Women's Liberation Through ISLAM

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3. Social Rights
The Prophet Muhammad
(Peace be Upon Him) said Seeking knowledge is a mandate for every Muslim Male & Female'. This includes knowledge of the Noble Qur-an and the Hadith as well as other knowledge. Men and women both have the capacity for learning and understanding. Since it is also their obligation to promote me good behavior and condemn bad behavior in all spheres of life, Muslim women must acquire the appropriate education to perform this duty in accordance with their own natural talents and interests.Click for AUDIO

While maintenance of a home, providing support to her husband, and bearing and  raising and teaching of children are among the first and very highly regarded roles for a woman, if she has the skills to work outside the home for the very good of the community, she may do so long as her family obligations are met.Click for AUDIO

Islam recognizes and fosters the natural difference between men and women despite their equality. Some types of work are more suitable for men other types for women. This in no way diminishes either’s effort nor its benefit. God will reward both sexes equally for the value of their work, though it may not necessarily be the same activity.Click for AUDIO

Concerning motherhood, the Prophet (Peace Be Upon Him) said: "Heaven lies under the feet of mothers." This implies that the success of society can be traced to the mothers that raised it. The first and greatest influence on a person comes from the sense of security, affection, and training received from the mother. Therefore, a woman having children must be educated and conscientious in order to be a skillful parent.Click for AUDIO

4. Political Rights
A right given to Muslim women by God 1400 years ago is the right to vote. On any public Matter, a woman may voice her opinion and participate in politics. One example narrated in the Qur-an (60:12) is that Prophet Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him) is told that when the believing women come to him and swear their allegiance to Islam, he must accept their oath. This established the right of women to select their leader and publicly declare. Abdur-Rahman bin Auf consulted many women before he recommended 'Uthman bin Affan to be the Caliph.Click for AUDIO

5. Economic Rights
The Noble Qur-an states:

"By Him Who created male and female; Verily, your efforts and deeds are diverse (different in aims and purposes)." (Qur-an: 92:3-4)

In these verses, God declares that He created men and women to be different, with unique roles, functions and skills. As in society, where there is a division of labor, so too in a family; each member has different responsibilities. Generally, Islam upholds that women are entrusted with the nurturing role, and men, with the guardian role. Therefore, women are given the right of financial support.Click for AUDIO

The Noble Qur-an states:

"Men are the protectors and maintainers of women because Allah has made some of them to excel others and because they spend of their wealth (for the support of women)." (Qur-an, 4:34)

This guardianship and greater financial responsibility that is given to men, requires that they provide women with not only monetary support but also physical protection and kind and respectful treatment.Click for AUDIO

The Muslim woman has the privilege to earn money, the right to own property, to enter into legal contracts and to manage all of her assets in any way she pleases.  She can run her own business and no one has any claim to her earnings including her husband. The Qur-an states:

"And covet not the things in which Allah has made some of you excel others.  For men there is reward for what they have earned, (and likewise) for women there is reward for what they have earned, and ask Allah of His Bounty. Surely, Allah is Ever All-Knower of every thing." (Qur-an, 4:32)

A woman inherits from her relatives. The Qur-an states:

"For men there is a share in what parents and relatives leave, and for women there is a share of what parents and relatives leave, whether it be little or much a legal share." (Qur-an, 4:7)Click for AUDIO

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