While the spread of Islam extended, in theory the rights of women should have as well. However, Islam has not been able to protect global women

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The three major monotheistic religions of the world can each be recognized for their contribution to the world. While Judaism is most recognized for its length of existence, and Christianity for its massive following, the latest statistical records reveal that Islam has the fastest growing rate in all religions. Despite the fact that Islam is considered to be among the youngest of the world major religions, the most recent figures shows approximately one billion Muslims, while Islam continues to  spread predominantly in over 40 countries in the world (Encyclopaedia Encarta). Islam belongs to the same family of monotheistic faiths that includes Judaism and Christianity. The origin and development of Islam was in Saudi Arabia over 1,400 years ago (Singer). Before Islam, women were treated harshly, as well as tortured, to the extent that a woman was denied all rights of inheritance and ownership. Men, on the other hand, had absolute power over women (A. Jawad). In order to most effectively understand the present struggle of Islamic women one must analyze the past condition of these women by having an understanding of their past and how their rights have developed.

The conditions of women before Islam were miserable and inhuman. The history of human civilisation testifies that the women, who gave birth to men as mothers, were humiliated, treated harshly and reduced to the position of being “a maid” rather than being a dignified woman. Furthermore, women were viewed as the embodiment of sin, misfortune, disgrace and shame, and they had no rights or role in the society. During the ignorance era “Jahiliyya” women were viewed as a thing or property, where they had no independence or power over issues relating to their well-being. Moreover, women were excluded from the contribution in social and political affairs that were existent in their society. In the pre-Islamic Arab times, women were considered to be burden to the family. Not only were women a disgrace for men, but also it was embarrassing for a father to have a daughter, since it was a disgrace and matter of shame. As a result, Arabs of that age practiced “Female infanticide” widely, which meant that they should bury their female children alive. Such inhuman behaviour has been strictly forbidden by the Quran (A. Jawad). Overall it is obvious that women were disgraced, humiliated and treated like slaves during the pre-Islamic times in the Arab world.

However, with the arrival of Islam, the position of women was radically redefined through the Islamic teaching. For example, the practice of “female infanticide” was prohibited and the birth rights of women were restored. In addition, Islam has elevated women to the status of being as worthy human dignity as the men. Therefore, the implementation of Quran teaching has made both men and women to be regarded as equal in humanity (A. Jawad). Islam has highlighted the fact that there is absolutely no difference between men and women as far as their relationship is to God, since both are promised similar rewards for good conduct and the similar punishments for the evil conduct. This was emphasised by the Quran in the verse (2:226), which says: And for women rights over men similar to those of men over women. Furthermore, the Quran when addressing the believers, often uses the expression:”believing men and women”. Thus, demonstrating the equality of men and women in regards to their respective duties, rights, virtues and merits (women in the Quran and the Sunna).

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The issue of women in Islam is highly controversial. On the one hand, it is generally agreed that the rights granted to women in the Quran and by the profit Mohamed were a vast improvement in comparison to the situation of women in the Arabia prior to the advent of Islam. On the other hand, after the Prophet’s death, the conditions of women in Islam began to decline and reverted back to the pre-Islamic times. Feminists in the Muslim world, between the 20th Century until the 1980th , were generally upper class women whose feminism was modelled after feminists in the ...

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