The often-heard assertion that "Muslim women are oppressed by their husbands" has ignited debates and advocacy for the reformation of Islam to eliminate alleged oppression. However, such a claim couldn't be farther from reality.
While it is undeniable that some Muslim women, like their counterparts in any society, may encounter injustices within their marital lives, these situations are not a direct consequence of men adhering to Islamic principles. Rather, they stem from deviations from the authentic teachings of Islam. Addressing marital injustices and safeguarding women's rights requires a return to the genuine teachings of Islam, rather than reforming the religion itself.
In this discourse, we shall delve into the depths of seven illuminating Quranic verses that offer profound insights into the protection of women's rights within the institution of marriage.
**1. Husbands Must Give Women Their Dowry**
Contrary to the customary practice where the bride offers a valuable gift to the groom, Islam envisions a reversed concept. The responsibility of offering a dowry lies upon the husband. This dowry, a mandatory gift to the bride, is to be bestowed upon her willingly and graciously.
The Quran states: "And give the women [upon marriage] their [bridal] gifts graciously." (Quran 4:4)
This verse exemplifies how Islam upholds women's dignity and recognizes their worth within the marriage.
**2. A Woman Must Not Be Restricted From Her Wealth**
Upon receiving the dowry, Islam strictly forbids husbands from encroaching upon their wives' wealth. The Quran even emphasizes that even if the wealth is substantial, this prohibition endures unless the wife herself opts to share it.
The Quran states: "But if you want to replace one wife with another and you have given one of them a great amount [in gifts], do not take [back] from it anything. Would you take it in injustice and manifest sin? And how could you take it while you have gone in unto each other and they have taken from you a solemn covenant?" (Quran 4:20-21)
This verse ensures that women's financial autonomy is preserved, eradicating past practices where a bride's father could claim her dowry without her consent.
**3. Husbands Must Always Treat Women With Kindness**
Islam mandates treating women with utmost kindness and respect, even in times of disagreement. This encompasses not just actions but also speech and overall demeanor. The Quran underscores that even what may be perceived as a flaw in one's spouse might bring forth unexpected goodness.
The Quran states: "And live with them in kindness. For if you dislike them – perhaps you dislike a thing and Allah makes therein much good." (Quran 4:19)
This verse accentuates the profound principle of nurturing a compassionate and respectful atmosphere in marital relationships.
**4. The End of Forced Marriages**
Islam emancipated women from a grim past where a widow would be inherited by her deceased husband's family. The religion affirms a woman's right to agency and consent in her marital choices. The Prophet Muhammad himself stated: "The virgin should not be given in marriage until her permission has been sought."
The Quran states: "O you who have believed, it is not lawful for you to inherit women by compulsion." (Quran 4:19)
This verse exemplifies the shift from oppressive practices to empowering women's autonomy in choosing their life partners.
**5. Husbands Must Spend On Their Wives**
Islamic households embody financial responsibility towards wives. Husbands are required to provide for their wives' material needs, including food, clothing, shelter, and medical care. This extends even to the post-divorce period if a woman has a child or is pregnant.
The Quran states: "Lodge them [in a section] of where you dwell out of your means and do not harm them in order to oppress them. And if they should be pregnant, then spend on them until they give birth. And if they breastfeed for you, then give them their payment and confer among yourselves in an acceptable way..."
The Quran continues: "Let a man of wealth spend from his wealth, and he whose provision is restricted – let him spend from what Allah has given him. Allah does not charge a soul except [according to] what He has given it. Allah will bring about, after hardship, ease."
**6. Avoid Bitterness in Divorce**
The Quranic teachings encourage patience and reconciliation in marriages, prioritizing the resolution of conflicts over divorce. In the event that divorce becomes inevitable, the Quran stresses the need for a respectful and honorable separation.
The Quran states: "And if you fear dissension between the two, send an arbitrator from his people and an arbitrator from her people. If they both desire reconciliation, Allah will cause it between them. Indeed, Allah is ever Knowing and Acquainted [with all things]." (Quran 4:35)
The Quran further states: "And when you divorce women and they have [nearly] fulfilled their term, either retain them according to acceptable terms or release them according to acceptable terms, and do not keep them, intending harm, to transgress [against them]. And whoever does that has certainly wronged himself." (Quran 2:231)
These verses illuminate Islam's emphasis on dignified and amicable separation while discouraging impulsiveness in divorce.
**7. The Right to Inherit**
Before Islam, women's inheritance rights were often suppressed, leaving them with meager or no share of their deceased husbands' wealth. Islam rectified this inequality by instituting regulations that guarantee women a rightful share of inheritance.
The Quran states: "For men is a share of what the parents and close relatives leave, and for women is a share of what the parents and close relatives leave, be it little or much – an obligatory share." (Quran 4:7)
These verses exemplify Islam's endeavor to uphold women's economic security through equitable inheritance laws.
In conclusion, the Quranic verses elucidate Islam's dedication to safeguarding women's rights within the institution of marriage. The misapprehension that Islam oppresses women by nature is debunked through the genuine teachings of the religion. The instances of oppression that may arise stem not from Islamic principles but from their misinterpretation and neglect. Embracing these Quranic injunctions guarantees the empowerment, protection, and dignity of women within marital relationships. The true essence of Islam entails nurturing harmonious homes where women's rights are revered and upheld, fostering an environment of mutual respect, understanding, and love.
