Muslim Women

1127 Words3 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Essay women role of islam

Islam is the world’s second largest as well as the fastest growing monotheistic religion, which was introduced to humanity by God’s (Arabic word for God is Allah) Prophet Muhammad in Arabia. Like the holy books of Christianity such as the Old and New Testament, beliefs of Muslims and the sacred word of Allah are recorded in their holy text, Quran. Many topics that are under constant debate of non-Muslims include one of the most commonly discussed issue – the status of Muslim women and their limited rights. Society generally perceives the role of women in Islam negatively and Muslim women are usually portrayed as the victims of oppression and maltreatment. Actually, Islam appears to be the religion which condemns any kind of oppression towards …show more content…

Even though the main responsibilities of Muslim women are to take care of children, serve the husband, follow gender-specific commandments, traditional responsibilities and assistance in political as well as religious decisions are still held by women in Islam. Many teachings of Muhammad that protected the dignity of women contain one of his most well-known sayings about this topic: "...the best among you are those who treat their wives well." So it can be stated that women are not oppressed in Islam. Among the reasons of perceiving Muslim women as victims of oppression stands head and body covering. In chapter 33, entitled Soorah Al-Ahzaab, Allah says: "O Prophet, tell your wives and your daughters and the woman of the believers to bring down over themselves (part) of their outer garments. That is more suitable that they will be known (as free respectable women) and not be abused. And ever is Allah Forgiving and Merciful." It can be said that Islam makes wearing Hijab absolutely necessary. Hijab is the word used for covering, not only the head covering but also wearing loose clothes that are not too bright. In fact, Christian nuns cover their hair but no one considers them to …show more content…

Any property that woman acquires by her own effort or inherits as a heir or receives as a legacy, belongs to her independently of her husband. She is free to choose – she can ask her husband to manage that property, but if she chooses to administer it herself, he cannot interfere in her own management. The following incident clearly illustrates the economical independence of Muslim women: Prophet admonished women to spend their own money in charity. Thereafter two women, both bearing the name of Zainab, came to him and told him that their respective husbands were poor, but that they in their own rights were comparatively better. Would it be an act of spiritual merit if they assisted their husbands? The Holy Prophet assured them their spending on their husbands would be doubly honorable, as it would rank both as charity and as graciousness. The Quran states: “Covet not that whereby Allah has made some of you excel others. Men shall have a portion of that which they earn and women shall have a portion of that which they earn. Ask Allah alone of His bounty. Surely, Allah has perfect knowledge of all things.” There is no discrimination against women in inheritance cases, too. The Islamic system of inheritance aims at a wide distribution of property. If a person dies leaving his/her surviving parents, wife or

Show More
Related

  • Muslim Women and Western Ideas of Feminism

    380 Words  | 1 Pages

    In Islam, women are encouraged to wear the hijab. Islam could benefit from the West in terms of equality. Some people could see giving women the same rights as men as a positive note.

    Read More

  • My Social Location

    687 Words  | 2 Pages

    Contrary to popular belief, Islam is a religion that respects the rights of women. I was raised in a devout Muslim household, and I was raised to believe that women in Islam are amazing and powerful creatures that deserve respect, and this has had a massive impact on the woman that I aspire to be.

    Read More

  • Islamic Women: Oppression or Equality?

    1058 Words  | 3 Pages

    The constant smear remarks from media headlines are chiseled into the minds of Westerners and no amount of “educated [and] articulate women fulfilling the modest conditions of the hijab can do little to dispel the myths” (Stacey). She writes how even when these women are simply placing their focus on the spiritually constructed values rather than socially constructed ones they still may be labeled as oppressed. Indeed, the majority of the women in the world have the free choice to where a hijab or not. The Gallup Poll mentioned earlier actually concludes that that “most women in the Muslim world are well aware that they have the same capabilities and deserve the same fundamental rights as men”

    Read More

  • Hijab: Symbolism In Islam And Islam In The World

    1531 Words  | 4 Pages

    In fact, wearing Hijab was not initiated by Islam; it was familiar in the Judeo-Christian tradition and manuscripts. Yet, Islam is the continuation of the Abrahamitic Messages. Catholic Nuns practice veiling based on several references in both the Old and New Testaments. In fact, the Bible represented the veiling as problematic than what in the Qur’an or the Hadith (the sayings of the prophet Muhammad), because the Judeo-Christian sources indicate that women should be covered because of their inherent inferiority (Corinthian, 11:3-10) http://postcolonialstudies.emory.edu/women-islam-and-hijab/#ixzz2vCPAw6nI. On the contrary, Muslim women proudly cover their h...

    Read More

  • Women's Roles in the Postclassical Period by Religion

    860 Words  | 2 Pages

    The first religion and its views on women that will be discussed in this essay is Islam. Islam is a religions founded in Saudi Arabia almost two thousand years ago, by the prophet Muhammad. In fact, Muhammad dedicated much attention towards women in the Koran, the holy book of Islam. However, even though much was dedicated to women in the Koran, it was not dedicated to them in the sense of equality. Women in Islamic culture were apparently much lower on the totem pole than men, "The men are made responsible for the women, since God endowed them with certain qualities, and made them the bread earners...If you experience opposition from the women, you shall first talk to them, then [you may use such negative incentives as] deserting them in bed, then you may beat them (129)." Excerpt...

    Read More

  • The Barriers Islamic Women Face as Explained in The Worl'd's Religions by Huston Smith

    1500 Words  | 3 Pages

    A sensitive subject, in the Islamic religion, is the status that a women holds - specifically with respect to the theme of how women are treated within polygamous relationships. Smith’s main thesis is that the Islamic religion has been accused of degrading women and he plans to share information to prove that this is a very valid fact. A polygamous relationship is a relationship or marriage with many partners. The Islam’s believe in polygamous relationships and the rules are specifically stated within the Koran. The Koran allows for a man to have up to four wives/partners, although, if he cannot equally share his love with all of his wives/partners, then he must only marry one . Smith has a very valid point, although there are many sources that support and refute his opinion. Mohammad Ali Syed discovered that the Islamic law allows for polygamy under certain circumstances, such as the treatment towards orphans. ...

    Read More

  • The Status of Women in Islam

    1579 Words  | 4 Pages

    The religion of Islam has obtained the reputation of violence and misogyny in recent decades due to radical sects in the international spotlight. Although violence has been limited to radical groups, many people outside of the religion view Islam’s law, Shari’ah law, to define the status of women below men. However, from the original holy text, the Qur’an, and the Prophet Muhammad’s Sunnah, a framework of equality and mutual respect across sexes is evident. Although the Qur’an is the unadulterated Word of God, it is interpreted by Muslims in many different ways. It has been through these patriarchal interpretations of the five schools of Islamic law that the status of women has been impinged upon (Barlas, 2002). The Qur’an itself contains versus which demonstrate the equality of men and women, but also seemingly contradicts itself by undermining the status of women. These contradictory phrases have recently been interpreted by female scholars differently than the original schools to support the equality of sex. Muhammad’s life also displays his affection and respect for his wives as opposed to a lifestyle of misogyny. In the end, the status of women in Islam has been largely degraded by human interpretation of the text to create a power dynamic between a husband and his wife, or wives. Although a woman’s status has been lowered in the eyes of many Muslims, recent civil rights movements and women activists are challenging these emboldened concepts to achieve social and political leadership.

    Read More

  • A Rebuttal on How Women Are Viewed in the Koran

    440 Words  | 1 Pages

    The Koran says that women must be modest and hide their, "unseen parts." Unfortunately, this verse is imprecise and can be understood from a liberal or conservative perspective. The liberal view would only require women to conceal their breast and groin. Predictably, Muslim culture understands this verse in an ultra conservative way requiring women to cloth themselves from head to toe, allowing their eyes and in rare cases not even their eyes to be visible. The Koran does not state any specific regulations that men have to hide their unseen parts.

    Read More

  • The Veil is not Mandatory in Islam

    954 Words  | 2 Pages

    One’s body is very attractive to the opposite sex and thus it should not be revealed as if it has no value. One should look at a person’s beauty from the inside, the heart, not just from the outside. One should be liked and judged not by what they choose to wear, but by their personality. Hijab is a choice that some women or girls make for their own security, for more privacy, or because it makes them feel comfortable and confident about themselves. It should be a choice though, and as it is not proven to us that it is obligatory, countries such as Saudi Arabia, Iran, and Pakistan should remove their laws that insist every girl puts the veil on.

    Read More

  • Women in Muslim Society

    2561 Words  | 6 Pages

    In discussing the role of women in contemporary society there are three main areas that can be addressed. The perceptions of woman within contemporary Muslim societies. The status, position and role of woman in the Qur'an and in early Islam

    Read More

  • The Misconceptions About Women in Islam

    1311 Words  | 3 Pages

    In Islam women are given many rights, such as owning properties, having an education, working, and marrying who she wants. In the Holy book, the Qu’ran, it explains that women are allowed to own inheritance or properties. However, it is less than, for instance, the brother of a woman, because when she marries she can combine her inheritance with her husbands. “…a male shall have as much as the share of two females; but if their be females only, numbering more than two, then they shall have two-thirds of what the deceased leave; and if there be one, she shall have half.” (4:12, Qu’ran). Having an education is very important to the religion of Islam; and Islam deeply encourages it. There are also a great deal of criticism about women and marriage and how she is forced to marry whoever the woman’s parents want but that is not true. In the Qu’ran it states in chapter 4 verse 20 that “It is not lawful for you to inherit women against their will, nor should you detain them wrongfully that you may take away part of that which you have given them,” The religion is on the side of a woman just as much as a ...

    Read More

  • Muslim Women´s Hijab

    2095 Words  | 5 Pages

    Within the Middle East, the largest population of the men and women are Muslim. The Muslim religion suggests that women wear a veil or hijab, which is a head scarf that only exposes a woman’s eyes, accompanied by a burqa which is a full body cloak. The sole purpose of the clothing is to cover a woman’s feminine features from men’s eyes. The Qur’an, an Islamic scripture, supports and slightly obligates the uniform by saying that women are to be conservative, “let them wear their head covering over their bosoms, and not display their ornaments.” (Qur’an).

    Read More

  • Women In Islam Essay

    1118 Words  | 3 Pages

    The role and place of Women in Islam has changed drastically, in a positive way, over the past millennium: the changes can be greatly attributed to the Prophet Muhammad, and the Qur’an. To understand the changes in women’s rights and freedoms, one must understand their role and place before Islam was created, which happened in the Arabia Peninsula, now Saudi Arabia (Angha). Before Islam was formed women lacked many of the basic human rights, and they were treated as more of a burden in their culture then someone who should be respected, but that is not the case today. Though women in Islam have gained many rights, there is still some controversy over whether or not women are still being oppressed and treated like second class citizens compared

    Read More

  • Women Rights in Islam

    1221 Words  | 3 Pages

    In Islam, there is no concept that women cannot work. The only concept in Islam is that women and men should work separately which leads to misconception that women are forced to stay home and their only place is home. However, Islam encourages women to choose professions like teaching, nursing, and doctor. That can also help other Muslim women because they will not feel any hesitation that a man is diagnosing them. An adult woman can own, she has option to dispose also without anyone’s consultation regardless of whether she is married or not.

    Read More

  • Gender Inequality In Islam

    1345 Words  | 3 Pages

    “Islam has not in all cases accorded similar rights to man and woman. But it has not also prescribed similar duties and similar punishments for the two sexes.” (Mutahhari 33) There can be no denial that Islam views men and women as functionally different, admitting them different rights and ...

    Read More

More about Muslim Women

Open Document