Pathway to Paradise — Page 30
30 Chapter 2: Women’s Issues The Islamic teaching about treatment of women is one of the most misunderstood. Western women generally view Muslim women as repressed and deprived of their rights. The media portrays the stereotypical Muslim woman as fully covered and dominated by her hus band, with little more status then a slave. You may be amazed to find, that for 1400 years, Muslim women have been enjoying rights for which western women are still struggling. Islam provides guidance for a peaceful and ideal society. For such a society to exist, there must be a social system which upholds the rights and responsibilities of each individual. Such a system would provide a balance in the role and status of men and w omen, thus putting the status of women on an equal footing with that of men. Such a society was in fact created over 1400 years ago by the Holy Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be on him), through the guidance of Allah in the Holy Qur’an. This chapter provides you with an explanation of the rights that Muslim women enjoy, along with other women’s issues and their place in society. TREATMENT OF WOMEN IN ISLAM Before discussing the position of women in Islam, it is important to understand what the condition of women was