Supporting women to demand their rights in Muslim societies

1. EmpoweringWomen
in
Muslim Societies
MishkatAl Moumin, PhD

2. Does Islam
Oppress
Women?
No, it does not. Islam is
founded on total
equality among people,
regardless of their race,
gender, language,
ethnicity or background.

3. Treated Equally
The Quran states that men and women should be treated equally.
“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,…. for them Allah has prepared forgiveness and a
great reward.”
( Chapter 33.Verse 35)

4. The Same Duties
The Quran states that both men and women have the
same duties and responsibilities in Islam.
[Then their Lord responded to them, "Never will I allow
to be lost the work of any worker among you, whether
male or female”]
(Chapter three verse 195)

5. Islam ImprovedWomen’s Rights
Early Reform starting 610 A.D
Before
• Female infants were killed right
after birth.
• Women were the property of
men.Therefore, women could not
own property or inherit it.
After
• The Quran prohibited this cruel
practice.
• Women enjoyed their own legal
personality.
• Women could own property.
• Women could inherit.

6. Basic
Safeguards
Islam institutionalized the right of
women to property ownership,
inheritance, education and divorce.
Islam guarantees women certain
basic safeguards.

7. Marriage
• The dowry previously regarded as a bride-price paid to
the father, became a nuptial gift retained by the wife as
part of her personal property.
• Marriage was no longer viewed as a "status" but rather as
a “contract’’, in which the woman's consent was
imperative.
• The wife could administrate her wealth and not required
to share it with her husband.

8. Education
• Women founded of many educational institutions such
as the University ofAl Karaouine founded by Fatima
Firhi in 859.
• In Damascus, women founded 26 out 160 mosques , thus
women in 12th century could earned a degree to qualify as
teachers and scholars.
• Ibin Asakir, a famous Islamic historian studies under 80
female teachers.

9. Employment
During the Islam Golden Age (8th century – 13th century)Women
were employed in a wide range of commercial activities:
• Primary sector, farming
• Secondary sector, construction, workers, dyers, and spinners,
• tertiary sector , investors, doctors, presidents of guilds brokers,
peddlers, and scholars
• Muslim women also had a monopoly over certain branches of
the textile industry.

10. Then Why?
• The destruction of the of Baghdad by the Mongol in 1258.
• The destruction resulted in decrease Islamic research, Islamic
studies, literature, art and science.
• Lacking research and updates resulted in extremism, isolation, and
myths.

11. Current Challenges
• Family matters including inheritance, marriage, divorce,
custody.
• Employment including promotion, equal employment,
equal pay, and fair treatment.
• Public life and position of leadership.

12. Strategy: EmpoweringWomen
Utilizing Islam
• Equip women with the skills and knowledge to defend
their rights according to Islam.
• Offer and support modern interpretation of Islam based
on critical thinking.
• “They were men just like all of us” Imam Abu Hainfia
replay to critics excusing him of not following his
teacher’s school of thought.

13. Modern Interpretation
• Inheritance, the mother inherits the same share as the father,
the uncle inherits the same share the aunt, the sister inherits
the same share as the bother.
• Son vs. daughter(s), the son inherits equally to the two
daughter.The daughter should inherit the same share as the
son.
• Marriage, equal positions according to the contact, the right to
exit, the right to shared custody.
• Employment, prominent Muslim women worked including
Kadija, Prophet Mohammed's wife.

14. Thank you
Questions?