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Islam
acknowledges women's equality with men in many respects. The
Qur'an states:
- "Allah
(He)
who did create you from a single soul and therefrom did
create his mate, that he might dwell with her
(in
love).
- (Qur'an,
7:189)
Muslims believe that
Adam and Eve were created from the same soul.
A woman in Islam has high status, let alone the fact
that the first convert to Islam was Khadijah. Prophet
Muhammad said:
Paradise lies at the feet
of mothers.
As far as equality of
education, both women and men have the same rights. This is
clear in Prophet Muhammad's saying:
Seeking knowledge is
mandatory for every
Muslim. (This implies
men and women.)
Woman is treated as
God has endowed her, with merits such as: being
treated as an individual in her right, with the right to own
and dispose of her own property and earnings. A marriage
dowry is given by the groom to the bride for her own
personal use, and she keeps her own family name rather than
taking her husband's.
Prophet Muhammad
said:
The most perfect in faith
amongst believers is he who is best in manner and kindest to
his wife.
Before marriage, a woman
has the right to choose her husband. Islamic law is very
strict regarding the necessity of having the woman's consent
for marriage. This has been applicable for 1400 years.
As a wife, a woman has
her own rights, such as to be supported by her husband even
if she is very rich. She also has the right to seek divorce.
She has the right to be educated. She has the right of
inheriting from her father, mother, and husband.
-
- The Islamic
view of women
-
- Women
are portrayed positively in the Qur'an and the
Hadith (sayings of the Prophet Muhammad).
The Qur'an is the only book of world Scripture in
which women are frequently referred to alongside men, and
both are described as being friends and partners in
faith.
-
- The following
verses are just a few notable examples:
-
- The believers, men
and women, are protecting friends one of another; they
promote the right and forbid the wrong, establish prayer,
pay the poor-due, and they obey God and His
messenger.
-
- As for these, God
will have mercy on them. Surely God is Mighty, Wise. God
has promised to believers, men and women, gardens under
which rivers flow, to dwell therein, and beautiful
mansions in gardens of everlasting bliss. But the
greatest bliss is the good pleasure of God: that is the
supreme
felicity.
- (Qur'an 9:71-72)
-
- Surely for men who
surrender to God, and women who
surrender
- and men who believe
and women who believe;
- and men who obey and
women who obey;
- and men who speak the
truth and women who speak the truth;
- and men who persevere
(in righteousness)
- and women who
persevere;
- and men who are
humble and women who are humble;
- and men who give alms
and women who give alms;
- and men who fast and
women who fast;
- and men who guard
their modesty and women who guard
-
- and men who
remember Allah much and women who remember - Allah has
prepared for them forgiveness and a vast reward.
- (Qur'an 33:35)
-
- There is no question
in Islam of men and women being at odds with one another,
engaged in some kind of historical struggle for power.
Rather, the roles of both are complementary and
essential. The Qur'an states:
-
- O mankind! Be
mindful of your duty to your Lord, Who created you from a
single being, and from it created its mate, and from the
two of them has scattered countless men and women
(throughout the earth). Fear God, in Whose (Name) you
demand your rights of one another, and (be mindful of
your duty) towards the wombs that bore you. God is ever
Watching over you.
- (Qur'an 4:1)
-
- Do not long for
the favours by which God has made some of you excel
others. Men shall have a share of what they have earned,
and women shall have a share of what they have earned.
(Do not envy each other) but ask God to give you of His
bounty. God has knowledge of all things.
- (Qur'an 4:32)
-
- The Prophet
Muhammad augmented the revelations he received with
further teachings and his wonderful personal example,
which made him beloved by family and followers alike. He
forbade violence against women, and preached against all
forms of abuse of power. He warned that both men and
women would be held accountable by God for those
in their care or under their authority, and said:
-
- Let no Muslim man
entertain any bad feeling against a Muslim woman. If he
should dislike one quality in her, he will find another
that is pleasing.
-
- The best of believers
are those who are best to their wives and
families.
-
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