the role of women in islam

The Role of Women in IslamRights & Responsibilities

AgendaWho makes up the rules in Islam?Equity & EqualityThe role of men in regards to womenThe responsibilities of womenThe responsibility of men towards womenReflecting on Scenarios

Who Makes Up The Rules?"It is not for a believer, man or woman, when Allah and His Messenger have decreed a matter that they should have any option in this decision. And whoever disobeys Allah and His Messenger (saw), he has indeed strayed in a plain error." (Al-Ahzab 33:36)

Who Makes Up The Rules?"O you who believe! Obey Allah and obey the Messenger (saw), and those of you (Muslims) who are in authority. And if you differ in anything amongst yourselves, refer it to Allah and His Messenger (saw), if you truly believe in Allah and in the Last Day. That is better and more suitable for final determination." (An-Nisa 4:59)

Who Makes Up The Rules?"And direct your face entirely towards the religion Hanifa (Islamic Monotheism), and never be one of the Mushrikun (polytheists)." (Yunus 10:105)

Equity & EqualityWhat is the difference?Sameness is not the same as

fairnessIn Islam, men and women do have

equal rights, but not identical rights…what does this mean?

Equity & EqualityBut – In Islam – We are Equal in Our Pursuits for Jannah!

Surely the men who submit and the women who submit, and the believing men and the believing women, and the obeying men and the obeying women, and the truthful men and the truthful women, and the patient men and the patient women and the humble men and the humble women, and the almsgiving men and the almsgiving women, and the fasting men and the fasting women, and the men who guard their private parts and the women who guard, and the men who remember Allah much and the women who remember - Allah has prepared for them forgiveness and a mighty reward. (Quran 33.35)

The Role of MenMen are the Qawwamoon (protectors and maintainers) of women. (An-Nisa 4:34)

The Role of MenAnd they (women) have rights (over their husbands) similar (to those of their husbands) over them (as regards obedience and respect, etc.) to what is reasonable, but men have a degree (of responsibility) over them. And Allah is All-Mighty, All-Wise. (Al-Baqarah 2:228)

The Role of MenMen play various roles: Husband,

Father, Son & BrotherIn all these roles, the male is the

mahramThe role of a mahram is to safeguard

their womenfolk

The Role of MenSafeguarding is to provide for, to

take care of their needs, to ensure their safety in and out of the home, to defend their honour, to make sure they are educated and able to fend for themselves, able to live independently at the appropriate age

The Role of MenPutting things into perspective:

1.What is your role as a brother?

2.What is your role as a son?

The Role of MenAs a son…Say: "Come, I will recite what

your Lord has prohibited you from: Join not anything in worship with Him; be good and dutiful to your parents. (Al-An'am 6:151)

The Role of MenAs a son…And We have enjoined on man (to be

dutiful and good) to his parents. His mother bore him in weakness and hardship upon weakness and hardship, and his weaning is in two years give thanks to Me and to your parents, unto Me is the final destination. (Luqman 31:14)

The Role of MenAs a brother…And do not cut the relations of the kith &

kinship. Surely, Allah is Ever an All Watcher over you. (An-Nisa 4:1)

How can a brother be a role model for his sister?How can a brother protect his sister?What are the various facets of this relationship?

The Responsibilities of Women

Therefore the righteous women are devoutly obedient and guard, in their husband's absence, what Allah orders them to guard. (An-Nisa 4:34)


The believers, men and women, are Auliya’ of one another, they enjoin Al-Ma’ruf and forbid (people) from Al-Munkar; they perform As-Salat and give the Zakat, and obey Allah and His Messenger. Allah will have His Mercy on them. Surely Allah is All-Mighty, All-Wise. (At-Tawbah 9:71)


Putting this in perspective, the role of women in Islam exists as a wife, mother, daughter and sisterWhat are your rights and/or responsibilities As a Daughter?As a Sister?


So their Lord accepted of them (their supplication and answered them), "Never will I allow to be lost the work of any of you, be he male or female. (Ali Imran 3:195)


"Seeking knowledge is obligatory upon every Muslim - male and female.” (Ibn Maajah)


Indeed Allah has heard the statement of her (Khaulah bint Tha'labah) that disputes with you (O Muhammad (saw)) concerning her husband (Aus bin As Samit), and complains to Allah. And Allah hears the argument between you both. Verily, Allah is All-Hearer, All-Seer. (Al-Mujadilah 58:1)


And tell the believing women to lower their gaze, and protect their private parts and not to show off their adornment except only that which is apparent, and to draw their veils all over Juyubihinna and not to reveal their adornment except to their husbands, their fathers, their husband's fathers, their sons, their husband's sons, their brothers or their brother's sons, or their sister's sons, or their (Muslim) women, or the (female) slaves whom their right hands possess, or old male servants who lack vigour, or small children who have no sense of the shame of sex. And let them not stamp their feet so as to reveal what they hide of their adornment. And all of you beg Allah to forgive you all, O believers, that you may be successful. (An-Nur 24:31)


What are some other responsibilities of daughters and/or sisters?

The Responsibility of MenThe Prophet (saw) said, “The best of you are

those who are best to their families.” (Tirmidhi) So, in light of the above mentioned points, it is

incumbent upon the brother and/or son to be at the service of his sister and/or mother.

This means they should assist and them in fulfilling their duties

What are some of the ways this should look like?

Scenario 1 - MALEYou are on your way into the library when you notice your friend pulling up in his car. His mother is driving and both of them look a little upset. As your friend exits the car he is scowling and screams something incomprehensible at his mother and then says “If I had a choice I would sell you and get a new mother!”In light of what we have discussed today, what would you say to your friend?

Scenario 1 - FEMALEYou are on your way to school and stop off at your friend’s house along the way. As she is exiting her home, you hear some words being exchanged between her and her parents. In the heat of the moment your friend blurts out, “I hate you both! If I had a choice I would move away and never come back!” As you run after your friend to calm her down you look back and notice her younger brother standing in the doorway, crying out of confusion.In light of what we have discussed today, what would you say to your friend?

Scenario 2 - MALEYou are with a group of friends enjoying lunch and one your friends is describing the situation at home where his sister has gotten into Optometry College at the University of Waterloo. With a snicker he remarks, “Fat chance of her going there!”

Someone else says, “Why would you say that?”

He replies, “Well, you know how it is…she’s 21 now which is prime marriage age. It’s better if she just gets married now. Otherwise, she’ll waste all that tuition money and then get married and get pregnant and then she’ll never use her degree anyway. You know how it is – women are suppose to just make babies and stay in the kitchen!In light of what we have discussed today, what would you say to your friend?

Scenario 2 - FEMALEYou meet your friend for lunch and she is so excited – she just got her acceptance letter to the Optometry College at the University of Waterloo!!!But her happiness is short lived as she remarks, “But what’s the use? My father will tell me that it’s useless for me to go. I should just look for a husband so I can stay home, cook and clean for him.”In light of what we have discussed today, what would you say to your friend?

Scenario 3 - MALEYou’re talking with your friend about course choices for the following year. He mentions how his sister is also doing the same because she’s starting high school in the fall. Then he says, “But I’m going to make sure she starts wearing a hijab next year!” “But she doesn’t wear one right now, does she?” you ask your friend“No, but I don’t want guys staring at her – you know how it is,” he says as he hugs and kisses his girlfriend. With a look of disgust at his actions, you remind him that it’s time for Jummuah salat, in the gym.“Yeah,” your friend chuckles, “the losers club!”In light of what we have discussed today, what would you say to your friend?

Scenario 3 - FEMALEYou’re talking with your friend about course choices for the following year and how different things will be when you enter high school in the fall. Your friend doesn’t wear the headscarf, but you do. She expresses, with hesitation, how her brother and father are pressuring her to wear the hijab. Her older brother has openly stated that she better wear the hijab in the fall, or else…In light of what we have discussed today, what would you say to your friend?

Scenario 4 - MALEYou and your friends are chilling after school one day and one of the guys invites the group over to his house to check out the latest version of HALO!You all walk down together to your friend’s house and, as you enter, all you hear is a bunch of girls screaming and running into their bedrooms.Later you hear your friend being chastised by his sisters and his mother – they are worried that some of the guys must have seen them without their hijabs on! They are seriously upset and want everyone to leave immediately!In light of what we have discussed today, what would you say to your friend?

Scenario 4 - FEMALEYour friend tweets you, 911 emergency. You call her up and she is rather upset, sobbing and sniffling. Her brother had his friends over today and she didn’t know they were coming. She was sitting right in front of the door when they all came in. Although she ran as quick as she could she knows they saw her. She even heard one of them say to her brother, “Bro, your sister’s a babe!”In light of what we have discussed today, what would you say to your friend?

Scenario 5 - MALEYou are a grade nine student and as you are passing through the halls in between classes when you see a commotion happening in the hallway. As you make your way down to see what’s going on, you see a bunch of seniors picking on your older sister. They are calling her names and pretending to grab at her hijab.In light of what we have discussed today, what would you say to your friend?

Scenario 5 - FEMALEYou’re in English class and one of your friends is having a problem with the teacher – she’s disputing how her essay had been marked. All of a sudden, out of the blue, the English teacher blurts out “This is why they should ban the hijab! It cuts off circulation to your brain!”In light of what we have discussed today, how do you help your friend deal with this situation?