Good Treatment Of Women Is Not An Option, It Is An Obligation

Violence against women in Latin America has recently been classified as an epidemic in the region, sexual violence is one of the main forms of violence, and the situation of women in the rest of the world is not very different. According to a report by the World Health Organization and data from the UN Women, "recent figures of the global prevalence indicate that one in three women in the world (35%) has suffered physical and/or sexual violence of a couple or sexual violence by third parties at some point in their lives ".

In the wake of the growing wave of violence against women, protests are organized in different parts of the world, in an unsuccessful effort to stop it, especially after cases are heard that shake the population for their cruelty and sadism. And in those protests, you can read countless posters with phrases of repudiation of violence and support for women. One of those phrases that caught my attention and that I have seen repeatedly is: "We live in a world where they teach women to take care not to be raped, instead of teaching men NOT TO VIOLATE"... I was called to attention for two reasons:

The first, because I saw a harsh truth in that phrase, since I was born and raised in a macho society where it is taken as normal for men to harass women in the street, to tell them obscenities or to touch them impudently; where it is common for men to beat their women because they have "rights" to them - in some regions of my country, women consider that their husbands have the right to hit them, because they are their husbands, and they even get angry if someone tries to defend them!!! It seems a joke, but it is not-, and I think that to a large extent the high rate of sexual violence against women in my country and in the rest of the world is machismo.

The second, because I would have liked to explain to the person who wrote that phrase that Islam does teach men to "not violate". Moreover, before referring to the issue of women's behavior and dress, the Koran calls men's attention to their behavior and gives them a strong warning: {Tell the believers [oh, Muhammad!] let them look away and refrain from committing obscenities because that is purer for them. God is well informed of what they do} [Quran 24:30]. Here God is telling men that they should not even look at women unduly, up to that level men are required to respect women, even with their eyes! And they are warned that God knows what they are doing, even if no one else knows, God knows. Then, in the first place, God addresses men and commands them to behave well and respect women; then he addresses women and orders them to behave well and dress modestly, because Islam is fair, and teaches us that both men and women must fulfill our share of responsibility to make this a better world and live in harmony. So Islam teaches men not to rape because if they are even forbidden to look at women unduly, they are much more forbidden to touch them unduly.

Islam has approached the issue of good treatment of women in a detailed and detailed manner, emphasizing the special respect it deserves in each of the different stages it goes through throughout its life - when it is a daughter, when she is a wife and when she is a mother-, as we shall see below.

Respect for daughters

Before Islam was revealed, among the Arabs was considered a misfortune the birth of a girl. While men were the cause of the pride of their parents and relatives, women were cause for disappointment and sadness; and for that reason, they had the dreadful habit of burying alive the newly born girls. God categorically condemned this attitude and these crimes, saying: {When one of them is announced [the birth of] a girl, the affliction and anguish is reflected in her face because of what has been announced to her, she hides from the people ashamed and doubt whether he will let her live in spite of his disgrace or bury her alive. What a terrible thing they are doing!} [Quran 16: 58-59]; and warns that one day will come, the Day of Judgment,{When girls are asked to be buried alive for what sin they were killed} [Quran 81: 8-9]. In this way God forbade this wild practice considering it a very serious sin. But not only that, but it made the upbringing and education of the daughters a reason to win the blessings of God and get rid of the fire of Hell; said the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings of God be upon him): "Whoever has three daughters whom he cares for, provides them with what is necessary and treats them with mercy, Allah will make him enter Paradise without a place of Doubts". Then a man from the crowd asked: "What if he has only two daughters?" The Prophet replied: "Even if he has two daughters."

This is how Islam establishes the value of women from birth and gives them a place of honor by making them a source of blessing for their parents in this life and in the other.

Respect towards the mother

Islam commands respect and good treatment towards our parents but elevates the status of the mother over the father. It is related that a man appeared before the Prophet (peace and blessings of God be upon him) and asked him: "O Messenger of Allah! Who is the person who deserves my company?" He replied: "Your mother." The man asked: "Then who?" The Prophet replied: "Your mother." The man asked for the third time: "Then who?" The Prophet said: "Your mother." And the man asked again: "And then who?" And the Prophet said: "Then your father" (Bukhari and Muslim).

Even the Prophet spoke of the respect we should have towards our aunts. A man went to speak with Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) and said: "O Prophet, I have committed a grave sin. Do you think I can repair it in some way? " He asked: "Does your mother live?" He answered no, then the Prophet asked him: "Do you have any maternal aunt alive?" The man said yes, then the Prophet said to him: "Be good and considerate to her" (Tirmidhi, Al-Hakim, Ibn Hibban); and he also said: "The mother's sister has a status similar to that of the mother" (Bukhari).

Respect towards the wife

Said the Prophet Muhammad: "The best among men is the one who best treats his wife."

The Koran commands: {... kindly treat women in coexistence. And if something of them should displease you [be tolerant], it may be that you dislike something in which God has put a good for you} [Koran 4:19].

During the last sermon given by the Prophet Muhammad before his death, he said: "... Treat your women well and be kind to them, because they are your companions. "

Conclusion

One of the main accusations made against Islam is that it is a sexist religion that oppresses women, that deprives us of all our rights, that we are subject to all kinds of abuses by men and that we must hold silent because that's what our religion requires. However, the reality is that in Islam, respect and good treatment of women is not an option, it is an obligation! It is a clear and forceful order of God, and whoever does not comply with this order will be incurring in an act of disobedience for which he will have to render an account among God.

Once again, Islam teaches us the guidelines for living in harmony and security, so that the rights of the people are respected, so that the strong do not abuse the weak and that no one is treated with injustice. However, many people prefer to follow the path of evil, do not feel compassion for the suffering of others and only want to satisfy their desires at all costs. But the day will come when all the injustices will be paid and every criminal will pay for his crimes:{... But know that I have prepared for those who commit injustice a fire that will surround them. When suffocated they ask to drink, they will be poured a liquid like molten metal that will burn their faces. What a terrible drink and what a horrible abode! On the other hand, those who believe and act righteously, know that I will reward all their works} [Qur'an 18: 29-30].

Islam teaches behavioral norms for both men and women, teaches high moral and spiritual values; but as long as people do not want to follow this guide, the evil in this world will increase.