The Social System in Islam

The Status and Role of Women and

Men
Throughout history' the world has scorned
women as subhuman a1d, at best, second-class
today's secular societies, the status of citizens. under
women h"r ;";;;ated to the level of
manufactured by the sensationalist tide m*."hurrdise that
of-beaut; d;;, and everlasting youth, and plastered is
magazines and screens in the name
of pront. Irr"* f".*ir". *o-.n as an onto the
of women to a level of honour and erevates the status
unJalgnity thar no social structure can attain.
"'p".t
the woman't ti*iu. irom all ,tuna"r,
The Islamic Society
H:::?t#fl:f" "*ptoitution
unJuuu"r. and ensure the erevated

The main role of the woman as a wife

and mother obligates her to look after
comfort for her hutbu;;'^B; ;;;;;t the children and provide
do the *o*an's responsibilities negare
eatefor the children or restiict til;* rhe rore of the husband to
to pursue u ro"i"iui rore and ,.u.J...-when
debating whether or not women had souls,'Irtu* Europe was busy
the woman to hold a cateer,establish
business' ensase in-commer";;;; p*icipate "r"o*uged her
t., tr," poliircar spheres ;i;;;i;y. Trrough
the woman
::"h:*n**Ti'J.3*T#:i:";;'illl"filft*tt,;:#;;i;"""'Hg rbod, sherter ad c,orhing

Women and Men in political Life

Islam has mandated upon women and
men the responsibility to participate in
those responsible for iunning the affairs the political life to account
of the staie. In the cunent absence of the
Muslim woman is obliged tJ work to establish Islamic State, the
the Islam and_to participate in irr" Islamic
Non-Muslims to Islam and bringing the cay by inviting
Muslims resume the Isramic personality
Throughout the Islamichistory,?u?y and character.
rulers' and the Pledqe.of war -orrr* served as prominent scholars, judges, and advisors to the
tbayat'al-Aqaba At-Th*rr],; ,r,u, lrrol lvru,arIlllao
Muhammad (saawJ
in Medina witnesseci the presence of t'r.;c from the IAnsar
(saaw) took trom
womei.
\l'omen and Men are not the Same
AIlah(sW)created*.;;;J;;;;;""'clearlydistinctintheirphysiology,andsuchadistinctionhas
mandated certain responsibiliti.t tp..ili.
,, ."J. ary;;;;", c.an crearry perceive such a disrinction,
it is wrong to design a system under the fagade and
or"q,rutlty thut igrro.", ,r"r, u oulity. In Islam,
man and the woman have obligationt both the
ura ioles that u.. ,i*iru.;ffi;".
the creator to each' For insranf., tJu,n-ouliges w"",ir" obligations legislated by
the man to finance the family but excuses
from these responsibilities' In rtrl"r- u"tn the woman
men and women conduct their lives
commandments of Allah (sr-l't) i1,h"i, g..r".a-l according r.o the
and specific responsibilities, and the
equality stems from
tr'",rr"v *il ."""i,," rro* airur, (swt) for tulfiuing
lh:Xti,?[1.0'""*"'i or neglecting their

The.Larvs of Gathering (private and public

Space)
unlike the unrestricted ind chaotic *i*it g
inw;i# societies, Isram ensures modesty between
wome* In the public ltf.;;;il ;oi";;;"'il;ffi.r',I men and
*",n.r in both rhe pubric and the private life,
unless the shariah has,stipulated and
educational purposes, business, ,t"dirg,
fennil;; -".h""il;.'i:,1* permitted mixed gathering for :

and Hajj, but sociarizing, and gathering

pu{poses' whether in schools oi at for entertainment
woii, is compieterv ro.uiaa"i. arro] ilh;"", and women are obriged
to lower their gazeand a man and ;;;*
cannor be arone without;M;hr;;^b".ur..
Muhammad
said' "A woman should not meet and-i*
;;h;;;r-u"loi"unl"rs she has a mahrem with her.,, (saaw)
Such values would dramaticall
v atter *:i"i;;:r.il;trhtril;rr*i" ffi;ii:,;#,,H;*oorr ,.
,

:,1-t1e*
women to ensure theprotection and dignity
":
The workplace, and the educationat institutions
*ouiJ;;;tf.;il"J["gurion : of men and, :
a"u.i.. The west rr* Ena"uuoured
the Islamic Social Svstem provides *orrJ
;-;;;;;;;
financial and political avenues to curtaliirre "rrrr"-.""i"1
rrl;; il;;;hfi#ilr,#llo*r1'jffi,r,
with all of its
*r,
:...
::,r.
r"uL;""4;;#ri,. uiiri"r-i"il;#;r,ries rhat thrive on rhe
-ii
vi ces and corrupti on o f the prev;r
I ;;;;;;'ir;i#,."u0
;r; r"n. :,,'
". .:,,t.

.:l
Nlarriagc
Allah (swt) has endowed human beings with the instincts of love and procreation. Unlike in the West,
where no restrictions are placed on the these instincts, Islam has given mankind a system to control and
express them through the institution of marriage. Allah (swt) says in the Qur'an:
And among His signs is this: that He created matesfor youfront yourselves, that
you mayfind rest and peace of mind in them, and he ordained between you love and
mercy. Verily, in that are signs for tltose who reflect. [Ar-Rum: 2lJ
Contrary to the image portrayed by the West, the woman cannot be forced into a marriage. Islam does
give the man a degree over the woman, but solely to protect the woman and not as a liaison for the man to
have a master-servant relationship. Obeying the husband constitutes part of obeying the laws of Allah
(snvt), and Islam emphasizes the principte g{lav11g,.good relationshipS, &S Muhammad (saaw) said, "The
best amongst you is the one who is best to his wife."

In Islam, the husband has the role of pleasing, caring for, and respecting the wife. If the husband
commands the wife to go against Allah (swt) and one of her obligations, the wife must disobey the
husband. By establishing specific responsibilities and laws to govern the marriage life, Islam ensures that
both husband and wife remain as slaves to Allah (swt) and protects them from slavery to one another.

lslamic and Western Perspective on Love

The current society has defined love on purely physical and emotional dimensions. Love has become the
most popular word in all languages, but no one has a clear understanding of its meaning. The results
establishing such a central concept in relationships upon vague, ambiguous criteria are clear in the rising
statistics of broken relationships, failed marriages, and widespread social misery.

lslam recognizes the importance of this relationship, and unlike the West, gives clear guidelines to the
duties and responsibilities of the husband and wife, removing the confusion and allowing both to work in
harmony and for love to flourish between them.

Conclusion
The Islamic Social System contains many laws that clearly define the various social relationships and
issues arising from the interaction of men and wornan. Islam provides the solution to the problems and
plights generated by man-made systems.