Muslima and Their Boundaries: How Much does Islam Glorify Women?
A hadith narrated by Abu Huraira says
A man came to Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) and said, “O Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ)! Who is more entitled to be treated with the best companionship by me?” The Prophet (ﷺ) said, “Your mother.” The man said, “Who is next?” The Prophet said, “Your mother.” The man further said, “Who is next?” The Prophet (ﷺ) said, “Your mother.” The man asked for the fourth time, “Who is next?” The Prophet (ﷺ) said, “Your father.”
Regarding Muslima and their boundaries, Islamic teachings direct women to protect and be protected.
Why should women be protected?
One of the reasons is that they play a major role in maintaining the balance of human civilization. This role is not only related to the population but also to parenting. A poet by Hafiz Ibrahim revealed that,
Al-ummu madrastul ula, iza a’dadtaha a’dadta sya’ban thayyibal a’raq.
“Mother is the first school or educator for her children, if you prepare her well, then it is the same as preparing a good nation at its core.”
As mentioned in the hadith above, The Prophet (ﷺ) mentioned the word mother three times and the word father only once. Imam Al-Qurthubi explained that love and affection for a mother must be three times greater than for a father. Difficulties in facing pregnancy, difficulties in giving birth, difficulties in breastfeeding, and caring for children are only experienced by a mother.
Also, Allah (SwT) recognizes the difficulties borne by a mother and directly mentions them in the Qur’an:
“And We have enjoined upon man [care] for his parents. His mother carried him, [increasing her] in weakness upon weakness, and his weaning is in two years. Be grateful to Me and to your parents; to Me is the [final] destination.” (Surah Luqmān, Ayah 14)
“And We have enjoined upon man, to his parents, good treatment. His mother carried him with hardship and gave birth to him with hardship, and his gestation and weaning [period] is thirty months. [He grows] until, when he reaches maturity and reaches [the age of] forty years, he says, “My Lord, enable me to be grateful for Your favor which You have bestowed upon me and upon my parents and to work righteousness of which You will approve and make righteous for me my offspring. Indeed, I have repented to You, and indeed, I am of the Muslims.” (Surat al-Aĥqāf, Ayah 15)
Based on the hadith and Ayah of the Qur’an above, we know that Allah and the Prophet Muhammad SAW recognize the difficulties experienced by a woman in becoming a mother and Both teach us to honor her.
How much influence a woman can have shows that how high her position is. Her nobility has been clearly explained in the Quran and the hadith of the Prophet.
Why should a woman protect herself?
Simply put, the answer is so that they do not get harassed. However, another reason is that they do not fall. How far can a woman fall?
How women are perceived as beautiful today may have standards such as straight hair, white skin, and a slim body. It’s a normal thing for a person to want to look good. However, it will be wrong when that woman is at a point where the purpose she is aiming for is no longer about caring for or maintaining her body but rather perfection. This is what can make a woman fall. The feeling of never being enough will surround them and they will start to hate themselves.
Those standards can be different in every place, but it is certain that these standards will lead a woman to show her body parts. As a Muslima, one of the obligations that must be fulfilled is to cover the awrah. What is meant by that is the hijab. Wearing the hijab for a Muslima means wearing clothes that cover almost all parts of her body.
The purpose of the hijab written in the Quran is related to modesty and to avoiding being harassed. However, let’s look deeper into its relationship with beauty standards. Why is the hijab necessary?
The hijab itself becomes like a boundary for women to be able to say “enough” to themselves. Even though it is called a boundary, it does not mean that women are completely not allowed to do this and that. What is meant by that is that a hijab helps a woman determine what is right and what is wrong for herself. It is determined based on Allah’s calculations. Here it can be seen that the boundary that Muslima puts on herself also works by having another purpose. Hijab is written in the Qur’an, one of which is in Surah Al-Ahzab verse 59.
“O Prophet, tell your wives and your daughters and the women of the believers to bring down over themselves [part] of their outer garments. That is more suitable that they will be known and not be abused. And ever is Allah Forgiving and Merciful.” (Al-Ahzab [33] : 59)
The other purpose in question is to get the love of the one who gives the command, which is Allah. The way to get His love is by obeying His commands. It is also a form of worship. It direct a woman to her purpose. What they get then is peace.
So, the boundaries taught to introduce right and wrong for oneself and society. It also has another purpose, which is to get Allah’s love. One thing that needs to be underlined is that Islam teaches boundaries for women, not to restrain women, but to protect them. What actually applies is that, Islam protects women and in Islam women are respected.
The boundaries are not to lock someone away from social life. In fact, their existence aims to keep her or him living on a path that achieves a balanced society. A society where people in it can respect each other.
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