✦ A Historical Comparison of Women's Rights in Islam and the West ✦
Written by: Mehran Darg
While criticizing Islam, Western societies often forget their own historical treatment of women. Today, the West claims to uphold women's rights, but a historical analysis presents an entirely different picture:
In the current forms of the Bible, Gospel of John, and the Torah, women's rights are depicted as severely limited.
In contrast, Islam granted women the right to inheritance and ownership over 1400 years ago, long before any such concept emerged in Western laws.
Until the 19th century, British law denied women any right to inheritance.
Even under the East India Company, women in the Indian subcontinent were deprived of property rights due to the application of British colonial policies.
The West claims that women are entitled to 50% of property, but this principle has proven narrow in scope and practically flawed.
For instance, if a family has eight members, and one woman receives half the estate, how are the needs of the rest to be met?
Islam offers a more holistic and balanced model, which includes:
◈ Mahr (dower) – a compulsory gift from the husband at marriage that becomes the woman's personal property.
◈ Inheritance from husband – after the husband's death, the wife receives ⅛ of his estate (if there are children).
◈ Inheritance from father – a daughter receives a prescribed share from her father's estate.
When all these financial entitlements are considered together, Islam provides women with greater and more practical rights than Western models.
In the West, a woman is considered “free” if she is allowed to undress publicly, yet if someone violates her, she is labeled a “victim.”
This contradiction reveals a moral inconsistency in the so-called freedom offered to women.
Islam enforces modesty (ḥijāb) and prescribes severe punishments for adultery and sexual assault, aiming to protect women from rape, exploitation, and objectification.
This system is designed to uphold dignity, honor, and security for women in society.
One of the earliest legal reforms in Islam was the abolition of burying daughters alive out of fear of economic burden.
In contrast, the modern West supports abortion, which in many cases becomes a form of terminating female life before birth.
Islam considers this an act of murder and has declared it punishable by law.
✔ Islam gave women complete rights and dignity long before any other civilization.
✔ In contrast, the West subjected women to centuries of deprivation and injustice.
✔ Even today, the Western world objectifies women as marketing products, a reality so degrading that even Satan would seek refuge from it.
Islam dignifies, honors, and protects women—offering a balanced system rooted in divine justice and wisdom.
Written by: Mehran Darg
❖ The Reality Behind Western Claims of Women’s Rights
While criticizing Islam, Western societies often forget their own historical treatment of women. Today, the West claims to uphold women's rights, but a historical analysis presents an entirely different picture:
① Teachings of the Bible and Torah
In the current forms of the Bible, Gospel of John, and the Torah, women's rights are depicted as severely limited.
In contrast, Islam granted women the right to inheritance and ownership over 1400 years ago, long before any such concept emerged in Western laws.
② British Legal System in the 19th Century
Until the 19th century, British law denied women any right to inheritance.
Even under the East India Company, women in the Indian subcontinent were deprived of property rights due to the application of British colonial policies.
❖ Women's Right to Property: Islam vs. the West
✔ Western Principle
The West claims that women are entitled to 50% of property, but this principle has proven narrow in scope and practically flawed.
For instance, if a family has eight members, and one woman receives half the estate, how are the needs of the rest to be met?
✔ Islamic Principle
Islam offers a more holistic and balanced model, which includes:
◈ Mahr (dower) – a compulsory gift from the husband at marriage that becomes the woman's personal property.
◈ Inheritance from husband – after the husband's death, the wife receives ⅛ of his estate (if there are children).
◈ Inheritance from father – a daughter receives a prescribed share from her father's estate.
When all these financial entitlements are considered together, Islam provides women with greater and more practical rights than Western models.
❖ Bodily Freedom vs. Protection of Honor
✔ Western Ideology
In the West, a woman is considered “free” if she is allowed to undress publicly, yet if someone violates her, she is labeled a “victim.”
This contradiction reveals a moral inconsistency in the so-called freedom offered to women.
✔ Islamic Perspective
Islam enforces modesty (ḥijāb) and prescribes severe punishments for adultery and sexual assault, aiming to protect women from rape, exploitation, and objectification.
This system is designed to uphold dignity, honor, and security for women in society.
❖ Abolishing the Practice of Female Infanticide
One of the earliest legal reforms in Islam was the abolition of burying daughters alive out of fear of economic burden.
In contrast, the modern West supports abortion, which in many cases becomes a form of terminating female life before birth.
Islam considers this an act of murder and has declared it punishable by law.
❖ Conclusion
✔ Islam gave women complete rights and dignity long before any other civilization.
✔ In contrast, the West subjected women to centuries of deprivation and injustice.
✔ Even today, the Western world objectifies women as marketing products, a reality so degrading that even Satan would seek refuge from it.
Islam dignifies, honors, and protects women—offering a balanced system rooted in divine justice and wisdom.
