An Academic Study of Women’s Rights in the Light of the Shari’ah and some Cultural Issues

Abstract

Men and women equally play a key role in the society by ensuring the continuity of human race on earth. The purpose of their creation as Allah (SWT) explains in the holy Qur’an is to gratify each other and they are meant to be garments for each other. Symbolizing mutual support, mutual comfort and mutual protection. In the past women were treated unfairly by degrading them to slavery and treating them as animals. After the rise of Islam women were guaranteed equal rights in all social matters. Islam awarded women all the economic, social, political rights. The holy Prophet (SAW) also had a great respect for women and immensely considerate towards them as women were declared as half part of the men as far as human rights were concerned. Despite these clear Islamic teachings, women are denied inheritance, choice of marriage, property ownership and confined to the boundary walls of the house in many Islamic societies. This research paper probes into the rights of women as practiced in the Muslim society by presenting a clear view of the Islamic teachings about their rights as the need for provision and acceptance of their due rights and deterrence of rigidity and violence against them increases day by day.

Keywords:  Rights, Species, gratify, inheritance,  Holy Qur’an