Maqasid Al-Shariah: Purposes of the Islamic Law (Part 1)

Peace of God and His mercy to you.

Sharia, the divine guidance from Allah, is a very broad topic. I mentioned it in these posts:

1. Democracy And Rights In Islam
2. More About Sharia
3. Islam & Politics: An Unholy Mix?

To elaborate more on Sharia purposes, Reading Islam is presenting a new series of articles about it. Here is the first part of: Maqasid Al-Shariah: Purposes of the Islamic Law.

Women In Islam

Peace of God and His mercy to you.

A reminder, please:

Many people confuse culture with religion, many others do not know what their religious books are saying, and many others do not even care.

A new Website about women in Islam: Islam's Women

From the Website:

At a time when the rest of the world, from Greece and Rome to India and China, considered women as no better than children or even slaves, with no rights whatsoever, Islam acknowledged women's equality with men in a great many respects. The Quran states:

"And among His signs is this: that He created mates for you from yourselves that you may find rest and peace of mind in them, and He ordained between you love and mercy. Certainly, herein indeed are signs for people who reflect." [Noble Quran 30:21]

Prophet Muhammad said:

"The most perfect in faith amongst believers is he who is best in manners and kindest to his wife." [Abu Dawud]

Muslims believe that Adam and Eve were created from the same soul. Both were equally guilty of their sin and fall from grace, and Allah forgave both. Many women in Islam have had high status; consider the fact that the first person to convert to Islam was Khadijah, the wife of Muhammad, whom he both loved and respected. His favorite wife after Khadijah's death, Ayshah, became renowned as a scholar and one of the greatest sources of Hadith literature. Many of the female Companions accomplished great deeds and achieved fame, and throughout Islamic history there have been famous and influential scholars and jurists.

We might also mention that while many in the West criticize Islam with regard to the treatment of women, in fact a number of Muslim countries have had women rulers and presidents. To name a few: Turkey; Bangladesh and Pakistan.

With regard to education, both women and men have the same rights and obligations. This is clear in Prophet Muhammad's saying:

"Seeking knowledge is mandatory for every believer." [Ibn Majah]

This implies men and women.

A woman is to be treated as God has endowed her, with rights, such as to be treated as an individual, with the right to own and dispose of her own property and earnings, enter into contracts, even after marriage. She has the right to be educated and to work outside the home if she so chooses. She has the right to inherit from her father, mother, and husband. A very interesting point to note is that in Islam, unlike any other religion, a woman can be an imam, a leader of communal prayer, for a group of women.

A Muslim woman also has obligations. All the laws and regulations pertaining to prayer, fasting, charity, pilgrimage, doing good deeds, etc., apply to women, albeit with minor differences having mainly to do with female physiology.

Before marriage, a woman has the right to choose her husband. Islamic law is very strict regarding the necessity of having the woman's consent for marriage. The groom gives a marriage dowry to the bride for her own personal use. She keeps her own family name, rather than taking her husband's. As a wife, a woman has the right to be supported by her husband even if she is already rich. She also has the right to seek divorce and custody of young children. She does not return the dowry, except in a few unusual situations.

Despite the fact that in many places and times Muslim communities have not always adhered to all or even many of the foregoing in practice, the ideal has been there for 1,400 years, while virtually all other major civilizations did not begin to address these issues or change their negative attitudes until the 19th and 20th centuries, and there are still many contemporary civilizations which have yet to do so.

More About Sharia

Peace of God and His mercy to you.

I would like to share more information about Sharia, the divine laws that govern our life in the aspects of rights and justice for Allah, the individual, groups, and all.

This presentation is prepared because I faced many less informed people about Sharia. Their views were very limited, and their information was based on the negative Western views about Islam.

I say to you:

Read and know the truth!

But first, please read these quotes that will help you see what Sharia is all about:

First, let me start by saying that in modern times Shari`ah was inaccurately translated as “Islamic Law”. This portrayed Shari`ah as merely a collection of laws and regulations. Perceiving Shari`ah as such has produced great confusion in regards to its importance in Islam.

There is no doubt that the main sources of the Shari`ah are the Qur'an and the Sunnah in addition to the consensus of Muslim scholars (’ijma`) and the personal judgment of Muslim scholars in conformity with the prescriptions of the Qur’an and the Sunnah (ijtihad).

The word shari`ah literally means a waterway that leads to a main stream, a drinking place, and a road or the right path. From this meaning, the word shari`ah was used to refer to a path or a passage that leads to an intended place, or to a certain goal.

Water is life for everything, Shari`ah is life for the Muslims’ souls and a way of life for them.

Shari`ah embraces worship, morals and conduct, as well as it embraces the political, social and economic, as well as other spheres.

Many non-Muslims, however, think that the Shari`ah is mainly a collection of fixed ancient laws that belong to a time other than ours. On the contrary, Muslim scholars agreed on the fact that applying the Shari`ah requires two essential types of understanding. These two types are; understanding the sources from which the rules are derived, the Qur’an and the Sunnah (the traditions of the prophet), and understanding the reality in which these rules are applicable. Hence, the application of the Shari`ah is not in a vacuum; rather it is in a reality that is changeable due to time and space.

The purpose of the shari`a is not to protect Allah or His rights, but to protect the lives, honor and property of all people who live under this shari`a.

It is important to remember that before the implementing hudud, we have to establish the huquq that is the rights of the people. Islam implements certain rights: the right of life, property, freedom, justice, etc. These rights must be established before we talk about punishing people who violate the rules of Allah.

Here are the topics looking at Sharia in the form of Q&A taken from Reading Islam:

• The Importance of Shariah
• Sources of the Shariah: Man-made or Divine?
• Wisdom of Shariah
• Harmony between Shari`ah and Positive Law
• Islamic Shari`ah Knows no Discrimination
• Islamic Criminal Justice: Is it Barbaric?
• Islamic Fixed Penalties: Striking Balance between Causes & Results
• The Concept of Punishment in Islam
• Civil Laws in Shari`ah
• Islamic Law, Fatwas, and Muslim Scholars Today

In the end...
You can see, after knowing about Sharia, that:

Shari`ah is based on wisdom and achieving people's welfare in this life and the afterlife. Shari`ah is all about justice, mercy, wisdom, and good. Thus, any ruling that replaces justice with injustice, mercy with its opposite, common good with mischief, or wisdom with nonsense, is a ruling that does not belong to the Shari`ah, even if it is claimed to be so according to some interpretations. (Shamsuddin Ibn al-Qayyim, I`lam Al-Muwaqi`een, ed. Taha Abdul Rauf Saad (Beirut: Dar Al-Jeel, 1973) vol.1, p. 333:)

Women Rights Before & After Islam

Peace of God and His mercy to you.

Always keep in mind that:

Many people confuse culture with religion, many others do not know what their religious books are saying, and many others do not even care.

On Islam Newsroom I found this great research about women rights before and after Islam with comparison to original Judaism and Christianity doctrines.

This is really an important research to read especially for those who are not familiar with Islam or the Muslim community.

Note: Muslims are facing a defaming war. The only way to face it is the truth. But, how much are those leading this war willing to listen?

Democracy And Rights In Islam

Peace of God and His mercy to you.

The talk about democracy in the media and between common people is very vague. The term is used to generally refer to elections and rights. But, what is the origin of democracy and what does it mean? And what are rights?

Does Islam Allow Democracy?
Democracy as a name looks very nice and seems beneficial. Democracy in the West is a system. Shari'a is a system. The difference is that in democracy people are free to do what they want while Shari'a is a system of guidance. And with guidance there are rules:

Democracy is a Greek word composed of two words "Demos" (people) "Kratos" (rule). It means the government run by the people of the country. It is a Western system that emerged in the wake of the tyranny practised by the monarchs with the support of church. So, the people staged a revolution against this system and called rule by the public. Therefore, democracy is contrary to Islam because Islam insists on the fact that Allah alone has the right of legislation while democracy means that the public has the right of legislation. Allah Says (interpretation of meaning): {… and He makes none to share in His Decision and His Rule."}[18: 26].

Allah also Says (interpretation of meaning): {… The command (or the judgement) is for none but Allâh. He has commanded that you worship none but Him (i.e. His Monotheism), …}[12: 40]. The Almighty also declares: {Do they then seek the judgement of (the Days of) Ignorance? And who is better in judgement than Allâh for a people who have firm Faith.}[5: 50]. There are many other verses that prove the same fact.

If it is said that there is no difference between democracy and the Islamic advisory system the response will be that the basic difference is that in Islamic system the advise is taken only in the incidents where there is no clear ruling of Shariah while democracy means that the public may cancel anything: well-established facts, rulings of Shariah, etc. In democracy the public is the highest authority to act as it wills.

Moreover, the members of an advisory board have certain characteristics while there is no difference between people in the democracy system; everyone is entitled to give his opinion.

Here, some people raised the following question "Why we should not take the merits of democracy and modify them to suit Islam and make it an Islamic democracy". We say that such claims are not correct and any benefit democracy could offer our religion possesses it perfectly and in a higher degree. However, if any democracy changes to suit Islam then it no longer will be a democracy, but a new system.

For more details in this subject, please read the book "The reality of democracy" written by Ahmad Shakir. Source: IslamWeb

So, is Islam oppressing the people? What is the purpose of Islam? Why Allah guided the people of Moses, Jesus, Mohammad and other Prophets? Why is there religions? Is the religion spiritual or life-guiding or both?

Islam is a religion that well guided its followers in many issues of life, such as marriages, divorces, trades, crimes, etc. No person can give a fair decision or system to control an issue. No collective group of people can give the best rule to an issue. The Creator, nevertheless, can. He created the people and knows the best for them:

Lo! ye are those who argue about that whereof ye have some knowledge: Why then argue ye concerning that whereof ye have no knowledge? Allah knoweth. Ye know not. (66) Al Imran 3:66

What Is The Islamic State Form Of Government?
This is a broad topic. It can be summarized as:

In general, nomination of a ruler in Islam is based on al-Shura (mutual consultation). Allah Says (interpretation of meaning): {…, and who (conduct) their affairs by mutual consultation, …} [42: 38]. He also Says: {…, and consult them in the affairs. …} [3: 159].

So, ahl-al-Hal wal 'Aqd (Influential people, those in power as representatives of the people) meet and consult and then nominate a ruler whom they think is qualified to the position of Khilafah (Caliphate). After that, they pledge allegiance to him and urge the Muslim Ummah to pay homage to him. So, he becomes entitled to manage all affairs, inner and outer, provided that he sticks to Shari'a and never violates its rulings.

Since most affairs of al-Siyasah al-Shar'iyah are subject to Ijtihad (independent judgment that is controlled by Shari'a in general), the ruler can compare between what is good and bad for the Muslim public, and then, choose what is better and more beneficial for the Ummah.

Here, we state that forming a government is subject to the principle of "To choose what is better and more beneficial for the Ummah". Thus, the Muslim ruler can form the government and choose the best people to be ministers. At the same time, the ruler may deputize ahl-al-Hal wal-'Aqd (The Islamic parliament) to form the government. In fact, there are many choices. Source: IslamWeb

Does Parliament Have Similar Characteristic With Shura?
The difference between governing the issues of the country in Islam and in other systems is:

• Islam gives the governing authority to the experts.
• Other non-Islamic systems give the governing authority to people elected whether they are experts or not.

Shura is the Islamic system of choosing the right people by the right people:

Al-Shura (Mutual consultation) is a pillar of ruling and governing in Islam. So, all decisions that are made by the state should be through Shura; decisions relative to war, peace, duties towards other countries, establishment of Hudud and amassing armies. In addition, organizing all the affairs of the state should all be made following the consultation of the responsible people of the Muslim community.

Muslims nowadays however do not apply this principle in their lives because of the wide gap existing between those times where the right application of Islam and the present influence of the culture of their enemies.

The Shura that was practised during the rule of the four Caliphs is different from a democratically elected Parliament. First, in Shura no one has the right to go beyond the texts that are in the Qur'an and the Sunnah or legislate something that does not conform to them.

The modern Parliaments make their own texts and have the right to pass legislation.

Second, in Shura only the scholars and experts are asked to give their opinions over a given issue while in Parliaments anyone who is elected has the right to participate in passing laws. In those procedures there is no difference between the opinion of a scholar and that of an ignorant person, or the opinion of an expert to that of a novice in the matter.

In Parliaments heads (votes) are counted but not weighed while in Shura they are weighed according to their knowledge and savoir-faire. This is the right logic.

No matter how many inexperienced people you put together, they won't be able to give the same valuable opinion as an expert and a scholar in the field.

There are many other differences between the Shura and the modern Parliaments. But it is sufficient that Shura is the way Allah has chosen for His servants. He is the one who knows His servants and creatures and what is good to them Allah Says (interpretation of meaning): {Should not He Who has created know? And He is the Most Kind and Courteous (to His slaves) All-Aware (of everything).} [67: 14]. Source: IslamWeb

So, the Parliament system is based on votes. What is important in this system is the quantity not the quality of the decisions. This can be very harmful since the decisions always affect different groups. In the other hand, Shura is a system that seeks justice for the most.

What Is The Political Side Of Islam?
In Islam, the rights of the Ummah (the Muslim community) as well as the rights of the non-Muslims living with Muslims are ensured to be fairly secured. The most important thing in Islam that deals with the life of the community is justice:

First, Muslim jurists are fully aware of the importance of politics in Islamic Shari'a so, they compiled many books dealing with this subject and this subject is discussed extensively in Fiqh books. Some books are as follows:
a) al-Siyasah al-Shar'iyah, written by Ibn Taymiyah.
b) al-Ahkam al-Sultaniyah, written by al-Mawardi.
c) al-Ahkam al-Sultaniyah, written by Abu Ya'la.
d) al-Turuq al-Hukmiyah Fi al-Siyasit al-Shariyah, written by Ibn al-Qayyim.
e) Giyath al-Umam, written by al-Juwany.

Second, politics in Islam is not isolated from faith and good character.

Third, Islamic politics assures the rights of individuals and society as well; it maintains the rights of both of them as long as there is no contradiction between them. In the case of contradiction between the right of the individual and that of the society, the general benefit will be preferred to the private one and the one who suffers damages will get compensation for that. Imam Shatibi said in his book 'al-Mufaqaat', 'the priority is given to public interest' .

Fourth, the system of ownership in Islam is very moderate. On one hand it approves the ownership of an individual with certain conditions. This is contrary to socialism. On the other hand it approves common property. This is contrary to capitalism.

Fifth, Islamic politics relies on the ways of consultation in opposition to 'dictatorship'. It also sets the basics for consultation, i.e. consultation would be limited only to the people concerned unlike democracy that takes the opinion of every person even from the rabble.

Sixth, Islamic politics emphasizes establishing the Caliphate; for Muslims that is the highest authority in the Muslim Ummah. The Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi wa Sallam) was not buried after his death till Abu Bakr (Radiya Allahu Anhu) was made the Caliph of the Muslims. For more details, please read the book "Dirassat wa Buhooth Fi al-Fiker al-Islam", written by Dr. Fathi al-Darini. Source: IslamWeb

Since these topics are very specialized to be answered by an inexpert Muslim like me, you can always ask expert Muslim scholars about matters you do not know if you searched and did not find any answers for them. I recommend the fatwa (Q&A) service provided by the Islam Web Network. You can find this service here.

Women Are Respected In Islam

Peace of God and His mercy to you.

Allah has completed the guidance to humanity by sending Muhammad, Peace Be Upon Him. Some people banned what is halal and made halal banned. The God says in the Holy Quran:

Postponement (of a sacred month) is only an excess of disbelief whereby those who disbelieve are misled; they allow it one year and forbid it (another) year, that they may make up the number of the months which Allah hath hallowed, so that they allow that which Allah hath forbidden. The evil of their deeds is made fair-seeming unto them. Allah guideth not the disbelieving folk. (37) Repentance 9:37

Tafsir:

Postponement [of the sacred month] — that is, the deferment of the sacredness of a given month to another, as they used to do during paganism, such as postponing the sacredness of Muharram, if it arrives while they are at war, to Safar — is only an excess of unbelief, because of their rejection of God’s ruling thereof, whereby those who disbelieve are led astray (yudallu may also be read yadillu, ‘[they] go astray’), one year they make it, the month postponed, profane, and hallow it another, that they may make up, by profaning one month and hallowing another in its place, the number, of months, which God has hallowed, such that they do not hallow more, or less, than the four months, but without observing the individual months themselves; and so they profane what God has hallowed. Their evil deeds have been adorned for them, such that they deem them to be good [deeds]; and God does not guide the disbelieving folk. Source: Altafsir

It is justice what Islam seeks, and Allah insured it:

Perfected is the Word of thy Lord in truth and justice. There is naught that can change His words. He is the Hearer, the Knower. (115) Al Anaam 6:115

There are some people, Jewish, Christian, or non-Muslim who devote most of their times to attack Islam and its message. I talked previously about jihad and its types, which includes fighting the enemy invading a Muslim country as long as the ruler ordered it. The Prophet Muhammad, Peace Be Upon Him, was the ruler. He did not allow any fight for no reason! The Almighty God, Allah, says:

Fight in the way of Allah against those who fight against you, but begin not hostilities. Lo! Allah loveth not aggressors. (190) The Cow 2:190

The topic about jihad has been discussed a lot by Muslim scholars. But still, non-Muslims attacking the peaceful message of Islam, intentionally or not, do not want to listen. Or, they just do not study Islam by themselves. There is a Rabbi who devoted his televised lectures to attack Islam, and most of his evidence of relating barbarism to Islam are based on some deviated cases, like Pakistani Imams urging British Muslims parents to teach their children jihad. Of course, jihad is struggling and you know already its types and we all have to learn them - they are the way of life and by them we can continue on living. But, I do not disagree that some Imams are affected by the ideas of extreme Muslims. Did you know that Osama Bin Laden was not a Muslim scholar and he was a business man?!

In this post I am not going to talk again about jihad. Just talking about it in one of my previous posts proves that many non-Muslims do not search or study Islam and base their ideas about it on deviations.

I am going to talk about women in Islam :) And, YES!, I am a Muslim woman and I am proud to be a Muslim woman :)

Women In Islam
The greatest thing that Islam insured is the protection of women. God says in the Quran:

And tell the believing women to lower their gaze and be modest, and to display of their adornment only that which is apparent, and to draw their veils over their bosoms, and not to reveal their adornment save to their own husbands or fathers or husbands' fathers, or their sons or their husbands' sons, or their brothers or their brothers' sons or sisters' sons, or their women, or their slaves, or male attendants who lack vigour, or children who know naught of women's nakedness. And let them not stamp their feet so as to reveal what they hide of their adornment. And turn unto Allah together, O believers, in order that ye may succeed. (31) An Noor 24:31

We are living an age that is dangerous. People are not religious anymore except a few! People are not disciplining themselves. They are not following a religion, some are just following a religion by name, and others are struggling to protect themselves and their families from deviating from righteousness. Have not you known that Western children are having sex?! Girls less than 15 conceived AND killed their fetus! What a free country is this?! If people cannot control themselves, they must be controlled to protect themselves and others. Have not you heard about the Austrian man who had sex with his own daughter?! What deviation is this?! Have not you heard about the women who got raped because they were indecent in their clothes and relationships? Do not you see it strange that most of the people praise the Western culture but do not follow it? Because it is a culture that does not discipline its people. A free country is not free anymore of adultery, rape, murders, hate, lies, corruption, and stealing.

Many people are scared of the decent and modest clothes of Muslim women. As a Muslim woman, I find my peace and content in my decent clothes - like nuns, but for better reasons. As Muslims, we love decency. We do not like nakedness, it is a disgrace to humans. As Muslims, we do not like relationships out of wedlock, they bring problems, such as the baby belongs to who? A woman if having many relationships, she becomes like an animal, and sorry for using such a word, but Allah favored us, human beings,:

We have honoured the sons of Adam; provided them with transport on land and sea; given them for sustenance things good and pure; and conferred on them special favours, above a great part of Our Creation. (70) Al Isra

We should have dignity!

In Islam, the rights of the women are secured:

1. she gets a nice name,
2. she has the right of having clothes, food, water, and anything she likes, as long as it is not haram,
3. she has the right to get married,
4. she has the right to travel, but with a male companion from her family for her protection,
5. she has the right to learn,
6. she has the right to do what she likes to do as long as it does not involve anything haram,
7. she has the right to celebrate eid,
8. she has the right to play,
9. she has the right to work, and
   
10. other logical rights every human, whether male or female, must have.
    

I really do not know why some Western people think Islam did not give the women any rights. What Western people do not know: Islam is a widespread religion and it is followed by people of different backgrounds and cultures, and it entered the hearts of the people, but they preferred their traditions because they could not abandon them or they found them suiting their life. Many people, especially tribal, are following the traditions their ancestors followed. Some tribes do not allow their daughters to learn, although Islam insured it and made it obligatory. The Prophet Muhammad said:

Seeking knowledge is obligatory for every Muslim. Arabic Source: Islamweb

And others do not allow their daughters to work. God says:

And whoso doeth good works, whether of male or female, and he (or she) is a believer, such will enter paradise and they will not be wronged the dint in a date-stone. (124) The Women 4:124

And there is nothing in Islam that prohibits the woman from becoming an engineer or a doctor or any noble job which will save her from asking the people for money. The woman must do her job in the correct way - refraining from tempting others, whether knowingly or not, with her looks or her clothes, so she must be decent to protect herself and the others from falling in the Devil's trap.

Asma, the daughter of Abu Bakr, served her husband Al Zubair in their house. She took care of his horse and brought water. Aisha and Um Salama helped the fighters in the War of Uhud giving them water and what they needed. And Ameena Bint Qais did a great job in the War of Khaibar. The Prophet, Peace Be Upon Him, gave her a necklace for her good job, and she wore it and was proud of it until her death.

In my family, my parents do not want me to drive a car because it is, in their opinion and I respect it, that it is the role of the man to take care of his family in bringing them goods they need and driving the car for that. But, it does not mean that I am not allowed to go with my father or brother to the hypermarket. I go with them, but not alone. Because, in my culture, a girl shopping alone is perceived as careless and open to talk to male shoppers. Actually, I do not like cars, even airplanes, because I am not brave enough to through myself in traffic jams. And I know that I am not that responsible to be given a car and drive it. I know I will not drive safely. I want to protect myself and others.

Let me now introduce you to some sayings of the Prophet Muahammad, Peace Be Upon Him, about women:

O People, listen well to my words, for I do not know whether, after this year, I shall ever be amongst you again. Therefore listen to what I am saying to you very carefully and take these words to those who could not be present today.

O People, just as you regard this month, this day, and this city as Sacred, so regard the life and property of every Muslim as a sacred trust. Return the goods entrusted to you to their rightful owners. Hurt no one so that no one may hurt you. Remember that you will indeed meet your Lord, and that He will indeed reckon your deeds. Allah has forbidden you to take usury (riba), therefore all interest obligations shall henceforth be waived. Your capital, however, is yours to keep. You will neither inflict nor suffer any inequity. Allah has judged that there shall be no interest and that all the interest due to Abbas ibn 'Abd'al Muttalib (Prophet's uncle) shall henceforth be waived.

Every right arising out of homicide in pre-Islamic days is henceforth waived and the first such right that I waive is that arising from the murder of Rabi`ah ibn al Harith ibn `Abd al Muttalib.

O Men, the Unbelievers indulge in tampering with the calendar in order to make permissible that which God forbade, and to forbid that which God has made permissible. With God the months are twelve in number. Four of them are sacred, three of these are successive and one occurs singly between the months of Jumada and Sha`ban. Beware of Shaitan, for the safety of your religion. He has lost all hope that he will ever be able to lead you astray in big things, so beware of following him in small things.

O People, it is true that you have certain rights with regard to your women, but they also have rights over you. Remember that you have taken them as your wives only under Allah's trust and with His permission. If they abide by your right then to them belongs the right to be fed and clothed in kindness. Do treat your women well and be kind to them for they are your partners and committed helpers. And it is your right that they do not make friends with any one of whom you do not approve, as well as never to be unchaste. O People, listen to me in earnest, worship Allah, perform your five daily prayers (Salah), fast during the month of Ramadan, and give your financial obligation. Perform Hajj if you can afford to.

All mankind is from Adam and Eve, an Arab has no superiority over a non-Arab nor a non-Arab has any superiority over an Arab; also a white has no superiority over black nor does a black have any superiority over white except by piety and good action. Learn that every Muslim is a brother to every Muslim and that the Muslims constitute one brotherhood. Nothing shall be legitimate to a Muslim which belongs to a fellow Muslim unless it was given freely and willingly. Do not, therefore, do injustice to yourselves.

Remember, one day you will appear before Allah and answer your deeds. So beware, do not stray from the path of righteousness after I am gone.

O People, no prophet or messenger will come after me and no new faith will be born. Reason well, therefore, O People, and understand words which I convey to you. I leave behind me two things: the Qur’an and my example, the Sunnah and if you follow these you will never go astray.

All those who listen to me shall pass on my words to others and those to others again; and may the last ones understand my words better than those who listen to me directly. Be my witness, O Allah, that I have conveyed your message to your people. Source: Wikipedia

And this will is intended for every man and woman to protect the right of every man and woman.

'Abdullah bin 'Umar, may Allah be pleased with them, reported:

A woman was found murdered in one of the battles fought by the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him). (On seeing that) Allah's Messenger disapproved of the killing of women and children. Source: al-islam

Women are not allowed to be killed in war.

'Ali, may Allah be pleased with him, reported:

I heard Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) as saying: The best of the women of the world of her time was Mary, daughter of 'Imran, and the best of the women of her time was Khadijah bint Khuwailid. Source: al-islam

In Islam, women are given as examples. Women are encouraged to be as devoted to Allah as Mary was and as loving to their husbands as Khadijah was.

Well, there are many great stories about Muslim women. You can know more about women in Islam here and here. And if you want to know more about the life of Muslim women you can leave your questions as a comment on this post or you can send me an e-mail (you can find my e-mail address in the right menu).

Women Are Not Dirty!
A Muslim wife who is during her menstruation is not dirty as is thought in Judaism. It is not logical. Not allowing the couple to touch, to kiss or even to sit together on the same seat are just violations to their rights and are unfair. In Islam, menstruating women are not allowed to have sex with their husbands because blood of menstruation is considered unclean, just like when blood comes out from a cut on the skin. God says:

They question thee (O Muhammad) concerning menstruation. Say: It is an illness, so let women alone at such times and go not in unto them till they are cleansed. And when they have purified themselves, then go in unto them as Allah hath enjoined upon you. Truly Allah loveth those who turn unto Him, and loveth those who have a care for cleanness. (222) The Cow 2:222

But, the couples are allowed to do what they normally do. Take the Prophet Muhammad, Peace Be Upon Him, The Teacher, as an example. 'A'ishah, may Allah be pleased with her, reported:

When anyone among us (among the wives of the Holy Prophet) menstruated, Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) asked her to tie a waist-wrapper over her (body) and then embraced her. Source: al-islam

Umm Salamah, may Allah be pleased with her, reported:

While I was lying with the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) in a bed cover I menstruated, so I slipped away and I took up the clothes (which I wore) in menses. Upon this Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) asked: Have you menstruated? I said: Yes. He called me and I lay down with him in the bed cover. (And she further) said that she and Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) used to take bath from the same vessel after major impurity (sexual intercourse). Source: al-islam

'A'ishah, may Allah be pleased with her, reported:

Fatimah bint Abi Hubaish came to the Messenger (may peace he upon him) and said: I am a woman whose blood keeps flowing (even after the menstruation period). I am never purified; should I, therefore, abandon the Prayer? He (the Holy Prophet) said; Not at all, for that is only a vein (injured), and is not menstruation, so when menstruation comes, abandon the Prayer, and when it ends, wash the blood from yourself and then pray. Source: al-islam

Read this fatwa. And you can read more about the intimate relationship between the couples in Islam here.

In the end...
Islam protected the rights. And it gives guidelines for protection :)