Woman Between Islam and Western Society
2. Woman in Society
~ 83 ~
century. Even the slave had rights and inside
the community of the believers there were no
castes nor inherited status. This revolution
was rooted in a religion which — like that of
the Jews — was not distinct from other sides
of life, but embraced them all.
5
The same point has been made about ancient India
by a retired Chief Justice of the Delhi Court,
Mr. Rajindar Sachar:
... Historically, Islam had been very liberal
and progressive in granting property rights to
women. It is a fact that there were no property
rights given to Hindu women until 1956,
when the Hindu Code Bill was passed,
whereas Islam had granted these rights to
Muslim women over 1400 years ago.
6
This is not, however, just a matter of anteriority.
What is significant is that, in granting women equal
status and their proper rights, Islam set up an
important precedent which had as far-reaching m
effect on the civilization of the times as western
civilization has lad on the world of today. If Islam
was able to accomplish such an ‘evolution in human
