Assalamu ‘alaikum Wa Rahmatullahi Wa Barkatuhu (May Peace, Blessings & Mercy of Allah Be Upon You)
Women are not slaves in Islam but infact have rights over their husbands and should be treated as equals. The misconceptions about polygamy have also been cleared below.
Article by Sister Noor-ul-Huda & Brother Asim ul Haq
The Article is in reply to series of allegations:
1) Refutation Series I: Muslim Women are Dirty Polluting Creatures
2) Refutation Series II:Women are inferior, slave to men
3) Refutation Series III: Muslim women are sex object for men enjoyment
4) Refutation Series IV: Muslim Men can Capture Infidel Women as Sex Slave
5) Refutation Series V: A Woman’s Testimony is Worth Only Half of a Man’s
6) Refutation Series VI: Brutal Punishment For Women
7)Refutation Series VII: Fewer seats for women in Allah’s Paradise
8) Refutation Series VIII: The Tyranny of Men over Women
9) Refutation Series IX: Polygamy
10)Refutation Series X: Wife Swapping
11) Refutation Series XI: Muslim women are sex object for men enjoyment
Allegation number 12: Wives as slaves
Islamwatch quoted Wives as slaves
Sura (66:5) – “Maybe, his Lord, if he divorce you, will give him in your place wives better than you, submissive, faithful, obedient, penitent, adorers, fasters, widows and virgins”
(Disobedient wife can be replaced. A man can only have up to four wives, but he can rotate as many women as he pleases in and out of the lineup.)
Response
The commentary that the author has made on the verse is really funny! I have already quoted evidences that if the husband is not good and the wife doesn’t like him she can leave him.Now , if a wife can leave a husband she doesn’t like, what is the problem when a husband wants to leave the wife he doesn’t like? The rule is the same in both cases. So if a man wants an obedient wife, how is he wrong? Or from where does it prove that he is simply replacing wives? A Wife should listen to her husband and same goes to the husband. This increases love and affection between them.
Now if the author has a problem with this affection and love, in the relation, he can make his point without quoting verses from the Qura’an!
Previously, the author was saying that islam permits wife swapping and now the same author, foolishly makes his own point NULL because now he presented another verse and he now makes it replacement.
Should this person be believed any way?
The answer to this question is left to the readers.
Women’s rights over her husband
Financial Rights
It was narrated that ‘Aa’ishah said: “Hind bint ‘Utbah, the wife of Abu Sufyaan, entered upon the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) and said, ‘O Messenger of Allaah, Abu Sufyaan is a stingy man who does not spend enough on me and my children, except for what I take from his wealth without his knowledge. Is there any sin on me for doing that?’ The Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said, ‘Take from his wealth on a reasonable basis, only what is sufficient for you and your children.’” (Narrated by al-Bukhaari, 5049; Muslim, 1714)
Kind treatment
“…But consort with them in kindness, for if you hate them it may happen that you hate a thing wherein God has placed much good.” [Qur’an 4: l9]
“And they (women) have rights (over their husbands as regards living expenses) similar (to those of their husbands) over them (as regards obedience and respect) to what is reasonable” [al-Baqarah 2:228]
Prophet Muhammad. (PBUH) said: “The best of you is the best to his family and I am the best among you to my family.”
“The most perfect believers are the best in conduct and best of you are those who are best to their wives.” (Musnad Ahmad, No. 7396)
It was narrated that Abu Hurayrah (may Allaah be pleased with him) said: “The Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: ‘Be kind to women.’”(Narrated by al-Bukhaari, 3153; Muslim, 1468).
It was narrated that ‘Urwah ibn al-Zubayr said: “ ‘Aa’ishah said: ‘By Allaah, I saw the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) standing at the door of my apartment when the Abyssinians were playing with their spears in the Mosque of the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him). He covered me with his cloak so that I could watch their games, then he stood there for my sake until I was the one who had had enough. So you should appreciate the fact that young girls like to have fun.’” (Narrated by al-Bukhaari, 443; Muslim, 892)
Not harming one’s wife.
It was narrated from ‘Ubaadah ibn al-Saamit that the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) ruled, “There should be no harming nor reciprocating harm.” (Narrated by Ibn Maajah,, 2340)
This hadeeth was classed as saheeh by Imaam Ahmad, al-Haakim, Ibn al-Salaah and others. See Khalaasat al-Badr al-Muneer, 2/438. (exctrated from ISLAM QA)
And so on and so forth, there are so many examples, so many traditions which make the rights of the wife over her husband very clear.
Islamwatch quoted
From the Hadith:Bukhari (62:2) Narrated ‘Ursa: that he asked ‘Aisha about the Statement of Allah: ‘If you fear that you shall not be able to deal justly with the orphan girls, then marry (other) women of your choice, two or three or four; but if you fear that you shall not be able to deal justly (with them), then only one, or (the captives) that your right hands possess. That will be nearer to prevent you from doing injustice.’ (4.3) ‘Aisha said, “O my nephew! (This Verse has been revealed in connection with) an orphan girl under the guardianship of her guardian who is attracted by her wealth and beauty and intends to marry her with a Mahr less than what other women of her standard deserve. So they (such guardians) have been forbidden to marry them unless they do justice to them and give them their full Mahr, and they are ordered to marry other women instead of them.”
Response
And author tries to prove from above hadith that wives are slaves! The above hadith clearly says regarding Orphans that, “they (such guardians) have been forbidden to marry them unless they do justice to them and give them their full Mahr.” This is also a proof for the statement that if a man can’t be just, he should marry only one woman. It has not been stated anywhere that a muslim man must marry four women otherwise he won’t be considered a muslim!
The author, again, has failed to present his point of view logically, and his allegation melts once again.
Islamwatch quoted
Bukhari (5:268) – “The Prophet used to visit all his wives in a round, during the day and night and they were eleven in number.” I asked Anas, “Had the Prophet the strength for it?” Anas replied, “We used to say that the Prophet was given the strength of thirty men.” Muhammad had special rules that allowed him at least eleven wives. (His successors had more than four wives at a time as well.)
Bukhari (62:6) – “The Prophet used to go round (have sexual relations with) all his wives in one night, and he had nine wives.”
Bukhari (77:598) – “Allah’s Apostle said, “No woman should ask for the divorce of her sister (Muslim) so as to take her place, but she should marry the man (without compelling him to divorce his other wife)”
Narrated Abu Huraira: Allah’s Apostle said, “No woman should ask for the divorce of her sister (Muslim) so as to take her place, but she should marry the man (without compelling him to divorce his other wife), for she will have nothing but what Allah has written for her.” Polygamy is firmly established in the Islamic tradition.
Response
He was Prophet ( peace be upon him) and what is the problem if a Man visits his wife during day time or night time?
See reply here (again polygamy is already answered in this article)
http://www.answering-christianity.com/polygamy.htm
and another good point is what Dr Zakir Naik said:
In Western society, it is common for a man to have mistresses and/or multiple extra-marital affairs, in which case, the woman leads a disgraceful, unprotected life. The same society, however, cannot accept a man having more than one wife, in which women retain their honorable, dignified position in society and lead a protected life.
In short
Allah warns us in Surah An Nisa ayah 3 “if ye fear that ye shall not be able to deal justly (with them), then marry only one”. And in ayah 129 “Ye are never able to be fair and just as between women”.
Prophet (Peace be upon him) warned us “Whoever has two wives and inclines to one of them (too much), will come on the Day of Resurrection with one of his sides dragging” means, both of his wives MUST receive equal rights from their husband, he should not spend extra time with one and so the other wife might feel deprived of her needs and rights.
Polygamy is not a rule but an exception.
If wives are happy then Anti-islamic people should not have a problem.
Islam Honours women but in western society, Man can have multiple Girlfriends but the same society cannot permit 2nd wife in which women retain their honourable, dignified position. This is only promoting fornication (zina) which is not only a sin but its also a social crime. What’s the harm in making up relationship which is legal! And also a man HAS TO ASK HIS FIRST wife before marrying the second time. This is what ISLAM has made obligatory. ISLAM cares for women more than the western, so-called, modern society.
The wisdom behind the marriages of Prophet (peace be upon him);
Why Did the Prophet Have So Many Wives? (this question is often put by our non-muslim friends and they make this question basis to prove that women were treated so bad even by the prophet (s.a.w.w) of muslims.)
http://www.islamawareness.net/Polygamy/fatwa004.html
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