Women's Rights and Islam

There is a lot of misinformation regarding Islam's approach to women's rights. A lot of it comes from fundamentalist Islam, and a lot of it comes from anti-Muslim preachers spreading whatever hate they can.

The Qu'ran, like the bible is not immune to misinterpretation and corruption. However, it specifically says that women's rights are awarded to her from God himself, and therefore cannot be taken away by men. This is evidenced by An-Nisa 4:19 which states (translated)

O People who Believe! It is not lawful for you to forcibly become the women's heirs; and do not restrain women with the intention of taking away a part of bridal money you gave them, unless they openly commit the shameful; and deal kindly with them; and if you do not like them, so it is possible that you dislike a thing in which Allah has placed abundant good.

Seems pretty hard to argue with right? My rights as a woman are given to me by God. If you take them away, you are denying God's power, and that's a pretty big sin in all three major Abrahamic faiths, wouldn't you say?

Further evidence that a woman is equal to a man under Islam is evidenced by the statement that he created both man and woman from one soul. Meaning, we are equal An-Nisa 4:1

O mankind, fear your Lord, who created you from one soul and created from it its mate, and dispersed from both of them many men and women. And fear Allah, through whom you ask one another, and the wombs. Indeed Allah is ever, over you, an Observer.

Furthermore, under Islam, Eve is not blamed at all for the first sin, rather, the story refers to both of them as having sinned. Al 'A'Raf 7:19-25

And "O Adam, dwell, you and your wife in Paradise and eat from wherever you will but do not approach this tree, lest you be among the wrongdoers." (19) But Satan whispered to them to make apparent to them that which was concealed from them of their private parts. He said "Your Lord did not forbid you this tree except that you become angels or become of the immortal" (20) And he swore by [Allah] to them, "Indeed, I am to you from among the sincere advisors." (21) So he made them fall, through deception. And when they tasted of the tree, their private parts became apparent to them, and they began to fasten together over themselves from the leaves of Paradise . And their Lord called to them, "Did I not forbid you from that tree and tell you that Satan is to you a clear enemy?" (22) They said, "Our Lord, we have wronged ourselves, and if You do not forgive us and have mercy upon us, we will surely be among the losers." (23) [Allah] said, "Descend, being to one another enemies. And for you on the earth is a place of settlement and enjoyment for a time." (24) He said, "Therein you will live, and therein you will die, and from it you will be brought forth" (25)

Notice how there is no reference to Eve being the cause of the sin, but rather, of both of them being equally guilty? If Islam considered women to be inferior to men, would that not have been reflected in their punishment?

Ultimately, a woman's rights are given to her by God. That isn't something any true believer of the faith can argue with.

I would also like to take this opportunity to plug an essay I read written by Naheed Mustafa on her choice to wear hijab being liberating. It is entitled "My Body Is My Own Business"

The Qu'ran online can be found here.