Rights of Women in Islam
Moving forth with addressing FAQS, here's to one which draws a lot of attention from women (and men) over the world. And that, is about the rights of women in Islam.
Contrary to what is normally believed, Islam has nothing to do with what the cultural and social norms have done to women in some parts of the world. Be it the way they are treated at home or the way they are forced to conduct themselves in public.
As per Islam, all the instructions given through the Quran, are for both men and women - it enjoins the same duties and gives the same liberties to both in terms of social conducts and in terms of their right to be self-dependent and acquire knowledge. It is sad but true that many privileges given to women have actually been corrupted to such an extent that people feel disgusted towards them. Practices like forced or polygamous marriages, or imprisonment of women in shuttlecock burqas or worst, forbidding women to get education or drive cars or move about freely are just a few examples of how culture can dominate faiths.
To begin with, most people don't know the concept behind a burqa as it was at the time it came into origin but they have derived their own notions and are hell bent on proving them right.
The idea behind the 'purda' system was not to enslave or confine women within four walls, it was used for their protection. The black veil was used in order to keep strangers at bay while women went out with their normal routines. It gave shy women the liberty to move about without feeling too shy and for others it was more of a veil to keep them from the roving eyes. The system did not originate to merely glorify seclusion of women from men. In some Muslim societies, women still wear Burqa to feel more secure and private while in some parts of the world, even the devout Muslim women consider it an attention seeking gesture and so refrain from it. But this, I must point out, is an extremely personal thing - and should not be regarded as a violation of any Islamic rule. As a matter of fact, the purdah system was a practice used extensively by upper class Hindus, Persians and even some Christians who did not allow equality to women in those days. And I thus round up by reiterating that the 'purdah' system is a completely cultural aspect and not a practice enforced by Islam.
