1. Gender Equality in Islam
Shagufta Omar
In Charge Dawah Centre for Women, Dawah
Academy IIUI
General Secretary Women Aid Trust Pakistan
President Pakistan Chapter, International Muslim
Women Union (IMWU)

2. Woman in Major World Religions
Women in the Christianity
 Women in Judaism
 Women in Hinduism
 Women in Buddhism
 Women in Islam

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3. Women in various Civilizations
Greek civilization
 Roman Civilization
 Chinese Civilization
 Arabian Civilization
 Western Civilization

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4. Emancipation of Women by Islam
Islam absolved woman of the blame for
the original sin (Al Baqara 2: 3, Al-Araf
7:19-27, Taha 20: 15-122)
 Conferred to her social, economic and
political rights as a human being
 Reinforced her womanhood by providing
respect as daughter, sister, wife and
mother.

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5. Rights of Women in Islam
Right to life
 Right of protection of honor, love and
respect
 To be brought up on equal grounds
 Right to education/acquisition of
knowledge
 Right of economic provisions
(maintenance) by father/brother/uncles
 To earn a livelihood (job or entrepreneur)

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6. Rights of Women in Islam (Cont’d.)
Right to worship
 Ownership of property
 Right of inheritance of property
 Freedom of expression/speech
 Right to vote (basic political right)
 To hold any public or political office
 To participate in any social activity

(imparting education, helping in crisis
situations, performing charitable acts)
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7. Rights of Women in Islam (Cont’d.)
Facilitation in marriage
 To have consent in marriage
 Right of dower
 Right of maintenance by husband
 Right to separation (Khula, dissolution
through court)
 Right of child custody in case of
separation
 Right to remarry

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8. Few Exceptions Provided to
Women
Economic provisions for herself or the
family
 Prayers in congregation
 Friday Prayers
 Funeral Prayers
 Jehad/Fighting (In the battle field)
 Providing evidence in criminal cases

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9. Gender Approach in Islam

Equality of status
 Creation of both genders from Nafs e
Wahida
(Al.Nisa 4 : 1, Al Airaf 7: 189, Az Zumur 39:6)

Superiority not on the basis of physical
or psychological capabilities rather on
performance on the conception of
ethical vs unethical
(AL-Hujrat 4:13, Al Ahzab 33: 35, Ale Imran 3:195 and
others)
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10. Gender Approach in Islam(cont’d.)

Equal social rights
(Al Baqara 2:187,228, Al.Nisa 4 : 1)

Equality of legal status (rights & liabilities)
(Al.Baqara 2 :178, Al Nur 24:2)

Equality of morals (Commands and
Accountability)
(Al.Nisa 4 : 124, Al-e-Imran 3:195,Al Tauba
9:71,72, An Nahal 16:97, Al Ahzab 33 :35, Al
Momin 40:40)
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11. Gender Approach in Islam (cont’d.)

As an Individual / Person
Equality of status (moral and legal)
 Freedom of action
 Equality of basic rights
 Equal implication of Allah’s orders
 Equal accountability
 Equality of reward


As a member of an institution (Family)
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12. Institution of Family in Islam
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Basic and most important component of society
Sacred yet not indissoluble
Demarcation of responsibilities for efficient
management of family institution/Role
differentiation
Husband identified as head of the family
Wife identified as sovereign, guardian and
centre of the family, as co-equal of her husband
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13. Husband Identified as Head of
the Family
 Men
are Qawwam (protectors and
maintainers) of women, because Allah
has given the one more strength than
the other, and because they support
them from their means (Al-Nisa 4:34)
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14. Wife Identified as Sovereign, Guardian
and Centre of the Family, as Co-Equal of
her Husband

All of you are guardians and responsible
for your wards and the things under your
care…….a man is guardian of his family
and is responsible for them. A woman is
guardian of her husband’s home and the
children and is responsible for them. All of
you are guardians and all of you are
responsible for your wards. (Sahih Bukhari)
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15. Superiority of Husband
in the Family
Not personal rather functional and
administrative
 Not to curb woman’s advancement
 Not to affect freedom of action on the part
of woman
 Does not have absolute binding
 Does not imply or suggest constant
servility/ servitude on the part of women

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16. Husband’s Responsibilities
As an individual worshiping and obeying
his creator
 Observing chastity
 Primary responsibility of Earning a living
for
 Himself
 Wife
 Children
 Parents
 Other dependants

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17. Husband’s Responsibilities
(Cont’d.)

Responsibilities towards wife
 Providing companionship, love and
respect
 Meher
 Kifalat (food, clothing, shelter, medical,
recreation)
 Education and tarbiyah
 Helping in performance of her dual
responsibilities
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18. Husband’s Responsibilities
(Cont’d.)

Responsibilities towards household
 Building or renting, furnishing
 Maintenance/repairs
 Economic provisions for related
expenditures
 Purchasing/shopping
 Helping family members in house
chores
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19. Husband’s Responsibilities
(Cont’d.)

Responsibilities towards children

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Kifalat (food, clothing, shelter, medical, recreation)
Helping in upbringing
Education and tarbiyah, character building and
grooming
Providing love, affection and respect to both genders
Providing healthy recreation
Preparing for eternal life
Kin role, taking care of family relations
Withstand the challenges posed to family unit
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20. Responsibilities of a Wife
As an individual worshiping and obeying
her creator
 Observing chastity
 Conjugal role
 Providing companionship, love and
respect
 Obeying husband (Administrative
requirement of an institution)

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21. Responsibilities of a Wife (Cont’d.)

Parental role
 Procreation role
 Lactation (maximum 2 years)
 Upbringing
 Education, character building and grooming
 Providing love and affection to both genders
 Providing healthy recreation
 Preparing for eternal life
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22. Responsibilities of a Wife (Cont’d.)

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Domestic role
 Management in the areas of finances, food
and nutrition, clothing, nursing, servants, kids
and home
Kin role, taking care of family relations
Professionally or Intellectually active social life
(Job, business, dawah or social work)
Withstand the challenges posed to family unit
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23. Constitutional and Legal provisions
for Gender Equality in Pakistan
Article 25 (2)
Equality of status with no discrimination on
the basis of sex alone
 Article 9 protects every individuals right to
life and liberty
 Article 14 provides basic right of protection
of dignity

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24. Constitutional and Legal provisions
for gender equality in Pakistan
Article 18, 23 and 27 protect her right of
owning property, doing lawful business,
acquiring job in any field
 Article 34 (affirmative action)
 Article 35 provides protection to the
marriage, the family, the unity of the family
 Article 16, 17 and 19 secure her
participation in political activities

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25. Role of Women, Western and Our
Mindset
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Absolute freedom vs. submission to God
Secularism vs. religion as identity
Maximum independence vs. dependence and
interdependence
Materialism and commercialism vs. spiritualism
Gender equality vs. proper gender approach
Institutionalized problem solving approach vs.
individual specific human dev. approach
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26. Western Concept of
Gender Equality
Equal status
 Equal rights
 Equal obligations
 Sameness of attitudes, behavior patterns
and actions towards both sexes
 Negation of any roles stereotype
 Sameness of role distribution
 Economic productivity/contribution of
women

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27. CEDAW: International Charter of
Women Rights
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Convention on all forms of discrimination against
women (UN. 1979)
Pakistan's accession in 1996, with reservation
Definition of discrimination (article 2)
Elimination of stereotypes (article 5)
Required changes in laws
Required changes in constitutions
Establishment of International court
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28. Definition of Discrimination
(Article 2)

The Convention defines discrimination against
women as "...any distinction, exclusion or
restriction made on the basis of sex which has
the effect or purpose of impairing or nullifying
the recognition, enjoyment or exercise by
women, irrespective of their marital status, on a
basis of equality of men and women, of human
rights and fundamental freedoms in the political,
economic, social, cultural, civil or any other
field."
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29. Implications on Signatory States
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to incorporate the principle of equality of men
and women in their legal system, abolish all
discriminatory laws and adopt appropriate ones
prohibiting discrimination against women;
to establish tribunals and other public institutions
to ensure the effective protection of women
against discrimination; and
to ensure elimination of all acts of discrimination
against women by persons, organizations or
enterprises
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30. Pakistan after Accession to
CEDAW in 1996


Report of Inquiry commission on the status of
women 1997
Recommendations of the commission
Inclusion of UN and other family laws
 Provision of Reproductive rights
 Equal inheritance, evidence, De'yat and guardianship
 Inheritance for the widow of the deceased son
 Right to marry irrespective of any religion
 To treat marital rape as crime and accord punishment

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31. Pakistan after Accession to
CEDAW in 1996(contd.)
Establishment of NCSW
 Mandate and reports of NCSW
 Amendment in criminal laws in the name
of Women Protection Act (WPA) (Hadd-eZina Ordinance, Hadd-e-Qazaf ordinance,
PPC, CrPc, Dissolutions of Muslim
marriage act DMMA1939)
 National plan of action (NPA)
 Gender Reform Action Plan (GRAP)

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32. Results of Absolute Freedom of Human
and Women Rights in West
Sex free society
 Right to nudity
 Right to homosexuality
 Right to same sex marriage
 Right for prostitution
 Reproductive Rights
 Right to abortion
 Single parenting

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33. Application of Western Concept of
Gender Equality to an Islamic Society

Poses Contradictions with
Islamic philosophy
 Variation in role distribution
 Variation in some of the rights with reference
to role distribution
 Variation in described religious obligations
(ibadah)
 Variation in dress code

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34. Points to Ponder
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Are the rights ensured by Islam enjoyed by
women in contemporary Pakistani society?
Reasons for violation of women’s rights?
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Lack of education and ignorance about Islamic
teachings
Feudal and tribal cultural traditions
Male dominated patriarchal attitudes
Poverty and unemployment
Misinterpretation of some basic facts
Secularized Western approach
Lack of govt. initiatives
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35. Points to Ponder (Cont’d.)
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Is measuring gender equality with respect to
economic contribution to society’s development
correct?
Does proving capabilities of working in all the
fields is required for her recognition?
Should the western strategies under the global
women’s right movement be blindly followed or
should they be adapted to suit our religious
value system?
What should be the responsibilities of family,
society and government in assisting women for
performing her dual role?
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36. Recommended Readings
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The Muslim Women by Dr. Hamidullah (Dawah
Academy, IIUI)
Family Life in Islam by Prof Khurshid Ahmad
(Dawah Academy, IIUI)
The Status of Women in Islam by Dr. Jamal A.
Badavi (Dawah Academy, IIUI)
Women and family Life in Islam by Islamic
Foundation of UK, International Islamic
University of Malaysia, King Saud University,
Riyadh (Dawah Academy, IIUI)
Women and Social Justice by Dr. Anis Ahmad
(Institute of Policy Studies)
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37. Recommended Readings (Contd.)
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Aurat Ehd-e-Risalat Mein by Abdul Haleem Abu
Shuqqa, translated by M. Faheem Akhtar Nadwi
(Nashriyat)
Family laws of Islam by Dr. Tahir Mansoori
(Shariah Academy, IIUI).
Gender Equality: Western and Islamic
perspective by Shagufta Omar (Women Aid
Trust)
Family Leadership Qawamah: An Obligation to
Fulfill, Notan Excuse to Abuse by Dr. Mohamed
Rida Beshir (amana publications, USA)
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