Many motivated misconceptions about Islam have been perverted and given currency in modern times. One of these relates to the position of women in Islam. It is affirmed from the rooftops that Islam does not admit equality of gender and consequently the woman is denied her due in matters of human rights and role in society. But in points of fact nothing can be farther from truth. Islam was the first to raise its voice against the oppression and exploitation of woman and accorded her a place of dignity and honour in the society. Islam decreed a right of which woman was deprived 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 minor simply because she is a female. It is also noteworthy that such right applies to her properties before marriage as well as to whatever she acquires thereafter. Islam believes in equality between men and women. Islam presents the roles of men and women as complimentary roles and not contradictory or conflicting roles; the roles of partners with a common set of goals and objectives and not roles that conflict with each other with each of them having the objective of striving for supremacy. This paper is intended to provide a brief and authentic exposition of what Islam stands for economic rights of Women. It will also delineate into the different dimensions of the economic rights with respect to the Muslim Civilization as an alternative for solving a problem faced by the women in the competing narratives of the modern world.
Source: World Journal of Islamic History and Civilization
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