Status of Woman in Islam note 2

By Hamid Mashoof, PhD in Islamic History, Faculty member of Islamic Azad University, Iran
Translated by Mir Emad Mousavi
Preface
The status of woman in Islam can be addressed from various aspects:
- Social relations and roles
- Role in the family
- Legal rights
- Spiritual, and other aspects
In this note, a short review will be performed based on the teachings of Quran, which is known as a
constitution for the followers of Islam.
Introduction
In order to assess the status of woman in Islam, we need to define a measure and evaluate it with
respect to the status of woman in the Arab society and other societies prior to establishment of Islam.
Next, we will review some of the teachings of Islam and conclude. So we first take a look at the status of
woman in the Arab world and nearby civilizations.
Status of Woman before Islam
The Akkadians, the Sumerians, the Babylonians and the Assyrians, the Egyptians and Persians were the
most civilized people prior to the development of Islam. Also the Indians and the Chinese can be
mentioned in the Mid Asian territories. The Hammurabis code is one of the most developed codes of its
time, but has no specific chapter about women. In Persia, women could even reach to highest level of
authorities in the later centuries, such as Borandukht or Azarmidukht both the killed after their period,
but the status of female members of the royal family was completely different to that of regular women.
Regular women had little or no social rights and lived under oppression. Every Family was usually
provided by multiple wives who were working under the authority of their husband; through producing
Kilims, grinding cereal grains to produce flour, bakery, dairy farming, agriculture, and gardening. There
was even no right for the women to receive any sort of income or Mahr for their marriage or their work
for the family needs.
Woman in Arabia
Women in Arabia had more freedom in leaving their houses compared to other nearby areas; however,
they still had no social rights. For example, they were not recognized as an independent person in social
relations and were under excessive oppression. The Arab women had no Mahr and based on tribal rules,
if they were captured outside their houses, they would released only if there was an agreements
between the two tribes. They were used even for wars and they had no rights for their work at home.
Only some smart women could partially achieve their desires by influencing their husbands.
Woman in Quran
Before reviewing the status of woman in Islam, I want to ask a few questions:
1 When is the first time when Mahr become a tradition in the world?
2 When was the first time that women were given the right to have a lawyer and legal representative
in the West?
3 Were there or are there any rights for the women after the divorce?
4 When was the right for all women to choose their husband recognized for first time in the history?
In Islam, the rules are clearly stated in some verses in the Quran.
1 Islam teaches that the marriage should be proposed by woman by their own choice while it also
allows men to propose marriage.
2 The importance of women in Islam is so that there is a full chapter, one of the longest and most
important chapters of the book, titled as women.
3 There are some rights for women by men: not to oppress women, have restricted sexual relations
with them during the menstrual cycle, do not force them to do anything, respect their rights and do not
hurt them; i. e. 2:231
4 Islam rejected all the unwise traditions of the past,
5 & 6 The right for women who divorce before any sexual intercourse to receive half of their Marh (or
a gift if no Mahr is assigned) from their husbands in 2:236
7 & 8 The recommendation and best advice from God to Muslims is to choose one wife, which is the
most just, unless certain cases, justice is a requirement, 4:3
9 No paid gifts or Mahr to wives can be taken back by force or while she dislikes it, and men shall be
committed to their agreements with their wives, 20:21
10 If a woman committed adultery and four just witnesses confirm it, she shall be kept at the house
until God shows a way for her and if a woman committees adultery but repents, she shall not be hurt.
4:15-16
11 Men should consort with women in kindness, 4:19
12 Women having lawyers and legal representatives, 4:35
13 The steps before a man may temporarily leave his wife: 1) talking,2) separating his bed. 4:34
14 Divorced women 65:1:
1. The waiting period shall be counted to make sure she is not pregnant
2. Shall not be forced to leave the house
3. They should not leave in the wait period as well
4. Gods orders shall be followed and unjust shall not be done and hope to his mercy shall
remain
15 After the waiting period is completed, there should be peace either by returning to marriage or
leaving. The rights shall be respected; this is for those who have the fear of God and the Day of
Judgment 65:2. In divorce, justice and peaceful agreement is important. 2:236.
16 Woman is responsible as is affordable for her, and she can ask for her rights if she milks children or
works at home, 2:233
Conclusion
The rights of women in Islam, when compared to the past, are significantly extended. The position of
women as defined 1400 years ago is compatible with women rights in modern era in most aspects. Also,
it shall be noted that the value of a woman in Islam is most in her spiritual capacities which are higher
than her position in common culture, such as having the right to propose marriage, or to receive income
for her work at home.