#3 – Women Have No Rights in Islam
There are certain Muslim communities around the world that do consider women as doormats and servants of their husbands. However, this does not actually come from Islam but from the beliefs of these respective communities.
This is quite like the various communities belonging to other religions of the world. There are non-Muslim communities in the world where women are killed because they chose to marry a man of their liking or they are burnt because they aren’t able to bear a son or bring the amount of dowry that the husband expected. However, this is not what the religion preaches rather it is the belief of the specific communities.
In Islam, women are allowed to select or reject a suitor. She cannot be forced to marry. This is why a Nikah or marriage is not completed unless the woman says yes. The groom gives a marriage gift to the bride for her own personal use at the time of Nikah.
Divorce is not common and allowed only in extreme circumstances which are clearly stated in the Quran.
“For those who are discontent with their wives, let them wait for four months. If they reconcile, then God is Forgiving, Merciful. And if they insist on the divorce, then God is Hearer, Knowledgeable” [Quran, 2:226-227]
Violence against women is not allowed. Both women and men have equal rights and both are supposed to take care of each others’ needs and wishes.
Women are encouraged to seek education. They are allowed to choose jobs, to drive, and do everything that men are allowed to do.
Islamic women are also allowed to complain and petition against their spouses and others. Many incidents have been reported where Prophet Muhammad heard the complaints of women and dealt justice for them.
Regarding polygamy, Islam does not encourage it and it is only allowed in special circumstances. In fact, men are discouraged to take more than one wife since they may not be able to give equal rights to all their wives, and thus be a sinner.