Quran and the Rights of Women
Here are some of the women’s rights in Islam according to the Quran:
1-Testimony: the testimony of a woman is half the testimony of man.
“And get two witnesses out of your own men, and if there are not two men, then a man and two women” (Surah The Cow vs. 282).
2-Inheritance: the inheritance of a woman is half of the inheritance of man.
“Allah directs you as regards your children’s (inheritance): To the male, a portion equal to that of two females” (Surah the Women vs.11).
3-Marrigae: one man can marry up to four wives at a time.
“Marry women of your choice, two, or three, or four” (Surah the Women vs. 3).
While Mohammad permitted Muslims to have up to four wives at a time, he was not himself limited by this law:
“(Gabriel saying) O prophet we have made lawful to thee thy wives to whom thou has paid their dowers and those whom thy right hand possesses out of the prisoners of war whom Allah has assigned to thee and the daughters of thy paternal uncles and aunts, and daughters of thy maternal uncles and aunts, who migrated with thee, and any believing woman who dedicates her soul to the prophet if the prophet wishes to wed her; this only for thee, and not for the believers” (Surah The confederates vs. 50).
4-Beatings: a husband can beat his wife.
“As to those women on whose part ye fear disloyalty and ill conduct, admonish them, refuse to share their beds, and beat them” (Surah The Women vs. 34).
5-Sexual activity: a husband is free to do as he pleases.
“Your wives are as a tilth unto you; so approach your tilth when or how ye will” (Surah Al-Baqarah vs. 223).
6-Divorce: a man who divorces his wife can’t take her back until she has married another man for humiliation.
“So if a husband divorces his wife, he can not, after that, remarry her until after she has married another husband and he has divorced her” (Surah The Cow vs. 230).
7-Sex slaves: A man is permitted to take women as sex slaves outside of marriage.
“And [also prohibited to you are all] married women except those your right hands possess” (Surah An Nisa vs. 24 and Surah Al Ahzab vs. 50).
8-The veil: women should wear veils.
“That they should draw their veils over their bosoms and not display their beauty” (Surah The Light vs. 31).
While these rights refer to the Quran specifically, Islamic writings (Hadith) has more on the treatment of women.
In His service,
BibleAsk Team
