Author: Um Ayesha
The Position of Women in Islam (Part 7)
The Position of Women in Islam from the Perspective of the Holy Qur’an:
One of the most significant programs of Islam, which has made this religion a leader among all religions, has been to eliminate all injustices towards women. Islam dismantled the foundations of ethnic, racial, sexual, and financial supremacy, placing all human beings—male and female, rich and poor, Arab and non-Arab, black and white, ugly and beautiful—in the same line. This divine religion has regarded piety, spiritual values, and moral virtues as the only criteria for excellence. Almighty Allah says: «إِنَّ أَكْرَمَكُمْ عِنْدَ اللَّهِ أَتْقَاكُمْ» Translation: “Indeed, the most honorable of you in the sight of Allah is the most pious of you.”
On the other hand, legislative guidance is general and broad and is not specific to any group, individual, or gender. Everyone can partake in this ocean of divine mercy and pave the way for their own evolution and happiness. Almighty Allah says: «إِنَّا هَدَيْنَاهُ السَّبِيلَ إِمَّا شَاكِرًا وَإِمَّا كَفُورًا» Translation: “We have shown him the way, whether he is grateful and accepts or is ungrateful.” Thus, the difference in gender cannot be an obstacle to evolution.
Historical examples are a true testimony to the claim that throughout history, many women have reached the heights of progress and have been introduced as role models. Almighty Allah states in the Qur’an: «وَضَرَبَ اللَّهُ مَثَلًا لِلَّذِينَ آمَنُوا امْرَأَتَ فِرْعَوْنَ إِذْ قَالَتْ رَبِّ ابْنِ لِي عِنْدَكَ بَيْتًا فِي الْجَنَّةِ وَنَجِّنِي مِنْ فِرْعَوْنَ وَعَمَلِهِ وَنَجِّنِي مِنَ الْقَوْمِ الظَّالِمِينَ (۱۱) وَمَرْيَمَ ابْنَتَ عِمْرَانَ الَّْتِي أَحْصَنَتْ فَرْجَهَا… Translation: “For the believers, Allah Almighty has given Pharaoh’s wife and Maryam, the daughter of Imran, as examples of faith and piety. Pharaoh’s wife said: ‘Lord! Build me a house in paradise and save me from Pharaoh and his deeds, and free me from the group of oppressors.’ And also, the story of Maryam, the daughter of Imran, who kept herself pure.”
The fact is that throughout history, no religion, law, or society can be found that has preserved the honor, dignity, and rights of women in a way that places them in their rightful position and shows them the attention they deserve, except for Islam, which has preserved the honor and dignity of women and placed them in their true position.
Islam has granted women the right to own property. Almighty Allah says: «لِلرِّجَالِ نَصِيبٌ مِمَّا اكْتَسَبُوا وَلِلنِّسَاءِ نَصِيبٌ مِمَّا اكْتَسَبْنَ» Translation: “Men have a share of what they earn, and women also have a share of what they earn.”
Islam has also granted women the right to inheritance, just as it has granted this right to men. Almighty Allah says: «لِلرِّجَالِ نَصِيبٌ مِمَّا تَرَكَ الْوَالِدَانِ وَالْأَقْرَبُونَ وَلِلنِّسَاءِ نَصِيبٌ مِمَّا تَرَكَ الْوَالِدَانِ وَالْأَقْرَبُونَ مِمَّا قَلَّ مِنْهُ أَوْ كَثُرَ نَصِيبًا مَفْرُوضًا» Translation: “Men and women have a share of what their parents and relatives leave behind, whether the inheritance is small or large; Allah has made everyone’s share clear and obligatory.”
