Muslim Women

Introduction

The status of women in the Muslim society is neither a new issue nor a fully settled one. The position of Islam on this issue has been among the subjects presented to the Western reader with the least objectivity. This report is intended to provide a brief and authentic display of what Islam stands for in regard to women within their beliefs. The teachings of Islam are based essentially on the Qur'an (God's revelation) and Hadeeth (elaboration by Prophet Muhammad). The Qur'an and the Hadeeth provide the basic source of authentication for any position or view which is attributed to Islam. This report focuses on the position of Islam regarding the status of woman in society.

Independent Ownership

Islam ordered a right of which woman was ruined both before Islam and after it (even as late as this century), the right of independent ownership. According to Islamic Law, woman's right to her money, real estate, or other properties is fully acknowledged. This right undergoes no change whether she is single or married. She retains her full rights to buy, sell, mortgage or lease any or all her properties. It is nowhere suggested in the Law that a woman is a lesser simply because she is a female. It should also be taken into consideration that such right applies to her properties before and after marriage(Stowasser 11-43). With regard to the woman's right to seek employment it should be stated first that Islam regards her role in society as a mother and a wife as the most sacred and essential one. Such a noble and vital role, which largely shapes the future of nations, cannot be regarded as "doing nothing". However, there is no decree in Islam that forbids woman from seeking employment whenever there is a necessity for it, especially in positions which fit her nature and in which society needs her most. Examples of these professions are nursing, teaching (especially for children), and medicine. Also, there is no restriction on benefiting from woman's talent in any field. Man in Islam is fully responsible for the maintenance of his wife, his children, and in some cases of his needy relatives, especially the females. This responsibility is neither waived nor reduced because of his wife's wealth or because of her access to any personal income gained from work, rent, profit, or any other legal means. Women on the other hand are far more secure financially and are far less burdened with any claims on her possessions. Her possessions before marriage do not transfer to her husband and she even keeps her maiden name and she has no obligation to spend on her family. If she is divorced, she may get an alimony from her ex-husband( Hermansen 188-201 )

As a child and an adolescent

Despite the social acceptance of female death among some Arabian tribes, the Qur'an forbade this custom, and considered it a crime like any other murder. "And when the female (infant) buried alive - is questioned, for what crime she was ...