Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Rabi a Hakima
Contents
WOMEN PRE-ISLAM PRE Women s Rights
Property Rights Divorce
Polygamy Veiling
Polygamy Veiling
A daughter could inherit only if no male heirs existed (Numbers 27:8) Among pagan Arabs, only males could inherit Women were considered property, were buried alive, had no rights, etc.
Veil in use before Islam It was often a sign of class distinction Slaves could be punished for veiling Before and after Islam, where it was a nuisance to labor, veil was not worn
Womens Rights-Property RightsWoman s Right to Property (Inheritance) Surah 4, Ayah 7: "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."
Womens Rights-Property contd RightsWoman s Right to Property (Divorce) Ayah 20: But if ye decide to take one wife in place of another, even if ye had given the latter a whole treasure for dower, take not the least bit of it back: Would ye take it by slander and manifest wrong?
Womens Rights-Divorce RightsSurah 4, Ayah 20: But if you decide to take one wife in place of another, even if you had given the latter a whole treasure for dower, take not the least bit of it back; Would you take it by slander and a manifest wrong?
Womens Rights-Support RightsWoman s Right to Support Surah 4, Ayah 34: Men are the protectors and maintainers of women, because Allah has given the one more (strength) than the other, and because they support them from their means.
Polygamy
Surah 4, Ayah 3: "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."
Veiling
Surah 33, Ayah 59: O Prophet! Tell thy wives and thy daughters and the women of the believers to draw their cloaks close round them (when they go abroad). That will be better, so that they may be recognized and not annoyed. Allah is ever Forgiving, Merciful.