When we talk of violence, immediately the pictures of bloodshed, death, oppression, tyranny and devastation cross our minds. Today we witness violence everywhere. The people fight among themselves about petty issues that are not more important than a precious human life....! But the worst form of violence is prevalent in our society from decades is "Domestic Violence". This is the most severe kind of violence that has made our society specious. Every day we come across many heart-rending cases of domestic violence and the count is increasing with every second.
Women are tortured by inlaws on account of one or the other reason. But the irony is that very few of the victims of domestic violence muster the courage to complaint against it. This is because of many rediculous reasons like the fear of jibes and taunts of people. This actually gives an opportunity to men to flex their muscles on poor women. Nobody has got any right to suppress the women by torturing them as Islaam has given a very dignified status to women. They have been regarded as home makers. If we try to find the root cause of domestic violence, it lies in doing discrimination between a boy and a girl.
Right from the birth, the girl is asked to compromise with her feelings, her emotions, her needs, her desires, her studies, her career and what not?? Allah has given equal rights to a man and a woman; then who are we to do this? As Allah (SWT) says: [Whoever works righteousness, whether male or female, while he or she is a true believer, verily to him we will give a good and pure life(in this world) and we will bestow on such their reward according to best of their actions. {Al-Nahl} .]
The fact is engraved in the minds of men that they have superiority over women and can do anything with them, even torture them to death! As it is in a hadith reported from prophet (SAW) that he said: a believing man should not hate a believing woman, if he dislikes one of her characteristics,he will be pleased with another A man is a guardian of his woman. It is obligatory for him to protect her.
But if he tortures her instead of protecting her, this is clearly disobedience of Allah(SWT) as he has made obligatory to treat wives with kindness and equity. Allah(SWT) says: " And live with them on a footing of kindness and equity" [An-Nisa-19] . Another main cause of domestic violence is the DOWERY SYSTEM. On survey, it has been found that about 50% cases of domestic violence are because of the failure of the woman to load the house of her inlaws with mounts of gold,, a huge number of electronics and bla bla bla. Dowery is a menace and needs to be shunned as soon as possible.
In our religion i.e islaam, Allah (SWT) has decreed the bridal money (Mehr) as a right of the woman and ordered that it be paid to her in full, except what she may decide to grant out of a generous heartand her own good pleasure. He says: "And give the women(on marriage) their bridal money as a free gift; but if they out of their own good pleasure remit any part of it to you, take it and enjoy it without any fear of harm" [An-Nisa-4]. So there us no point of torturing a woman because of dowery.
And Allah (SWT) made it obligatory on the husband to provide for and cloth his wife with equity and honour. If we look into sunnah of our beloved prophet Muhammad (SAW), there is a perfect example of love, respect and equity for a woman by her husband. He used to treat his women with utmost love and kindness. So we should introspect ourselves as soon as possible and try to treat our women according to the rules and regulations of Islam. But if we are determined to disobey Allah(SWT) and his prophet (SAW), then we should be also ready to face the wrath which we are experiencing now in one form or the other.....!