Women’s rights in Islam

The targeted points would be based on common questions raised by non-Muslims which usually makes the Muslimah start questioning Islam. whether Islam really cares about women or not.
1. Why polygamy is only allowed for men and not women?
2. Why Muslim women don't get any inheritance but men do?
3. Why do Muslim women have to always cover themselves?
4. Only men have the right to divorce but women have no right.

We will try to answer the questions mentioned above with reference to the Quran and Sunnah because that's the only way justice will be achieved.

We all know in the pre-Islamic era, which was known as daur-e-Jaahiliyyah or Age of ignorance, people used to kill or bury alive baby girls when they were born thinking that a girl was a burden. In the pre-Islamic era, incest was a common thing and women were seen as an object, were given no rights, and were treated as slaves, commodities, etc

But In Quran, Allah says in Surah At-Takwir, “and when baby girls, buried alive, are asked for what crime they were put to death”¹.

These words from Allah clearly state how just Allah SWT is and killers of those innocent girls will be punished on the Day Of Judgement.

Let's focus on the most common questions asked to the women of Islam.

1. Why polygamy is allowed to Muslim men but not Muslim women?

With reference to the book of Ar-Raheeq Al-Makhtum, written by Safiur Rahman Al Mubarakpuri, which describes pre-Islamic customs, cultures, and traditions states that Women in Daur-e-Jaahilyyah, had no concept of one husband. But rather had multiple partners, had one-night contractual marriages, etc And when women would give birth to a child, she would choose anyone among those men to be the father of the child.

The mother of the believers 'Aa’ishah RA clarified this matter in the Hadeeth reported by Al-Bukhari on the authority of 'Urwah ibn Az-Zubayr that Aa’ishah RA (the wife of the Prophet ) informed him that there were four types of marriage during Jaahiliyyah (pre-Islamic period of Ignorance):
"1- One type was similar to that of the present day, i.e. a man asks for the hand of a woman from her guardian or her father, and he gives Mahr (dowry) to her and then he marries her.
2- The second type was that a man would say to his wife after she had become clean from her menses. "Send for so-and-so and have sexual intercourse with him." Her husband would then keep away from her and would never have sexual intercourse with her till she got pregnant from the other man with whom she had sexual intercourse. When her pregnancy became evident, her husband would have sexual intercourse with her if he wished. Her husband did so (i.e. let his wife have sexual intercourse with some other man) so that he might have a child of noble breed. Such a marriage was called Al-Istibdaa.
3- Another type of marriage was that a group of less than ten men would assemble and enter upon a woman, and all of them would have sexual relations with her. If she became pregnant and delivered a child and some days had passed after delivery, she would send for all of them and none of them would refuse to come, and when they all gathered before her, she would say to them, "You (all) know what you have done, and now I have given birth to a child. So, it is your child O so-and-so!" naming whoever she liked, and her child would be attributed to him and he could not deny her.
4- The fourth type of marriage was that many people would enter upon a woman and she would never refuse anyone who came to her. Those were the prostitutes who used to fix banners at their doors as a sign [that they are prostitutes], and he who would wish, could have sexual intercourse with them. If any of them got pregnant and delivered a child, then all those men would be gathered for her and they would call the Qaa'if (some person skilled in recognizing the likeness of a child to his father) to them and would let the child be attributed to the man (whom they recognized as his father) and she would let him adhere to him and be called his son. The man would not refuse all that.
But when Muhammad SAW was sent with the truth, he abolished all the types of marriages observed in Jaahiliyyah except the type of marriage the people recognize today [i.e. the Islamic marriage that fulfils all the conditions and pillars of marriage]."²

Islam eradicated all previous traditions and brought the law of marriage with Mahr, Nikah, and Walima.

2. Why do Muslim women not get any inheritance but men do?

Non-Muslims always ask this question to put Muslimah in doubt. And this was a very common question in 2023 in India, when the fascist government who were the open enemies of Islam, wanted to Implement UCC, which itself is a baatil concept, put forward a bill that women will be given fair share in inheritance which usually is not given to Muslim women in Islamic shariah.

But did they forget? Islam itself is a justice, not only to women but to the whole of humanity.

And there is a whole chapter for women in the Quran, Surah An-Nisa(chapter 4) which talks about women’s rights and their honor in Islam.

Allah SWT says in Surah An-Nisa:
“Allah commands you regarding your children: the share of the male will be twice that of the female. If you leave only two ˹or more˺ females, their share is two-thirds of the estate. But if there is only one female, her share will be one-half. Each parent is entitled to one-sixth if you leave offspring. But if you are childless and your parents are the only heirs, then your mother will receive one-third. But if you leave siblings, then your mother will receive one-sixth — after the fulfillment of bequests and debts. ˹Be fair to˺ your parents and children, as you do not ˹fully˺ know who is more beneficial to you. ˹This is˺ an obligation from Allah. Surely Allah is All-Knowing, All-Wise.”
“You will inherit half of what your wives leave if they are childless. But if they have children, then ˹your share is˺ one-fourth of the estate — after the fulfillment of bequests and debts. And your wives will inherit one-fourth of what you leave if you are childless. But if you have children, then your wives will receive one-eighth of your estate — after the fulfillment of bequests and debts. And if a man or a woman leaves neither parents nor children but only a brother or a sister ˹from their mother’s side˺, they will each inherit one-sixth, but if they are more than one, they ˹all˺ will share one-third of the estate — after the fulfillment of bequests and debts without harm ˹to the heirs˺. ˹This is˺ a commandment from Allah. And Allah is All-Knowing, Most Forbearing.”³

Even after reading the above verse, the non-Muslims still try to convince the Muslimah that the share they are getting is very little.

But, they forget the fact that a woman will get her share as a mother, as a sister, as a wife, and as a daughter.

This level of justice cannot be served by any other religion but Islam and Allah SWT.

3. Why do Muslim women have to always cover themselves?

There is a very big misconception in the world, that only Muslim women have to cover themselves and that that's oppression.

But, Almost all the religions in the world command their women to cover themselves.

The women in Islam have strong faith and belief in Islam and Allah that they still follow the command of Allah and don’t get rid of the Hijab even after atrocities from political parties, government, and peer pressure of society just to fit in.

In Judaism, women wear a scarf, head cover, or a wig.

In Christianity, women are asked to shave their heads if they can't cover it. Following is the reference.

1 Corinthians (New Testament):
“Every man who prays or prophesies with head covered dishonours his head.
But every woman who prays or prophesies with her head uncovered dishonors her head—it is the same as having her head shaved, For if a woman does not cover her head, she might as well have her hair cut off; but if it is a disgrace for a woman to have her hair cut off or her head shaved, then she should cover her head.”⁴

In Islam, Allah SWT commands the men and women, both to cover themselves.

Allah SWT commands in Surah An-Nur:
“˹O Prophet!˺ Tell the believing men to lower their gaze and guard their chastity. That is purer for them. Surely Allah is All-Aware of what they do.”
“And tell the believing women to lower their gaze and guard their chastity, and not to reveal their adornments except what normally appears. Let them draw their veils over their chests, and not reveal their ˹hidden˺ adornments”⁵

In the above verse, just notice how just Allah SWT is, the first command is given to men to lower their gaze and cover themselves and then ask women.

We can understand how Allah SWT is giving the solution to the root cause of one of the biggest crimes in the world.

Allah SWT also says in Surah Al-Ahzab:
Tell your wives and your daughters and the women of the believers to draw their cloaks (veils) all over their bodies that will be better, that they should be known (as free respectable women) so as not to be annoyed (molested or insulted)...”⁶

With respect to other civilisations, We have found that veiling and covering was practiced in their tradition and culture. But at the same time, we found how discriminating it was for a few women in their society.

The first recorded instance of veiling or covering the hair for women is recorded in Assyrian legal texts from the 13th century BCE. Its use was restricted to noble women. Prostitutes, slaves, and poor women were forbidden to cover their hair/heads. In both the ancient empires of Greece and Rome there is evidence that points to various degrees of head coverings worn by females. Particularly in Rome, it seems that head coverings were associated with prayer and devotion. While in Greece evidence determined by sculpture and pottery from that time leads many to believe that respectable women covered their heads outside the home.

In Ancient Greece, matrons were typically married women who held a respected position within the household and society. They were responsible for managing domestic affairs, raising children, and maintaining the family's social status. Matrons in ancient Greece were known to veil themselves and practice strict seclusion.

Apart from these, Allah SWT knows that women are not equal to men with respect to physical strength, physical and mental pressure, etc

That's why Allah SWT commands the Muslim men for his duty toward women Surah An-Nisa:
“Men are the caretakers of women, as men have been provisioned by Allah over women and tasked with supporting them financially. And righteous women are devoutly obedient and, when alone, protective of what Allah has entrusted them with”⁷

4. Only men have the right to divorce but women have no right.

People usually claim that Muslim Men just say talaaq 3 times on the phone, chat, etc it is accepted and women have no right regarding talaaq.

How senseless these claims are as we know that’s not how Talaaq works. But baatil will try to make you go astray and will try their best to do so.

But our guidance is from Allah SWT through the Quran.

Even Muslim women have the right to ask for divorce with the same law as men. It's called Khula.

Khula is basically a procedure same as Talaaq but initiated by a Muslim woman. In Khula, women have the right to put forward the reason for divorce. For example, domestic abuse, negligence from the husband, incompatibility with the partner, etc

In Quran, Surah An-Nisa:
“If a woman fears indifference or neglect from her husband, there is no blame on either of them if they seek ˹fair˺ settlement, which is best. Humans are ever inclined to selfishness. But if you are gracious and mindful ˹of Allah˺, surely Allah is All-Aware of what you do.”⁸

With this article, our aim was not to disrespect other religions and beliefs, but our aim was to inform our sisters that they have all the rights and justice in Islam through the Quran and Sunnah.

We ask only one thing of our sisters, whenever in doubt, Open the Quran and read the Quran with translation or any means that makes you understand what Allah SWT has blessed you with. And In Shaa Allah, no power, no entity, no enemy can make you go astray.