Heavenly Jewels

Islam is not for the fulfillment ofphysical desires only. RatherNikah is a Deeni practice, a relationship of cultural and moral responsibility and significance. The mutual love that is sought in the inter -action ofa man and a woman as husband andwife is vital, for a complete fruitful life and for the protection ofthe chain ofhumanity. Allah � states i n the Holy Quraan that women are the fields of their husbands. From this we can deduce that men are to care and look after their wives as they are the source of their fruits i.e. children. Wives are not for amusing one ' s self rather they occupy the integral position of being your support and mothers to your offspring. Ifyou desire an equal and fair society for your children then the onus is on you to be kind and compassionate to yourwives first. Both men and women have been strictlywarned in the Quraan that the contract ofmarriage has been instituted with certain rules for a blissful domestic life. In short they are instituted so that both men and women can lead respectful lives free from sin and detriment and also attain the pleasure ofAllah�. WOMEN BEFORE ISLAM Prior to the advent oflslam, rights ofwomen did not exist. Theyhad no value and were not afforded any respect for anything. An infinite amount of women could be brought into marriage and treated worse than animals. There was no such thing as a woman's right to Mehr (dowry) rather the possessions and wealth of a woman came into the control and usurpation of her husband after marriage. This is j ust a glance ofhow horrible society was towards women at that time. The person to come in the world and estab lish women's rights is none other than Rahmatulil-Aalameen, Muhammad Mustafa � who raised their dignity in the followingwords ofthe Quraan. "And the women have rights similar to those over them according to law." (Surah Ba (Ji'l1 h, Verse 228) 1 78