of this world; and Allah is He with Whom is the good goal (of life). Surahh 3:14 Shakir
Muhammad placed women on a list of things that a man desires and owns. In the hadiths, he and his followers even placed them on the same level as horses, dogs and asses!
Narrated ‘Aisha: The things which annul the prayers were mentioned before me. They said, "Prayer is annulled by a dog, a donkey AND A WOMAN (if they pass in front of the praying people)." I said, "You have made us (i.e. women) dogs.." (Sahih al-Bukhari, Volume 1, Book 9, Number 490)
Abu Dharr reported: THE MESSENGER OF ALLAH (may peace be upon him) SAID: When any one of you stands for prayer and there is a thing before him equal to the back of the saddle that covers him and in case there is not before him (a thing) equal to the back of the saddle, HIS PRAYER WOULD BE CUT OFF BY (passing of an) ASS, WOMAN, AND BLACK DOG.. (Sahih Muslim, Book 004, Number 1032)
Abu Huraira reported: THE MESSENGER OF ALLAH (may peace be upon him) SAID: A WOMAN, AN ASS AND A DOG DISRUPT THE PRAYER, but something like the back of a saddle guards against that. (Sahih Muslim, Book 004, Number 1034)
According to the so-called sound narrations the greatest source of trials are the women:
Narrated Abdullah bin ‘Umar: Allah’s Apostle said, "Evil omen is in the women, the house and the horse." (Sahih al-Bukhari, Volume 7, Book 62, Number 30; see also Numbers 31 and 32)
Usama b. Zaid reported Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) as saying: I have not left after me any (chance) of turmoil more injurious to men than the harm done to the men because OF WOMEN. (Sahih Muslim, Book 036, Number 6603); see also 6604)
In light of the foregoing, women would have to fall under the category of wealth or possessions which the Qur’an mentions since they are obviously not children! Basically, the hadiths are simply further confirming that women are the possession of the men.
The hadith compiler Ibn Majah provides further evidence for this view (see nr 1855; 1856; and 1857 [Kazi Publications, Lahore (Pakistan), 1st edition 1995], Chapter NO. V, "The Best Women", Volume III, pp. 119-121).
Adding insult to injury, Muhammad even advised men to pray for God’s protection from the harm in women, female slaves and camels!
Narrated Abdullah ibn Amr ibn al-‘As: The Prophet (peace_be_upon_him) said: If one of you marries a woman or buys a slave, he should say: "O Allah, I ask Thee for the good in her, and in the disposition Thou hast given her; I take refuge in Thee from the evil in her, and in the disposition Thou hast given her." When he buys a camel, he should take hold of the top of its hump and say the same kind of thing."
Abu Dawud said: Abu Sai’d added the following words in his version: He should then take hold of her forelock and pray for blessing in case of a woman or a slave. (Sunan Abu Dawud, Book 11, Number 2155)
{Note: The online version conveniently omitted Abu Dawud’s comments from Abu Sai’d.}
As a further indication that a woman is a man’s possession and property in Islam is the Qur’an’s command to place the former under a kind of house arrest. In Islam women are only allowed to leave their homes if it is necessary and by permission of their husbands:
O wives of the Prophet! you are not like any other of the women; If you will be on your guard, then be not soft in (your) speech, lest he in whose heart is a disease yearn; and speak a good word. AND STAY IN YOUR … S. 33:32-33 Shakir
Earlier we had looked at texts which said that wives are prisoners of men, a position supported by the above text as the reader can see.
The following quotations come from Ahmad ibn Naqib al-Misri’s Reliance of the Traveler: A Classic Manual of Islamic Sacred Law In Arabic English Text, Commentary And Appendices edited and translated by Nuh Ha Mim Keller (Amana Publications, Beltsville Maryland, revised edition 1994). It is one of the more respected, classical works in Islamic theology. This 1200+ page volume contains fundamentals of Islamic jurisprudence compiled by "the great 13th century hadith scholar and jurisprudent" Imam Nawawi, and others. Keep in mind that this work was not written with a Western audience in view since Imam Nawawi wanted to produce a book on Islamic law that was precise, and accurate, one that taught true Islamic values, specifically for a Muslim audience. The manual says in section m10.3-4 that:
(A: A husband may permit his wife to leave the house for a lesson in Sacred Law, for invocation of Allah (dhikr), to see her female friends, or to go to any place in the town. A woman may not leave the city without her husband or a member of her marriageable kin (def: m6.2) accompanying her, unless the journey is obligatory, like the hajj. It is unlawful for her to travel otherwise, and unlawful for her husband to allow her to.) (n: In the Hanafi school, it is not unlawful for her to travel beyond the city limits without a husband or member of her unmarriageable kin unless the distance to her intended destination exceeds ca. 77 km./ 48 mi. (al-Lubub fi sharh al-Kitab) (y88), 1.105).)
The husband may forbid his wife to leave the home (O: because of the hadith related by Bayhaqi that the Prophet said,…But if one of her relatives dies, it is preferable to let her leave to visit them. (p. 538)
And in section m10.12 it says:
(2) It is not lawful for a wife to leave the house except by permission of her husband, though she may do so without permission when there is a pressing necessity. Nor may a wife permit anyone to enter her husband’s home unless he agrees, even their unmarriageable kin. Nor may she be alone with a nonfamily –member male, under any circumstances. (p. 541)
It also writes in section p.42.2:
The Prophet …said: (1) "Allah will not look at a woman who is ungrateful to her husband, while unable to do without him." (2) "When a man calls his wife to bed and she will not come, and he spends the night angry with her, the angels curse her until morning." (3) "It is not lawful for a woman to fast when her husband is present, save by his leave. Nor to permit anyone into his house except with his permission." (4) Whoever leaves her husband’s house [A: without his permission], the angels curse her until she returns or repents." (Khalil Nahlawi:) It is a condition for the permissibility of her going out (dis: m10.3-4) that she take no measures to enhance her beauty, and that her figure is concealed or altered to a form unlikely to draw looks from men or attract them. Allah most High says, "Remain in your homes and do not display your beauty as women did in pre-Islamic period of ignorance" (Koran 33:33). (p. 682)
And regarding praying at the local mosque, this same manual exhorts men to do so but advises women not to!
It is better for women to pray at home than at the mosque (A: whether they are young or old). It is offensive for an attractive or young woman to come to the mosque and pray (0: or for her husband to permit her), though not offensive for women who are not young or attractive when this is unlikely to cause temptation.
A hadith reported by Bukhari and Muslim. (f12.4, pp. 171-172)
The so-called sound hadiths state:
Narrated Ibn 'Umar: The Prophet said, "If your women ask permission to go to the mosque at night, allow them." (Sahih al-Bukhari, Volume 1, Book 12, Number 824)
Note carefully that the women have to ask their husbands first before they can even go to the mosque and that Umar hated for women to attend prayers! The foregoing leads us to ask the following questions: Why would women need permission to enter the house of God at night? Do men also need their wives’ permission? And where does the Old Testament forbid women from entering God’s house? Furthermore, why should women sit behind the men while in the mosques? Finally, if Muhammad would forbid women from entering the mosque based on things that they were doing then what about the evils committed by the men? Shouldn't they have also been warned of being banished from God's house?
Muhammad even stated that women’s salvation is dependent on whether their husbands are pleased with them:
Narrated Umm Salamah Allah's Messenger (peace be upon him) said, "Any woman who dies when her husband is pleased with her will enter paradise." Tirmidhi transmitted it. (Al-Tirmidhi Hadith, Number 958; ALIM CD-ROM Version)
IHS
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