Women and Islam

Islam literally means peace or submission to the will of Allah (literally, the God); Muslims, the followers of Islam, are those who submit to the will of God. One of the Abrahamic religions that emerged after Judaism and Christianity, Islam was founded in Arabia (present day Saudi Arabia) in the 7th century CE. Muslims' core belief is that there is only one God and that Muhammad is the last Prophet of God, having received and revealed the word of God through the Qur'an, the holy scriptures of Islam. The Qur'an prescribes the religious duties of Muslims, including praying, fasting, charitable giving, pilgrimage to Mecca, and witnessing to the oneness of God. To emulate the example of Muhammad's life, Muslims follow the traditions (Sunnah) of the Prophet, which include the collected sayings (Hadith) and deeds of the Prophet. In addition to providing spiritual guidance to the followers of Islam, these texts and traditions have historically influenced attitudes and practices toward women within the social contexts of marriage and family. They have also informed the development and practices of political and economic structures that affect women's roles within Islamic communities.

The emergence of Islam throughout the Arabian Peninsula brought drastic and revolutionary changes to the lives of women in that area, in comparison with the pre-Islamic era (Jahaliyah). For example, female infanticide, a common practice at the time, was forbidden within Islam. The emerging religion also abolished women's status as merely being the property of men and recognized marriage as a contractual agreement in which women retained full rights to their dowry to invest or use for their own profit. Moreover, Islam granted women the right to choose their husband, to apply conditions to the marriage, and to keep their maiden name.

[Page 888]According to the Qur'an, in the spiritual domain women have the same value and responsibilities as men, as shown in Qur'anic verses such as 3.195, 4.1, 4.32, 9.71-72, 33.35-36, 40.40, 48.5, and 57.12. In these verses, heavenly rewards are equally promised to women and men who fast, pray, give alms, and go on pilgrimage (Hajj). Men and women are equally reminded to remain loyal to each other. They are also encouraged to work toward justice, and to be humble and chaste.

In contrast with the spiritual imperatives outlined in the Qur'an, within social and cultural domains, women are frequently not treated as equal to men in Muslim communities. Understanding where these inequalities originated requires examining two important influences in Islam that have affected the lives of Muslim men and women. One profound influence is the Shari'a, a compilation of fixed Islamic law. Local cultural influences also played a significant role. As Islam developed and spread after the 7th century CE, Muslims encountered and sometimes adopted the social norms prevalent in conquered communities. This entry describes the influence of Shari'a and different cultures on women in Islamic societies.