Women & Men in Early Islam

BACKGROUND

● The Arabian peninsula was divided into two different groups called the Southerners and the Arabs.

● The Southern Sedentary Saba-Speak their own semitic language-Consisted of four major city-states- Ruled by a priest-king and followed a monarchical system. ● The Arabian Pastoral Tribes:

-Live in the more arid region of the peninsula -Speak the language of Arabic -Ruled by a king-Monotheism

BACKGROUND

● Muhammad’s first message from Gabriel on december 22nd, 609 CE● Muhammad died shortly after receiving the last revelations from Gabriel in 632 CE● The Quran was compiled by Zayd Ibn Thabit and the scholars under the Uthman Caliph(Third

Caliph)● The Quran has 114 surahs(Chapters) and 6326 ayas(verses)

SOCIAL (EARLY ISLAM)

● Men were restricted from marrying or having relationships with family members.● Men/women were able to keep some of whatever was left behind after the death of a relative.● Inheritance laws for children and family were written in the Quran, stating the amount each

member of a family gains through inheritance.● Daughters got treated equally to sons and were given the same education.● Both men and women could propose divorce if they each agreed.● If a man and woman divorce, the woman is still entitled to specific rights.

SOCIAL (MODERN DAY)

● Male guardians are often required for women to protect them and give them consent to travel, sign documents, etc.

● Men in the family make the rules and decisions (the leaders).● Divorce laws are dependent on the location and relationship of two people. It is much harder for

a woman to divorce a man than a man to divorce a woman.● Marriage is discussed between the male and the father of the bride rather than the woman

herself.

POLITICAL (EARLY ISLAM)

● Political structure was based off a caliphate as a leader after the death of Muhammad.● The first Caliph was under the Rashidun caliphs● The highest position a woman can attain is a imam (worship leader of a mosque in Sunni islam)● Women could not attain rank of qadi(magistrate or judge of the sharia court)● A calipha has never ruled the Arabian peninsula● Women could not become a mufti(a muslim scholar who interprets and expounds islamic law)

POLITICAL (MODERN DAY)

● Muslim women today struggle to gain practical rights and freedoms● Mufti and judge roles are given to men ● Women do not have as much of a voice● Voting restrictions are also often put on women and restrict their amount of power politically.

CULTURAL (EARLY ISLAM)

● 5 pillars of Islam: Shahada (Faith), Salat (Prayer), Zakat (Charity), Shawm (Fasting), and Hajj (Pilgrimage to Mecca)

● 6 major beliefs● The belief of there being only one god. (Monotheism)● Both men and women receive the same religious education from the Hadith and the Quran● Men are allowed to go to school while women are not

CULTURE (MODERN DAY)

● 5 pillars of Islam● 6 major beliefs● Sharia law is enforced by the islamic state and governments● Men and Women receive the same religious education● Women fight for education rights● Malala: pakistani advocate for women’s education

ECONOMIC (EARLY ISLAM)

● Islam was established in Arabia (modern day Iraq)● Some examples of popular jobs were..

-farming, artisanship, herding animals, and trading goods and resources.● Women were given fair working opportunities and were not required to veil themselves.● Merchants● Coin production ● Market inspectors managed payments and the shops

ECONOMIC (MODERN DAY)

The major characteristics of the Islamic Economy are..● Alliance with the Sharia law● Equality- every individual has equal access to natural resources and everyone has equal

opportunity to use the resources included education, skills and technology.● Property Rights- Allah is the owner of the whole land individual has been given the rights of

the possession as a trust and property is only a mean of achieving highest objectives and all members of society share the natural resources at man’s disposal.

● Prossession of Wealth- money can be gained through work and inheritance but shouldn't be used for things that show off wealth.

● Poor or lower class citizens have the right to be sustained by their society