One of the important duties of divine prophets is education. Allah Almighty says: «هُوَ الَّذِي بَعَثَ فِي الْأُمِّيِّينَ رَسُولًا مِنْهُمْ يَتْلُو عَلَيْهِمْ آيَاتِهِ وَيُزَكِّيهِمْ وَيُعَلِّمُهُمُ الْكِتَابَ وَالْحِكْمَةَ» Translation: “He is the one who has sent among the illiterate people a messenger from them who recites His verses to them, cultivates them, and teaches them the Book and wisdom.”
Just as Islam encouraged the acquisition of knowledge, it did not deprive women of this right and considered them equally responsible for education and the pursuit of knowledge alongside men. The goal of Islam is for all human beings to advance in this vital area and attain the highest levels of perfection. Therefore, it has provided a platform for women to acquire knowledge and engage in self-cultivation, just like men. Islam has not only allowed women to learn sciences but has also deemed it necessary. The beloved Messenger of Islam, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, says: “Acquiring science and knowledge is obligatory for every Muslim, man and woman.”
Islam does not wish for Muslim women to live lives marked by neglect and ignorance, far from any progress or perfection. The hadiths of the Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, establish equality between men and women in the pursuit of knowledge. He said in a hadith narrated by Hazrat Abu Huraira, may Allah be pleased with him: “Whoever seeks the path of knowledge, Allah Almighty will make the path to Paradise easy for him.”
This hadith is general and applies to both men and women; it emphasizes that both genders are equally encouraged to seek knowledge. Even if a woman is a maid, she should dedicate some of her time to acquiring knowledge, participating in scholarly gatherings, and striving to excel in this field.
The reality is that reading and writing are among the blessings of Allah Almighty bestowed upon humanity, and it is inappropriate for fathers to deprive their daughters of learning. They should pay attention to their daughters just as they do to their sons, based on Islamic ethics, and avoid making any distinctions between girls and boys in this matter.
Islam has always promoted the education of women because a woman is the cornerstone of raising her children. If a woman is uneducated and ignorant, her children will also be uneducated and ignorant.
4. Granting the Right of Marriage to Women
One example of Islam’s respect for women is seen in the transformation of marriage from a form of slavery during the Jahili period into a religious and civil contract. This change fulfilled the natural right to find relief from sexual anxiety through love between men and women and expanded the circle of affection and friendship between families. As Allah the Exalted says: «وَمِنْ آيَاتِهِ أَنْ خَلَقَ لَكُمْ مِنْ أَنْفُسِكُمْ أَزْوَاجًا لِتَسْكُنُوا إِلَيْهَا وَجَعَلَ بَيْنَكُمْ مَوَدَّةً وَرَحْمَةً إِنَّ فِي ذَلِكَ لَآيَاتٍ لِقَوْمٍ يَتَفَكَّرُونَ» Translation: “And among His signs is that He created for you wives of your own kind so that you may find peace with them, and He placed grace and mercy between you. These are signs for a group of people who think.”
Women also have the right to choose their partners in marriage. Khansa bint Khadam was upset about being married to a man she did not want. It is narrated that a girl from the descendants of Ja’afar was afraid her father would marry her to someone against her wishes, so she sent a messenger to two noble men, Abdul Rahman and Majmah, and they assured her, “Don’t be sad; we will solve this problem.” Khansa’s father forced her into a marriage, but the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) annulled her marriage.
Islam also honors women in the context of polygamy. While men from various cultures could marry many women without the condition of justice, Islam set limits, allowing men to take no more than four wives, provided they could maintain justice among them. If a man fears he cannot be just, it is better for him to marry only one woman. Allah Almighty has permitted additional wives only if the man is able to support them and maintain their dignity and justice.
In some interpretations, it is stated that people in Europe and elsewhere once believed that a woman should not be a religious follower; they even officially prohibited women from reading sacred texts. However, Islam addressed both men and women with the titles of ‘believing men’ and ‘believing women’ to perform righteous deeds.
5. Prescribing the Presence of Women in Social, Political, and Cultural Fields
In Islam, women are granted the right to participate in social, political, and cultural affairs, though this must be balanced with preserving chastity and the privacy of individuals.
