Women Empowerment from Quranic perspective

Abstract

Despite the teachings of Islam that advocate for women's rights and empowerment, a substantial disparity persists between the ideal principles and the actual conditions in numerous Muslim communities. Women in many Muslim-majority nations encounter diverse challenges hindering their empowerment and complete societal involvement. Key factors contributing to the predicament of women's empowerment in Islam encompass patriarchal attitudes and cultural norms that confine women's roles and opportunities, as well as limited access to education and training, restricting their active participation in economic and political spheres. Present-day concerns include workplace discrimination and bias against women, encompassing unequal pay and limited advancement opportunities. Additionally, insufficient access to healthcare, education, societal engagement, and reproductive rights adversely affect women's health and well-being. Gender-based violence and harassment, encompassing domestic violence, sexual assault, and trafficking, exacerbate these challenges. Legal inadequacies in protecting and enforcing women's rights regarding marriage, divorce, inheritance, and property ownership further compound the issue. Misinterpretation and misapplication of religious teachings contribute to harmful practices such as forced marriage and female genital mutilation. Addressing these challenges necessitates targeted interventions and policy changes to dismantle significant barriers to women's empowerment in Muslim communities. The researcher employed an inductive approach, tracing research components from exegetical, hadith, and jurisprudential books to derive general rulings. Subsequently, an analytical method was utilized to categorize and discuss scientific material, yielding specific rulings about the subject. The research reached certain significant results, emphasizing the promotion of women's rights, equality, and comprehensive societal participation to foster just and equitable societies. A focus on women's rights to education, societal engagement, economic independence, fair treatment in marriage, and protection from violence and discrimination is crucial. Quranic teachings offer valuable guidance for Muslims to contribute to women's empowerment in their societies actively.