IN THE NAME OF ALLAH, MOST GRACIOUS, MOST MERCIFUL

ISLAMIAT 2058

RIGHTS OF WOMEN IN ISLAM

RIGHTS OF WOMEN IN ISLAM

The presentation is divided into three major parts:

1 Condition of women before Islam2 Rights of women given by the Quran and

the Sunnah3 Modern age.

CIE QUESTION

Q Describe the teachings of Islam about the position of women as: 1 Wives2 Mothers

3 Daughters[3+3+2-J-98][4+4+3-J-02][4+4+3-J-05][4+4+3-N-08][10-J-10]13-J-99]

PART 1

Women in Pre-Islamic Days

On the Day of Judgment“and when the infant girl, buried alive, is asked

for what crime she was slain”Sura Al Takweer-Ayat 8-9

Female infanticide due to:1 Poverty2 sons seen as pride and

daughters seen as shame(Is female infanticide still in practice in the other form?)

http://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2012/05/trash-bin-babies-indias-female-infanticide-crisis/257672/

Social Humiliation

1 Women as object of illegal desires en.wikipedia.org/wiki/

2 means of having as many sons as possible

No limit of keeping women as “wives”.

www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/468574/polygamy -

No education tribune.com.pk/.../female-illiteracy

No inheritance www.islamicreviver.com/2941/

Treated as transferable property1 step-mother would become the wife of

one of the sons after the death of the father.

2 They could be bought or sold3 They could be kept as an object of

mortgage.4 given to creditors as repayment of loan

Denial of personal decision in the male dominated society

PART 2

RIGHTS GIVEN BY

ISLAM

Female infanticide“and you should not kill your children for

fear of poverty, for We provide sustenance for you and will provide sustenance for them also”

(part of Ayat 151, Sura Al Anaam)

SOCIAL HUMILIATION

Nor come nigh to adultery: for it is a shameful (deed) and an evil, opening the road (to other evils).(17:32)

LIMITATION ON WIVES

If ye fear that ye shall not be able to deal justly with the orphans, Marry women of your choice, Two or three or four; but if ye fear that ye shall not be able to deal justly (with them), then only one, or (a captive) that your right hands possess, that will be more suitable, to prevent you from doing injustice.

(4:3)

NO EDUCATION

To acquire knowledge is the duty of every Muslim male

and Muslim female. (Hadith)

NO INHERITANCE

From what is left by parents and those nearest related there is a share for men and a share for women, whether the property be small or large,-a determinate share.

(AL QURAN 4:7)

Treated as transferable property

And marry not women whom your fathers married,- except what is past: It was shameful and odious,- an abominable custom indeed.

(4:22)

Denial of personal decision in the male dominated society

Once Omar (ra) (as 2nd Caliph) said, “I want to fix dowry (Mehr) of women at the time of their marriage”. A woman stood up and recited an Ayat from Sura al Nisa and said: “Omar, who gave you right to fix the dowry amount when Allah has not fixed it”. Omar (ra) felt his mistake and said sorry about the statement and appreciated the woman to say truth.

LEGAL RIGHTS OF A WIFE1. Choice of husband or her consent to marriage2. Mehr or dowry must be fixed at the time or before

Nikah3. It is preferable to pay off total Mahr before the

start of relationship as husband and wife.4. To die without paying Mehr may be a cause of

major sin5. The responsibility of the house-expenditure lies

with the husband, not with wife

LEGAL RIGHTS OF A WIFE

6 If the wife wants to help the family or she wants to earn income, she is allowed but the growth of a good family is the first preference

7 In the earning of the wife (inheritance, business, job), husband has no legal right to demand or compel her to give any amount

8 The dowry (Jahez) is the right of the wife. Husband’s family has no right on any item or amount.

LEGAL RIGHTS OF A WIFE

9 The wife has the right to take divorce (Khula)10 In case of an allegation of adultery by the

wife or the husband, there is a certain procedure of divorce

11 Many other rights mentioned in the Quran and Sunnah

THE LAST SERMON OF THE PROPHET (SAW)

FROM THE LAST SERMON OF THE PROPHET (SW)

O People, it is true that you have certain rights with regard to your women, but they also have rights over you. If they abide by your right then to them belongs the right to be fed and clothed in kindness. Do treat your women well and be kind to them for they are your partner and committed helpers. And it is your right that they do not make friends with anyone of whom you do not approve, as well as never to commit adultery.

USEFUL WEBSITES FOR QUICK REFERENCE

1 http://www.islamicity.com/mosque/TOPICI.HTM

2 Translation of Sahih Bukhari by Mohsin Khan

3 Youtube videos on almost every topic of this presentation

4 Ahsan-naqvi.blogspot.com

SECTION 3 MODERN AGE

AN OPEN DISCUSSIONQuestion 1: Is woman in the west satisfied with the liberty she has achieved after a long struggle?Question 2: Are the Muslim societies all over the world following the teachings of Islam presented in section 2?

THANK YOU AND ALLAH HAFIZ

MAY ALLAH GIVE YOU PEACE AND

PROSPERITY