Women's rights in the light of Islam

Abstract

Before Islam, women lived a life of total oppression. They had no rights. They were looked down upon. The Arabs themselves used to treat women badly. Women were also deprived of their basic rights. Woman was considered a bad thing. It was considered ominous. Men had the right to choose the best things for themselves and set aside the worst kind of things for women. Prior to Islam, the polytheists of Arabia used to bury their daughter alive as soon as they were born for fear of maintaining their honor and dignity and not bowing down to anyone. Women were treated worse than animals and they had no respect whatsoever. There were rituals in the name of marriage which made woman a useless thing. The woman did not have any kind of honor, chastity or respect. Islam has given women a dignified life. Islam gave respect to women in society, gave them their true identity, gave them their rights, gave them equal respect and dignity and gave them equal status with men. Islam has removed the curse of perpetual curse on women and made them sacred. This article deals with the pre-Islamic status of women and the respect and dignity that Islam has given them.