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I.INTRODUCTION
2
Thestatusofwomeninsocietyisneitheranewissuenorisitafullysettledone.

ThepositionofIslamonthisissuehasbeenamongthesubjectspresentedtotheWesternreaderwiththeleast
2
objectivity.

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ThispaperisintendedtoprovideabriefandauthenticexpositionofwhatIslamstandsforinthisregard.The
teachingsofIslamarebasedessentiallyontheQuran(Godsrevelation)andHadith(elaborationbyProphet

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Muhammad).
TheQuranandtheHadith,properlyandunbiasedlyunderstood,providethebasicsourceofauthenticationforany
positionorviewwhichisattributedtoIslam.

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ThepaperstartswithabriefsurveyofthestatusofwomeninthepreIslamicera.Itthenfocusesonthesemajor
questions:WhatisthepositionofIslamregardingthestatusofwomaninsociety?Howsimilarordifferentisthat
positionfromthespiritofthetime,whichwasdominantwhenIslamwasrevealed?Howwouldthiscomparewith

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therightswhichwerefinallygainedbywomaninrecentdecades?
406peoplelikeaALLAH.

II.HISTORICALPERSPECTIVES
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OnemajorobjectiveofthispaperistoprovideafairevaluationofwhatIslamcontributed(orfailedtocontribute)
towardtherestorationofwomansdignityandrights.Inordertoachievethisobjective,itmaybeusefultoreview
brieflyhowwomenweretreatedingeneralinpreviouscivilizationsandreligions,especiallythosewhichpreceded

TopIslamicForums81,912views

Islam(Pre610C.E.).Partoftheinformationprovidedhere,however,describesthestatusofwomanaslateasthe

Dr.IsrarAhmedLectures(InUrdu)

nineteenthcentury,morethantwelvecenturiesafterIslam.

44,546views
FreeDownload31,823views
Homepage28,973views
101IslamicWebsites25,848views

WomeninAncientCivilization
DescribingthestatusoftheIndianwoman,EncyclopediaBritannicastates:
InIndia,subjectionwasacardinalprinciple.Dayandnightmustwomenbeheldbytheirprotectorsinastateof
dependencesaysManu.Theruleofinheritancewasagnatic,thatisdescenttracedthroughmalestotheexclusion
offemales.

RecentComments

Mohammadon101Islamic

InHinduscriptures,thedescriptionofagoodwifeisasfollows:awomanwhosemind,speechandbodyarekeptin
subjection,acquireshighrenowninthisworld,and,inthenext,thesameabodewithherhusband.
InAthens,womenwerenotbetteroffthaneithertheIndianortheRomanwomen.

Websites

Athenianwomenwerealwaysminors,subjecttosomemaletotheirfather,totheirbrother,ortosomeoftheirmale

ABDULRASHIDonIslam&Science

kin.

TafiNamionBlogs&Magazines

Herconsentinmarriagewasnotgenerallythoughttobenecessaryandshewasobligedtosubmittothewishesof

karyeeonLearnBasics

herparents,andreceivefromthemherhusbandandherlord,eventhoughhewerestrangertoher.

ahsanon101IslamicWebsites

2015MostVisitedPages

ARomanwifewasdescribedbyanhistorianas:ababe,aminor,award,apersonincapableofdoingoracting
anythingaccordingtoherownindividualtaste,apersoncontinuallyunderthetutelageandguardianshipofher
husband.
IntheEncyclopediaBritannica,wefindasummaryofthelegalstatusofwomenintheRomancivilization:
InRomanLawawomanwaseveninhistorictimescompletelydependent.Ifmarriedsheandherpropertypassed
intothepowerofherhusbandthewifewasthepurchasedpropertyofherhusband,andlikeaslaveacquiredonly
forhisbenefit.Awomancouldnotexerciseanycivilorpublicoffice,couldnotbeawitness,surety,tutor,orcurator
shecouldnotadoptorbeadopted,ormakewillorcontract.AmongtheScandinavianraceswomenwere:under
perpetualtutelage,whethermarriedorunmarried.AslateastheCodeofChristianV,attheendofthe17thCentury,

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perpetualtutelage,whethermarriedorunmarried.AslateastheCodeofChristianV,attheendofthe17thCentury,
itwasenactedthatifawomanmarriedwithouttheconsentofhertutorhemighthave,ifhewished,administration
andusufructofhergoodsduringherlife.
AccordingtotheEnglishCommonLaw:
allrealpropertywhichawifeheldatthetimeofamarriagebecameapossessionofherhusband.Hewasentitled
totherentfromthelandandtoanyprofitwhichmightbemadefromoperatingtheestateduringthejointlifeofthe
spouses.Astimepassed,theEnglishcourtsdevisedmeanstoforbidahusbandstransferringrealpropertywithout
theconsentofhiswife,buthestillretainedtherighttomanageitandtoreceivethemoneywhichitproduced.Astoa
wifespersonalproperty,thehusbandspowerwascomplete.Hehadtherighttospenditashesawfit.
OnlybythelatenineteenthCenturydidthesituationstarttoimprove.ByaseriesofactsstartingwiththeMarried
womensPropertyActin1870,amendedin1882and1887,marriedwomenachievedtherighttoownpropertyand
toentercontractsonaparwithspinsters,widows,anddivorcees.AslateastheNineteenthCenturyanauthorityin
ancientlaw,SirHenryMaine,wrote:NosocietywhichpreservesanytinctureofChristianinstitutionsislikelyto
restoretomarriedwomenthepersonallibertyconferredonthembytheMiddleRomanLaw.
InhisessayTheSubjectionofWomen,JohnStuartMillwrote:
WearecontinuallytoldthatcivilizationandChristianityhaverestoredtothewomanherjustrights.Meanwhilethe
wifeistheactualbondservantofherhusbandnolessso,asfarasthelegalobligationgoes,thanslavescommonly
socalled.
BeforemovingontotheQuranicdecreesconcerningthestatusofwoman,afewBiblicaldecreesmayshedmore
lightonthesubject,thusprovidingabetterbasisforanimpartialevaluation.IntheMosaicLaw,thewifewas
betrothed.Explainingthisconcept,theEncyclopediaBiblicalstates:Tobetrothawifetooneselfmeantsimplyto
acquirepossessionofherbypaymentofthepurchasemoneythebetrothedisagirlforwhomthepurchasemoney
hasbeenpaid.Fromthelegalpointofview,theconsentofthegirlwasnotnecessaryforthevalidationofher
marriage.ThegirlsconsentisunnecessaryandtheneedforitisnowheresuggestedintheLaw.
Astotherightofdivorce,wereadintheEncyclopediaBiblical:Thewomanbeingmansproperty,hisrightto
divorceherfollowsasamatterofcourse.Therighttodivorcewasheldonlybyman.IntheMosaicLawdivorcewas
aprivilegeofthehusbandonly.
ThepositionoftheChristianChurchuntilrecentcenturiesseemstohavebeeninfluencedbyboththeMosaicLaw
andbythestreamsofthoughtthatweredominantinitscontemporarycultures.Intheirbook,MarriageEastand
West,DavidandVeraMacewrote:
Letnoonesuppose,either,thatourChristianheritageisfreeofsuchslightingjudgments.Itwouldbehardtofind
anywhereacollectionofmoredegradingreferencestothefemalesexthantheearlyChurchFathersprovide.Lecky,
thefamoushistorian,speaksof(thesefierceincentiveswhichformsoconspicuousandsogrotesqueaportionofthe
writingoftheFatherswomanwasrepresentedasthedoorofhell,asthemotherofallhumanills.Sheshouldbe
ashamedattheverythoughtthatsheisawoman.Sheshouldliveincontinualpenanceonaccountofthecursesshe
hasbroughtupontheworld.Sheshouldbeashamedofherdress,foritisthememorialofherfall.Sheshouldbe
especiallyashamedofherbeauty,foritisthemostpotentinstrumentofthedevil).Oneofthemostscathingofthese
attacksonwomanisthatofTertullian:(DoyouknowthatyouareeachanEve?ThesentenceofGodonthissexof
yourslivesinthisage:theguiltmustofnecessitylivetoo.Youarethedevilsgateway:youaretheunsealerofthat
forbiddentreeyouarethefirstdesertersofthedivinelawyouareshewhopersuadeshimwhomthedevilwasnot
valiantenoughtoattack.YoudestroyedsoeasilyGodsimage,man.Onaccountofyourdesertthatisdeath
eventheSonofGodhadtodie).Notonlydidthechurchaffirmtheinferiorstatusofwoman,itdeprivedheroflegal
rightsshehadpreviouslyenjoyed.
III.WOMANINISLAM
Inthemidstofthedarknessthatengulfedtheworld,thedivinerevelationechoedinthewidedesertofArabiawitha
fresh,noble,anduniversalmessagetohumanity:
OMankind,keepyourdutytoyourLordwhocreatedyoufromasinglesoulandfromitcreateditsmate(ofsame
kind)andfromthemtwainhasspreadamultitudeofmenandwomen.[NobleQuran4:1]
Ascholarwhoponderedaboutthisversestates:Itisbelievedthatthereisnotext,oldornew,thatdealswiththe
humanityofthewomanfromallaspectswithsuchamazingbrevity,eloquence,depth,andoriginalityasthisdivine
decree.
Stressingthisnobleandnaturalconception,themQuranstates:
He(God)itiswhodidcreateyoufromasinglesoulandtherefromdidcreatehismate,thathemightdwellwithher
(inlove)[NobleQuran7:189]
TheCreatorofheavensandearth:Hehasmadeforyoupairsfromamongyourselves[NobleQuran42:11]
AndAllahhasgivenyoumatesofyourownnature,andhasgivenyoufromyourmates,childrenandgrandchildren,
andhasmadeprovisionofgoodthingsforyou.IsittheninvanitythattheybelieveandinthegraceofGodthatthey
disbelieve?[NobleQuran16:72]
TherestofthispaperoutlinesthepositionofIslamregardingthestatusofwomaninsocietyfromitsvariousaspects
spiritually,socially,economicallyandpolitically.
1.TheSpiritualAspect
TheQuranprovidesclearcutevidencethatwomaniscompletelyequatedwithmaninthesightofGodintermsof
herrightsandresponsibilities.TheQuranstates:
Everysoulwillbe(held)inpledgeforitsdeeds[NobleQuran74:38]

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Italsostates:
SotheirLordacceptedtheirprayers,(saying):Iwillnotsuffertobelosttheworkofanyofyouwhethermaleor
female.Youproceedonefromanother[NobleQuran3:195]
Whoeverworksrighteousness,manorwoman,andhasfaith,verilytohimwillWegiveanewlifethatisgoodand
pure,andWewillbestowonsuchtheirrewardaccordingtotheiractions.[NobleQuran16:97,seealso4:124]
WomanaccordingtotheQuranisnotblamedforAdamsfirstmistake.Bothwerejointlywrongintheirdisobedience
toGod,bothrepented,andbothwereforgiven.[NobleQuran2:36,7:2024]
Inoneverseinfact[20:121],Adamspecifically,wasblamed.
Intermsofreligiousobligations,suchastheDailyPrayers,Fasting,Poordue,andPilgrimage,womanisnodifferent
fromman.Insomecasesindeed,womanhascertainadvantagesoverman.Forexample,thewomanisexempted
fromthedailyprayersandfromfastingduringhermenstrualperiodsandfortydaysafterchildbirth.Sheisalso
exemptedfromfastingduringherpregnancyandwhensheisnursingherbabyifthereisanythreattoherhealthor
herbabys.Ifthemissedfastingisobligatory(duringthemonthofRamadan),shecanmakeupforthemisseddays
whenevershecan.Shedoesnothavetomakeupfortheprayersmissedforanyoftheabovereasons.Although
womencananddidgointothemosqueduringthedaysoftheProphet(peaceandblessingsbeuponhim)and
thereafterattendanceattheFridaycongregationalprayersisoptionalforthemwhileitismandatoryformen(on
Friday).
ThisisclearlyatendertouchoftheIslamicteachingsfortheyareconsiderateofthefactthatawomanmaybe
nursingherbabyorcaringforhim,andthusmaybeunabletogoouttothemosqueatthetimeoftheprayers.They
alsotakeintoaccountthephysiologicalandpsychologicalchangesassociatedwithhernaturalfemalefunctions.
2.TheSocialAspect
a)Asachildandanadolescent
DespitethesocialacceptanceoffemaleinfanticideamongsomeArabiantribes,theQuranforbadethiscustom,and
considereditacrimelikeanyothermurder.
Andwhenthefemale(infant)buriedaliveisquestioned,forwhatcrimeshewaskilled.[NobleQuran81:89]
Criticizingtheattitudesofsuchparentswhorejecttheirfemalechildren,theQuranstates:
Whennewsisbroughttooneofthem,of(theBirthof)afemale(child),hisfacedarkensandheisfilledwithinward
grief!Withshamedoeshehidehimselffromhispeoplebecauseofthebadnewshehashad!Shallheretainheron
(sufferance)andcontempt,orburyherinthedust?Ah!Whatanevil(choice)theydecideon?[NobleQuran16:58
59]
Farfromsavingthegirlslifesothatshemaylatersufferinjusticeandinequality,Islamrequireskindandjust
treatmentforher.AmongthesayingsofProphetMuhammad(peaceandblessingsbeuponhim)inthisregardare
thefollowing:
Whosoeverhasadaughterandhedoesnotburyheralive,doesnotinsulther,anddoesnotfavorhissonoverher,
GodwillenterhimintoParadise.[IbnHanbal,No.1957]
Whosoeversupportstwodaughterstilltheymature,heandIwillcomeintheDayofJudgmentasthis(andhe
pointedwithhistwofingersheldtogether).
AsimilarHadithdealsinlikemannerwithonewhosupportstwosisters.[IbnHanbal,No.2104]
Therightoffemalestoseekknowledgeisnotdifferentfromthatofmales.ProphetMuhammad(peaceandblessings
beuponhim)said:
SeekingknowledgeismandatoryforeveryMuslim.[AlBayhaqi]
Muslimasusedhereincludingbothmalesandfemales.
b)Asawife:
TheQuranclearlyindicatesthatmarriageissharingbetweenthetwohalvesofthesociety,andthatitsobjectives,
besidesperpetuatinghumanlife,areemotionalwellbeingandspiritualharmony.Itsbasesareloveandmercy.
AmongthemostimpressiveversesintheQuranaboutmarriageisthefollowing.
AndamongHissignsisthis:ThatHecreatedmatesforyoufromyourselvesthatyoumayfindrest,peaceofmindin
them,andHeordainedbetweenyouloveandmercy.Lo,hereinindeedaresignsforpeoplewhoreflect.[Noble
Quran30:21]
AccordingtoIslamicLaw,womencannotbeforcedtomarryanyonewithouttheirconsent.
IbnAbbasreportedthatagirlcametotheMessengerofGod,Muhammad(peaceandblessingsbeuponhim),and
shereportedthatherfatherhadforcedhertomarrywithoutherconsent.TheMessengerofGodgaveherthe
choice(betweenacceptingthemarriageorinvalidatingit).[IbnHanbalNo.2469]
Inanotherversion,thegirlsaid:
ActuallyIacceptthismarriagebutIwantedtoletwomenknowthatparentshavenoright(toforceahusbandon
them)[IbnMajah,No.1873]
Besidesallotherprovisionsforherprotectionatthetimeofmarriage,itwasspecificallydecreedthatwomanhasthe
fullrighttoherMahr,amarriagegift,whichispresentedtoherbyherhusbandandisincludedinthenuptialcontract,
andthatsuchownershipdoesnottransfertoherfatherorhusband.TheconceptofMahrinIslamisneitheranactual

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orsymbolicpriceforthewoman,aswasthecaseincertaincultures,butratheritisagiftsymbolizingloveand
affection.
TherulesformarriedlifeinIslamareclearandinharmonywithuprighthumannature.Inconsiderationofthe
physiologicalandpsychologicalmakeupofmanandwoman,bothhaveequalrightsandclaimsononeanother,
exceptforoneresponsibility,thatofleadership.Thisisamatterwhichisnaturalinanycollectivelifeandwhichis
consistentwiththenatureofman.
TheQuranthusstates:
Andthey(women)haverightssimilartothose(ofmen)overthem,andmenareadegreeabovethem.[Noble
Quran2:228]
SuchdegreeisQuiwama(maintenanceandprotection).Thisreferstothatnaturaldifferencebetweenthesexes
whichentitlestheweakersextoprotection.Itimpliesnosuperiorityoradvantagebeforethelaw.Yet,mansroleof
leadershipinrelationtohisfamilydoesnotmeanthehusbandsdictatorshipoverhiswife.Islamemphasizesthe
importanceoftakingcounselandmutualagreementinfamilydecisions.TheQurangivesusanexample:
Ifthey(husbandwife)desiretoweanthechildbymutualconsentand(after)consultation,thereisnoblameon
them[NobleQuran2:233]
OverandaboveherbasicrightsasawifecomestherightwhichisemphasizedbytheQuranandisstrongly
recommendedbytheProphet(peaceandblessingsbeuponhim)kindtreatmentandcompanionship.
TheQuranstates:
Butconsortwiththeminkindness,forifyouhatethemitmayhappenthatyouhateathingwhereinGodhas
placedmuchgood.[NobleQuran4:19]
ProphetMuhammad(peaceandblessingsbeuponhim)said:
ThebestofyouisthebesttohisfamilyandIamthebestamongyoutomyfamily.
Themostperfectbelieversarethebestinconductandbestofyouarethosewhoarebesttotheirwives.[IbnHanbal,
No.7396]
Behold,manywomencametoMuhammadswivescomplainingagainsttheirhusbands(becausetheybeatthem)
those(husbands)arenotthebestofyou.
Asthewomansrighttodecideabouthermarriageisrecognized,soalsoherrighttoseekanendforan
unsuccessfulmarriageisrecognized.Toprovideforthestabilityofthefamily,however,andinordertoprotectitfrom
hastydecisionsundertemporaryemotionalstress,certainstepsandwaitingperiodsshouldbeobservedbymen
andwomenseekingdivorce.Consideringtherelativelymoreemotionalnatureofwomen,agoodreasonforasking
fordivorceshouldbebroughtbeforethejudge.Liketheman,however,thewomancandivorceherhusbandwithout
resortingtothecourt,ifthenuptialcontractallowsthat.
Morespecifically,someaspectsofIslamicLawconcerningmarriageanddivorceareinterestingandareworthyof
separatetreatment.
Whenthecontinuationofthemarriagerelationshipisimpossibleforanyreason,menarestilltaughttoseeka
graciousendforit.
TheQuranstatesaboutsuchcases:
Whenyoudivorcewomen,andtheyreachtheirprescribedterm,thenretaintheminkindnessandretainthemnot
forinjurysothatyoutransgress(thelimits)[NobleQuran2:231][SeealsoQuran2:229and33:49]
c)Asamother:
IslamconsideredkindnesstoparentsnexttotheworshipofGod.
Andwehaveenjoineduponman(tobegood)tohisparents:Hismotherbearshiminweaknessuponweakness
[NobleQuran31:14][SeealsoQuran46:15,29:8]
Moreover,theQuranhasaspecialrecommendationforthegoodtreatmentofmothers:
YourLordhasdecreedthatyouworshipnonesaveHim,andthatyoubekindtoyourparents[NobleQuran
17:23]
AmancametoProphetMuhammad(peaceandblessingsbeuponhim)asking:
OMessengerofGod,whoamongthepeopleisthemostworthyofmygoodcompany?TheProphet(peaceand
blessingsbeuponhim)said,Yourmother.Themansaidthenwhoelse:TheProphet(peaceandblessingsbeupon
him)said,Yourmother.Themanasked,Thenwhoelse?TheProphet(peaceandblessingsbeuponhim)said,
Yourmother.Themanasked,Thenwhoelse?OnlythendidtheProphet(peaceandblessingsbeuponhim)say,
Yourfather.[AlBukhariandMuslim]
AfamoussayingoftheProphet(peaceandblessingsbeuponhim)is:Paradiseisatthefeetofmothers.[InAn
Nasai,IbnMajah,Ahmad]
Itisthegenerous(incharacter)whoisgoodtowomen,anditisthewickedwhoinsultsthem.
3.TheEconomicAspect
IslamdecreedarightofwhichwomanwasdeprivedbothbeforeIslamandafterit(evenaslateasthiscentury),the
rightofindependentownership.AccordingtoIslamicLaw,womansrighttohermoney,realestate,orother
propertiesisfullyacknowledged.Thisrightundergoesnochangewhethersheissingleormarried.Sheretainsher
fullrightstobuy,sell,mortgageorleaseanyorallherproperties.ItisnowheresuggestedintheLawthatawomanis

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fullrightstobuy,sell,mortgageorleaseanyorallherproperties.ItisnowheresuggestedintheLawthatawomanis
aminorsimplybecausesheisafemale.Itisalsonoteworthythatsuchrightappliestoherpropertiesbefore
marriageaswellastowhateversheacquiresthereafter.
WithregardtothewomansrighttoseekemploymentitshouldbestatedfirstthatIslamregardsherroleinsocietyas
amotherandawifeasthemostsacredandessentialone.Neithermaidsnorbabysitterscanpossiblytakethe
mothersplaceastheeducatorofanupright,complexfree,andcarefullyrearedchildren.Suchanobleandvital
role,whichlargelyshapesthefutureofnations,cannotberegardedasidleness.
However,thereisnodecreeinIslamwhichforbidswomanfromseekingemploymentwheneverthereisanecessity
forit,especiallyinpositionswhichfithernatureandinwhichsocietyneedshermost.Examplesoftheseprofessions
arenursing,teaching(especiallyforchildren),andmedicine.Moreover,thereisnorestrictiononbenefitingfrom
womansexceptionaltalentinanyfield.Evenforthepositionofajudge,wheretheremaybeatendencytodoubtthe
womansfitnessforthepostduetohermoreemotionalnature,wefindearlyMuslimscholarssuchasAbuHanifah
andAtTabariholdingthereisnothingwrongwithit.Inaddition,Islamrestoredtowomantherightofinheritance,
aftersheherselfwasanobjectofinheritanceinsomecultures.Hershareiscompletelyhersandnoonecanmake
anyclaimonit,includingherfatherandherhusband.
Untomen(ofthefamily)belongsashareofthatwhichParentsandnearkindredleave,anduntowomenashareof
thatwhichparentsandnearkindredleave,whetheritbealittleormuchadeterminateshare.[NobleQuran4:7]
Hershareinmostcasesisonehalfthemansshare,withnoimplicationthatsheisworthhalfaman!Itwouldseem
grosslyinconsistentaftertheoverwhelmingevidenceofwomansequitabletreatmentinIslam,whichwasdiscussed
intheprecedingpages,tomakesuchaninference.Thisvariationininheritancerightsisonlyconsistentwiththe
variationsinfinancialresponsibilitiesofmanandwomanaccordingtotheIslamicLaw.ManinIslamisfully
responsibleforthemaintenanceofhiswife,hischildren,andinsomecasesofhisneedyrelatives,especiallythe
females.Thisresponsibilityisneitherwaivednorreducedbecauseofhiswifeswealthorbecauseofheraccessto
anypersonalincomegainedfromwork,rent,profit,oranyotherlegalmeans.
Woman,ontheotherhand,isfarmoresecurefinanciallyandisfarlessburdenedwithanyclaimsonher
possessions.Herpossessionsbeforemarriagedonottransfertoherhusbandandsheevenkeepshermaiden
name.Shehasnoobligationtospendonherfamilyoutofsuchpropertiesoroutofherincomeaftermarriage.Sheis
entitledtotheMahrwhichshetakesfromherhusbandatthetimeofmarriage.Ifsheisdivorced,shemaygetan
alimonyfromherexhusband.
AnexaminationoftheinheritancelawwithintheoverallframeworkoftheIslamicLawrevealsnotonlyjusticebut
alsoanabundanceofcompassionforwoman.
4.ThePoliticalAspect
AnyfairinvestigationoftheteachingsofIslamintothehistoryoftheIslamiccivilizationwillsurelyfindaclear
evidenceofwomansequalitywithmaninwhatwecalltodaypoliticalrights.
Thisincludestherightofelectionaswellasthenominationtopoliticaloffices.Italsoincludeswomansrightto
participateinpublicaffairs.BothintheQuranandinIslamichistorywefindexamplesofwomenwhoparticipatedin
seriousdiscussionsandarguedevenwiththeProphet(peaceandblessingsbeuponhim)himself(seetheNoble
Quran58:14and60:1012).
DuringtheCaliphateofUmarIbnalKhattab,awomanarguedwithhiminthemosque,provedherpoint,and
causedhimtodeclareinthepresenceofpeople:AwomanisrightandUmariswrong.
AlthoughnotmentionedintheQuran,oneHadithoftheProphetisinterpretedtomakewomanineligibleforthe
positionofheadofstate.TheHadithreferredtoisroughlytranslated:Apeoplewillnotprosperiftheyletawoman
betheirleader.Thislimitation,however,hasnothingtodowiththedignityofawomanorwithherrights.Itisrather,
relatedtothenaturaldifferencesinthebiologicalandpsychologicalmakeupofmenandwomen.
AccordingtoIslam,theheadofthestateisnomerefigurehead.Heleadspeopleintheprayers,especiallyon
Fridaysandfestivitiesheiscontinuouslyengagedintheprocessofdecisionmakingpertainingtothesecurityand
wellbeingofhispeople.Thisdemandingposition,oranysimilarone,suchastheCommanderoftheArmy,is
generallyinconsistentwiththephysiologicalandpsychologicalmakeupofwomaningeneral.Itisamedicalfact
thatduringtheirmonthlyperiodsandduringtheirpregnancies,womenundergovariousphysiologicaland
psychologicalchanges.Suchchangesmayoccurduringanemergencysituation,thusaffectingherdecision,without
consideringtheexcessivestrainwhichisproduced.Moreover,somedecisionsrequireamaximumofrationalityand
aminimumofemotionalityarequirementwhichdoesnotcoincidewiththeinstinctivenatureofwomen.
Eveninmoderntimes,andinthemostdevelopedcountries,itisraretofindawomaninthepositionofaheadof
stateactingasmorethanafigurehead,awomancommanderofthearmedservices,orevenaproportionatenumber
ofwomenrepresentativesinparliaments,orsimilarbodies.Onecannotpossiblyascribethistobackwardnessof
variousnationsortoanyconstitutionallimitationonwomansrighttobeinsuchapositionasaheadofstateorasa
memberoftheparliament.Itismorelogicaltoexplainthepresentsituationintermsofthenaturalandindisputable
differencesbetweenmanandwoman,adifferencewhichdoesnotimplyanysupremacyofoneovertheother.The
differenceimpliesratherthecomplementaryrolesofboththesexesinlife.
IV.CONCLUSION
Thefirstpartofthispaperdealsbrieflywiththepositionofvariousreligionsandculturesontheissueunder
investigation.Partofthisexpositionextendstocoverthegeneraltrendaslateasthenineteenthcentury,nearly1300
yearsaftertheQuransetforththeIslamicteachings.
Inthesecondpartofthepaper,thestatusofwomeninIslamisbrieflydiscussed.Emphasisinthispartisplacedon
theoriginalandauthenticsourcesofIslam.Thisrepresentsthestandardaccordingtowhichdegreeofadherenceof
Muslimscanbejudged.ItisalsoafactthatduringthedownwardcycleofIslamicCivilization,suchteachingswere
notstrictlyadheredtobymanypeoplewhoprofessedtobeMuslims.

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Suchdeviationswereunfairlyexaggeratedbysomewriters,andtheworstofthis,weresuperficiallytakento
representtheteachingsofIslamtotheWesternreaderwithouttakingthetroubletomakeanyoriginaland
unbiasedstudyoftheauthenticsourcesoftheseteachings.
Evenwithsuchdeviationsthreefactsareworthmentioning:
ThehistoryofMuslimsisrichwithwomenofgreatachievementsinallwalksoflifefromasearlyastheseventh
century(A.D.)
ItisimpossibleforanyonetojustifyanymistreatmentofwomanbyanydecreeofruleembodiedintheIslamicLaw,
norcouldanyonedaretocancel,reduce,ordistorttheclearcutlegalrightsofwomengiveninIslamicLaw.
Throughouthistory,thereputation,chastityandmaternalroleofMuslimwomenwereobjectsofadmirationby
impartialobservers.
Itisalsoworthwhiletostatethatthestatuswhichwomenreachedduringthepresenterawasnotachievedduetothe
kindnessofmenorduetonaturalprogress.Itwasratherachievedthroughalongstruggleandsacrificeonwomans
partandonlywhensocietyneededhercontributionandwork,moreespeciallyduringthetwoworldwars,anddueto
theescalationoftechnologicalchange.
InthecaseofIslamsuchcompassionateanddignifiedstatuswasdecreed,notbecauseitreflectstheenvironmentof
theseventhcentury,norunderthethreatorpressureofwomenandtheirorganizations,butratherbecauseofits
intrinsictruthfulness.
Ifthisindicatesanything,itwoulddemonstratethedivineoriginoftheQuranandthetruthfulnessofthemessageof
Islam,which,unlikehumanphilosophiesandideologies,wasfarfromproceedingfromitshumanenvironment,a
messagewhichestablishedsuchhumaneprinciplesasneithergrewobsoleteduringthecourseoftimeandafter
thesemanycenturies,norcanbecomeobsoleteinthefuture.Afterall,thisisthemessageoftheAllWiseandAll
KnowingGodwhosewisdomandknowledgearefarbeyondtheultimateinhumanthoughtandprogress.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
TheHoly,Quran:TranslationofversesisheavilybasedonA.YusufAlistranslation,TheGloriousQuran,text
translation,andCommentary,TheAmericanTrustPublication,Plainfield,IN46168,1979.
AbdAlAti,Hammudah,IslaminFocus,TheAmericanTrustPublications,Plainfield,IN46168,1977.
Allen,E.A.,HistoryofCivilization,GeneralPublishingHouse,Cincinnati,Ohio,1889,Vol.3.
AlSibai,Mustafa,AlAlarahBaynalFiqhWalqanoon(inArabic),2nd.ea.,AlMaktabahAlArabiah,Halab,Syria,
1966.
ElKhouli,AlBahiy,MinUsusKadiatAlMaraah(inArabic),AlWaayAllslami,MinistryofWalcf,Kuwait,Vol.3(No.
27),June9,1967,p.17.
EncyclopediaAmericana(InternationalEdition),AmericanCorp.,N.Y.,1969,Vol.29.
EncyclopediaBiblical(Rev.T.K.CheyneneandJ.S.Black,editors),TheMacmillanCo.,London,England,1902,
Vol.3.
TheEncyclopediaBritannica,(11thed.),UniversityPressCambridge,England,1911,Vol.28.
EncyclopediaBritannica,TheEncyclopediaBritannica,Inc.,Chicago,III.,1968,Vol.23.
Hadith.MostofthequotedHadithweretranslatedbythewriter.TheyarequotedinvariousArabicsources.Someof
them,however,weretranslateddirectlyfromtheoriginalsources.AmongthesourcescheckedareMusnadAhmad
IbnHanbalDarAlMaaref,Cairo,U.A.R.,1950,and1955,Vol.4and3,SunanIbnMajah,DarIhyaaAlKutubal
Arabiah,Cairo,U.A.R.,1952,Vol.l,SunanalTirmidhi,Vol.3.
Mace,DavidandVera,Marriage:EastandWest,DolphinBooks,DoubledayandCo.,Inc.,N.Y.,1960.

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