Status of Women in Imam Ali’s (as) Opinion
Ali’s Attitude towards Women
Women are Deficient in Intellect
There are four things that make the heart die: wrong action followed by wrong action, playing around with foolish people, spending a lot of time with women, and sitting with the dead. Then they asked Imam ‘Ali: ' And who are the dead, O Commander of the believers? ' He replied: ' Every slave who follows his desires. '
Zirar bin Zamra Zibabi, known as Zirar Suda'i, was a companion of Imam ‘Ali. When, after the martyrdom of Imam ‘Ali, he went to Damascus, Muawiya called him and asked him to say something about Imam ‘Ali. Zirar, knowing that Muawiya hated Imam ‘Ali intensely tried to avoid this topic, but Muawiya forced him to speak.
Thereupon, Zirar said: "O Amir, I had often seen Imam ‘Ali in the depth of nights, when people were either sleeping or engrossed in amusements, he would be standing in the niche of the Masjid, with tears in his eyes and he would beseech Allah to help him maintain a pious, a virtuous and a noble character and to forsake the world. He would then address the world, saying 'O vicious world! Be away from me, why do you come in front of me like this? Do you want to allure me? Allah forbid that I should be allured and tempted by you and your pleasures.
It is not possible. Go and try your allurements on somebody else. I do not desire to own you and do not want to have you. I have forsaken you thrice. It is like divorcing a woman thrice after which act she cannot be taken back as a wife. The life of pleasures that you offer is of a very little duration. There is no real importance in what you offer, the desire of holding you is an insult and a humiliation to sober minds.
Sad is the plight of those who want to acquire you. They do not provide for the Hereafter. They have to pass through a long journey over a very difficult road towards a sat destination'. Zirar says that when he stopped, there were tears in the eyes of Muawiya who said, 'May peace of Allah be upon Abul Hasan ‘Ali bin Abi Talib, he was undoubtedly like that. Now tell me, Zirar! How do you feel his separation?' Zirar replied, "My sorrow and grief is like that of woman whose only child has been murdered in her lap". With this remark Zirar walked out of the court of Muawiya and left the city.
Your society will pass through a period when cunning and crafty intriguers will be favoured by status, when profligates will be considered as well-bred, well-behaved and elegant elites of the society, when just and honest persons will be considered as weaklings, when charity will be considered as a loss to wealth and property, when support and help to each other will be considered as favour and benevolence and when prayers and worship to Allah will be taken up for the sake of show to gain popularity and higher status, at such times regimes will be run under the advice of women and the youngsters will be the rulers and counselors of the State.
When asked about Quraysh, Imam ‘Ali replied that amongst them Bani Mukhzum are like sweet scented flower of Quraysh; their men are good to talk to and their women prove very good wives; Bani Abdush Shams are very intelligent and very prudent but we (of Bani Hashim) are very generous and very brave to face death. Bani Abdush Shams are more in numbers, ugly and intriguers but Bani Hashim are beautiful, good speakers and orators and very faithful as friends.
Jealousy in woman is unpardonable but in man it is a sign of his faith in religion (because Islam has permitted polygamy and prohibited polyandry).
Daily prayers are the best medium through which one can Seek the nearness to Allah. Hajj is Jihad (Holy War) for every weak person. For everything that you own there is Zakat, and Zakat of your body is fasting. The Jihad of a woman is to afford pleasant company to her husband.
Status of Women in Imam Ali’s (as) Opinion
Woman is a delicate creature with strong emotions who has been created by the Almighty God to shoulder responsibility for educating society and moving toward perfection. God created woman as symbol of His own beauty and to give solace to her partner and her family.
Due to high importance that Islam attaches to women, there are many recommendations about venerating and respecting women and being kind to them. Islam lauds women and Imam Ali (as) has quoted Prophet Mohammad (pbuh) as saying that:
“Nobody respects women but those who are dignified and generous and nobody insults them but those who are mean and contemptible (disgraceful).”
In another tradition, Prophet Mohammad (pbuh) appreciates a mother noting, “The entire respect that a child has for his/her mother would not be equal to one day of suffering that she has underwent to bring him/her to this world.”
In pre-Islamic Arab society, people considered no value for women and girls and some tribes even went as far as burying their female infants alive. However, after the advent of Islam, Prophet Mohammad (pbuh) did his best to change women’s status and promote new attitudes toward women.
Every time that Prophet Mohammad (pbuh) saw his daughter, Fatemeh (as), he greatly respected her and kissed her brow. Basically, respect for women is prominent in traditions as well as the conduct of Prophet Mohammad (pbuh) and his progeny.
Ali (as) has been quoted as saying, “Girl is good deed and boy is bounty. Good deeds are rewarded while people are held accountable for bounties.”
He has also been quoted as saying that “He who has a daughter will avail of blessing and forgiveness of God.”
Imam Ali (as) did his best to make women understand true value of women and know that they need attention and kindness more than anything else and do not deserve to be treated harshly and violently. Imam Ali (as) has been quoted as saying, “God will not accept prayer and good deeds of a man who harasses his wife and he is among the first people to enter the Hell.”
Imam Ali (AS): Women are Allah’s trusts upon you, do not hurt them, and do not put pressure on them.
Woman’s Dignity in the Words of Amir ul-Muminin Ali ibn Abi Talib (a.s.)
What The Holy Qur'an And Traditions Say About Woman And Social Life
Women in the view of Imam Ali (a.s)
The Glory and Dignity of the Woman from the Viewpoint of
A Model for Love: Imam Ali (AS)’s Devotion to Lady Fatima (AS)
The Duties of Women: The Purpose of Marriage
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