The Ruling on One Who Thinks That Islam Oppresses Women

Question:
Benefits from the explanation of the book *Iqtida' al-Sirat al-Mustaqim li-Mukhalafat Ahl al-Jahim* by Ibn Taymiyyah. In the previous episode, we concluded with three or four noble authentic hadiths—three or four, that is. They are the saying of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) in the two Sahihs: ; his saying in what al-Bukhari narrated: ; his saying in what Ahmad graded as good: ; and the saying of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) in what both of them narrated in the two Sahihs: "You are the companions of Yusuf." And the saying of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) in what they also narrated: "of the intellect of one of you." The Shaykh (may Allah reward you with good) spoke about what is befitting for a woman and what is not, and about injustice in the treatment of women and the absence of injustice. We had a question that we ended the episode with. First, we ask you to welcome the listening brothers, and then we direct our question with which we concluded. May Allah welcome you and bless you and the listening brothers. I say, O Shaykh, some Muslims think that women have been oppressed in the Shari'ah of Allah, may we seek refuge in Allah. One finds that in his heart, and some say it with their tongues. What is the ruling on that? And what do you advise the Muslims?

Answer:
In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. Praise be to Allah, and may the prayers and peace be upon the Messenger of Allah. It is obligatory for the Muslim to believe that Islam is the religion of justice, mercy, and fairness.
Because it is legislation from the Wise, the Praiseworthy, . Whether that appears to him or not, he believes that the Shari'ah of Allah is complete in every matter. Allah the Exalted said: So if the wisdom in a matter does not appear to him, let him blame himself, his intellect, and his shortcoming, and not blame Islam and that it oppressed women. Islam is Wise and places things in their proper places. It gives each one what is befitting for them. It gives women what is befitting for them and gives men what is befitting for them. Matters are positions, some of which are not filled by men alone, and some of which are not filled by women alone. So each stands in the place that Allah has designated for him, in order for the affairs of life to be completed, the benefits to be mutually supportive, and the advantages to be fulfilled in the Muslim society. It is not that men take the work of women, nor that women take the work of men, even in appearance. The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: and he cursed those who imitate the opposite sex. All of this is so that each stands in their own place, and with what Allah the Mighty and Majestic has given them, and in that is good and benefit. So the one who hears the claim of the disbelievers, the enemies of Islam, who say that Islam oppressed women, or if he reads the Qur'an or something of the authentic hadiths and finds in himself a lack of conviction that Islam oppressed women, this is hypocrisy, what Allah willed.
Hypocrisy, may Allah protect us from it. So he must repent to Allah, seek refuge in Allah, and believe that the speech of Allah is the truth and that the speech of His Messenger is the truth, whether it appears to him or not. And what is the benefit of faith? If a person does not believe except in what he perceives, what is the benefit of believing in the unseen matters, the past matters, and the future matters? The human being, Allah the Glorious and Exalted said: . And when.
Their interpretation comes to them. So did those before them, and Allah did not wrong them. So did those before them. Is it not for the messengers except to convey the clear message? So it is obligatory for the Muslim to stand with the Book of Allah and the Sunnah of the Messenger of Allah, and believe that they are the truth and that they indicate justice, whether it appears to him or not, or does not appear. If it does not appear, he blames his intellect and his perception, and does not blame the Book and the Sunnah for that. If he remains in his doubt and his accusation, this is hypocrisy, because he pretends to be a Muslim. Otherwise, we would say he is a disbeliever. But he pretends to be a Muslim, prays, fasts, and is with the Muslims. So he is a hypocrite in his heart. We ask Allah for safety. Because Allah the Glorious and Exalted said about the hypocrites: . This is the disease in the heart, and it is doubt in what Allah the Mighty and Majestic has revealed. It is obligatory for the Muslim to be certain and confident in the Book of Allah, the Sunnah of His Messenger, and the Shari'ah of Allah the Mighty and Majestic, and that He has placed things in their befitting places.
Because it is and it is not the work of humans, in which more is hidden from him than is apparent to him of matters. So this is the obligation of the one who finds something of that in himself: to remove it with certainty and faith in Allah the Mighty and Majestic, and to know that he does not perceive all matters. Matters may be obscure to him and he does not perceive the consequences. This is not known except by Allah, Glorified and Exalted is He. Yes. Meaning, he is not a true believer until he is certain.
Until he submits to Allah and His Messenger, whether it appears to him or not; because it will appear later. Matters do not all come at once, but little by little. For every news there is a fixed time, and I will learn. . Yes. If he says something of that, some Muslims slip out. If he speaks, this is an open declaration of hypocrisy. The hypocrites sometimes openly declare their hypocrisy.