Why have we been Created?

Allah Ta’ala did not create humans without reason. Nor did He create them for the sake of spending their time in pointless activity. He created them for Ibadah in the complete meaning of Ibadah – worship of Him as the one Almighty Sustainer of the Worlds.

First and foremost, human beings are honoured. Allah Ta’ala says:

﴾ وَلَقَدْ كَرَّمْنَا بَنِي آدَمَ وَحَمَلْنَاهُمْ فِي الْبَرِّ وَالْبَحْرِ وَرَزَقْنَاهُم مِّنَ الطَّيِّبَاتِ وَفَضَّلْنَاهُمْ عَلَى كَثِيرٍ مِّمَّنْ خَلَقْنَا تَفْضِيلاً ﴿

“And We bestowed dignity on the children of Adam and provided them with rides on the land and in the sea and provided them with a variety of good things and made them much superior to many of those whom We have created.”

(Isra 17:70)

Just like their male counterparts, women were created for the purpose of worshipping Allah Ta’ala; that is, to do what is pleasing to Him and refrain from what is displeasing to Him. Allah Ta’ala says:

﴾ وَمَا خَلَقْتُ الْجِنَّ وَالْإِنسَ إِلَّا لِيَعْبُدُون ﴿

“I have not created jinn and man but to worship Me.”
(Thariyaat 51:56)

The Qur’an emphasises the point that males and females are not different in this respect. Consider the following verses:

إِنَّ الْمُسْلِمِينَ وَالْمُسْلِمَاتِ وَالْمُؤْمِنِينَ وَالْمُؤْمِنَاتِ وَالْقَانِتِينَ وَالْقَانِتَاتِ وَالصَّادِقِينَ وَالصَّادِقَاتِ وَالصَّابِرِينَ وَالصَّابِرَاتِ وَالْخَاشِعِينَ وَالْخَاشِعَاتِ وَالْمُتَصَدِّقِينَ وَالْمُتَصَدِّقَاتِ وَالصَّائِمِينَ وَالصَّائِمَاتِ وَالْحَافِظِينَ فُرُوجَهُمْ وَالْحَافِظَاتِ وَالذَّاكِرِينَ اللَّهَ كَثِيراً وَالذَّاكِرَاتِ أَعَدَّ اللَّهُ لَهُم مَّغْفِرَةً وَأَجْرًا عَظِيمًا

“Verily, Muslim men and Muslim women, believing men and believing women, devout men and devout women, truthful men and truthful women, patient men and patient women, humble men and humble women, and the men who give sadaqah (charity) and the women who give sadaqah, and the men who fast and the women who fast, and the men who guard their private parts and the women who guard (theirs), and the men who remember Allah much and the women who remember (Him) - for them, Allah has prepared forgiveness and a great reward.”

(Ahzab 33:35)

﴾ وَمَن يَعْمَلْ مِنَ الصَّالِحَاتَ مِن ذَكَرٍ أَوْ أُنثَى وَهُوَ مُؤْمِنٌ فَأُوْلَـئِكَ يَدْخُلُونَ الْجَنَّةَ وَلاَ يُظْلَمُونَ نَقِيرًا ﴿

“Whoever, male or female, does good deeds and is a believer, then they shall enter Jannah, and they shall not be wronged in the least.”
(Nisaa 4:124)

Thus, it is clear that the primary purpose of our creation, like men, is to worship and please Allah Ta’ala.

To thoroughly understand how Islam respects and honours women, we have to consider how women were treated in Arabia before the advent of Islam.

Pre-Islamic Era

During the period of Jaahiliya (Ignorance) of the pre–Islamic Era in Arabia. Arabia was a male-dominated society. Women had no status or rights of any kind other than as objects of desire and commodities that could be bought, sold and even disposed of. A savage custom of society at that time was to bury their female offspring alive as these children weren’t seen to bring any honour to the family and they were considered to be a burden. The number of women a man could marry was not fixed. When a man died, his son ‘inherited’ all his wives except his own mother. Women were forced to marry anyone, nor was her consent ever required

The society was plagued by evil and corruption due to the various acts of vice and sin that they were involved in, intoxication and gambling were the more common vices that gripped people. As a result of these two crimes, women were sold off in lieu of debts or offered as guarantees.

A similar scenario existed in the world in other communities as well:

In the Hindu culture, women, again, were treated as inanimate objects and material goods. For example, they were offered by the loser as a prize to the winner in a gambling competition. The husband-wife relationship was more like a master-slave relationship, and if a husband happened to die, the wife was cremated along with him as a sign of faithfulness. Finally, they were misused in religious services as well by being offered sometimes as an object to be sacrificed to please some god or were given to priests as prostitutes.

The treatment women received in the Chinese culture was in no way less horrifying than the one in Pre-Islamic Arabia or Hindu culture. For the Chinese, a male child was a great gift of God, whereas the female child was an acceptable humiliation. Women were despised to such a degree that they were forced to do the most derogatory jobs in a society. There were many other such horrible customs which a girl had to bear.

Unfortunately, in Greek culture as well, women were treated badly. They were hated and believed to be the embodiment of evil. Again, they had no share in inheritance. They were denied the right of education. Divorce was a right enjoyed by men alone. In fact, the society lacked a system to protect women and their rights. They were again reduced to material goods with no feelings and free will. Women also had to bear the atrocities and harassment by men.

In ancient Rome, women again enjoyed no rights and respect. The society was male dominant through and through. Also, men had the authority to punish her with vicious punishments, sell her or even send her into exile. Furthermore, a husband had the right to give his wife the death penalty in case of particular offenses.

In the Jewish society as well, women were treated without dignity and respect. She was merely an object owned by the male protector, whether father or husband. In case of male children, a girl was denied rights of inheritance. Women were looked down upon as weaklings who could not look after themselves.

The current situation that women in modern times find themselves in, although camouflaged by all the glitz and glamour, is not very different to the situation that women found themselves in during the pre-Islamic period in Arabia.

It is the same form of humiliation and treatment disguised in different forms. For example, we live in a society moulded, shaped and churned out by the mass media, where women are used to sell anything from dental hygiene products, electronics, machinery and equipment! Hence women are seen as nothing other than commodities and sex objects whose only function is to serve the visual and physical gratification of men.

Disguised under the banner of ‘Freedom’ and accepted by many women as such, they fail to realise that in modern times a woman is judged more on her physical appearance than her mental and intellectual capacity. The multimillion-dollar fashion and cosmetic industry, which generates almost $600 billion a year, is sufficient proof of this.

Abolishing the evil

Over 14 Centuries ago, Allah Ta’ala send His last and final Prophet, Muhammed ﷺ to Arabia, his mission was to eradicate the shadow of darkness and evil that had engulfed the earth, with the Light of the Qur’an and teachings of the Prophet ﷺ and the Sharia laws, which functions as the foundation of Islam. He prepared these ‘backward’ desert dwellers to become the beacons of light that would radiate out of the sand dunes of the deserts of Arabia to illuminate the minds, hearts and souls of the human race who were at that time drowning in the oceans of darkness.

Together with abolishing Idol worship, forging unbreakable human brotherhood between the people, uplifting the oppressed and downtrodden, giving hope to the weak, inculcating sober habits and perfecting good character, he also redefined the position of women in society and restored to them their status, honour, dignity, humanity and position in society which they had been stripped off.

No more was a woman a mere commodity with no rights but rather she was recognised as an individual with full rights to ownership, education, inheritance, respect, honour and marriage.

All these elements of the foundation of Islam have played an important role in the spread of Islam. The early followers of Islam (Sahaabah) modelled their lives completely on the Islamic principles and beliefs, and as a result, inspired people wherever they went attracting them to accept Islam and its teachings which promote justice and love for humankind.

The Western view is that women are elevated solely under western culture and they are achieving much more in this regard, whereas the women in the Islamic world are still deprived of even their basic rights. On the other hand, Islam proposes a system where everyone-men and women-are given liberty to freely live life but within the boundaries that Islam draws for their own safety and well-being.

Spirituality

In terms of religious obligations, such as the Daily Prayers, Fasting, Zakaat, and Pilgrimage, a woman is no different from a man. The same rewards promised to a male is also promised to the female. Allah Ta’ala says:

﴾ مَنْ عَمِلَ صَالِحًا مِّن ذَكَرٍ أَوْ أُنثَى وَهُوَ مُؤْمِنٌ فَلَنُحْيِيَنَّهُ حَيَاةً طَيِّبَةً وَلَنَجْزِيَنَّهُمْ أَجْرَهُم بِأَحْسَنِ مَا كَانُواْ يَعْمَلُونَ ﴿

“Whoever, male or female, has acted righteously, while being a believer, We shall certainly make him live a good life, and shall give such people their reward for the best of what they used to do.”
(Nahl 16:97)

﴾ وَمَنْ عَمِلَ صَالِحًا مِّن ذَكَرٍ أَوْ أُنثَى وَهُوَ مُؤْمِنٌ فَأُوْلَئِكَ يَدْخُلُونَ الْجَنَّةَ يُرْزَقُونَ فِيهَا بِغَيْرِ حِسَابٍ ﴿

“The one who does a righteous deed, be he male or female, while he is a believer, then, such people will enter Jannah (Paradise) where they will be provided with bounties beyond reckoning.”
(Ghafir 40:40)

Allah Ta’ala has also granted her ease when we take into account the physiological and psychological changes associated with her natural female functions.

For example, the woman is exempted from performing the daily prayers and from fasting during her menstrual periods and post-natal bleeding after childbirth.

She is also allowed not to fasting during her pregnancy and when she is nursing her baby if there is any threat to her health or her baby's.

If the missed fasts are obligatory (e.g., the fasts during the month of Ramadhan), she can make up for the missed days whenever she can. She does not have to make up for the prayers missed for any of the above reasons.

This is clearly a gentle and tender touch of the Islamic teachings for they are extremely considerate of the different aspects of a woman.

The Social Aspect

Islam has given the woman tremendous value as a daughter, wife and mother, as attested to in numerous verse of the Quran and teachings of the Prophet ﷺ.

a) As a child and an adolescent

The Qur'an forbade this custom of killing young girls and considered it a crime, just like any other murder.

﴾ إِذَا الْمَوْءُودَةُ سُئِلَتْ ۞ بِأَيِّ ذَنبٍ قُتِلَتْ ﴿

“And when the female (infant) buried alive - is questioned, for what crime she was killed.”
(Takwir 81:8-9)

Criticizing the attitudes of such people who reject their female children, Allah mentions:

﴾ إِذَا بُشِّرَ أَحَدُهُم بِالْأُنثَىٰ ظَلَّ وَجْهُهُ مُسْوَدًّا وَهُوَ كَظِيمٌ ۞ يَتَوَارَىٰ مِنَ الْقَوْمِ مِن سُوءِ مَا بُشِّرَ بِهِ ۚ أَيُمْسِكُهُ عَلَىٰ هُونٍ أَمْ يَدُسُّهُ فِي التُّرَابِ ۗ أَلَا سَاءَ مَا يَحْكُمُونَ ﴿

“When news is brought to one of them, of (the Birth of) a female (child), his face darkens and he is filled with inward grief! With shame does he hide himself from his people because of the bad news he has had! Shall he retain her on (sufferance) and contempt, or bury her in the dust? Ah! What an evil (choice) they decide on?”
(An Nahl 16: 58-59)

Disliking for someone to hope for the death of daughters

عنِ ابْنِ عُمَرَ‏:‏ أَنَّ رَجُلاً كَانَ عِنْدَهُ، وَلَهُ بَنَاتٌ فَتَمَنَّى مَوْتَهُنَّ، فَغَضِبَ ابْنُ عُمَرَ فَقَالَ‏:‏ أَنْتَ تَرْزُقُهُنَّ‏؟ ﴾‏ ‏ ﴿

It is reported that there was a man who had daughters who was with Ibn 'Umar when he wished that his daughters were dead. Ibn 'Umar became angry and said, “Are you providing for them!”
(Al-Adab Al-Mufrad Hadith: 83)

Islam came and openly declared it impermissible to bury the female infant alive, no matter the circumstance. This did not only stop and prevent them from engaging in this despicable activity but Islam also instilled the awe and respect for the female back into society. It further, encouraged every male, whether father or husband, brother or child, to honour, respect and take care of the women in society.

The position of the female child was further honoured by designating a special reward for raising daughters, that is not granted for raising sons.

Paradise for he who takes care of his daughters

Ibn 'Abbas (R.A.) reported that he heard the Messenger of Allah ﷺ say,

مَا مِنْ مُسْلِمٍ تُدْرِكُهُ ابْنَتَانِ، فَيُحْسِنُ صُحْبَتَهُمَا، إِلاَّ أَدْخَلَتَاهُ الْجَنَّةَ ﴾.‏ ﴿

"There is no Muslim who has two daughters and takes good care of them except that he will enter Jannah."
(Adabul Mufrad Hadith: 77)

b) As a wife:

The Qur'an clearly indicates that marriage is sharing between the two halves of the society, and that its objectives, beside perpetuating human life, are emotional well-being and spiritual harmony. Its bases are love and mercy.

Among the most impressive verses in the Quran about marriage is the following.

﴾ وَمِنْ آيَاتِهِ أَنْ خَلَقَ لَكُم مِّنْ أَنفُسِكُمْ أَزْوَاجًا لِّتَسْكُنُوا إِلَيْهَا وَجَعَلَ بَيْنَكُم مَّوَدَّةً وَرَحْمَةً ۚ إِنَّ فِي ذَٰلِكَ لَآيَاتٍ لِّقَوْمٍ يَتَفَكَّرُونَ ﴿

“And among His signs is this: That He created mates for you from yourselves that you may find rest, peace of mind in them, and He ordained between you love and mercy. Lo, herein indeed are signs for people who reflect.”
(Rum 30:21)

Accordingly, women could not be forced to marry anyone without their consent, nor could they be ‘inherited’ after the death of their spouse.

c) As a mother:

Islam considered kindness to parents next to the worship of Allah.

﴾ وَقَضَىٰ رَبُّكَ أَلَّا تَعْبُدُوا إِلَّا إِيَّاهُ وَبِالْوَالِدَيْنِ إِحْسَانًا ۚ ﴿

“And your Lord has decreed that you only worship Him and be good to parents.”
(Isra 17:23)

In another verse, Allah Ta’ala highlights one of the highest accolades given to a woman that Islam recognised her sacrifice during pregnancy and birth. and therefore, made her deserving of the most respect from her children even above the father.

﴾ وَوَصَّيْنَا الْإِنسَانَ بِوَالِدَيْهِ حَمَلَتْهُ أُمُّهُ وَهْنًا عَلَىٰ وَهْنٍ وَفِصَالُهُ فِي عَامَيْنِ أَنِ اشْكُرْ لِي وَلِوَالِدَيْكَ إِلَيَّ الْمَصِيرُ ﴿

“And we have enjoined upon man (to be good) to his parents: His mother bears him in weakness upon weakness...”
(Luqman 31:14)

Islam taught the Sahaabah that we can never ever repay the debt we owe to the mother as a result of the difficulty she had to undergo during pregnancy, child-birth, breastfeeding and the many sleepless nights out of concern for her infant’s well-being.

Paradise lies under the feet of the mother

﴾ أَنَّ جَاهِمَةَ، جَاءَ إِلَى النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَقَالَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ أَرَدْتُ أَنْ أَغْزُوَ وَقَدْ جِئْتُ أَسْتَشِيرُكَ.‏ فَقَالَ ‏"‏ هَلْ لَكَ مِنْ أُمٍّ ‏"‏‏.‏ قَالَ نَعَمْ‏.‏ قَالَ ‏"‏ فَالْزَمْهَا فَإِنَّ الْجَنَّةَ تَحْتَ رِجْلَيْهَا‏"‏.‏ ﴿

Mu'awiyah bin Jahimah As-Sulami narrates that Jahimah came to the Prophet ﷺ and said: “O Messenger of Allah ﷺ! I want to go out and fight (in Jihad) and I have come to ask your advice.”

He ﷺ asked: “Do you have a mother?” He said: “Yes.”

He ﷺ said: “Then stay with her, for Paradise is beneath her feet.”
(Sunan an-Nasa'i Hadith: 3104)

Moreover, there is special recommendation for the good treatment of mothers:

عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ ـ رضى الله عنه ـ قَالَ جَاءَ رَجُلٌ إِلَى رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَقَالَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ مَنْ أَحَقُّ بِحُسْنِ صَحَابَتِي؟ قَالَ ‏"‏أُمُّكَ‏"‏‏‏ قَالَ ثُمَّ مَنْ؟ قَالَ ‏"‏أُمُّكَ‏"‏‏.‏ قَالَ ثُمَّ مَنْ؟ قَالَ ‏"‏أُمُّكَ‏"‏‏.‏ قَالَ ثُمَّ مَنْ؟ قَالَ ‏"‏ثُمَّ أَبُوكَ"‏‏.‏

Abu Huraira (R.A.) narrates that, 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.”
(Sahih al-Bukhari Hadīth: 5971)

Treatment of daughters, who have been divorced or widowed

Musa ibn 'Ali reported that the Prophet ﷺ said,

أَلاَ أَدُلُّكَ عَلَى أَعْظَمِ الصَّدَقَةِ، أَوْ مِنْ أَعْظَمِ الصَّدَقَةِ‏؟‏ قَالَ‏:‏ بَلَى يَا رَسُولَ اللهِ، قَالَ‏:‏ ابْنَتُكَ مَرْدُودَةٌ إِلَيْكَ، لَيْسَ لَهَا كَاسِبٌ غَيْرُكَ‏

"Shall I show you the greatest sadaqa (or one of the greatest forms of sadaqa)?" He replied, "Yes, indeed, O Messenger of Allah!"

He ﷺ said, “To provide for your daughter when she is returned to you and you are her sole source of provision.”
(Adabul Mufrad Hadith: 80)

Kindness to Women

Abu Huraira (R.A.) reports that the Noble Messenger of Allah ﷺ also said,

قَالَ رسولُ اللَّه ﷺ: أَكْمَلُ المُؤمِنِينَ إِيمَانًا أَحسَنُهُم خُلُقًا، وخيارُكُم خِيَارُكُمْ لِنِسَائِهمْ

“Among the Muslims the most perfect, as regards to his faith, is the one whose character is excellent, and the best among you are those who treat their women well.”
(Jami` at-Tirmidhi Hadith: 1162)

In another narration mentioned on the authority of Abu Huraira (R.A.):

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏ "‏اسْتَوْصُوا بِالنِّسَاءِ، فَإِنَّ الْمَرْأَةَ خُلِقَتْ مِنْ ضِلَعٍ، وَإِنَّ أَعْوَجَ شَىْءٍ فِي الضِّلَعِ أَعْلاَهُ، فَإِنْ ذَهَبْتَ تُقِيمُهُ كَسَرْتَهُ، وَإِنْ تَرَكْتَهُ لَمْ يَزَلْ أَعْوَجَ، فَاسْتَوْصُوا بِالنِّسَاءِ"‏‏.‏

Allah's Messenger ﷺ said, “I command you to take good care of the women, for a women is created from a rib, and the most curved portion of the rib is its upper portion, so, if you should try to straighten it, it will break, but if you leave it as it is, it will remain crooked. So, treat women nicely.”
(Sahih al-Bukhari Hadith: 3331)

Islam says No to Abuse

لَا تَضْرِبُوا إِمَاءَ اللَّهِ

“Do not beat Allah’s female servants (i.e., women).”
(Abu Dawud Hadith: 2146; Ibn Majah Hadith: 1985)

The Noble Messenger of Allah ﷺ also said:

لَا يَجْلِدُ أَحَدُكُمُ امْرَأَتَهُ جَلْدَ الْعَبْدِ، ثُمَّ يُجَامِعُهَا فِي آخِرِ الْيَوْمِ

“How does anyone of you beat his wife as he beats his camel and then wants to lay by her?”
(Al-Bukhari Hadith: 5204)

From the above we learn that Islam encourages kind and compassionate treatment of women and forbids in both word and spirit, their abuse in any form, be it physical, verbal, emotional and psychological.

The Economic Aspect

Islam decreed a right for a woman which she was deprived of before Islam i.e., the right of independent ownership. According to Islamic Law, a woman's right to her money, real estate, or other properties is fully acknowledged. This right undergoes no change whether she is single or married. She retains her full rights to buy, sell, mortgage or lease any or all of her properties.

It is nowhere suggested in the Law that a woman is a minor simply because she is a female. It is also noteworthy that such right applies to her properties before marriage as well as to whatever she acquires thereafter.

Note: With regard to the woman's right to seek employment it should be stated first that Islam regards her role in society as a mother and a wife as the most sacred and essential one. Neither maids nor baby-sitters can possibly take the mother's place as the educator of an upright, complex free, and carefully-reared children. Such a noble and vital role, which largely shapes the future of nations, cannot be regarded as "idleness".

In addition, Islam restored to woman the right of inheritance, after she herself was an ‘object of inheritance’ as discussed previously. Her share is completely hers and no one can make any claim on it, including her father or her husband.

﴾ لِّلرِّجَالِ نَصِيبٌ مِّمَّا تَرَكَ الْوَالِدَانِ وَالْأَقْرَبُونَ وَلِلنِّسَاءِ نَصِيبٌ مِّمَّا تَرَكَ الْوَالِدَانِ وَالْأَقْرَبُونَ مِمَّا قَلَّ مِنْهُ أَوْ كَثُرَ ۚ نَصِيبًا مَّفْرُوضًا ﴿

“Unto men (of the family) belongs a share of that which Parents and near kindred leave, and unto women a share of that which parents and near kindred leave, whether it be a little or much - a determinate share.”
(Nisa 4:7)

Note: An examination of the inheritance law within the overall framework of the Islamic Law reveals not only justice but also an abundance of compassion for woman.

Besides all other provisions for her protection at the time of marriage. Her possessions before marriage do not transfer to her husband and she even keeps her maiden name if she wants to. She is entitled to her Mahr (dowry), a marriage gift, which is presented to her by her husband and ownership of this gift does not transfer to her father or husband.

The rules for married life in Islam are clear and in harmony with upright human nature. In consideration of the physiological and psychological make-up of man and woman.

She has no obligation to spend on her family out of such properties or out of her income after marriage. In Islam the man is fully responsible for the maintenance of his wife, his children. This responsibility is neither waived nor reduced because of his wife's wealth or because of her access to any personal income gained from work, rent, profit, or any other legal means.

It was this type of thought that permeated the psyche of Muslim societies from the time of the Noble Messenger of Allah ﷺ until this day.

Conclusion

Before Islam, women were considered shameful, female children were buried alive, prostitution was rampant, divorced unfairly, inheritance was only for the strong and oppression was widespread. Islam came and abolished these practices. Even now, in “developed countries”, women are not granted respect, dignity and honour. Islam, however, regards women as precious and valuable, not to be disrespected or disgraced. The mistreatment of women is not allowed in Islam.

The compassionate and dignified status afforded to women was divinely decreed and this directly indicates to the divine origin of the Qur'an and the truthfulness of the message of Islam, which, unlike human philosophies and ideologies, is far from oppression and injustice. It is a message which established such humane principles that never grew obsolete during the course of time and after these many centuries, it will never become obsolete in the future.

After all, this is the message of the All-Wise and all-knowing Allah whose wisdom and knowledge surpasses beyond the ultimate in human thought and progress.

Why would many women around the world willingly enter Islam if it is an oppressive religion?

The Western view is that women are elevated solely under western culture and they are achieving much more in this regard, whereas the women in the Islamic world are still deprived of even their basic rights. However, women in the western world along with men are fooled into a concept of liberty which really doesn't exist. Women worldwide demand equivalent rights, which no system can offer no matter how logically it is built, but Islam not only gives women their rights as it does to men, but it also offers a true understanding of women rights

Ultimately, every man and woman will be judged according to their piety, and what constitutes piety for both genders has been clearly defined. Allah Ta’ala says:

﴾ يا أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ إِنَّا خَلَقْنَاكُم مِّن ذَكَرٍ وَأُنثَى وَجَعَلْنَاكُمْ شُعُوبًا وَقَبَائِلَ لِتَعَارَفُوا إِنَّ أَكْرَمَكُمْ عِندَ اللَّهِ أَتْقَاكُمْ إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَلِيمٌ خَبِيرٌ ﴿

“O mankind, We have created you from a male and a female, and made you into races and tribes, so that you may identify one another. Surely the noblest of you, in Allah’s sight, is the one who is most pious of you. Surely Allah is All-Knowing, All-Aware.”
(Hujuraat 49:13)

In His Farewell Pilgrimage (Hajjatul-Wada), He ﷺ directed those present, and through them, all those Muslims that are to come later, to be courteous and kinds towards women. He said:

“Fear Allah Ta’ala regarding women. Verily you have married them with the trust of Allah Ta’ala and made their bodies lawful with the word of Allah Ta’ala. You have got (rights) over them, and they have got (rights) over you in respect of their food and clothing according to your means.”