Woman Between Islam and Western Society
5. Position of Woman in the Islamic Shari‘ah
~ 310 ~
They are better able to counsel each other wisely,
to give moral support at critical moments, and to
offer the daily encouragement with which every
successful union should be marked. Experience
has repeatedly shown that when one is
confronted by a serious problem, one is often
initially incapable of arriving at a well-reasoned,
objective judgement of the situation. It is only
when there ‘is some sympathetic adviser present,
who is personally uninvolved in one’s
predicament, that solutions begin to present
themselves. With men and women having their
activities in separate spheres, they are in a better
position to bring objective opinions to bear in
such difficult situations, and can give truly
helpful advice in an unemotional and coolly
detached way.
In Islamic history, there are many examples of
women who have helped their husbands when
faced with critical situations. One of the most
notable was Khadijah, who successfully brought the
Prophet back to a state of normalcy after his
experience in the Cave of Hira.
