The Changemaker

Women's Empowerment

Dalia Mogahed

Dalia Mogahed is a community researcher, Pollster and research analyst, author and advisor based in the United States, and is the Director of Research at the Institute for Social Policy and Understanding.

One of Prophet Muhammad’sﷺ most revolutionary acts was transforming the status of women. Guided by a divine mandate over fourteen centuries ago, the Prophetﷺ avidly supported women’s rights and created a new environment where women could thrive and shape their communities.

Status of women in Arab pagan society

Prophet Muhammadﷺ was born into a sixth century pagan, tribal Arab society which was forged on lineage, power and patriarchy. It was a society that trampled upon its weaker and more vulnerable members and considered women as second class citizens. Daughters were regarded as a source of shame to the extent that many fathers would even bury their infant daughters alive.

One of Prophet Muhammad’sﷺ most revolutionary acts was transforming the status of women.

Muhammadﷺ was appalled by such primitive practices. After receiving his prophethood and the first divine revelations in 610, he began to institute the transformational teachings in the Quran (Qurʾān) and set about changing the role of women.

Rights and independence

The Prophetﷺ challenged the status quo by advocating a revolutionary concept – that no one was subservient to another; rather all humans, whether male or female, were created to serve God (Allāh) alone. Thus, the empowerment of women was inherent in his message of monotheism.

By describing women as the “twin halves of men” and stipulating their God-given rights, Prophet Muhammadﷺ replaced restriction and oppression with an opportunity for autonomy and success. Islam gave women rights to independently manage their own finances, to own property, to inherit, to decide whom to marry and the right to divorce. This was unheard of at a time when women were owned by their families and husbands with no freedom of choice. But under Islam, women were equally valued and could contribute to society spiritually, socially and politically.

Political participation

Women were able to strengthen their political agency under the Prophet’sﷺ leadership.

Women were able to strengthen their political agency under the Prophet’sﷺ leadership. They were among the first to swear allegiance to him on various occasions, most notably in the Pledge of Aqaba (‘Aqabah), an agreement between the Prophetﷺ and the leaders of a city called Yathrib, which was later named Medina (Madīnah). It was here that the early Muslim community who had been persecuted in Mecca (Makkah) migrated and found a safe haven.

Women formed part of the delegation of leaders from Yathrib who met with the Prophetﷺ. They pledged to welcome him into their city and extend their protection. This was a truly pioneering act - for the Prophetﷺ, through this agreement, acknowledged not only the political participation of women, but their political leadership.

Under Islam, women were directed to pursue knowledge and became students, scholars and educators.

Education

Women’s intellectual capacity was not even considered in pre-Islamic society, yet the Prophetﷺ encouraged women to be educated and to take on prominent roles as educators.

Upholding the Quranic declaration that education is a duty on every single person, whether male or female, the Prophet’sﷺ own household demonstrated living examples of this divine instruction. Prophet Muhammad’sﷺ wife Aisha (ʿĀʾishah) was a prolific scholar and one of the chief sources on his life story. Aisha’s home became a center of learning where she taught study circles consisting of men and women, and notably, her female students were said to far outnumber her male students. Aisha’s meticulous collecting of the hadith (sayings and actions of the Prophetﷺ) provides an essential blueprint for Muslims on how to lead their lives, since the Quran directed them to follow the Prophet’sﷺ example by emulating his lifestyle, from personal development to community service. Scholars claim that without Aisha, half of the knowledge and understanding of the Prophet’sﷺ life and teachings would have disappeared.

Defenders of the faith

The Prophetﷺ forged a space where women became defenders of the faith against the persecution and tyranny of the Meccan pagan elite.

True to the spirit of the Quran which describes both men and women as “protectors of each other” (Chapter 9, verse 71), the Prophetﷺ forged a space where women became defenders of the faith against the persecution and tyranny of the Meccan pagan elite. Warrior women protected the Prophetﷺ on the battlefield, like Nusayba bint Kaab (Nusaybah bint Ka’ab), also known as Umm Umara (Umm ‘ʿUmārah), who became known as “The Prophet’s Shield”. The Prophetﷺ honored her tenacity saying, “Where can anyone get courage like you, O Umm Umara?” (al-Waqidi).

Among the number of women who defended their faith was Umm Sulaym bint Malhan (Umm Sulaym bint Malḥān), who served the wounded and thirsty soldiers on the battlefield and joined the ranks of the army. And there was Khawla bint al-Azwar (Khawlah bint al-Azwār), known as the Black Knight, who would enter battle covered from head to toe in black clothing and fought so valiantly that everyone on the battlefield thought she was a man. Whether fighting for liberty or protecting their God-given rights, Islam gave women new opportunities to build their identity and freedom.

Public service

Women began to adopt roles beyond the private sphere to enter wider society as public service providers.

Women’s roles were so revolutionized by the Quran and the Prophet’sﷺ endeavors, that they began to adopt roles beyond the private sphere to enter wider society as public service providers.

One remarkable example was that of Rufaida al-Aslamiya (Rufaidah al-Aslamiyyah) , the first female Muslim nurse and surgeon. During times of war, she operated her own field hospital, unflinchingly tending to wounded soldiers in the midst of battle. She used her expertise to train other women as nurses. Rufaida also provided social support to children, orphans, the handicapped and the poor. She offered a holistic approach to healthcare by tackling social problems and encouraging good hygiene.

Other women such as Samra bint Nuhayk (Samra’ bint Nuhayk) took charge of business and trade in the market. In these ways the Prophetﷺ began to shift societal attitudes and set new roles for Muslim women.

A new way forward

The Prophet’sﷺ reforms enabled women to achieve a level of status, personal independence, rights, equality and a role in public life never seen before in pagan Arab society. Charged with a divine mandate, the Prophetﷺ created a space where women could develop spiritually, intellectually, socially and politically. He opened the door for them to reach their potential and to become full members of their community and in turn shape the course of history.

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