On the surface, societies all around the world in the modern era seems to have progressed. We cherish the belief that we have shifted exponentially from primitivity to an ideal human civilisation. Unfortunately, this belief is far removed from the truth. The world is still rife with racial discrimination and a widening income gap. Even though many developed countries today proudly flaunt their “world-class education” and high literacy, gender inequality has yet to be achieved.
Indeed, we have regressed to a stage akin to the Jahiliyah period during the time of the Prophet SAW when women rights were limited. Women were seen as a shameful liability in a dominantly patriarchal society.
In surah Al-An’am, verse 139, the marginalisation of women was clearly highlighted:
وَقَالُوۡا مَا فِىۡ بُطُوۡنِ هٰذِهِ الۡاَنۡعَامِ خَالِصَةٌ لِّذُكُوۡرِنَا وَمُحَرَّمٌ عَلٰٓى اَزۡوَاجِنَا وَاِنۡ يَّكُنۡ مَّيۡتَةً فَهُمۡ فِيۡهِ شُرَكَآءُ سَيَجۡزِيۡهِمۡ وَصۡفَهُمۡ اِنَّه حَكِيۡمٌ عَلِيۡمٌ
They also say, “The offspring of this cattle is reserved for our males and forbidden to our females; but if it is stillborn, they may all share it.” He will repay them for their falsehood. Surely He is All-Wise, All-Knowing.”
When our Prophet SAW spread Islam in Mecca and Yathrib (present day Madinah), many people were attracted to the message of peace and the divine law that uplifts women and bestows upon them their rights. Women could finally inherit wealth and seek separation from their husbands. Amongst the first few female converts was a prominent woman named Nusaybah Bint Ka’ab ra of the Banu Najjar (Ansar), also known as Umm Umarah, the mother of Leaders.
Throughout the annals of history, men were always painted as mighty warriors. Very few women were honoured and given the opportunity to participate in wars. When Islam came, women started to treat the casualties of war and carried water to the battlefield.
Nusaybah r.a was well-known as a valiant warrior which was particularly uncommon during that period. During the battle of Uhud, her eyes were frantically searching for Muhammad SAW and when she saw that he SAW was left exposed without anyone to defend him, she charged alongside her husband and sons to surround him. The men on the battlefield were awed by her sword skills and tameless bravery. With a bow in one hand and a sword in the other, she relentlessly warded off the attackers from hurting Muhammad SAW. Whenever our Prophet SAW turned to his right or left, he would see her shielding him. This left a great impression in his heart and he made a dua that Nusaybah r.a and her family will be his companions in Jannah.
In the midst of battle, her son, ‘Abdullah ibn Zayd, was also severely wounded. She rushed to his aid and was tending to him when her son’s attacker appeared before her. With admirable bravery, she struck the man and attained retribution. Nusaybah r.a not only engaged in the battle of Uhud but also in Hudaybiyah, Khaybar and Hunayn. Even while in her sixties, she continued to participate alongside the Muslim army during the confrontation of the false Prophet, Musailamah Al-Kaddhab during the reign of Khalifah Abu Bakar r.a. This shows that although she was a woman, she was held in high esteem for her valor and skills in battle.
She had once approached our Prophet SAW and unabashedly enquired why the Quran only addressed men. Allah SWT personally answered her by sending a verse down shortly:
اِنَّ الْمُسْلِمِيْنَ وَالْمُسْلِمٰتِ وَالْمُؤْمِنِيْنَ وَالْمُؤْمِنٰتِ وَالْقٰنِتِيْنَ وَالْقٰنِتٰتِ وَالصّٰدِقِيْنَ وَالصّٰدِقٰتِ وَالصّٰبِرِيْنَ وَالصّٰبِرٰتِ وَالْخٰشِعِيْنَ وَالْخٰشِعٰتِ وَالْمُتَصَدِّقِيْنَ وَالْمُتَصَدِّقٰتِ وَالصَّاۤىِٕمِيْنَ وَالصّٰۤىِٕمٰتِ وَالْحٰفِظِيْنَ فُرُوْجَهُمْ وَالْحٰفِظٰتِ وَالذَّاكِرِيْنَ اللّٰهَ كَثِيْرًا وَّالذَّاكِرٰتِ اَعَدَّ اللّٰهُ لَهُمْ مَّغْفِرَةً وَّاَجْرًا عَظِيْمًا
Surely for Muslim men and women, believing men and women, devout men and women, truthful men and women, patient men and women, humble men and women, charitable men and women, fasting men and women, men and women who guard their chastity, and men and women who remember Allah often, for all of them Allah has prepared forgiveness and a great reward.
(Surah Al-Ahzab Verse 35)
This verse shows that the Quran places men and women on equal status and footing.
The history of a beloved female companion of our Prophet Muhammad SAW, Nusaybah Bint Ka’ab RA, has proved to us that we can do as much as she can. Women are also capable of being brave, confident and outspoken.
In a time where women were viewed as mere commodity, Nusaybah ra was the epitome of a woman who was empowered by the rights and respect Islam offers. She participated in Jihad for the sake of Allah with her unsheathed sword, marching fearlessly into the battlefield. Her sheer love for Prophet Muhammad SAW spurred her even further to defend Islam.
In this contemporary day and age, women are still struggling to have their rights recognised. Women face workplace discrimination, sexual violence and harassment and in worse cases, their freedom of movement. If we were to study and juxtapose the lives of the women during the time of the Prophet SAW there is a stark contrast between them and the modern women of today. Sadly, gender marginalisation and discrimination are still predominant issues of today. For example, women are paid less globally than men at a pay gap close to sixteen per cent. In addition to this, the World Health Organisation (WHO) published a harrowing statistic that 1 in 3 women worldwide have been subjected to either physical or sexual violence in their lifetime.
Allah SWT has reiterated on the stature of women and how they stand in equal with men. To illustrate, in Surah An-Nisa, verse 124, Allah SWT says:
وَمَن يَعْمَلْ مِنَ الصَّالِحَاتَ مِن ذَكَرٍ أَوْ أُنثَى وَهُوَ مُؤْمِنٌ فَأُوْلَئِكَ يَدْخُلُونَ الْجَنَّةَ وَلاَ يُظْلَمُونَ نَقِيرًا
Whoever, male or female, does good deeds and is a believer, then such people shall enter Paradise, and they shall not be wronged in the least.
Both men and women are mentioned together with no sign of separation or discrimination.
The history of a beloved female companion of our Prophet Muhammad SAW, Nusaybah Bint Ka’ab RA, has proved to us that we can do as much as she can. Women are also capable of being brave, confident and outspoken. It is now time we acknowledge that there is no imaginary pedestal for men to treat women unfairly.The erroneous belief that women are inferior to men is purely a cultural notion that does not originate from our deen.
