Women Of Islam And Religion
... Gender Equality
Equality in Practice
Equality and Feminism
Restrictions on Women
Role as Vicegerents
o What does this mean for women?
Women as leaders of Prayer
Women's role in Religious activities and Friday Prayer
Equality of Women and Combat
Examples of Women
o Queen of Sheba's example of Spirituality and Leadership
Bibliography
Introduction
Islam was first known as a faith of a small community in the 7th century and quickly
became a top world known religion. Robert Wuthnow says the central core of the
Islamic faith, is the belief that Muhammad received a revelations from God that have
been preserved in a book called the Koran. (Encyclopedia of Politics and Religion, 1998
ed., vol.2 "Islam"). [1]
Religion and prayer in Islam cannot be understated. Prayer for all Muslims is an
obligation and is part of their way of life. The women of Islam were announced, just like
men, to be full human beings, and were obligated with all three degrees of this religion;
Islam (outward submission to Allah), Iman (inward faith in Allah), Ihsan (perfection of
worship of Allah). They are required to testify that no other is deserving of worship other
than Allah, Muhammad is Allah's messenger; they are obligated to pray, give charity,
fast and make pilgrimage to Allah's house if she has he means.
The book of Koran explains this as follows:
"And for women are rights over men similar to those of men over women."
(Koran 2:226) [2].
The treatment of women in Muslim nations had been a controversy to the world since it
the creation of Islam in the 7th century. Their treatment is based upon local, social and
cultural practices that are interpreted as Islamic. However, a low place in their culture for
women is not new in most Arab countries, and will be explained...
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