Islam is the second largest religion in the world today. Many of us do not understand the religion Islam and women’s rights within the Islamic faith. American society has the idea that Muslim women are weak, disrespected, belittled, mistreated, and oppressed. “And women shall have rights similar to the rights against them according to what is equitable; but men have a degree (of advantage) over them.” (Qur’an 28:229).Contrary to common belief, Islam regards women as equal to men in many aspects and that women have a unique place in Islam. Finally, with this research I hope to end all misconceptions and misunderstandings of Muslim women rights relating to their spiritual, economic, social, political, and legal rights.
The five pillars are the structure or framework of a Muslim life and is their testimony of faith (Sha’hadah), prayer (Salah), charity (Zakah), fasting (Sawm) and pilgrimage (Hajj) to Makkah. Both men and women have the same religious duties and responsibilities to the five pillars. Women receive the same rewards as men for obedience, and both will receive the same punishment for disobedience. Both men and women are accountable for the same ethical duties and responsibilities concerning chastity, integrity, honor, and respect. Furthermore, if men or women engage in unethical moral behavior, both men and women will receive the same punishment. There are no double standards in the religion of Islam.
The Qur’an clearly defines that both men and women are of the same human spiritual nature, and both have the same souls, brains, heart etc. Then again, women are not the same, because they are different physically, mentally, emotionally and psychologically. “Every soul will be (held) in pledge for its deeds” (Qur’an 74:38) ...
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...entiation of punishment for men and women, both will receive the same type of punishment.
In conclusion, the Qur’an state that both men and women are equal in the eyes of “Allah,” their God. However, people have little understanding, are indifferent to Islam, and draw their own conclusions concerning the rights of women in Islam. Many of us have not made the effort to understand the Muslim culture and Islam’s view of women and their rights. However, we need to realize that in Islam, the first priority for a woman is as a wife and mother, as a woman is precious in the eyes of Allah, yet a woman has rights in Islam.
Works Cited
Ali, Yusuf. The Holy Qur’an; Translation and Commentary. Ludhiana: Lahore, 1934. Al-Bukhari, Muhammed Ibn Ismaiel. Sahih Bukhari. Trans. M. Muhsin Khan. Vol. 8. Riyadh: Darussalam, 1997. Print.
Yahyaoui Krivenko, Ekaterina. Women, Islam And International Law : Within The Context Of The Convention On The Elimination Of All Forms Of Discrimination Against Women. Leiden: Martinus Nijhoff Publishers, 2009. eBook Academic Collection (EBSCOhost). Web. 4 Nov. 2013.
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.
Although according to Islam both masculine and feminine equally have their origin in the Divine, it does well to take a look at the feminine in Islam and remember that the feminine is not to be viewed as weaker than the masculine. In fact, in sources of Islam and in the Sufi tradition growing said sources, there is a strong preference for the feminine aspect of Allah, and often women are portrayed of being most accepting of the truth that the Devine is the only thing of true importance in the world (Galian, “The Centrality of the Devine Feminine in Sufism”).
...as of Islam’, “Islam gave this oppressed part of humanity, as it did to all other classes and groups, their legitimate place in life. In a world where woman was no more than an object of sexual gratification for men, and at a time when the religious circles and authorities in other cultures argued over whether woman was human or not, has a soul of her own like man, Islam declared “O mankind! We created you from a single (pair) of a male and female” (Qur’an 49; 13). Thus, men and woman have similar rights and duties; Almighty says “Never will I waste the work of a worker among you, whether male or female, the one of you being from the other” (Qur’an 3:195). Islam removed the false idea about woman that she was the sours of evil. Qur’an mentioned that both Adam and Eve are responsible for the first sin. However, both repented, and both were forgiven (Kayani, 1)
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...
Middle Eastern women need to stand up for their rights and get educated to reverse the notion that they are servants and properties of their men. Furthermore, they need to rise up to their potentials and prove beyond doubt that they are equal to men. This practice would lead the path for future generations to follow and protect the inalienable rights of women. Finally, these women need to break the cycle of oppression by addressing these deeply rooted beliefs, gaining the tools to fight back, and joining forces to make lifelong changes.
The Meaning Of The Holy Quran. Trans. Abdullah Yusuf Ali. 11th Ed. Beltsville, Md.: Amana Publications, 2006.
The Iranian Islamic Revolution of 1979 created a lasting affect on the societal role of women through modern day Iran. Women in Iran before the revolution were not entirely treated equal to men, but despite some cultural perceptions of women being inferior to men, they had made progress to become socially equal under the Shah. Several misconceptions and theories have been published and studied to show the inequality of women versus men because of Islam. However, contrasting theories have also been made to show that inequality has little to do with the religion, but instead with the forceful nature upon which it was implemented in the revolution. The purpose of this paper is to highlight the Islamic and political history of Iran and its social implications over Iranian women.
Islamic law and customary laws have influenced how women are viewed according to Middle Eastern legal systems. This is a topic that may seem unjust in the world we live in today, however, the legal issues involving women status in the Middle East are quite different than Western Civilization. Even with the transitions that have occurred there is much to be done to improve the status of women in these countries. There is an unacceptable level of inequality that is present amongst the Middle East when it comes to the rights of women. These women have little to no protection because there are no specific laws to protect women from domestic violence or rape.
G. Esposito, John L (2002) Islam; What Everyone Should Know. New York. Oxford University Press Inc.
Aristotle wrote, “The female is a female by virtue of a certain lack of qualities. We should regard the female nature as afflicted with a natural defectiveness” (qtd. in. The Second Sex 15-16). Roman law curtailed the rights of woman citing “the imbecility and instability of the sex” as the reason. Pythagoras said, “There is good principle which has created order, light and man; and a bad principle which has created chaos, darkness and woman”. Islam also believes that man is superior to woman because of his God given qualities and has the right to rule over and manage the lives and affairs of
First of all, women have equal rights in Islamic world. Islam highly encourages to give women their equal rights. This includes all types of rights, spiritual, economic, social, education, legal, and political rights. According to Islamic concept, men and women are created equal. They have spirits given by God. Neither man has superiority on woman nor has woman. The duties assigned to both are same. The same five prayers a day are obligatory for women which are for men. Everybody will get the reward for his own deeds on the Day of Judgment. If muslim women are supposed to fulfill their duties then why not their rights are equal in the eyes of western world. According to Zakir Naik: “In terms of moral, spiritual duties, acts of worship, the requirements of men and women are the same, except in some cases when women have certain concessions because of their feminine nature, or their health.” (Naik).
Zakaria, M. M. (trans.). Sahih Muslim Sharif (All in one volume), Dhaka: Mina Book House, 2008.
“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 ...
...el the status of women in the Muslim world today as "Islamic" is as far from the truth as labeling the position of women in the West today as "totally liberated and equal".