Women in Islam: The Transformation Maker in Past, Present & Future

Imagine being a women in Islam where Allah gives a special surah only for women to understand themselves as mostly known for it complicated feelings. Allah SWT, as the almighty of every creature, has made Q.S An-Nisa (4) which mostly speaks about women, it merely to concise the equality between men and women. Moreover, An-Nisa itself has implied the degree of women which is glorious and honorable for it position. In past, as human have not been civilized like now, women are treated in horrible ways, as a matter of fact, human civilization has done years by years, decade by decade and women are treated in better ways by men. This article will be focusing on the past, present and future position of women in the world, either in socio-economic status, cultural, and it value on doing politics.

Women in past actually already has the ability on doing businesses. Rasulullah however met his wife, Khadijah, when his wife was on duty for business. She does not only encourage Rasulullah on his early age but she have brought significance support for Rasulullah until her death. With deep of love to complete one another, Rasulullah respected Khadijah as much as Khadijah respected him. Khadijah, as a full dedicated women itself have counter the mindset of women been able to do nothing but to only serve their husbands. She however has demonstrate women position on been able to take care of men and business at the same time. Khadijah was also well known helping the Islam community in the dakwah of Rasulullah, one of it was doing sadaqah or known as charity to many community.

In addition, when people know Khadijah as an inspirative role during that time, she keeps being humble. Rasulullah, even after her death, still always tells about how amazing Khadijah is on being such a good friend in his life. Nowadays, many have said that Khadijah and Aisyah which both are the wife of Rasulullah who have the special spot in Rasulullah's heart. Therefore, Rasulullah has also puts crown on those women who needed them, supporting women in Islam civilization. Also, in wars, when there is a message leftover on taking over the families of soldier who dead in war, Rasulullah has always been entrusted by the soldiers. Most of the family are the wife and their children, even it looks like a simple responsibility, but Rasulullah manages to take care of them seriously.

Viewing again to when the world have turns, passing through centuries with several stereotypes which actually have proven to be wrong in Khadijah' story: Women are not allowed to explore and achieve their own value in the social system. There are lots of education or even political participation that got restricted just because the matter of gender now in the present or even the past. It is quite related to a term called 'Patriarchy' which is happening all around the world, it refers on men is above women and women should obey men in any situation, this mainly happens especially in rural and conservative regions and eventually it affects to the rights and obligation of a women in the society.

Otherwise, women often meets challenges in society concerning their position and value. Society seeks women on it inability on contributing to learning processes, by the past, there are lots of women activist that voice the rights of women to only read a book and access enrollment in schools. By the present, if the gender gap is speaking loud, the empowerment of women speaks harder, the birth of feminist activist started by these empowerment. Including the birth of amazing Islamic feminist like Malala Yousafzai, an Islamic activist of human rights, when she battles for her thoughts on advocating the women in Islam resilience, especially in education. She was 16 years old and confronting her thought in United Nation of how wide a women would potentially be.

Along with it potential, women now also have allowed to participate in political forums, in Indonesia we can see Megawati Sukarnoputri, as the first women president ever in Indonesia., she serves from 2001-2004. In 3 years of her leadership, she encourage her political thoughts and serving her career in The Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle or known as PDIP as their leader. She remain on the decision making process and stabilize Indonesia's situation. Moreover, she's another Islamic figure which is a women and active in politics in Indonesia. As the dynamics of world shaping the mind of people to think rationally about positions between men or women, women in present time has achieve so many 'first time' record in history, which is a good improvement to the stability of the world referring to the position balance that has stated by Allah SWT. 

The last part of the article would like to conclude the role and status of women in Islam, from the past to the present, it reflects much empowerment and the ability of women on handling many things. The position of women has rooted from teachings like Quran and women can exemplify from some of the Islamic role models who are empowering the feminist. Women like Khadijah in the past who helps and devote her endless support of Rasulullah or activist and politician like Malala and Megawati that throw their best effort on implying the empowerment of women. Women is a transformation maker and should be respected it existence including her rights and obligations in this life.

In the future, there might be ongoing struggle for gender equality in many parts of the world, women can settle their boundaries and demonstrates their crucial role as the world crown holders, to keep influencing goods with pleasure and honors. Their contributions, resilience, and leadership are things that matters and integrate them one another. Women shall always respect every existence in the world, including men. In the harmonious world the human being create, it could enhance the progressive dynamics of social interaction in Muslim societies or even the world, aligned with the principles of equality that describes by Allah SWT.

Azzira Maresya Airin_20230510136_Class L_AIK 2 Universitas Muhammadiyah Yogyakarta