Rooted in rights | Iconic women

Rooted in rights

The pre-Islamic period in Arabia is known in Islam as 'jahiliyya' – an era of darkness and ignorance. During these pagan times, unwanted female babies were buried alive, women were often treated as chattel and traded as slaves. The 7th century dawn of Islam ushered in a new era of morality and divine law, restoring women's dignity and elevating their position in both family and society.

While some pre-Islamic Arabian women such as Khadija undoubtedly wielded great influence, Islam sought to improve the lives of less privileged women. Where women possessed no rights, Islam bestowed rights. Where women had partial rights, Islam enhanced them.

The Quran forbade female infanticide and granted women the right to inherit, own property, run a business, receive an education, accept or reject a marriage partner, keep a dowry, retain their family name upon marriage, divorce, receive financial support from a husband, testify in a court of law, vote and participate in political affairs. Rights such as those of legal status, inheritance and property were not enjoyed by Western women until the late 19th century.

Early Islamic history is filled with examples of Muslim women flourishing as religious teachers, scholars, rulers, warriors, advisers and poets. But after the Prophet's death, the treatment of women reverted back to pre-Islamic customs and the lowering of women's status. Subsequently, interpretations of women's Islamic rights have varied, often to women's detriment, across the Islamic world. Despite repeated efforts to the contrary, for example, Kuwait still denies women the right to vote.

Many Muslim feminists hold the view that the problems presently hindering Muslim women are not those of Islamic law but are those that hinder women of all backgrounds worldwide – oppressive cultural practices, poverty, illiteracy, political repression and patriarchy.

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Begum Khaleda Zia, leader of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party
Bangladesh Nationalist Party

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