Free Essay Sample on Women in Islam: A Journey From Inception to Reform

Introduction

From the inception of Islam in the early 7th century to date, women have played a key role in shaping the history of Islam. Islam men and women are equal in God's sight and fulfill the same worship, prayer, faith, fasting, pilgrimage to mecca, and almsgiving duties (Lovat 6). While the early development of Islam was far from unequivocal in the way women were treated, there is evidence of radical reform in the issue. The original "constitution" appears to guarantee the right of inheritance, including property, and to initiate divorce and testify in court. Men and women were equal before the law, and they were qualified to enter the ultimate reward of paradise (Al-Khayat 14). Under the law, they were also liable for any misdemeanors committed. In the early communities, there is considerable evidence showing that women were leaders and active participants, with two of Muhamad's wives having juridical advisory roles and prominent in advocacy. Evidence indicates that other women took inspirational leadership roles beyond the norm in companion religions. This piece will discuss the historical position of Muslim women, and the current position which has led to the rise of feminist ideologies and groups championing for reforms.

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Early Arab Cultures

Compared to early Arab cultures that practiced female infanticide and did not recognize women as humans, Islam can be said to have improved women's status. Islamic law emphasizes the nature of contractual marriage; it requires that dowry be paid to the woman instead of her family and guarantees women's economic rights to manage and own property. Islam also granted women the right to wait after divorce or death and to receive maintenance during a marriage (Al-Khayat 14). The Quran states that both man and woman were created from God's soul, and they are both equal. Despite the teachings of the Quran the position of women in Islam today is characterized by competing voices (Lovat 4-8). The competition is between a movement of religious reform and equality of genders. The other side is those Muslims who are opposed to reform on the role of women, status and opportunities.

The writings of early historians shed a lot of light on the role of women in Islam. Great chronicles, genealogy, and history books also identified women as fully involved in historical events, including in the emergence of Islam. Women are acknowledged for their participation in writing the hadith and being disciples of the prophet. Other historical arguments raise crucial questions regarding the rights of Muslim women. This is because the prophet's ancient tradition justifies all the policies on economic rights or other policies. Religious history was used by progressive persons of both sexes to fight the rights of the women's movements (Mernissi 35-50).

Insightful Debates

In particular, an insightful debate surrounds whether women can exercise political roles as the precedence set by A'isha. No women held any political titles, but Muslim women held political powers, some jointly with their spouses. A'isha was the prophet third wife, who led troops to the battlefield and advised civil disobedience during the 4th Orthodox Caliph Ali Ibn Abi Talib, leading to his downfall. Consequently, Muslims were divided into Sunni and Sh'ia. The Sh'ia pledged unconditional allegiance to Ali and resultantly became against Aisha, who is the symbol of civil disobedience, amongst other things. Aisha also represents the Caliph's right to contest when they have a reasonable belief that he is on the wrong. Fatima, an ideal Shiite ideologue, holds the ideal for all Muslim women today. Noticeably, she had a notable political role, and she was the daughter of the prophet. According to Fatima's example, the ideal Islamic women should be contented with being housewives, mothers to their children and daughters. A renowned Islamic historian, in his book titled Aisha and Politics, Sa'id al-Afghani, asserts that Islamic women should not be barred from politics.

Women had political power even in the post-modern era. Excellent examples include Khayzurran, who governed the empire of the three Absaid Caliphs in the eighth century, fatmid who ruled Egypt in the eleventh century, and six queens who ruled the Mongol empire (Mernissi 35-50). With this evidence, it is safe to say that the role of Muslim women in post-modern history conformed to prevailing cultural norms, but not to the Quran. Also, historical records show that the women were consulted by Muhammad, who took their opinions seriously. Muhammad appointed one renowned woman as imam over her household; she was called Umm Waraqah. When it comes to the canonization of the Quran, women had significant contributions; a woman corrected the Caliph's authoritative ruling on dowry. In the early Islamic period, women engaged in commercial transactions; they were not segregated in mosques and prayed with men. They were pupils and instructors; they gave sanctuary to men, they were allowed to seek knowledge, and they transmitted hadith. Muhammad's wife, Aisha, was also known as an authority in medicine, rhetoric, and history. In the market of the medina, women served as officials. Caliph Umar appointed the women. In circles such as the Sufi circles, women were recognized inheritors of the secrets of their fathers and spiritual mothers.

Also, Biographies of Prophet Muhammad's wives show the significance of the women in Islam. His first wife Khadija, was the first Muslim in the world. In a message of Quranic revelations, she embraced the belief of one sole deity, even before Muhammad understood his calling as a prophet. Muhammad then made Khadija the mother of believers of the Islamic faith. Khadija became a role model of an ideal mother, wife, and women of the Islamic faith (Mernissi 35-50). Also, Muhammad's wives, who outlived him like Aisha and Umm Salama, became essential transmitters of the prophet's traditions and hadith. When Muhammad passed on, his wives compiled his actions and teachings to assist other Muslims living by his examples. The wives of prophet Muhammad became prominent historical figures who solidified Islamic history, and transmitters of the Islamic teachings. The wives contributed hugely to shaping the Islamic role, hence giving women a pivotal role in the Islamic religion as a whole.

Earliest Years

In the earliest years of Islamic religion, Aisha, Khadija, and Fatima, Muhammad's daughter became public figures. However, with the patriarchal structures and the society context, women continued to be disregarded due to the Islamic women' cultures and attitudes towards Aisha's decision to overthrow the Caliph, and ensuing fitna, in the battle of the camel where Muslims fought within themselves; a tradition was created promoting the ideology that women should not engage themselves with politics (Lovat 16). After the battle of the camel, the advice of women was discredited, and they only continued to play supporting roles in the wars that followed.

In great Islamic empires, the women were lived most of their lives in private. Within the Islamic faith, women were wives and mothers, and historical sources presented them that way. Besides, Muslims expanded their territories to Arabia, where women were restricted from moving in public, and the systems were patriarchal (Al-Khayat 14-25). Such empires are like the Safavid empire in Iran. In the years that followed, women's role seemed to have been subordinate to that of men. During the period of Abbasid, women disappeared from events and public records. Women were also secluded by men who wanted to show their power. Political leaders adopted harems and concubinage as a rule. Consequently, the social value of women was lower than that of men in power. Despite the Quran's declaration of equality between men and women, women were primarily excluded from religious authority. Patriarchal values continued to be practiced in the daily lives of Muslims while being codified in Sharia law. Currently, women have assumed a leadership role in the Muslim world, like the Pakistan President.

Pre-Modern Islam

In pre-modern Islam, women have conformed to the patriarchal norms and not Quranic provisions. Throughout the world in Muslim Religions, there is a growing sentiment amongst women seeking to reclaim the Quran and Islam. Many Muslim women felt that they had to choose between gender equality and their Muslim identity. The choice was almost impossible without feeling that they betrayed their faith. Since the fall of the Taliban, there is a movement that seeks to fight traditional interpretations of Islam law. The movement claims that the conventional arguments were aimed at oppressing Islam women. Despite the liberal provisions of the constitution, the Taliban misused the religion to limit women's rights (Al-Khayat 14-25). Regardless, women were not discouraged in fighting for their rights. Women are fighting for their rights from within the provisions of the Quran. The recent years have seen a rise of feminist Muslims.

A global movement called "Musawah," meaning equality, began fighting for the equal rights of Islam women. The movement was launched in 2009, and it is spearheaded by twelve women from different countries, including Turkey, Egypt, and Gambia. The organization operates in the belief that women should have equal opportunities like men. The organization pushes for women to change their interpretations of laws and norms which affect their lives. The main issue is not the law, but how traditional interpretations were biased towards women. Therefore, the fight is to conform with what the Quran provides and do away with oppressive, biased interpretations adopted to suit patriarchy.

Today's Women

Women today are active participants of the economy, education, development projects, and social services. Recent reforms have made polygamous marriages impossible or difficult. Women are allowed to sue for divorce on the grounds of desertion and cruelty. Women are also entitled to contract themselves in marriage, reducing the girls who are married off without their consent. Women are also allowed to put clauses in their marriage contracts, limiting their husbands' authority. There is hope for activists battling to reform laws which are discriminatory (Al-Khayat 20). In redrafting its family law codes, husbands were no longer heads of the house, and marriage is a matter of mutual consent. With Musawah, the mood for women is optimistic. It reminds everyone that Muslim women do not have to choose between their religion and their human rights.

Conclusion

Islam women have played a crucial role in shaping Islamic history, but they have been silenced and left out of historical narratives. Despite the absence of Islam women in history books, they continued to be essential members of the Islam religion. In the development of Islamic civilization, they partnered with men to raise children, provide for them, and instill fundamental values. With this bias in mind, scholars can find valuable ways to discover significant contributions of women to Islam.

Works Cited

Al-Khayat, M. H. "Woman in Islam and her role in human development." Woman in islam and her role in human development. (2003).

Lovat, T. (Ed.). (2012). Women in Islam: Reflections on historical and contemporary research. Springer Science & Business Media.

Mernissi, Fatima. "Women in Muslim history: Traditional perspectives and new strategies." Haideh Moghissi (ed.) (2005): 37-52.