Many motivated misconceptions about Islam have been created and given currency in modern times.
Many motivated misconceptions about Islam have been created and given currency in modern times. One of these relates to the position of women in Islam. It is declared from the rooftops that Islam does not admit equality of sexes and consequently the woman is denied her due in matters of human rights and role in society. And her claim to actively participate in the affairs of life on an equal footing with man is not entertained in Islam. The result is that her capabilities are stifled and she is condemned to play a secondary role. But in point of fact nothing can be farther from the truth. Islam was the first to raise its voice against the oppression and exploitation of woman and accorded her a place of dignity and honour in the society. Man and woman are equal before Allah and their actions are to be judged by the same yardstick. It, however, does not countenance the modern concept of equality which does not make any distinction in respective fields of their activity. According to the teachings of Islam, the proper sphere of woman’s activity is home while outside world is the domain of the man. This division is not arbitrary but strictly in keeping with the demands of nature to ensure maximum utilisation of their respective capabilities. It seeks to protect the interest of woman and not to discriminate against her, and place her at a disadvantage. The woman, therefore, can play her legitimate role in the task of society-building only by abiding by this natural division of work. History bears testimony to it. By respecting these limits woman in the earlier periods of the Islamic history had risen to great heights and made enormous contributions. This book seeks to elucidate this point.
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