Women & Men in Early Islam
BACKGROUND The Arabian peninsula was divided into two different groups called the Southerners and the Arabs. The Southern Sedentary Saba -Speak their own semitic language -Consisted of four major city-states - Ruled by a priest-king and followed a monarchical system. The Arabian Pastoral Tribes: -Live in the more arid region of the peninsula -Speak the language of Arabic -Ruled by a king -Monotheism
BACKGROUND Muhammad s first message from Gabriel on december 22nd, 609 CE Muhammad died shortly after receiving the last revelations from Gabriel in 632 CE The Quran was compiled by Zayd Ibn Thabit and the scholars under the Uthman Caliph(Third Caliph) The Quran has 114 surahs(chapters) and 6326 ayas(verses)
SOCIAL (EARLY ISLAM) Men were restricted from marrying or having relationships with family members. Men/women were able to keep some of whatever was left behind after the death of a relative. Inheritance laws for children and family were written in the Quran, stating the amount each member of a family gains through inheritance. Daughters got treated equally to sons and were given the same education. Both men and women could propose divorce if they each agreed. If a man and woman divorce, the woman is still entitled to specific rights.
SOCIAL (MODERN DAY) Male guardians are often required for women to protect them and give them consent to travel, sign documents, etc. Men in the family make the rules and decisions (the leaders). Divorce laws are dependent on the location and relationship of two people. It is much harder for a woman to divorce a man than a man to divorce a woman. Marriage is discussed between the male and the father of the bride rather than the woman herself.
POLITICAL (EARLY ISLAM) Political structure was based off a caliphate as a leader after the death of Muhammad. The first Caliph was under the Rashidun caliphs The highest position a woman can attain is a imam (worship leader of a mosque in Sunni islam) Women could not attain rank of qadi(magistrate or judge of the sharia court) A calipha has never ruled the Arabian peninsula Women could not become a mufti(a muslim scholar who interprets and expounds islamic law)
POLITICAL (MODERN DAY) Muslim women today struggle to gain practical rights and freedoms Mufti and judge roles are given to men Women do not have as much of a voice Voting restrictions are also often put on women and restrict their amount of power politically.
CULTURAL (EARLY ISLAM) 5 pillars of Islam: Shahada (Faith), Salat (Prayer), Zakat (Charity), Shawm (Fasting), and Hajj (Pilgrimage to Mecca) 6 major beliefs The belief of there being only one god. (Monotheism) Both men and women receive the same religious education from the Hadith and the Quran Men are allowed to go to school while women are not
CULTURE (MODERN DAY) 5 pillars of Islam 6 major beliefs Sharia law is enforced by the islamic state and governments Men and Women receive the same religious education Women fight for education rights Malala: pakistani advocate for women s education
ECONOMIC (EARLY ISLAM) Islam was established in Arabia (modern day Iraq) Some examples of popular jobs were.. -farming, artisanship, herding animals, and trading goods and resources. Women were given fair working opportunities and were not required to veil themselves. Merchants Coin production Market inspectors managed payments and the shops
ECONOMIC (MODERN DAY) The major characteristics of the Islamic Economy are.. Alliance with the Sharia law Equality- every individual has equal access to natural resources and everyone has equal opportunity to use the resources included education, skills and technology. Property Rights- Allah is the owner of the whole land individual has been given the rights of the possession as a trust and property is only a mean of achieving highest objectives and all members of society share the natural resources at man s disposal. Prossession of Wealth- money can be gained through work and inheritance but shouldn't be used for things that show off wealth. Poor or lower class citizens have the right to be sustained by their society