How Islam Protects Women
Author: Sa’id Yai [1]
Text of Hadith
عَنْ حَمْزَةَ بْنِ أَبِى أُسَيْدٍ الأَنْصَارِىِّ عَنْ أَبِيهِ أَنَّهُ سَمِعَ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ -صلى الله عليه وسلم- يَقُولُ وَهُوَ خَارِجٌ مِنَ الْمَسْجِدِ فَاخْتَلَطَ الرِّجَالُ مَعَ النِّسَاءِ فِى الطَّرِيقِ فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ -صلى الله عليه وسلم- لِلنِّسَاءِ:
(( اسْتَأْخِرْنَ فَإِنَّهُ لَيْسَ لَكُنَّ أَنْ تَحْقُقْنَ الطَّرِيقَ, عَلَيْكُنَّ بِحَافَاتِ الطَّرِيقِ )). فَكَانَتِ الْمَرْأَةُ تَلْتَصِقُ بِالْجِدَارِ حَتَّى إِنَّ ثَوْبَهَا لَيَتَعَلَّقُ بِالْجِدَارِ مِنْ لُصُوقِهَا بِهِ.
It is narrated from Hamzah Ibn Abi Usaid Al-Anshari, from his father (i.e., Abu Usaid Al-Anshar -may Allaah be pleased with him-), that when the Messenger of Allaah – was leaving the mosque and seeing that men and women were freely mixed on the street, he heard the Messenger of Allaah -peace and prayer of Allaah be upon him- said (to the women), “Stand back! Indeed, it isn’t rightful for you to walk in the middle of the street. You should walk at the sidewalk.” (Abu Usaid Al-Anshary -may Allaah be pleased with him-) said, “so the women walked close to the walls, to the extent that their clothes were get caught on it (due to their proximity, -tr).”
Narrational Chain
This hadith is narrated by Abu Dawud, hadith no. 5272, Ath-Thabari in “Al-Mu’jam Al-Kabir” (IX/262) and Imam Al-Baihaqi in “Al-Jami’ li Syu’abil Iman”, hadith No. 7437. Ibn Hibban also recorded it from the line of narration of Abu Hurairah -may Allaah be pleased with him- with th the text of; ( ليس للنساء وسط الطريق ) in “Shahih Ibnu Hibban bi tartib Ibn Balaban”, hadith no. 5601.
The status of this hadith is hasan (good), according to Sheikh Al-Albani -may Allaah have mercy upon him- in “Silsilah Al-Ahadits Ash-Shahihah” (II/511) no. 856.
Lessons from Hadith
- It is forbidden to commit Ikhtilath (free mixing between men and women that are lawful to marry each other, in one place).
- Islam forbids anything that may cause one to commit adultery/immoral act. Among those causes is what mentioned in the hadith.
- Islam protects women from the disturbance of men.
- It is better for women to stay at their houses, except to fulfill any needs that is allowed by sharia (to leave house for, -tr)
- The practice of enjoining the good and forbidding evil by the Messenger of Allaah -peace and prayer of Allaah be upon him-.
- Spirit of the companions in carrying out the Messenger of Allaah’s order -peace and prayer of Allaah be upon him-. It was shown when the Messenger of Allaah -peace and prayer of Allaah be upon him- ordered the women to walk on the sidewalk, they carried it out at once.
Explanation of Hadith
Islam Highly Honors Women
In this hadith, The Messenger of Allaah -peace and prayer of Allaah be upon him- guided his followers to have a noble manner, i.e., by prohibiting free mixing between men and women. He also guided the women to the correct way upon walking alongside men on the street, i.e., by walking on the sidewalk, not in thw middle of the street since it is meant for men. By abiding this hadith, they will be saved from free mixing as well as other things that Allaah The Glorified and Exalted forbids, their purity will be intact, for women in particular.
In Islam, a woman is treated as a priceless jewel, thus, Islamic rulings come to protect women, and not the other way around.
There are many people with impure souls that wish to ruin women’s honor, hence they label Islam as a religion that restraints and imprisons women. These are statements that are impossible to be said by anyone who believe in Allaah the High and Almighty, and His messenger -peace and prayer of Allaah be upon him- with a true beliefs, which believing in the perfection of this religion.
Indeed, Islam is a very noble religion. Islam pays strict attention to nobility of manner and etiquetter. Therefore, Islam forbids free mixing between men and women who are not forbidden to marry one another, and tightly closes any way that could lead to it.
Damages Caused by Free Mixing
There is no doubt that Allaah the High and Almighty, as well as His messenger -peace and prayer of Allaah be upon him- will not forbid something except if the thing brings harm or possesses danger to human being. Same goes for free mixing; it wont be disallowed except for the grave danger and damages it causes on earth.
Among the damages caused by free mixing are:
- It could tarnish one’s purity and dignity, woman in particular
How often it is that we hear news from television, or read on the newspaper regarding sexual harassment inflicted by the immorals towards women; on the street, public transportation, or even in educational institutions. It all happens due to the existence of the door that leads towards it.
2. It causes the loss of jealousy and modesty
Nowadays, it is not a taboo anymore to see a woman goes alone with a man who is not her mahrom (i.e., men that she can’t marry). It seems to be normal, and they do not feel any embarrassment for it, nor that there is any jealousy from the woman’s family upon seeing their daughter or sister walking alone with a non-mahram man.
It happens because free mixing has become a normalcy by most of the muslims. Ibn Qayyim Al-Jauziyya also mentioned the damages cause by free mixing. He wrote,
ولا ريب أن تمكين النساء من اختلاطهن بالرجال أصل كل بلية وشر وهو من أعظم أسباب نزول العقوبات العامة كما أنه من أسباب فساد أمور العامة والخاصة واختلاط الرجال بالنساء سبب لكثرة الفواحش والزنا وهو من أسباب الموت العام والطواعين المتصلة.
ولما اختلط البغايا بعسكر موسى وفشت فيهم الفاحشة أرسل الله عليهم الطاعون فمات في يوم واحد سبعون ألفا والقصة مشهورة في كتب التفاسير. فمن أعظم أسباب الموت العام كثرة الزنا بسبب تمكين النساء من اختلاطهن بالرجال والمشي بينهم متبرجات متجملات ولو علم أولياء الأمر ما في ذلك من فساد الدنيا والرعية قبل الدين لكانوا أشد شيء منعا لذلك
“There is no doubt that letting woman mixes freely with man is the source of all dooms, and one of the biggest cause of the descent of divine punishment that spread evenly among mankind. As it is also one of causes of the destruction that befalls both private and public affairs. Free mixing between man and woman is the trigger that cause plenty of evils and adulteries. It is also the cause of death and deadly plague of tha’un which has gone widespread.
When the adulterer were mixed with the troops of Prophet Moses -peace be upon him- and spread evildoing among them, Allaah the High and Almighty sent down the deadly plague of tha’un, to the extent that 70,000 of them were dead in a day. This is a very famous story in the books of Qur’an interpretation/tafseer. Thus, one of the causes of the widespread of deadly plague is the widespread of adultery that was caused by the free mixing between men and women, and women freely walked among them with their adornments and make ups. Supposed that the stakeholder among the authorities know about the terrible impact it has on their world and society, even before vieweing it from religious perpective, they will certainly strictly forbid it from happening.” (See: Ath-Thuruq Al-Hukmiyah Fissiyaasah Asy-Syar’iyah page. 407)
Islam Protects The Women
Whatever we heard and saw, from the many phenomena of sexual harassment and abuse towards women will not happen except for deviations from this noble sharia of Islam. Essentially, Islam is not sent down except to preserve the chastity of mankind, and of women in particular. Therefore, Islam has set specific rules for women that are designed to mainly preserve their chastity, and among those rules are:
A Woman is required to wear a veil, i.e., one that covers all of her body parts and her adornments. The indication that supports this notion is the verse:
{ يَا أَيُّهَا النَّبِيُّ قُلْ لِأَزْوَاجِكَ وَبَنَاتِكَ وَنِسَاءِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ يُدْنِينَ عَلَيْهِنَّ مِنْ جَلَابِيبِهِنَّ ذَلِكَ أَدْنَى أَنْ يُعْرَفْنَ فَلَا يُؤْذَيْنَ وَكَانَ اللَّهُ غَفُورًا رَحِيمًا} [الأحزاب: 59]
“O Prophet, enjoin your wives and your daughters and the believing women to draw a part of their outer coverings around them. It is likelier that they will be recognised and not molested. Allah is Most Forgiving, Most Merciful.” (Chapter Al-Ahzab:59)
And in hadith:
عَنْ عَائِشَةَ ، رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهَا، قَالَتْ: يَرْحَمُ اللَّهُ نِسَاءَ الْمُهَاجِرَاتِ الأُوَلَ, لَمَّا أَنْزَلَ اللَّهُ: {وَلْيَضْرِبْنَ بِخُمُرِهِنَّ عَلَى جُيُوبِهِنَّ} شَقَّقْنَ مُرُوطَهُنَّ فَاخْتَمَرْنَ بِهِ.
From ‘Aisha -may Allaah be pleased with her, she said, “May Allah bestow His Mercy on the early emigrant women. When Allah revealed: “… and to draw their veils all over their Juyubihinna (i.e., their bodies, faces, necks and bosoms)…” (V.24:31) they tore their Murat (woolen dresses or waist-binding clothes or aprons etc.) and covered their heads and faces with those torn Muruts.” (Narrated by Al-Bukhari no. 4758)
Woman is required to stay at her home except when there is a necessity that requires her to step out of it. The indication that supports this notion is Allaah’s verse -Glorified and Exalted be He-:
(وَقَرْنَ فِي بُيُوتِكُنَّ وَلَا تَبَرَّجْنَ تَبَرُّجَ الْجَاهِلِيَّةِ الْأُولَى ) [الأحزاب: 33]
“And stay in your homes and do not go about displaying your allurements as in the former Time of Ignorance. “ (Chapter Al- Ahzab: 33)
Woman is not allowed to expose her beauty / adornment (Tabarruj)
Tabarruj is when a woman exposes some of her body parts or her adornments in front of strange men. Whereas sufur is when a woman shows off her face in front of other/strange men. Therefore, tabarruj has a wider meaning than sufur, since it includes face and other body parts, as explained in the previous hadith, and in this hadith below:
عن أبي هريرة قال: قال رسول الله : ” صِنْفَانِ مِنْ أَهْلِ النَّارِ لَمْ أَرَهُمَا قَوْمٌ مَعَهُمْ سِيَاطٌ كَأَذْنَابِ الْبَقَرِ يَضْرِبُونَ بِهَا النَّاسَ وَنِسَاءٌ كَاسِيَاتٌ عَارِيَاتٌ مُمِيلاَتٌ مَائِلاَتٌ رُءُوسُهُنَّ كَأَسْنِمَةِ الْبُخْتِ الْمَائِلَةِ لاَ يَدْخُلْنَ الْجَنَّةَ وَلاَ يَجِدْنَ رِيحَهَا وَإِنَّ رِيحَهَا لَيُوجَدُ مِنْ مَسِيرَةِ كَذَا وَكَذَا “. رواه مسلم
Two are the types amongst the denizens of Hell, the one possessing whips like the tail of an ox and they flog people with their help. (The second one) the women who would be naked in spite of their being dressed, who are seduced (to wrong paths) and seduce others with their hair high like humps. These women would not get into Paradise and they would not perceive the odour of Paradise, although its frag- rance can be perceived from such and such distance (from great distance).(Narrated by Muslim hadith no. 2128)
Woman is not allowed to travel far (safar) except with her mahram. Among th indications that support this notion is a hadith below:
عن ابن عباس – رضي الله عنهما – قال : قال النبي: ((لاَ تُسَافِرِ الْمَرْأَةُ إِلاَّ مَعَ ذِي مَحْرَمٍ ، وَلاَ يَدْخُلُ عَلَيْهَا رَجُلٌ إِلاَّ وَمَعَهَا مَحْرَمٌ ” رواه البخاري
From Ibn ‘Abbas -may Allaah be pleased with him and his father, he said, “The Prophet -peace and prayer of Allaah be upon him- said, ‘A woman is not allowed to travel except with her mahram, and a man is not allowed to meet a woman (alone) except with her mahram.” (Narrated by Al-Bukhari, no. 1862)
These are some rulings which underline the great attention that Islam pays towards women, and these are not being sent from above except to protect women’s dignity and purity.
May this article benefits us all.
Bibliography:
- Al-Jami’ li syu’abil Iman. Imam Al-Baihaqi, Tahqiq: Mukhtar Ahmad An-Nadawy. Maktaba Ar-Rusyd.
- Al-Mu’jam Al-Kabir. Imam At-Thabary. Tahqiq: Hamdi ‘Abdul Majid As-Salafy. Maktaba Ibn Taimiyya.
- Ath-Thuruq Al-Hukmiyah. Muhammad bin Abi Bakr Ayyub, Ibn Qayyim Al-Jauziyah. Tahqiq: Muhammad Jamil Ghazi. Cairo: Mathba’ah Al-Madani.
- ‘Aunul Ma’bud Syarh Sunan Abi Daud. Al-Allamah Muhammad Syamsul-Haq Al-‘Azhim Abadi. Dar al Kutub Al-Ilmiyyah Bairut. First Edition.
- Shahih Bukhari. Imam Al-Bukhari. Al-Maktaba As-salafiyya.
- Shahih Ibn Hibban Bitartib Ibn Balban. Al-Amir Ala’uddin ‘Ali Ibn Balban Al-Farisi. Tahqiq: Sheikh Syu’aib Al-Arnauth. Muassasah Ar-Risalah.
- Shahih Muslim. Imam Muslim. Dar al Kutub Al-Ilmiyyah
- Silsilah Al-Ahadits Ash-Shahihah. Sheikh Nashiruddin Al-Albani. Maktaba Ma’arif.
- Sunan Abi Dawud. Imam Abu Daud Sulaiman Ibn Al-Asy’ats As-Sijistany. Maktaba Al-Ma’arif, second edition
—
[1] This article is adapted with several additions and editing from the writing of Ustadz Adi Aprianto (Student of Islamic University of Medina), titled “How Islam Protects You, O Sisters”, which was submitted as a paper for the subject of hadith during his study in the school of Imam Syafii, Jember.