what are the women rights in islam?

Answer 1

Today people think that women are liberated in the West and that the Women’s liberation movement began in the 20th century. Actually, the women’s liberation movement was not begun by women, but was revealed by God to a man in the seventh century by the name of Muhammad, may God praise him, who is known as the last Prophet of Islam. The Quran and the Sunnah of the Prophet are the sources from which every Muslim woman derives her rights and duties.
Human Rights

Islam, fourteen centuries ago, made women equally accountable to God in glorifying and worshipping Him – setting no limits on her moral progress. Also, Islam established a woman’s equality in her humanity with men. In the Quran, in the first verse of the chapter entitled “Women”, God says:

“O mankind! Be careful of your duty toward your Lord who created you from a single soul and from it its mate and from them both have spread abroad a multitude of men and women. Be careful of your duty toward God in Whom you claim (your rights) of one another, and towards the wombs (that bore you). Lo! God has been a Watcher over you.” (Quran 4:1)

Since men and women both came from the same essence, they are equal in their humanity. Women cannot be by nature evil (as some religions believe) or then men would be evil also. Similarly, neither gender can be superior because it would be a contradiction to equality.
Civil Rights

In Islam, a woman has the basic freedoms of choice and expression based on recognition of her individual personality. First, she is free to choose her religion. The Quran states:

“There is no compulsion in religion. Right has been made distinct from error.” (Quran 2:256)

Women are encouraged in Islam to contribute their opinions and ideas. There are many traditions of the Prophet which indicate that women would pose questions directly to him and offer their opinions concerning religion, economics and social matters.

A Muslim woman has full right to approve or deny a proposal of marriage, and her name is to be kept after marriage. A Muslim woman’s testimony is valid in legal disputes. In fact, where women are more familiar, their evidence is conclusive.
Social Rights

The Prophet said:

“Seeking knowledge is a mandate for every Muslim (male and female).” (At-Tirmidhi)

This includes knowledge of the Quran and the Hadeeth as well as other types of knowledge. Men and women both have the capacity for learning and understanding. Since it is also their obligation to promote good behavior and condemn bad behavior in all spheres of life, Muslim women must acquire the appropriate education to perform this duty in accordance with their own natural talents and interests.

While bearing, raising and the teaching of children, and providing support to her husband and maintenance of a home are among the first, and very highly regarded, roles for a woman, if she has the skills to work outside the home for the good of the community, she may do, so as long as her family obligations are met.

Islam recognizes and fosters the natural differences between men and women despite their equality. Some types of work are more suitable for men and other types for women. This in no way diminishes either’s efforts or benefits. God will reward both sexes equally for the value of their work, through, it may not necessarily be the same activity.

Concerning motherhood, the Prophet said:

“Heaven lies under her feet.” (An-Nasai)

This implies that the success of a society can be traced to the mothers who raised it. The first and greatest influence on a person comes from the sense of security, affection, and training received from the mother. Therefore, a woman having children must be educated and conscientious in order to be a skillful parent.
Political Rights

A right given to Muslim women by God 1400 years ago is the right to vote. On any public matter, a woman may voice her opinion and participate in politics. One example, as narrated in the Quran (60:12), where Muhammad is told that when the believing women come to him and swear their allegiance to Islam, he must accept their oath. This established the right of women to select their leader and publicly declare so. Finally, Islam does not forbid a woman from holding important positions in government which suit her role as a woman. Abdurrahman Ibn Affan consulted many women before he recommended Uthman Ibn Affan to be the Caliph.
Economic Rights

The Quran states:

“By the creation of the male and female; Verily, (the ends) you strive for are diverse.” (Quran 92:3-4)

In these verses, God declares that He created men and women to be different, with unique roles, functions and skills. As in society, where there is a division of labor, so too in a family, each member has different responsibilities. Generally, Islam upholds that women are entrusted with the nurturing role, and men, with the guardian role. Therefore, women are given the right of financial support.

The Quran states:

“Men are the maintainers of women because God has made some of them to excel others and because they spend of their wealth (for the support of women).” (Quran 4:34)

This guardianship and greater financial responsibility given to men requires that they provide women with not only monetary support but also physical protection and kind respectful treatment.

Muslim women have the privilege to earn money, the right to own property, to enter into legal contracts and to manage all of her assets in any way she pleases. She can run her own business and no one has any claim on her earnings, including her husband.

The Quran states:

“And in no wise covet those things in which God hath bestowed His gifts more freely on some of you than on others; to men is allotted what they earn, and to women, what they earn; but ask God of His bounty for God hath full knowledge of all things.” (Quran 4:32)

A woman inherits from her relatives. The Quran states:

“For men there is a share in what parents and relatives leave, and for women there is a share of what parents and relatives leave, whether it be little or much – an ordained share.” (Quran 4:7)

Answer 2

Wow. To the first poster, it sounds like she has the right to be a mother and houskeeper. How fun, how thrilling. All they've given is that she's not evil and not completely untrustworthy.

So, how many women lead prayers when there are men present? How many men stay at home and take care of the house and children while their wife works? How many feel no societal pressure to marry or have children? How many unmarried women live on their own?

Women's rights are more than just getting some respect. It's about being an individual. Human rights. It's about having the choice to live your life as you see fit.

Islam is a gentle religion for women, but it isn't particularly freeing. They are still held to traditional roles. They are protected and respected, but not free.

Answer 3

In Islam, a woman can earn a livelihood, single or married. Whatever she earns remains hers. As a married woman, she is not obligated to spend on her family. Her husband is mandated to provide her financial support.

Out of respect for her lineage, a woman can keep her birth name upon marriage. Islam recognizes a woman as an independent personality--an individual and person in her own right. She is a man's human, social, intellectual, and spiritual equal. She is not less important, less worthy, or inferior to a man because of her gender.

It is important to keep in mind that Islam supports and promotes gender equity, not gender sameness or identicalness. That is where feminists get off track. A woman is equal with a man, not the same as or identical with a man. Big difference. As far as gender equity in Islam is concerned, the biological and physical makeup of a man and a woman is always taken into consideration. It cannot be ignored. Almighty God did not design the man to become pregnant with and give birth to human life; however, this doesn't mean or imply that a woman is nothing but a baby factory and sex object. She has a mind with which to think and reason. She has the right to freely express her views, thoughts, opinions, etc. on issues important to her.

Regardless of what is going on in "Islamic" countries, women have rights in Islam. Whether men accept this or not is irrelevant.

Answer 4

Talk about women rights in West. Has US ever had a woman presidesnt? NO! Muslim countries have had women Presidents and Prime Ministers. Women have led wars out in the battlefields in Muslim armies during the times of Prophet Muhammad.
Its only in few regions, and thats part of their culture that they dont let women to move around freely as men. This is against the teachings of Islam. West just picks those few incidences and broadcastes them over and over. As a result general public in West gets the wrong idea about women rights in Islam. Islam places women at the same level as men.

Answer 5

this question is too broad.

it's like saying, "what are women's rights in chrisitianity?" some christians believe that women are subordinate to their husbands, can't be clergy, shouldn't work, etc. others take a much more liberal interpretation.

it's the same with islam. it depends on a lot of factors, like what country you're talking about, individual interpretations, whether it's fundamentalist or more mainstream.

to learn about a kind of islam different from that always portrayed in the media, read leila ahmed's book *a border passage: a woman's journey from cairo to america.*

Answer 6

You guys all will go to hell I know I cant decide but I know because I read the Quran, you still have a chance to convert to a Muslim before you even want to experience hell-fire. may god give you some logic and knowledge. For example for all the Christians here in your own holy book which is the bible it says don't eat pork then why do you eat it, it also says in the Hindus book which is Vedas that you cant eat pork but you all still eat it. If you follow the religion then follow it properly.

Answer 7

None: same as Livestock,Islam will never give Women
a place equal to Man.------The Women in Bible Believeing Nations have the most Freedom/

Answer 8

All I know is, they don't have very many, although they are becoming a little more independent, in most Islamic cultures, they still have to cover their entire bodies, not even their wrists can show.

Answer 9

ROFL@the above poster. yeah lets see how a man marrying 3 wives is equality. and how women have to dress like ninjas all the time equality of genders

Answer 10

Please refer to the following 3 articles. I'm sure you'll find they answer your question perfectly:

The Status of Women in Islam: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/WELCOME-2-ISLAM/message/974

Misconceptions about Women in Islam: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/WELCOME-2-ISLAM/message/975

Islam and Women: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/WELCOME-2-ISLAM/message/990

Answer 11

Yes, the woman has right to serve her master, ummm, husband.