Woman in Islamic Shari‘ah
4. The status of woman
~ 59 ~
people to increase the amount of dower, whereas
God says in His book: O believers, it is unlawful for
you ... to force them to give up a part of what you
have given them ...”
49
The woman had actually misquoted the text, but
‘Umar did not choose to assert himself and simply
said, “Everyone knows more than ‘Umar.”
50
With
these words he relented on the question of the dower.
Here was a common woman criticizing the ruler of
an empire, and the latter withdrawing his words.
The right of absolute freedom of expression as we
find in this incident, is a clear indication that woman
has been granted her full rights in Islamic society.
49. Qur’an, 4:20.
50. Al-Baihaqi,
as-Sunan al-Kubra, Kitab as-Sudadq,
7/533.
HOME MANAGEMENT IS NOT AN INFERIOR
TASK
A certain woman called Nasibah once came to the
Prophet Muhammad and said: “O Messenger of
God, Men have excelled in meriting the rewards of
