Women In Islam, in the light of Hadiths

Women In Islam, in the light of Hadiths

Al-Bukhari, Volume 1, Book 2, Number 28:

Narrated Ibn 'Abbas:

The Prophet said: "I was shown the Hell-fire and that the majority of its dwellers were women who were ungrateful."It was asked, "Do they disbelieve in Allah?" (or are they ungrateful to Allah?) He replied, "They are ungrateful to their husbands and are ungrateful for the favors and the good (charitable deeds) done to them. If you have always been good (benevolent) to one of them and then she sees something in you (not of her liking), she will say, 'I have never received any good from you."

COMMENTS:

This Hadith shows the misogynistic view of the Islamic prophet. Some Muslim apologists claim that since women constitute a greater share in the World population than men (though some statistics say otherwise[1]), it is only logical that women constitute the majority in hell, but the Hadith in question doesn't say so. It says women are the majority in hell because they were ungrateful.

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Al-Bukhari, Volume 1, Book 3, Number 81:

Narrated Anas:

I will narrate to you a Hadith and none other than I will tell you about after it. I heard Allah's Apostle saying: From among the portents of the Hour are (the following):

1. Religious knowledge will decrease (by the death of religious learned men).

2. Religious ignorance will prevail.

3. There will be prevalence of open illegal sexual intercourse.

4. Women will increase in number and men will decrease in number so much so that fifty women will be looked after by one man.

COMMENTS:

The Islamic prophet's view of women was so bad that he thought that more women on the earth is a sign of Doom's day!

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Al-Bukhari, Volume 1, Book 4, Number 148:

Narrated 'Aisha:

The wives of the Prophet used to go to Al-Manasi, a vast open place (near Baqia at Medina) to answer the call of nature at night. 'Umar used to say to the Prophet "Let your wives be veiled," but Allah's Apostle did not do so. One night Sauda bint Zam'a the wife of the Prophet went out at 'Isha' time and she was a tall lady. 'Umar addressed her and said, "I have recognized you, O Sauda." He said so, as he desired eagerly that the verses of Al-Hijab (the observing of veils by the Muslim women) may be revealed. So Allah revealed the verses of "Al-Hijab" (A complete body cover excluding the eyes).

COMMENTS:

The Hijab primarily seems to have been a deterrent with respect to Muhammad's wives. And rather than God's wish it seems to be Umar's wish!

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END NOTES:

1) The Sex ratio of the world's population is 1.01 male(s)/female (2006 est.) (Source)

The world's female population is less than the male population. There are an estimated 3,284,446,550 males and 3,240,723,264 females on earth (Source). In other words, there are nearly 40 million more men on earth than women!

And look at the age break down:

0-14 years: 27.4% (male 919,219,446/female 870,242,271)
15-64 years: 65.2% (male 2,152,066,888/female 2,100,334,722)
65 years and over: 7.4% (male 213,160,216/female 270,146,721) (Source)