The dealings of the Prophet of Allah, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, with the women of his family and the Muslim community were based on trust, respect, consideration and affection. We see glimpses of women praying in the mosque in congregations led by him; women being accorded time when they complained that they did not have access to Islamic teachings; women who assisted in battlefields and women whose domestic prob- lems were heard and addressed, all illustrated by his own equitable be- haviour towards women during his lifetime.

Let us look at Prophet Muhammad’s life and his example and let us do what he, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, did and then perhaps we shall no longer hear of women being abused or deprived of respect, no more women suffering from negligence, abuse and denial of their rights.

 Let us begin with our own families and communities and then perhaps we could become, as Allah intends us to be, examples for the rest of humanity.

Treating women:

The Prophet of Allah, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, treated women with kindness and mercy due to the innate nature Allah had created him upon. He, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, had the best of manners and was the most merciful of people towards others. Additionally, he, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, knew how vulnerable and sensitive women were and thus he was
extra merciful towards them.