Question Breakdown
This question calls for a critical examination of the claim made by Western and human rights activists that Islam suppresses women's rights. The examiner expects the candidate to analyze this claim by referencing the Qur’an, Sunnah, and the practical examples from Islamic history, especially from the time of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). Moreover, the candidate should compare Islamic rights with pre-Islamic and modern-day standards to demonstrate how Islam provides a holistic and dignified framework for women. A strong, evidence-backed rebuttal to the stereotype is required, showing how Islam liberated women and granted them rights in family, society, and governance.
Outline
1-Introduction
2-Status of Women before Islam
3-Revolutionary Rights Given to Women by Islam
- Spiritual equality before Allah (Qur’an 33:35)
- Right to education
- Right to inheritance (Qur’an 4:7)
- Right to own property
- Right to choose a spouse and consent to marriage
- Right to divorce (Khula)
- Right to political participation (Bay’ah)
4-Women as Exemplars in Islamic History
- Hazrat Khadija (RA): Businesswoman and first Muslim
- Hazrat Aisha (RA): Scholar and narrator of Hadith
- Hazrat Fatima (RA): Daughter of the Prophet (PBUH) and moral role model
- Women’s participation in battles and education
5-Islamic Legal and Social Safeguards for Women
- Mahr (dower) as financial security
- Prohibition of forced marriages
- Equal reward for righteous deeds (Qur’an 16:97)
- Emphasis on modesty and dignity, not oppression
6-Misinterpretation and Misapplication: Root of the Problem
- Cultural practices mistaken for Islamic rulings
- Patriarchal misreading of Islamic texts
- Failure of some Muslim societies to implement Islamic laws
7-Western Human Rights Discourse: A Critical View
- Double standards: Islam criticised while ignoring Western exploitation
- Commercialisation and objectification of women in the name of freedom
- Islam promotes dignity, not commodification
8-Conclusion
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Answer to the Question
Introduction
The notion that Islam suppresses women’s rights has become a recurring theme in the discourse of European and international human rights activists. However, a closer inspection of Islamic sources and early Islamic history reveals a very different reality. These critiques often stem from misunderstandings of Islamic principles, media bias, or confusion between cultural practices and religious doctrine. In reality, Islam provided a dignified status to women over 1,400 years ago, long before Western societies recognized even basic rights for women.
Status of Women before Islam
Before the advent of Islam, women were treated as commodities and property, not as individuals with dignity and rights. In pre-Islamic Arabia, daughters were often buried alive, and women had no inheritance and were passed along as part of a man’s estate. Similar conditions existed in ancient Greece, where women were considered inferior and excluded from public life. In Roman society, women were under male guardianship throughout their lives. The early Christian Church also viewed women with suspicion, often blaming them for original sin.
Islamic revelation overturned these injustices and gave women a lofty status, recognizing them as full human beings, spiritually and socially.
Revolutionary Rights Given to Women by Islam
Islam granted women a variety of rights that were revolutionary for their time:
- Spiritual Equality
The Qur’an proclaims both men and women as equal before Allah.
Indeed, the Muslim men and Muslim women... Allah has prepared for them forgiveness and a great reward.
(Qur’an 33:35)
- Right to Education
The Prophet (PBUH) stated, “Seeking knowledge is obligatory upon every Muslim, male and female.”
This highlights Islam’s commitment to female intellectual empowerment.
- Right to Inheritance
Women were given a fixed share in inheritance.
For men is a share of what the parents and close relatives leave, and for women is a share…
(Qur’an 4:7)
- Right to Own Property
Islam acknowledged a woman’s financial independence. She can own, sell, or manage her property without male interference.
- Right to Consent in Marriage
The Prophet (PBUH) prohibited forced marriages, stating, “A previously married woman has more right to her person than her guardian, and a virgin must give her consent.” (Sahih Muslim)
- Right to Divorce
Islam allows a woman to seek divorce through Khula, a legal right many societies still do not offer.
- Right to Political Participation
Women pledged allegiance (Bay’ah) to the Prophet (PBUH), indicating their political and social agency.
Women as Exemplars in Islamic History
The early Muslim community included women who were pioneers in faith, education, commerce, and social reform.
- Hazrat Khadija (RA): A wealthy businesswoman and the first believer in Islam
- Hazrat Aisha (RA): A scholar who narrated over 2,000 Hadith and engaged in political affairs
- Hazrat Fatima (RA): Symbol of piety and justice
- Women like Umm Ammarah fought in battles, while others ran educational circles in the mosques
This legacy contradicts the image of a passive, oppressed Muslim woman.
Islamic Legal and Social Safeguards for Women
Islam institutionalised Mahr, a marital gift from the husband, and prohibited forced marriages. The Qur’an promises equal reward for good deeds: “Whoever does righteous deeds... while being a believer, We will surely cause them to live a good life.” (Qur’an 16:97). Islam’s modesty regulations are designed to preserve dignity, not impose restrictions.
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Misinterpretation and Misapplication: The Real Cause of Injustice
Many unjust practices in Muslim societies, such as child marriages, denial of education, and domestic abuse, are rooted in tribal culture or ignorance, not in Islamic law. Misuse of religious texts and patriarchal interpretations have contributed to oppression that Islam actually forbids.
Western Human Rights Discourse: A Critical View
Western critics often ignore their own contradictions. While they advocate for freedom, women are objectified through advertising, pornography, and commercial media. Islam, on the other hand, promotes dignity, modesty, and purpose. True empowerment lies not in imitating men or following fashion, but in being valued for character and virtue.
Conclusion
The claim that Islam does not provide proper rights to women is both uninformed and unjustified. Islam was the first universal faith to uphold women’s dignity at a time when no other system recognized their humanity. The failures seen in modern Muslim societies are due to ignorance and cultural regression, not Islamic teachings. When implemented in true spirit, Islamic principles offer the most balanced, dignified, and protective framework for women’s rights in both public and private spheres.
