The Rights of Women in the Islamic Faith

2699 Words6 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: rights of women in islam

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) ...

... middle of paper ...

...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.

Show More
Related

  • Hughes' Women and Gender in Islam: Historical Roots of a Modern Debate

    1174 Words  | 3 Pages

    After the first part of the Hughes chapter on Middle Eastern Muslim women, the emphasis shifts, from Quranic doctrine regarding women to how Muslim law and scholarship have interpreted the Quran’s direct admonitions to women. However, this shift is unfortunately subtle. The authors fail to make a clear distinction between the Quran, a sacred text believed to be the verbatim word of God; and Muslim law, which was formulated by (male) Muslim jurists who consulted the Quran and whose consensus was later declared infallible (Ahmed 58). Such a distinction is necessary because the Quran itself is vastly different from a legal document; Ahmed observes in “Early Islam and the Position of Women” that “Quranic precepts consist mainly of broad, general propositions chiefly of an ethical nature, rather than specific legalistic formulations” (59). Indeed, the Qura...

    Read More

  • Hijab: Symbolism In Islam And Islam In The World

    1531 Words  | 4 Pages

    ...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)

    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

  • Women's Rights In The Middle East Dbq Analysis

    1107 Words  | 3 Pages

    Women’s rights in the Middle East are being restricted, therefore there are many different reactions. Some people were in favor of women having equal rights while there are some who are against women to have the same rights. Since before times, many countries in the Middle East have been taking women for granted and minimized their rights by telling them they can't do something or selling them as if they were prized. When women were treated as prizes it was a practice in Afghanistan called Ba’ad that used women as the compensation, for example a story of a girl named Sakina. She was a consolation prize so that her brother could marry a woman and the Jirga system told her she had to marry a 80 year old guy when she was like 18. This tells me

    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

  • Women in the Middle East

    2311 Words  | 5 Pages

    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.

    Read More

  • The Misconceptions About Women in Islam

    1311 Words  | 3 Pages

    G. Esposito, John L (2002) Islam; What Everyone Should Know. New York. Oxford University Press Inc.

    Read More

  • Equality And Co-Equal

    2397 Words  | 5 Pages

    ...ea that women should be given all those rights that are given to them by Islam such a protection, sustenance, shelter and respect.

    Read More

  • Muslim and Islamic Women

    861 Words  | 2 Pages

    In conclusion, the media is representing Islam/Muslim women stereotypically: weak, dependent, and oppressed. Though Patel provides the fact that women do have rights as the Prophet Muhammad had introduced, society will not be accept the untraditional women role. The stereotypical views of woman are not accurately reflecting the civilization of the religion because Muslim/Islam society always treat men as the dominant sex, and since the women is the minority they do not obtain the opportunity to be contributing to a role that sets her as an equal to men because she will not be heard by the public.

    Read More

  • Women in Muslim Society

    2561 Words  | 6 Pages

    You might have heard at some time or the other that Islam teaches that women are "inferior" and "unequal" to men. Women are described as weak, inferior, inherently evil (it is the nature of woman to promote fitnah (mischief)), we have deficient intellectual capabilities and are spiritually lacking. Furthermore, these evaluations have been used to claim that women are unsuitable for performing certain tasks, or for functioning in some ways in society.

    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

  • The Status of Women in Islam

    2801 Words  | 6 Pages

    Zakaria, M. M. (trans.). Sahih Muslim Sharif (All in one volume), Dhaka: Mina Book House, 2008.

    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 In Islam

    1553 Words  | 4 Pages

    ...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".

    Read More

  • Women Rights in Islam

    1221 Words  | 3 Pages

    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).

    Read More

More about The Rights of Women in the Islamic Faith

Open Document