Does Islam Oppress Women?

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The Quran clearly states that the religion of Islam is a mercy to all mankind which includes both men and women, it demands that women be treated with respect, honour, and justice.  It condemns oppression of any kind.  In Islam women, like men, are commanded to believe in God and to worship Him. Women are equal to men in terms of reward in the Hereafter.

“And whoever does righteous good deeds, male or female, and is a true believer in the Oneness of God, such will enter paradise; and not the least injustice, even to the size of a speck on the back of a date stone, will be done to them.” (Quran 4:124)

While the pagan middle ages treated women like property, Islam was and is a feminist revolution which gave women their rights as deemed fit by God. Women in Islam have the right to own property, to control their own money to buy and sell, and to give gifts and charity. It is not permissible for anyone to take a woman’s wealth without her consent. Islam gave women formal rights of inheritance. (These rights were given to women by Allah without demanding it over 1400 years ago, whilst in Great Britain this right was only given to women in 1870 after a great amount of uprising and struggle).

Instead of giving women in Islam the right to an education; they are rather compelled and commanded to seek and acquire knowledge. In return they are rewarded for it. (In Britain, this right had to be fought for and only in 1876 were women allowed access to formal higher education).

Muslim women have the right to accept or refuse marriage proposals as they see fit, and married women are completely free from the obligation of supporting and maintaining the family financially. Working married women are free to contribute to the household expenses, or not, as they see fit.   

Women have the right to seek divorce if it becomes necessary.

Prophet Muhammad may the mercy and blessings of God be upon him, said, “A matron should not be given in marriage except after consulting her; and a virgin should not be given in marriage except after her permission.” 

Prophet Muhammad may the mercy and blessings of God be upon him, said, “None but a noble man treats women in an honourable manner.  And none but an ignoble treats women disgracefully.”

Unlike in the Bible. Nowhere in the Quran do we find any trace of any notion of blaming Eve for the first mistake or for eating from the forbidden tree/plant. Nowhere, even though the Quran speaks about Adam, Eve, and the forbidden tree/plant. The story is narrated in 7:19-27, and it speaks about both of them doing this, both of them are told that both of them disobeyed, both of them discovered the consequences of their disobedience, both of them seek repentance and both of them are forgiven. Nowhere in the Quran does it say the women are to be blamed for the fall of man. Furthermore, when the Quran speaks about the suffering of women during the period of pregnancy and childbirth, nowhere does it connect it with the concept of original sin, because there is no concept of original sin in Islam. The suffering is presented not as a reason to remind woman of the fall of man, but as a reason to adore and love woman or the mother. In the Quran, especially 31:14, 46:15, it makes it quite clear God has commanded upon mankind to be kind to parents and mentions.

In particular Allah tells mankind that Heaven lies under the feet of the mother and thus children should seek heaven my honouring, being and taking care of their mothers.

As children your mothers have the first 3 rights upon you for kindness and the fourth is the right of the father.

Regarding Muslim wife's... The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) enjoined kind treatment and honouring of one’s wife, and he described the best of people as those who are best to their wives. He said: “The best of you are those who are the best to their wives, and I am the best of you to my wives.”

As Muslim daughters Allah tells mankind that even if they had 1, 2, 3 or more daughters and they took care of that them. Spent of them and raised them in an loving manner, until marriage. Then the fathers will be earn Allah's pleasure and he will in return give them heaven. This was not said about having sons... no matter how many.

In our opinion, women’s rights in Islam are vastly misunderstood due to a deliberate bias against Islam in the western media. The above was only a small list of women’s rights. We commend you for seeking the truth and would love to give you far longer answers but unfortunately a lot of people lack the attention span thus we keep our answers brief.

 

 

 

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