Muslim Women

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Islam is the world’s second largest as well as the fastest growing monotheistic religion, which was introduced to humanity by God’s (Arabic word for God is Allah) Prophet Muhammad in Arabia. Like the holy books of Christianity such as the Old and New Testament, beliefs of Muslims and the sacred word of Allah are recorded in their holy text, Quran. Many topics that are under constant debate of non-Muslims include one of the most commonly discussed issue – the status of Muslim women and their limited rights. Society generally perceives the role of women in Islam negatively and Muslim women are usually portrayed as the victims of oppression and maltreatment. Actually, Islam appears to be the religion which condemns any kind of oppression towards …show more content…

Even though the main responsibilities of Muslim women are to take care of children, serve the husband, follow gender-specific commandments, traditional responsibilities and assistance in political as well as religious decisions are still held by women in Islam. Many teachings of Muhammad that protected the dignity of women contain one of his most well-known sayings about this topic: "...the best among you are those who treat their wives well." So it can be stated that women are not oppressed in Islam. Among the reasons of perceiving Muslim women as victims of oppression stands head and body covering. In chapter 33, entitled Soorah Al-Ahzaab, Allah says: "O Prophet, tell your wives and your daughters and the woman of the believers to bring down over themselves (part) of their outer garments. That is more suitable that they will be known (as free respectable women) and not be abused. And ever is Allah Forgiving and Merciful." It can be said that Islam makes wearing Hijab absolutely necessary. Hijab is the word used for covering, not only the head covering but also wearing loose clothes that are not too bright. In fact, Christian nuns cover their hair but no one considers them to …show more content…

Any property that woman acquires by her own effort or inherits as a heir or receives as a legacy, belongs to her independently of her husband. She is free to choose – she can ask her husband to manage that property, but if she chooses to administer it herself, he cannot interfere in her own management. The following incident clearly illustrates the economical independence of Muslim women: Prophet admonished women to spend their own money in charity. Thereafter two women, both bearing the name of Zainab, came to him and told him that their respective husbands were poor, but that they in their own rights were comparatively better. Would it be an act of spiritual merit if they assisted their husbands? The Holy Prophet assured them their spending on their husbands would be doubly honorable, as it would rank both as charity and as graciousness. The Quran states: “Covet not that whereby Allah has made some of you excel others. Men shall have a portion of that which they earn and women shall have a portion of that which they earn. Ask Allah alone of His bounty. Surely, Allah has perfect knowledge of all things.” There is no discrimination against women in inheritance cases, too. The Islamic system of inheritance aims at a wide distribution of property. If a person dies leaving his/her surviving parents, wife or

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