Why are men given more opportunities to earn reward?

Q:

1. My question is that only males in Islam are promised to get numerous angels/hoors in accordance with the good deeds they do? What about a Muslimah who performs the same deeds? Why aren’t they also promised to get angels?

2. I came across numerous Islamic bayaans by great learned people saying that Allah has promised the best reward for people who do Tab’leegh and the ajar (reward) for a person doing Tab’leegh is incomparable with those who don’t do it..

My question is what about the wives who sit back at the home looking after kids and other family affairs while their husbands are busy doing Tab’leegh? Also the rules for women for doing Tab’leegh don’t allow them frequently to go out in jamaats on contrary to which men can go whenever they want leading to numerous amount of good deeds for them? Why only men are given opportunities to earn a bigger jannah for them?

A:

1. They will definitely get angels.

2. Asmaa bintu Yazeed Al-Ansaariyyah (radhiyallahu ‘anha), a Sahaabiyyah from the Banu ‘Abdil Ash-hal clan, once approached Nabi (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) while he was seated among the Sahaabah (radhiyallahu ‘anhum) and addressed him in the following words:

“May my father and mother be sacrificed for you! I have come to you as a representative of all women. May my life be sacrificed for you! Every single woman, in the east and west, whether she has heard that I will come to you or not, will have exactly the same question as myself. Verily Allah Ta‘ala has sent you with the truth to men and women. We brought imaan in you and in Allah Ta‘ala who deputed you.

We, the women, live with restrictions and limitations. We don’t leave the confines of our homes. We allow you to fulfill your needs with us, and we bear your children. You, the men, have been favoured by your being able to attend the Jumu‘ah Salaah and other salaahs in congregation. You are able to visit the sick and be present at funerals. You perform hajj after hajj and even more virtuous than that is your fighting in the path of Allah Ta‘ala. When any of you (men) leave your home to perform hajj or ‘umrah or to guard the borders of the Islamic territories, it is none other than us women who protect your wealth for you. We sew your clothes for you. We raise and care for your children. Don’t we have a share in your reward O Rasul of Allah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam)?”

On hearing the complaint of this woman, Nabi (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) turned his face towards the Sahaabah (radhiyallahu ‘anhum) and asked, “Have you ever heard a woman ask a question regarding her Deen more excellent than the question of this woman?” The Sahaabah (radhiyallahu ‘anhum) replied, “O Rasul of Allah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam)! We never imagined that a woman could be inspired to ask a question of this nature!”

Nabi (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) turned back to her and said, “Return, O woman, and inform all the women you represent that for you to display excellent conduct with your husband, strive to keep him happy and try your utmost to comply with his ways will equal all the deeds you mentioned.”

Asmaa (radhiyallahu ‘anha) was so delighted to hear this, that as she walked away she continued to exclaim “Allahu Akbar!” and “Laa ilaaha illallah!”. (Shu‘abul Imaan #8369)

And Allah Ta'ala (الله تعالى) knows best.

 

Answered by:

Mufti Ebrahim Salejee (Isipingo Beach)