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Women In Islam

Islam was the most revolutionary liberalization of women's rights the civilized world has ever seen.

Unlike feminism movements, women's liberation in Islam wasn't started by women but was revealed by the creator to Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) in the seventh century. The Qur'an and the traditions are the sources from which every Muslim woman derives her rights, responsibilities and duties.

Men and women are equal in Islam in all aspects of life i.e. personal worship, economically, politically, socially and legally. The Qur’an says:

• "O mankind! Be careful of your duty to your Lord who created you from a single soul and from it its mate and from them both have spread abroad a multitude of men and women. Be careful of your duty toward Allah in whom you claim (your rights) of one another, and towards the wombs (that bore you)! Allah has been a Watcher over you." Qur'an (4:1)

Since men and women both came from the same essence, they are equal regarding their human rights. Women cannot be considered evil by nature (as some people may think) or then men would be evil also. Similarly, neither gender can be superior because it would be a contradiction of equality.

Islam also granted women many civil rights; a Muslim woman has the basic freedom of choice and expression based on recognition of her individual personality. First, she is free to choose her religion. The Qur'an states:

• "There is no compulsion in religion. Right has been made distinct from error."Qur'an (2:256)

In Islam, women's role is balanced and fair. The male and female are complimentary partners in life, each with both unique and overlapping roles and responsibilities. She has been removed from the primary burden of supporting herself economically. Instead men take this responsibility, a woman's father and/or brother and even the government, if the other two are not available are responsible to take care of the woman and support her financially. If she does not want to work, she does not have to. She has the freedom to decide to stay at home and spend her time raising her children and tending to her family, social and religious life. However, if she wants to work, she is not forbidden to do so. Actually Islam has encouraged the woman to educate herself so that she can develop personally, contribute to the community and educate her children. She is given the primary role of being a mother, a guide and an example to the children and family.

Muslim women have the right to choose their husbands and keep their names after marriage. Islam also encourages women to contribute their opinions and ideas; there are many examples of women who offer their opinions concerning religion, economics and social matters both today and historically. Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) said:

• "Seeking knowledge is a mandate for every Muslim (male and female)."

This includes learning the Qur'an and the Hadith as well gaining knowledge in science and many other fields. Since both men and women have the capacity for learning and understanding, Muslim women must acquire the appropriate education in order to promote good behaviour and condemn bad behaviour in all spheres of life.

While maintenance of a home, supporting husbands, nurturing and teaching children are regarded as the primary priorities for a woman, if she has the skills to work outside her house for the good of the family and the broader society then that is permissible.

Moreover Islam gives high respect to motherhood, Prophet Mohammad (pbuh) said:

• "Heaven lies under the feet of mothers."

This implies that the success of a society is traced to good educated mothers.

Fourteen hundred years ago, Islam started giving women the right to vote. On any public matter; Muslim women may vote their opinion and participate in politics. This established the right of women to select their leader and publicly declare so, of which there are numerous examples historically and today.

While guardianship and greater financial responsibility is given to men in Islam, a Muslim woman has the privilege to earn money, the right to own property, to enter into legal contracts and to manage all of her assets in any way she pleases. She can run her own business and no one has any claim on her earnings including her husband.  The Qur'an says:

• "And in no wise covet those things in which Allah hath bestowed His gifts more freely on some of you than on others; to men is allotted what they earn, and to women, what they earn; but ask Allah of His bounty, for Allah hath full knowledge of all things." Qur'an (4:32)

Islam liberated women by giving them rights and duties 1400 years ago that most women do not enjoy up till now, even in the West. These duties and rights were given by Islam and are designed to keep balance in society; what may seem unjust or missing in one place is compensated for or explained in another place because Islam is a complete balanced way of life. The Quran says:

• "And it not of a believing man or a women, when Allah and His Messenger (Muhammad) have declared a matter, for them to have any choice in that matter. And anyone who disobeys God and His Messenger has indeed gone astray into open error." Qur'an (33:36)

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