Women's Rights In Islam

Fourteen centuries ago, Islam made women equally accountable to God and also established a woman’s equality in her humanity with men. Woman in Islam have the basic freedoms of choice and expression based on recognition of her individual personality. As the Qur’an states:

"And among His signs is this: that He created mates for you from yourselves that you may find rest and peace of mind in them, and He ordained between you love and mercy. Certainly, herein indeed are signs for people who reflect." [Noble Quran 30:21]

Prophet Muhammad also said:

"The most perfect in faith amongst believers is he who is best in manners and kindest to his wife." [Abu Dawud]

Many women had high standings and statuses in Islam and had played an important role in the realization and development of Islam, considering the fact that the first individual to convert to Islam was a woman, the wife of Prophet Muhammad. It also worth mentioning, despites many opposing ideas in the West these days, many Islamic countries have had deeply influential women rulers, leaders, and presidents such as Benazir Bhutto (politician and stateswoman who served as the 11th Prime Minister of Pakistan in two non-consecutive terms).

Rights for education are equally granted to all believers in Islam. Moreover, Muslim women have the right to education which can perform their duty on promoting good behavior and condemning bad behavior in all aspects of life.

As Prophet Muhammad suggest in the following saying:

"Seeking knowledge is mandatory for every believer." [Ibn Majah]

Muslim women can work outside the home as long as their family obligations are met, such as the bearing, raising and teaching of children, and providing support to their husband. 

Muslim women can participate in politics, and voice their opinion on social issues and political matters. Also, they are encouraged in holding important positions in government which suit their role as a woman.

Muslim women and men have equal economic rights in earning money, owning property, managing assets. They are also free to be entrepreneurs and create a living and an earning for themselves, independent of their husband or guardian.

In Islam, marriage is not just a physical or emotional necessity, but it is a relationship of mutual rights and obligations based on divine guidance. Muslim woman, as a wife of a man, has the right to receive Mahr, a gift from the husband, which is part of the marriage contract and required for legality of the marriage. Muslim wives have certain obligations to their husbands such as to keep their husband’s secrets and protect their marital privacy. A Muslim woman must cooperate and coordinate with her husband. But they cannot be cooperated with a man who is disobedient to God. In other words, she cannot follow his requests if he wants her to do something unlawful or contradictory to the religion. Additionally, the husband also should not take advantage of his wife, but be considerate of her needs and happiness.

In general, Islam initially grants most rights to women in a way that enables them to educate, work, participate in politics, and to be an active member of the Islamic society. According to Allah and the prophet Muhammad, women are to be treated as equals to men and are entitled to the same opportunities as them as well.