Status of women in Islam

'Heaven lies below mother's feet' ' Prophet Muhammad SAW

Fourteen centuries ago when Europe was living in dark ages and America was yet to be found. Islam gave equal rights to women. Those were the times when women were treated worse than animals in the entire world. In India she had to sacrifice her life and was forced to sit in funeral pyre with her husband's dead body. In such a grim scenario Islam gave women the revolutionary right to marry and divorce on her will, to remarry after her husband's death, to take part in all the social activities and even a right in the property.

Islam guaranteed these marvellous rights to women in those days when in Europe and Asia women had no position in the society. Islam gave women complete freedom in the choice of her husband. No one could marry her to anyone without her wish. Further, she is entitled to maintenance from husband after divorce and more, she has the right to get 'dowry' from her husband. This is not the end, Islam gave women the right of inheritance from her husband, father, son and near relations. She is given every right to use her property in the manner she desires. And read it further , Islam places no economic responsibility on her at any stage. She has the legal right to get a separation from husband and is treated an absolute equality with her ex-husband in all social and legal matters. Above all, to justify the position of woman in Islam what Holy Prophet said is sufficient. He was thrice asked as to where should a person bow if he had been allowed to bow (sajda) before? Thrice he said mother'. On fourth time prophet said father. This was the reason why Islam appealed to all and within a few centuries entire Africa and Asia turned Islamic. The rights given to woman in Islam are only one aspect of the wonderful message of Islam. What countries in the world are pondering over is to give women right in property was given by Islam 1,400 years ago.