Women's Rights in Islam

Islam has bestowed rights upon women and abolished the bad treatment that they received in the Pre-Islamic era, where they were treated as commodities and had no say in society, nor had the right to own anything at all. Women are very precious for Allah and Islam did not differentiate between the rights of women and the rights of men, and Allah considered both their rights in an equal way. And our religion emphasized women’s rights to ensure they are not violated.

Woman holding flower Bokitta Blog Women's Rights in Islam

One of the longest Surah in the Quran was named after the beautiful, the blessed, the softhearted creature of Allah, a woman. A full Surah in the Quran is called An-Nisaa (Women), and it speaks in a large part of it on women’s rights in inheritance, marriage and other related things in life. Another Surah called At- Talaq talks about Islamic conditions in preserving women’s rights.

Islam honored the woman and gave her many rights that she was prohibited from before Islam. It granted her rights that were not granted to her by other religions.

The First person to believe in the prophet & support him in his journey and to follow the religion of Islam, was a woman; Khadija “The wife of the prophet ()”. This is to assure that she is a very important creature and has an important role in society.

We present to you a list of rights granted for women in Islam:

1- The Right To Life

    The first and the most important right that Islam provided for the Muslim woman, is the right to live.

    Woman and cat Bokitta Blog Women's Rights in Islam
    In the Pre-Islamic era, they never considered the rights of women. When a person was informed that his wife has delivered a girl child, he feels bad and disappointed that he did not know where to hide his face from the fear of shame! They used to bury every newborn girl, so she was deprived of her most basic rights, which is the right to live.
    وَإِذَا بُشِّرَ أَحَدُهُم بِالْأُنثَىٰ ظَلَّ وَجْهُهُ مُسْوَدًّا وَهُوَ كَظِيمٌ (58)

    يَتَوَارَىٰ مِنَ الْقَوْمِ مِن سُوءِ مَا بُشِّرَ بِهِ ۚ أَيُمْسِكُهُ عَلَىٰ هُونٍ أَمْ يَدُسُّهُ فِي التُّرَابِ ۗ أَلَا سَاءَ مَا يَحْكُمُونَ (59)

    "And when one of them is informed of the birth of a female, his face becomes dark, and he suppresses grief (58) He hides from the people because of the ill of which he has been informed. Should he keep it in humiliation or bury it in the ground? Unquestionably, evil is what they decide" (Surah An- Nahl, Verse 58,59)

    Islam states that it is forbidden to kill a woman. Even in states of war, killing a woman is prohibited. It is narrated by Ibn 'Umar that “a woman was found killed in one of the battles; so the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) forbade the killing of women and children.” (Muslim)

    عَنِ ابْنِ عُمَرَ - رَضِيَ اللهُ عَنْهُمَا - قَالَ: "وُجِدَتِ امْرَأَةٌ مَقْتُولَةٌ فِي بَعْضِ مَغَازِي رَسُولِ اللهِ (ﷺ) فَنَهَى رَسُولُ اللهِ عَنْ قَتْلِ النِّسَاءِ وَالصِّبْيَانِ" (صحيح مسلم)

    2- The Right To Equal Judgment and Reward

      Islam views the woman as a man's partner in assuming the responsibilities of life since she plays a fundamental family and societal role. She is considered similar to a man in terms of fate and stature, except for what is excluded by Sharia law in some matters. Islam addresses men and women in the Quran and Sunnah in the same way and treats them in an equal manner. Both are required to complete all the duties of a Muslim worshipper and the religious traditions with some exceptions and facilities for women.

      The Prophet (ﷺ) said, “Indeed, women are the counterpart of men” (Abi Dawud)
      "إِنَّمَا النِّسَاءُ شَقَائِقُ الرِّجَالِ" (سنن أبي داوود)
      Allah’s promise is equal for both men and women and this is conclusive evidence of her right to be rewarded, forgiven and appreciated. Islam does not differentiate between men and women concerning remuneration and reward for doing good deeds or as punishment for committing sins. Each has a reward for what he/ she did.
      Muslim Men and Woman Bokitta Blog Women's Rights in Islam
      "مَنْ عَمِلَ صَالِحًا مِّن ذَكَرٍ أَوْ أُنثَىٰ وَهُوَ مُؤْمِنٌ فَلَنُحْيِيَنَّهُ حَيَاةً طَيِّبَةً ۖ وَلَنَجْزِيَنَّهُمْ أَجْرَهُم بِأَحْسَنِ مَا كَانُوا يَعْمَلُونَ" (97)
      “Whoever does righteousness, whether male or female, while he is a believer - We will surely cause him to live a good life, and We will surely give them their reward in the Hereafter according to the best of what they used to do” (Surah An-Nahl, Verse 97)

      And another heartwarming promise in the Quran:

      "إِنَّ الْمُسْلِمِينَ وَالْمُسْلِمَاتِ وَالْمُؤْمِنِينَ وَالْمُؤْمِنَاتِ وَالْقَانِتِينَ وَالْقَانِتَاتِ وَالصَّادِقِينَ وَالصَّادِقَاتِ وَالصَّابِرِينَ وَالصَّابِرَاتِ وَالْخَاشِعِينَ وَالْخَاشِعَاتِ وَالْمُتَصَدِّقِينَ وَالْمُتَصَدِّقَاتِ وَالصَّائِمِينَ وَالصَّائِمَاتِ وَالْحَافِظِينَ فُرُوجَهُمْ وَالْحَافِظَاتِ وَالذَّاكِرِينَ اللَّهَ كَثِيرًا وَالذَّاكِرَاتِ أَعَدَّ اللَّهُ لَهُم مَّغْفِرَةً وَأَجْرًا عَظِيمًا" (35)
      “Indeed, the Muslim men and Muslim women, the believing men and believing women, the obedient men and obedient women, the truthful men and truthful women, the patient men and patient women, the humble men and humble women, the charitable men and charitable women, the fasting men and fasting women, the men who guard their private parts and the women who do so, and the men who remember Allah often and the women who do so - for them Allah has prepared forgiveness and a great reward” (Surah Al Ahzaab, Verse 35)

      3- The Right to Seek Knowledge and Education

        The prophet encouraged both women and men to read and learn, and every woman has the right to Education and learning, any place in the world. A woman is encouraged to seek knowledge in Quran and Sunnah, but also she is allowed to profit from her talents and skills to consider different fields and contribute to society.

        Graduating woman Bokitta Blog Women's Rights in Islam

        Anas Ibn Malek reported Allah’s messenger (ﷺ) saying, “Seeking knowledge is an obligation laid on every Muslim” (Ibn Majah)

        وَعَنْ أَنَسِ بْنِ مَالِكٍ قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ (ﷺ) "طَلَبُ الْعِلْمِ فَرِيضَةٌ عَلَى كُلِّ مُسْلِمٍ" (رَوَاهُ ابْنُ مَاجَهْ)

        It is a blessing for our Ummah that many women, throughout Islamic history, held noble positions as teachers, nurses or scholars, next to being super mothers and wives.

        4- The Right to Alimony

          The responsibility of the financial need of the female and other needs of her are to be met by the closest male relative whether it is her father, her husband, her grown-up son, or even her uncle. He needs to provide for her food, clothing, accommodation, in addition to health expenses. Every male must support his female relatives financially and not let them need anything, not even worry about work to afford herself her living expenses.

          Woman on sea Bokitta Blog Women's Rights in Islam

          In regards to economic rights, the Muslim woman is sometimes favored over the men. At the time of marriage, women are the ones who receive the dowry (Mahr) from men, in honor of her and to show the sincerity of the man that he wants to spend the rest of his life with her.

          In addition to this, Islam offers her additional money, in different ways to let her buy whatever she likes as long as it is within the instructions of Allah and it has no haram in it.

          5- The Right to Inheritance and Financial Independence

            Islam raises the status of the woman and elevates her. It gives her the right to have a percentage of the inheritance after she was prohibited from it in the Pre-Islamic era as well as in other religions. Although it might seem that she gets a lesser amount than a male gets, yet in fact, the male relative is still responsible to spend money on her, and the percentage allocated to him is to be spent on him, as well as all other females in the family that he is responsible for. The money a female gets from the inheritance is not to be spent on her basic life needs, yet it is solely for her to decide on what to spend them.

            Working Muslim Woman Bokitta Blog Women's Rights in Islam
            "لِّلرِّجَالِ نَصِيبٌ مِّمَّا اكْتَسَبُوا ۖ وَلِلنِّسَاءِ نَصِيبٌ مِّمَّا اكْتَسَبْنَ ۚ وَاسْأَلُوا اللَّهَ مِن فَضْلِهِ ۗ إِنَّ اللَّهَ كَانَ بِكُلِّ شَيْءٍ عَلِيمًا" (32)
            “For men is a share of what they have earned, and for women is a share of what they have earned. And ask Allah of his bounty. Indeed Allah is ever, of all things, Knowing” (Surah An-Nisaa, Verse 32)

            Muslim Woman has the right to earn money, own property, make transactions, spend her money on what she likes ( in Halal ways), such as Sadaqah or gift. She is also allowed to work or have her own business in conditions that preserve her status and respect her femininity.

            6- The Right to Choose a Spouse

              Islam gives the woman the full right to choose her husband and keep her name after marriage. It is her choice to reject or accept a proposal and meet the person several times before making her decision, in presence of her family members.

              Groom and Bride Bokitta Blog Women's Rights in Islam

              7- The Right to Be Honored and Treated Kindly

                Women are loved by Allah and they are granted specific blessings and rewards, allocated to them as mothers, daughters and wives.

                Islam recognized the physical and emotional differences that describe a woman and ordained men to respect that. This does not make her any inferior to a male, yet it is a duty for men to consider when dealing with the female

                "وَعَاشِرُوهُنَّ بِالْمَعْرُوفِ" (19)
                “And live with them in kindness” (Surah An-Nisaa, Verse 19)

                Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) forbade insulting women and ordered to treat them with kindness and mercy.

                Father and daughter Bokitta Blog Women's Rights in Islam
                "اسْتَوْصُوا بِالنِّسَاءِ خَيْرًا" (رواه البخاري ومسلم والترمذي)

                On different occasions, and on his farewell Khutba, he said, “Act kindly towards women” (Al Bukhari, Muslim and At-Tirmidhi)

                The Messenger of Allah also said: “The best from amongst you is he who is best to his family (his wife), and I am the best among you to my family” (At-Tirmidhi)
                "خَيْرُكُمْ خَيْرُكُمْ لِأَهْلِهِ وَأَنَا خَيْرُكُمْ لِأَهْلِي" (رواه الترمذي)

                Islam has taken care of the woman's special physical and emotional circumstances, so it reduced some duties from her such as Jihad and Jumaa prayer and temporarily waived some obligatory duties during menstruation and the postpartum period, such as prayer and fasting.

                Woman holding flowers Bokitta Blog Women's Rights in Islam

                Our religion protected the woman from all acts of oppression and honored her as a daughter, a mother, a wife, a sister, an aunt and in all her statuses. Islamic law in general aims to provide protection and appreciation for women. It also wants to offer her a stable life full of justice, compassion and kindness. We are very blessed to be Muslim women and loved by Allah. We shall be proud of our prophet and our religion that honored and preserved us in all different means.

                💐May Allah bless and protect all women, our mothers, our daughters and wives and may Allah grant them Jannah with no prior torment.💐


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