Islamic scholars
maintain that the Qur'an, the holy book of Islam, affirms woman's religious
and right equality. However, syariah (Islamic law) provides for
marked differences between woman's and man's roles, rights, and obligations,
and many Muslim-majority countries give woman different rights than man with
regard to marriage, divorce, civil rights, legal status, dress code, and
education.
Employment
Islam
woman can work for the sake of development. In general, Islam woman's right
to work is subject to certain conditions:
·
The work
should not require the Islam woman to violate Islamic law (eg. serving
alcohol), and be mindful of the woman's safety.
·
If the work
requires the Islam woman to leave her home, she must maintain her modesty.
Rights to give testimony
Many Muslims believe
that the legal value of the testimony of women is half that of a man.
Marriage and sexuality
The Qur’an mandates
that the will of the Islam woman be honoured in marriage, and forbids widow
inheritance without the permission of the woman concerned.
Gender roles
Because of economic
reliance of woman on man, the Qur'an justifies that man should always be in
charge over Islam woman.
Divorce
Woman’s right to
divorce is often extremely limited compared with that of man in the Middle
East. While man can divorce his wife easily, Islam woman face many legal and
financial obstacles.
Woman in religious life
The Qur’an offers the
same rewards for Islam man and woman, including the chance of entering
Paradise.
Woman as religious leaders and scholars
In many
modern interpretations of Islam, it is acceptable for woman to be scholars
because woman, as well as man, are encouraged to become as educated as they
can.
Right to vote
Muslim countries on
the whole have lagged in granting Islam woman suffrage.
