Woman Between Islam and Western Society
5. Position of Woman in the Islamic Shari‘ah
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THE EXAMPLE OF MUSLIM WOMEN
Just as men function on different planes of
religiosity, so do women have their own separate
spheres of religious effectiveness.
Let us first consider their everyday level of existence
in which adherence to their religion broadly means
paying the dues of God and men in purely personal
matters. In particular, it means true belief in God
and the carrying out of His commandments; strict
adherence to justice in all worldly transactions;
withstanding the temptations of the self as instigated
by Satan; paying what is due to God in terms of
one’s wealth and life; giving the hereafter priority
over the present world; being guided by Islamic
ethics in dealing with one’s family, relatives and
friends; invariably dealing with all matters in the
manner approved of by Islam.
Next in importance to these feminine duties is the
training and nurturing of children. Most women
become mothers, and the relationship between
mother and child is of the utmost importance,
because the mother’s influence can be used for ends
which may be good or evil depending upon the
