Position of woman in Islamic Shariah

MARRIAGE IN ISLAM The Qualities of A Believing Woman Umm Salmah, the Prophet Muhammad’s wife, once remarked to the Prophet, ‘I hear of God mentioning men but not women.’ It was in this context that the following verse was revealed to the Prophet: “I will deny no man or woman among you the reward of their labours. You are members, one of another.” (Quran, 3:195) This makes it clear that, although males and females differ biologically, they are equal in terms of human status, they have a definite partnership with one another, and there is no distinction between them regarding their respective rights. They are, in fact, each other’s lifetime companions. The Principle of the Division of Labour Within the social framework, however, Islam—to the extent that it is both natural and practical—has adopted the division of labour in respect of the sexes, the man’s field of activity being external to the home, while the woman’s field is domestic. This division, however, has never been intended as a form of discriminatory treatment. Its primary purpose has always been to preserve the distinctive characteristics of both sexes while deploying their respective talents and skills in the most socially useful manner. This enables both sexes to make the best use of their innate capabilities without causing undue disruption in the family