WOMEN IN ISLAMWOMEN IN ISLAM

ContentsContents

WOMEN PRE-ISLAMWOMEN PRE-ISLAM Women’s RightsWomen’s RightsProperty RightsProperty Rights

DivorceDivorce

PolygamyPolygamy VeilingVeiling

WOMEN POST-ISLAMWOMEN POST-ISLAM Women’s Rights Women’s Rights Property RightsProperty Rights

DivorceDivorce

PolygamyPolygamy VeilingVeiling

Women Before IslamWomen Before Islam

Women’s Right to PropertyWomen’s Right to Property

A daughter could inherit only if no A daughter could inherit only if no male heirs existed (Numbers 27:8)male heirs existed (Numbers 27:8)

Among pagan Arabs, only males Among pagan Arabs, only males could inheritcould inherit

Women were considered property, Women were considered property, were buried alive, had no rights, etc.were buried alive, had no rights, etc.

Polygamy (Pre-Islam)Polygamy (Pre-Islam)

Monogamy protects men, allowing Monogamy protects men, allowing them to "play around" without them to "play around" without responsibility responsibility

Many of the ancient Israelites were Many of the ancient Israelites were polygamouspolygamous, some having hundreds , some having hundreds of wives. King Solomon (peace be of wives. King Solomon (peace be upon him) had 700 wives and 300 upon him) had 700 wives and 300 concubines. concubines.

Veiling (Pre-Islam)Veiling (Pre-Islam)

Veil in use before IslamVeil in use before Islam

It was often a sign of class distinctionIt was often a sign of class distinction

Slaves could be punished for veilingSlaves could be punished for veiling

Before and after Islam, where it was Before and after Islam, where it was a nuisance to labor, veil was not a nuisance to labor, veil was not wornworn

What the Qu’uran (Koran)What the Qu’uran (Koran)Says About WomenSays About Women

Women’s Rights-PropertyWomen’s Rights-Property

Woman’s Right to Property Woman’s Right to Property (Inheritance)(Inheritance)

Surah 4, Ayah 7:Surah 4, Ayah 7:

"From what is left by parents and those "From what is left by parents and those nearest related there is a share for men nearest related there is a share for men and a share for women, whether the and a share for women, whether the property be small or large, a determinate property be small or large, a determinate share."share."

Women’s Rights-Property cont’dWomen’s Rights-Property cont’d

Woman’s Right to Property Woman’s Right to Property (Divorce)(Divorce)

Ayah 20:Ayah 20:

““But if ye decide to take one wife in But if ye decide to take one wife in place of another, even if ye had place of another, even if ye had given the latter a whole treasure for given the latter a whole treasure for dower, take not the least bit of it dower, take not the least bit of it back: Would ye take it by slander back: Would ye take it by slander and manifest wrong?”and manifest wrong?”

Women’s Rights-DivorceWomen’s Rights-Divorce

Surah 4, Ayah 20:Surah 4, Ayah 20:

“ “But if you decide to take one wife in But if you decide to take one wife in place of another, even if you had place of another, even if you had given the latter a whole treasure for given the latter a whole treasure for dower, take not the least bit of it dower, take not the least bit of it back; Would you take it by slander back; Would you take it by slander and a manifest wrong?”and a manifest wrong?”

Women’s Rights-SupportWomen’s Rights-Support

Woman’s Right to SupportWoman’s Right to Support

Surah 4, Ayah 34:Surah 4, Ayah 34:

““Men are the protectors and Men are the protectors and maintainers of women, because Allah maintainers of women, because Allah has given the one more (strength) has given the one more (strength) than the other, and because they than the other, and because they support them from their means.”support them from their means.”

PolygamyPolygamy

Surah 4, Ayah 3:Surah 4, Ayah 3:

"If ye fear that ye shall not be able to deal "If ye fear that ye shall not be able to deal justly with the orphans, marry women of justly with the orphans, marry women of your choice, two, or three, or four; but if ye your choice, two, or three, or four; but if ye fear that ye shall not be able to deal justly fear that ye shall not be able to deal justly (with them), then only one, or (a captive) (with them), then only one, or (a captive) that your right hands possess. That will be that your right hands possess. That will be more suitable, to prevent you from doing more suitable, to prevent you from doing injustice."injustice."

Veiling (For Women)Veiling (For Women)

Surah 24, Ayah 31Surah 24, Ayah 31::

““And say to the believing women that And say to the believing women that they should lower their gaze and guard they should lower their gaze and guard their modesty; that they should not their modesty; that they should not display their beauty and ornaments display their beauty and ornaments except what (must ordinarily) appear except what (must ordinarily) appear thereof; that they should draw their thereof; that they should draw their veils over their bosoms and not display veils over their bosoms and not display their beauty except to [relatives]”their beauty except to [relatives]”

Veiling (For Men)Veiling (For Men)

Surah 24, Ayah 30:Surah 24, Ayah 30:

““Say to the believing men that they Say to the believing men that they should lower their gaze and guard should lower their gaze and guard their modesty: that will make for their modesty: that will make for greater purity for them: and Allah is greater purity for them: and Allah is well acquainted with all that they well acquainted with all that they do.”do.”

VeilingVeiling

Surah 33, Ayah 59:Surah 33, Ayah 59:““O Prophet! Tell thy wives and thy O Prophet! Tell thy wives and thy

daughters and the women of the daughters and the women of the believers to draw their cloaks close believers to draw their cloaks close round them (when they go abroad). round them (when they go abroad). That will be better, so that they may That will be better, so that they may be recognized and not annoyed. be recognized and not annoyed. Allah is ever Forgiving, Merciful.” Allah is ever Forgiving, Merciful.”

Muslim Women TodayMuslim Women Today

Questions?Questions?