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| Women's Rights in the Qur'an |
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| jannah |
| 11/29/05 at 09:30:28 |
Women's Rights in the Qur'an (Note: the following Qur'anic verses are collected through my own research in the Noble Qur'an in preparation for an interview about "The Rights and Priviliges of Women in the Qur'an," conducted by a fellow student. The Qur'an was to be used as the only source, so no ahadeeth were included in my research). Women in the Qur'an: ================= 1. An entire chapter is titled after them: Surah An-Nisa' (or The Women, no. 4). 2. It's forbidden to either take or inherit their money by force: "O you who believe! You are forbidden to inherit women against their will, and you should not treat them with harshness, that you may take away part of the Mahr you have given them. ..." (4:19) 3. It's forbidden to force them into prostitution: "... And force not your maids to prostitution, if they desire chastity, in order that you may make a gain in the (perishable) goods of this worldly life. ..." (24:33) 4. They have the right to inherit: "There is a share for men and a share for women from what is left by parents and those nearest related, whether, the property be small or large - a legal share." (4:7) 5. Inheritance rulings: "Allah commands you as regards your children's (inheritance); to the male, a portion equal to that of two females; if (there are) only daughters, two or more, their share is two thirds of the inheritance; if only one, her share is half. For parents, a sixth share of inheritance to each if the deceased left children; if no children, and the parents are the (only) heirs, the mother has a third; if the deceased left brothers or (sisters), the mother has a sixth. (The distribution in all cases is) after the payment of legacies he may have bequeathed or debts. You know not which of them, whether your parents or your children, are nearest to you in benefit, (these fixed shares) are ordained by Allah. And Allah is Ever All-Knower, All-Wise. In that which your wives leave, your share is a half if they have no child; but if they leave a child, you get a fourth of that which they leave after payment of legacies that they may have bequeathed or debts. In that which you leave, their (your wives) share is a fourth if you leave no child; but if you leave a child, they get an eighth of that which you leave after payment of legacies that you may have bequeathed or debts. If the man or woman whose inheritance is in question has left neither ascendants nor descendants, but has left a brother or a sister, each one of the two gets a sixth; but if more than two, they share in a third; after payment of lagacies he (or she) may have bequeathed or debts, so that no loss is caused (to anyone). This is a Commandment from Allah; and Allah is Ever All-Knowing, Most-Forbearing." (4:11-12) (Note: bear in mind that the son has to take care of his own family plus his daughter if she's not married yet, while the daughter can use her inheritance portion in whatever way she sees fit). 6. Men are given permission to marry female slaves (and vise versa): "And marry those among you who are single (i.e. a man who has no wife and the woman who has no husband) and (also marry) the Salihun (pious, fit and capable ones) of your (male) slaves and maid-servants (female slaves). If they be poor, Allah will enrich them out of His Bounty. ..." (24:32) "And whoever of you have not the means wherewith to wed free, believing women, they may wed believing girls from among those (captives and slaves) whom your right hands possess, and Allah has full knowledge about your Faith, you are one from another. ..." (4:25) (Note: these verses both abolish slavery through the marriage of slave girls and declare that both the slaves and the the free are really "one from another," i.e. equals). 7. Giving permission to free female (and male) slaves and giving them money too: "... And such of your slaves as seek a writing (of emancipation), give them such writing, if you know that they are good and trustworthy. And give them something yourselves out of the wealth of Allah which He has bestowed upon you. ..." (24:33) (Note: again, this verse abolishes slavery through setting them free). 8. Father is responsible for the food and clothing of the mother (and the baby): "... but the father of the child shall bear the cost of the mother's food and clothing on a reasonable basis. ..." (2:233) 9. Spending on the divorced women and giving them the shelter: "Lodge them (the divorced women) where you dwell, according to your means, and do not treat them in such a harmful way that they be obliged to leave. And if they are pregnant, then spend on them till they deliver. Then if they give suck to the children for you, give them their due payment ..." (65:6) 10. Giving them money at marriage: "And give to the women (whom you marry) their Mahr (obligatory bridal money given by the husband to his wife at the time of marriage) with a good heart, but if they, of their own good pleasure, remit any part of it to you, take it, and enjoy it without fear of any harm (as Allah has made it lawful)." (4:4) "... All others are lawful, provided you seek (them in marriage) with Mahr (bridal money given by the husband to his wife at the time of marriage) from your property, desiring chastity, not committing illegal sexual intercourse, so with those of whom you have enjoyed sexual relations, give them their Mahr as prescribed; but if after a Mahr is prescribed, you agree mutually (to give more), there is no sin on you. ..." (4:24) "... (Lawful to you in marriage) are chaste women from the believers and chaste women from those who were given the Scripture (Jews and Christians) before your time, when you have given their due Mahr (bridal money given by the husband to his wife at the time of marriage), desiring chastity (i.e. taking them in legal wedlock) not committing illegal sexual intercourse, nor taking them as girl-friends. ..." (5:5) "... And there will be no sin on you to marry them (believing women) if you have paid their Mahr to them. ..." (60:10) 11. It's forbidden to take that Mahr (money given by men at marriage to women) back from them after divorce: "... And it is not lawful for you (men) to take back (from your wives) any of your Mahr (bridal money given by the husband to his wife at the time of marriage) which you have given them, except when both parties fear that they would be unable to keep the limits ordained by Allah (e.g. to deal with each other on a fair basis). Then if you fear that they would not be able to keep the limits ordained by Allah, then there is no sin on either of them if she gives back (the Mahr or a part of it) for her Al-Khul' (divorce). ..." (2:229) "But if you intend to replace a wife by another and you have given one of them a Cantar (of gold i.e. a great amount) as Mahr, take not the least bit of it back; would you take it wrongfully without a right and (with) a manifest sin? And how could you take it (back) while you have gone in unto each other, and they have taken from you a firm and strong covenant?" (4:20-21) 12. Men's responsibilities over their wives: "... And they (women) have rights (over their husbands as regards living expenses, etc.) similar (to those of their husbands) over them (as regards obedience and respect, etc.) to what is reasonable, but men have a degree (of responsibility) over them. ..." (2:228) "Men are the protectors and maintainers of women, because Allah has made one of them to excel the other, and because they spend (to support them) from their means. ..." (4:34) 13. Women are given the power to gain a divorce: "... there is no sin on either of them if she gives back (the Mahr or a part of it) for her Al-Khul' (divorce). ..." (2:229) 14. It's forbidden to re-marry the women to hurt them: "... But do not take them back to hurt them, and whoever does that, then he has wronged himself. ..." (2:231) 15. Bestowing on the divorced women gifts and being generous: "... But bestow on them (a suitable gift), the rich according to his means, and the poor according to his means, a gift of reasonable amount is a duty on the doers of good." (2:236) "... And do not forget liberality between yourselves. ..." (2:237) "... So give them a present, and set them free (i.e. divorce), in a handsome manner." (33:49) 16. Giving them the full amount of the Mahr if divorced them before touching them: "And if you divorce them before you have touched (had a sexual relation with) them, and you have appointed unto them the Mahr (bridal money given by the husbands to his wife at the time of marriage), then pay half of that (Mahr), unless they (the women) agree to forego it, or he (the husband), in whose hands is the marriage tie, agrees to forego and give her full appointed Mahr. And to forego and give (her the full Mahr) is nearer to At-Taqwa (piety, right-eousness, etc.). ..." (2:237) 17. Insuring a year's maintenance and residence to wives after death: "And those of you who die and leave behind wives should bequeath for their wives a year's maintenance and residence without turning them out ..." (2:240) 18. Giving divorced women maintenance: "And for divorced women, maintenance (should be provided) on reasonable (scale). This is a duty on Al-Muttaqun." (2:241) 19. Not forcing them out of their husband's house: "... And fear Allah your Lord (O Muslims), and turn them not out of their (husband's) homes, nor shall they (themselves) leave, except in case they are guilty of some open illegal sexual intercourse. ..." (65:1) 20. Giving them a kind divorce if needed: "Then when they are about to fulfil their term appointed ('Idah), either take them back in a good manner or part with them in a good manner. ..." (65:2) "And if a woman fears cruelty or desertion on her husband's part, there is no sin on them both if they make terms of peace between themselves; and making peace is better. ..." (4:128) "And when you have divorced women and they have fulfilled the term of their prescribed period ('Idah), either take them back on reasonable basis or set them free on reasonable basis. ..." (2:231) 21. Forgiving the faults of the wives: "O you who believe! Verily, among your wives and your children there are enemies for you (i.e. may stop you from the obedience of Allah), therefore beware of them! But if you pardon (them) and overlook, and forgive (their faults), then verily, Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful." (64:14) 22. Wives' power to repel adultery accusations by swearing: "But it shall avert the punishment (of stoning to death) from her, if she bears witness four times by Allah, that he (her husband) is telling a lie. And the fifth (testimony) should be that the Wrath of Allah be upon her if he (her husband) speaks the truth." (24:8-9) 23. Punishment of slanderers of chaste women: "And those who accuse chaste women, and produce not four witnesses, flog them with eighty stripes, and reject their testimony forever, they indeed are the Fasiqun (liars, rebellious, disobedient to Allah)." (24:4) 24. Men shouldn't leave their wives hanging (making them feel neither divorced nor married): "You will never be able to do perfect justice between wives even if it is your ardent desire, so do not incline too much to one of them (by giving her more of your time and provision) so as to leave the other hanging (i.e. neither divorced nor married). ..." (4:129) 25. Having sexual intercourse with them only at the right time and in the right manner: "Your wives are a tilth for you, so go to your tilth when or how you will ..." (2:223) 26. Order to treat the wives in a good manner: "... And live with them honourably. ..." (4:19) 27. The ultimate equality of men and women: "The believers, men and women, are Auliya' (helpers, supporters, friends, protectors, collaborators, consultors, etc.) of one another ..." (9:71) (Note: this verse alone gives the women the rights to: vote, hold public offices and support positions, etc. Rights that have been denied to them everywhere else until recently in some places). (Final Note: after I completed this research, I've personally felt that the men were denied many rights as compared to the women. What's the masculine form of 'feminist'? Well, I think he would be angry after going through this anyway. [Imagine not having a chapter titled "The Men" for example]. But that's only my personal feeling.) |
| NS |
| 11/29/05 at 12:54:03 |
| jannah |
| Re: Women's Rights in the Qur'an |
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| buL-buL |
| 11/29/05 at 12:53:12 |
| [quote author=jannah link=board=masjid;num=1133271028;start=0#0 date=11/29/05 at 09:30:28] (Final Note: after I completed this research, I've personally felt that the men were denied many rights as compared to the women. What's the masculine form of 'feminist'? Well, I think he would be angry after going through this anyway. [Imagine not having a chapter titled "The Men" for example]. But that's only my personal feeling.) [/quote] it's interesting you say that. just the other day i was wondering the same thing. woman are granted so many great things thru islam, i wonder if there are any men out there who think it unfair. or maybe we just have natural inclinations towards certain things and they don't mind. |
| 11/29/05 at 13:07:47 |
| buL-buL |
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