Islam gives equal rights to women

Sadaf Kursheed

Srinagar, Jan 25 (KNB): Oppressed, uqnequal, inferior are the words that come to one’s mind when they think about women in Islam. These stereotypes are enough to confuse some cultural practices with Islam. But most of the ignorant people fail to understand that Islam gave women all equal rights even when the Arabs used to bury their daughters alive.

Since the 7th century women in Islam were provided with most progressive rights. Islam gives them credence, certifying that they are equally to be respected, honoured loved and given what they own.

Freedom: In Islam a woman has the equal rights to receive education as a man has and it is important for both the genders to receive education. Even during the days of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) there were various women who would work as nurses and take care of the wounded in wars or there were women traders. Even today there are so many women working as teachers, traders, nurses all over the world.

Equality: Islam gives equal rights to women as it gives to man. Women have the rights to inherit a share from the property of their father. The holy Quran also directs a father to nurture his female child, to look after her with love and care and to marry her to the best possible man.

Dignity: Islam orders the woman to be in veil to protect her of the mischievous and staring eyes so that her dignity is protected and even the men are told to lower their gaze.

Islam also allows the women to marry according to her choice and approve or reject any man she wants because marriage in Islam is based on mutual love, peace and agreement.

In Greek mythology ,a woman , a Pandora was considered the source of all evil and even in the modern times women were not given equal rights which led to a rise in movement of feminism but its contrary in Islam where the Heaven or Jannat lies under the feet of a women ,a mother.

The position of women in Islam can only be understood the woman before the coming of Islam is compared to women after coming of Islam. Even the holy Quran speaks about women with dignity, honor and respect and there is whole chapter in Islam about Women. (KNB)