Muslim Women Rights and Requirements

Muslim women come from the Islamic faith. Islam is a monotheistic religion where its followers (Muslims) believe there is only one true God, Allah, and honor and love the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him), the last prophet of the God. Just like in any other religion, Muslims, particularly women, have rights and requirements within their religion. As well as wearing hijabs, Muslim women have the right to dress however they like, choose who they would like to marry, have the right to an education, and lead an imam.

In the Islamic faith, Muslim women are required to dress modestly by God. In the Qur’an, God speaks directly to all Muslim women and says “...guard their private parts and not expose their adornment except that which [necessarily] appears thereof and to wrap [a portion of] their headcovers over their chests and not expose their adornment (The Qur’an 24:31)”. Muslim women have to wear a hijab, or a head covering, when they are in public places and when they are around men who are not close relatives. In fact, countries like Saudi Arabia and Qatar have a mandatory dress code enforced. Muslim women in these countries have to wear a hijab and an abaya, or a full-length, loose fitting garment on top of their clothes. Although God requires Muslim women to dress modestly and Saudi Arabia and Qatar have a dress code, it is entirely their choice on what they would like to wear.

More so a right than a requirement, Muslim women may choose their own husbands. In accordance with Islamic law, Muslim women are able to choose their own husbands freely, contrary to popular belief that their husbands are chosen for them. The groom gives the wife a dowry for her own personal use and the wife keeps her surname, instead of ...

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...ill the role… but Muslim women may preach to groups of women only (The Handy Religion Answer Book, pg. 160).” While Muslim women are allowed to hold an imam, they are not able to lead worship unless they are strictly leading women. This is why the right for women to lead an imam is partially a right and a requirement. Although somewhat restricted, Muslim women are allowed to lead an imam.

Muslim women have to dress modestly, may choose who their own husbands are, have the right to an education, and are able to lead other Muslim women in prayer and preach. Women of Islamic faith have more rights than what is stereotypically thought, such as Muslim women being controlled by their husbands and having no freedom. Stereotypes will continue to follow Muslim women, but they just brush them off and continue doing what they’re doing, which is something every person should do.