Woman Between Islam and Western Society
5. Position of Woman in the Islamic Shari‘ah
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According to ‘Aishah, the Prophet would not leave
home without praising Khadijah. “One day when
he mentioned Khadijah, I became annoyed and
said, ‘She was just an old woman. In her stead, God
has given you one who is better.’ This angered the
Prophet, who said, ‘God knows, He has given me
no better than her. She believed when others
disbelieved. She had faith in me when others
rejected me. She supported me with her wealth
when others left me in the lurch. And God gave me
children by her, which He has not given me by any
other wives.’’’
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In every age, there is a need not only for men but
also for women to devote themselves to the
mission of Islam. Ideally, they should be
individuals who are willing in the way that
Khadijah was, to involve themselves unstintingly
in the scheme of God. Such people are like small
cogs which revolve strictly according to the
motion of a larger wheel — in this case, the will
of God. This is undoubtedly a trying task; but it is
also one that carries a great reward. To perform
this task is “to help God.” There can be no doubt
about the excellence and superiority of those
