In social life, we occasionally witness situations that marginalize women or even elevate their status to the top. The reason for this is that society's perspectives are still closed off and there are historical echoes that perpetuate the idea that women had a lower social standing in the past.Â
They were seen as things that men should keep an eye on and manage. It was believed that women did not enjoy the same rights as men, such as the ability to own property, pursue an education, and take part in governmental processes.Â
Their duties included cooking, cleaning, and taking care of the family, and they were viewed as men's extensions. This status is reflected in various cultures and religions, including in Islam, Christianity and Judaism. In some cultures, women are even regarded as property that can be sold or inherited.
Women had a lower social status than men prior to the arrival of Islam. This indicates that women were viewed by the jahiliyyah as commodities that could be claimed or sold, much like money or even animals, and used for whatever purpose. Because women at the time had no rights and no personal freedom, they were swapped for their own spouses, allowing men to engage in unrestricted free polygamy.
In addition, women were only employed by men as laborers and were not allowed to attend school. It was extremely difficult for women to obtain the right to an education during the jahiliyah, or prehistoric periods. They were only employed to satiate and satisfy the needs of males.Â
According to Imam Muslim's explanation in his Sahih Muslim, Jews were equally rife with ignorance and shame over women's status. Additionally, if it was assumed that their women were menstrual, they would be shunned and kept apart; they were not permitted to eat or engage in sexual activity while they were menstruating.
However, Islam later came with a new light. With the advent of Islam, women were granted complete rights, including the ability to inherit, full ownership of their property, and the prohibition against other parties becoming involved. This indicates that Islam offers historical oppressed women a new opportunity.
In addition, women are free to choose who they want to marry; their parents are not allowed to force them into marriage. Additionally, Islam provides women with freedom and possibilities in social settings where men and women work side by side in equal and respectable positions. Islam is a relatively progressive faith when it comes to improving women's status and standing. The Prophet Muhammad SAW made an effort to break free from the restrictions of the jahiliyyah conventions of the day, with a focus on boosting women's self-esteem.
Further to this potential, women are now permitted to engage in political arenas. Megawati Sukarnoputri, the first female president of Indonesia, held office from 2001 to 2004. As their leader for three years, she advanced her political ideas and committed her professional life to the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle, or PDIP. He continued to participate in decision-making and brought Indonesia's situation under control. She is also a female Islamic politician that is involved in Indonesian politics. Furthermore, women have complete access to the best education available today. One such example is Maudy Ayunda, a well-known inspiration who attended some of the top colleges in the globe.
Women have accomplished so many "first time" records in history, which is a positive development for the stability of the world in terms of the balance of positions that Allah SWT has declared, in addition to the dynamics of the world that mold the human mind to think rationally about the position between men and women.
