The Rights of Women in Islam

RIGHTS AND PROGRESS OF WOMEN Islamic position of women, Islam gave enormous progress to women as they now had the right to own their property, whether delivered to them by their family or earned. (Annemarie Schimmel, Islam: An Introduction, 1992. p. 65) A woman could inherit property as a mother, sister, daughter, or wife. In their different capacities, they are allowed to share the properties of their relatives in a proportion fixed by the Quran, which is explained in the traditions or legal literature. The Quran says, “Concerning your children, God enjoins that a male shall receive a share equivalent to that of two females….” (4:11-12). Women thus enjoyed legal standing as equal and autonomous individuals with the right to manage and dispose of their property as they wished. Their marital status did not affect their ability to buy, sell, gift, or endow their property. It is worth mentioning what the famous Historian J.M Roberts had to say regarding this. He writes: “It’s coming was in many ways revolutionary. It kept women, for example, in an inferior position but gave them legal rights over property not available to women in European countries until the 19th century.” (J. M. Roberts, The Pelican History of the World. New York, 1984. p 334) Retired Chief Justice of Delhi Court has said the same, Mr Rajindar Sachar: “….Historically, Islam had been very liberal and progressive in granting property rights to women. It is a fact that there were no property rights given to Hindu women until 1956, when the Hindu Code Bill was passed, whereas Islam had granted these