Valuing Daughters – How Islam altered the status of women

As soon as a woman announces the news of her pregnancy, speculations are made among friends and family of whether she bears a girl or a boy. Abundant hopes, questions that are uncalled for and explicit assumptions are directed towards pregnant women. Along with this disturbing routine that has become common in our society there comes an aggravating prioritization for sons over daughters.

Despite the development in education and escalated awareness campaigns driven by NGOs, there are still many of those in our country that prefer sons over daughters. Whether we choose to accept it or not,  this fact persists even amongst the elite groups. Statements of how a son will bring continuity of the family name and financial security in future resonate with this same desire.

Let us take a sneak peek into how daughters were treated before Islam and what major contributions were made by our harmonious religion into preserving the lives and sanctity of daughters.

In pre-Islamic times, the custom of killing girl-child was quite prevalent in Arab families. There was an onset of quiet and chagrin when the families were given news of the birth of a female child. Allah says in the Quran:

“And when the good news is given to them of a daughter, his face turns dark and he is filled with grief.” (Quran 16:58)

There are stories of how a few Sahaba who killed their daughters before acceptance of the faith. Umar (RA) confessed on burying his daughters alive. Hazrat Qais Bin ‘Asim admitted to burying twelve of his daughters alive. These incidents vividly provide us the mindset of the people in the age of ignorance. A daughter was considered a burden. Their belief stated that a female child will bring disgrace and humility for the family.

One of the Sahaba (RA) narrates this story: “We would worship idols in the pre-Islamic era and kill our daughters. I had a daughter, who, when she was old enough to comprehend and talk, would rejoice whenever she saw me and would immediately respond. One day, I called her and told her to follow me, so she did, until we reached a well that belonged to my tribe. I then took her by her hand and threw her in the well, and the last thing I heard her cry was: ‘O father! O father!'” (Ad-Daarimi)

With the introduction of Islam in that era, Allah (SWT) bestowed a high status to the daughters. The darkness from mindset was removed and taking good care of a girl child was taught. Equality among the two genders was pressed upon through Quranic verses. The Ayaat clearly told how some laws were to be followed by men and women both. No discrimination was made in the declarations for reward and punishments.

Hazrat Anas, (RA) provided that the Prophet S.A.W.W. said: “He who raises two daughters until their puberty will be with me in Paradise like this” and he indicated the closeness by showing two of his fingers with a slight space between them.” (Muslim)

Daughters were declared a test and rewards for their nurturing were multiplied. The reason was similar. Human beings, out of their fallacious nature often tend to view the immediate results. It is evident that a son shall bring prosperity for the family and in case of daughters; the family has to provide for their upbringing, toil for suitable proposals and spend for their marital departures. In a nutshell, what is immediately seen is that a son shall bring in sustenance while the upbringing of daughter involves constant expenditure.

The Almighty willed for these misconceptions to be eliminated. Daughters were redeemed as a source of honor, a bounty and certification for entrance into Paradise. As the Prophet said:

“Whoever Allah has given two daughters and is kind towards them, will have them as a reason for him to be admitted into Paradise.”

At present times, there are many issues which make discussion on such topics mandatory. The fact that females are still being declined from their rights as well as the outrage created by the Western media against the undermining of women in Islam has led to such discussions being made widely.

A Muslim must fathom the fact that Islam exalts status of women. A child is a providence from Allah and the families shall struggle to make their children adopt Straight Path.

By: Anoshia Riaz.