Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) was one of the first people in human history who stood up for women’s rights, he said:
“The rights of women are sacred. See that women are maintained in the rights assigned to them.” (Hadith)
“God enjoins you to treat women well, for they are your mothers, daughters, aunts.” (Hadith)
“Paradise lies at the feet of the mother” Hadith, which emphasizes the immense respect, honor, and gratitude owed to mothers, suggesting that treating them with kindness and care is a path to spiritual reward and divine blessings.
Frequently Asked Questions about Women’s Rights from a Non-Muslim Perspective:
Prophet Muhammad established women’s rights over 1,400 years ago, at a time when women had almost no rights. During that period, women in the West were often regarded as spiritually inferior to men and were denied basic rights. For instance, in many Western societies, women had no legal right to own property, inherit wealth, or even vote. It wasn’t until the 19th and early 20th centuries that women in the West gained these rights, such as property ownership, suffrage, and the right to work and earn a wage, through movements like women’s suffrage and feminist activism. In contrast, Islamic law granted women these rights centuries earlier.
1. What is the status of women in Islam?
Answer: In Islam, women are regarded as equal in dignity and humanity to men. Both men and women have spiritual equality and are equally accountable to God for their actions.
2. What rights do women have in Islam?
Answer: Islam grants women a wide range of rights, including the right to own property, the right to education, the right to work, the right to marry, and the right to participate in social, economic, and political life, those rights were granted to her 1400 years ago.
3. Can women seek education in Islam?
Answer: Yes, Islam encourages both men and women to seek knowledge. The Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) said, “Seeking knowledge is obligatory for every Muslim,” and this includes women.
4. What does Islam say about a woman’s role in the family?
Answer: Islam places great importance on the role of women in the family, particularly as mothers. The Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) emphasized the high status of mothers, saying, “Paradise lies at the feet of your mother.”
5. Are women allowed to work outside the home in Islam?
Answer: Yes, Islam permits women to work, as long as their work is in line with Islamic ethics and does not conflict with their primary responsibilities at home and family life.
6. What is the Islamic perspective on women’s modesty?
Answer: Islam encourages modesty for both men and women. Women are instructed to dress modestly, with the option of wearing the hijab, as a means of protecting their dignity and maintaining respect in society.
7. Does Islam allow women to own property?
Answer: Yes, in Islam, women have the right to own and manage property independently. This right was granted to women over 1,400 years ago, long before it was recognized in many parts of the world.
8. What does Islam say about women’s involvement in politics?
Answer: Islam does not prohibit women from participating in politics. Women have historically held leadership roles in Islamic societies, such as the first female governor in Islamic history, Shifa bint Abdullah, who was appointed by the Caliph Umar ibn al-Khattab.
9. Are women allowed to divorce in Islam?
Answer: Yes, women have the right to seek divorce (called khula) in Islam if the marriage is causing harm or is no longer viable. They can also initiate divorce through the courts, provided there are valid reasons.
10. Did women have a role in Islamic scholarship and leadership?
Answer: Yes, throughout Islamic history, women have played important roles as scholars, jurists, and leaders. For example, Aisha (ra), the wife of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh), was a renowned scholar, and numerous female scholars contributed to Islamic jurisprudence and theology.
Few more facts to know about Women in Islam:
In Islam, both men and women are equally accountable to God, with identical rewards and punishments based on their actions.
Throughout early Islamic history, particularly during the “Islamic Golden Age” (from the 8th to the 15th century, when science, mathematics, philosophy, physics, chemistry, and medicine flourished globally), women played active roles in all aspects of society. Female religious scholars, for instance, were not uncommon.
Scholars such as Mohammad Akram Nadwi have documented the lives of over 8,000 female jurists (fuqaha), and Ignaz Goldziher estimated that around 15% of medieval Hadith scholars were women.
One notable example is Umm Warqa, who was appointed by Caliph Omar to lead the market committees in both Medina and Mecca, becoming the first woman to hold such a position.
The early Islamic system of governance employed people from diverse ethnic and religious backgrounds, with both men and women contributing to a wide range of professions and economic activities.
Women were involved in various sectors: the primary sector (e.g., farming), the secondary sector (e.g., construction, dyeing, spinning), and the tertiary sector (e.g., investment, healthcare, leadership in guilds, scholarship, and brokerage). Muslim women also had a strong presence in industries like textiles, including spinning, dyeing, and embroidery. In contrast, female property rights and wage labor were rare in Europe until the Industrial Revolution of the 18th and 19th centuries.
Regrettably, the progress made during the Islamic Golden Age has diminished over time. In some regions, particularly in the Middle East, a distorted and ultra-conservative interpretation of Islam, often influenced by traditional cultural practices has led to women being treated as second-class citizens. In certain places, women are denied the right to vote, drive, or receive an education, which goes against the true teachings of Islam.
It is crucial to remember that such practices reflect a small minority of the Muslim world (less than 10%) and should not be conflated with Islam itself. We must distinguish between Islam as a religion and the cultural practices and traditions of specific societies.