Women have been granted economic freedom in Islam. A woman is entitled to possess wealth and property of her own, either inherited or earned, and has full rights over it.
Source/Credit: Orland Park | Patch
By Sarah Ahmad | March 7, 2013
Imagine yourself living in Arabia 1500 years ago. If you are a woman, your treatment is equivalent to that of a slave’s. You have no rights, no property; in fact you are the property of a man, whether it be your father or your husband. You could even be sold or abandoned by your husband.
1500 years ago a woman in Arabia was considered worthless, and was limited in intellect and spirituality. However, women remained subordinate to men until the 20th century. In the United States, women were granted the right to vote and fully achieved equality to men in 1920.
In the 6th century with the advent of the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him), the status of women drastically changed. The Quran grants women the same spiritual status as men. In chapter 4, verse 125, the Quran states,
“But whoso does good works, whether male or female, and is a believer, such shall enter Heaven, and shall not be wronged even as much as the little hollow in the back of a date-stone.”
This verse clearly places men and women equal in the eyes of God Almighty. They are both servants of God, and if they do good deeds, they are equally entitled to the same reward.
Islam also stresses that education is equally important for both men and women. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) has emphasized that education is compulsory for everyone. He said:
“It is the duty of every Muslim man and every Muslim woman to acquire knowledge.”
Most Muslim women are well educated. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) also encouraged his wives to be educated. His wife Khadija was a successful businesswoman, and was also the first Muslim woman.
Women have been granted economic freedom in Islam. A woman is entitled to possess wealth and property of her own, either inherited or earned, and has full rights over it. The Quran says in chapter 4, verse 33,
“Men shall have the share of what they have earned, and women shall have the share of what they have earned. And ask Allah of His bounty. Surely, Allah has perfect knowledge of all things."
Chapter 4 of the Quran is titled An-Nisa, which means The Woman. This chapter deals chiefly with the rights and responsibilities of women. It reiterates again and again the fact that women and men are held equal in the eyes of God. Requiring a husband to give her a dowry at the time of marriage protects a woman’s economic status. Her husband has no right over it, as it is the woman’s exclusive dowry.
In Islam, a woman’s main duty is her duty to God Almighty. After that, she must fulfill her duties to her fellow beings. Her first and foremost responsibility is to take care of her husband and children. She is not restricted to this role, and is allowed to go out and work if necessary. By defining the role of women in Islam, and giving women dignity, Muslim women feel satisfied. As Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) said,
“Paradise lies under the feet of mothers.”
Read original post here: The Reality of Women in Islam
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