The Rights of Women in Islam

The status of women in Islam, a topic many people associate with oppression, inequality and general misconduct. Nothing is more disconcerting to people than that which they do not know. This unknown feeling best represents itself in the silent portrayal of the hijab, or headscarves, and the nikab, veil. I have seen a number of publications about Islam and women’s issues within it where the cover shows a Muslim woman wearing both. Couple with this the horror stories from distant, “barbaric” lands, and the feeling of something not being quite right grows within. I will concede that there are some truly horrible things that happen to women in all parts of the world. No land on earth is exempt from this truth. There is however a difference between things that are done culturally, and things that are done within the religion of Islam. The Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, said “Seeking knowledge is mandatory for every Muslim.” It is that knowledge that is needed greatly for the Muslim community but also for the non-Muslim community so that the community can no longer be vilified in general. 

In Islam there is no spiritual difference between men and women. Both are responsible for the same religious duties; the only spiritual difference between genders or different tribes, (races), of people is their faith and good deeds. There are of course physical differences between men and women and Islam addresses these differences in ways that more than adequately give equal rights to both so long as they are followed. 

Women have full property rights both before and after marriage. In fact women are given more in the way of financial security than men. Everything that a married man earns must go to the benefit of his family, while anything that a married woman earns is hers to keep and use in whatever way she would like. Because of this a man is entitled to more inheritance than a woman; he is simply responsible for more people, while she can use her money for herself.