Islam came at a time when women all over the world were being oppressed and exploited. The most any society would accord the woman was to admit that she was part of the human race. They never admitted her dignity or gave her rights and responsibilities equal to those oft men.

Equality Between Men and Women in Islam:Equality between men and women in Islam is derived from the following considerations:

1)- Equality in their human origins

Islam conclusively establishes that all human beings have a common origin. This fact is mentioned in many verses of the Qur’an: “ O Mankind, fear your Lord who created you from a single soul and created from it its mate and brought forth from the two of them many men and women.”

2)- Equality in their common destiny

Islam also establishes that all of mankind is going to return to Allah who created them, and everyone – male and female – is going to be recompensed for his or her worldly deeds. They will receive well if they did well and they will be requited with evil if they did evil. Allah says:

“And every one of you will come to Him alone on the Day of Resurrection”.

“Whoever works righteousness as a believer, whether male or female, we will truly give a good life and we shall pay them a reward in proportion to the best of what they used to do”.

3)- Intellectual and Religious Rights

Islam has guaranteed every man and woman the right to think and believe as they choose. It considers thinking and investigating to be an obligation upon every human being. There are numerous verses in the Qur’an that encourage people to think.

Allah says : “ Do they not look in the dominion of the heavens and the Earth and all the things that Allah has created? ”            

“ Say: Travel in the land and see how Allah originated Creation”

From all of these, the independent religious identity of the woman becomes quite clear. No one else can impose upon her what she should believe. She must, of her own free will, decide what to believe. Allah says:            

“O you, who believe, if believing women come to you as emigrants, examine them. Allah knows best their faith. Then, if you ascertain that they are true believers, do not send them back to the disbelievers”

When Islam came, women accepted Islam and made the emigration to Madinah, even though their fathers, husbands, and the rest of their male relatives remained disbelievers. Umm Habîbah, the daughter of Abu Sufyan, accepted Islam and emigrated in spite of the fact that her father was one of the leaders of the disbelievers. Even when her husband abandoned Islam, she remained steadfast in her belief.

4)- The right to an education

In Islam seeking knowledge is a religious duty upon every man and woman. This is because knowledge is integral to Islamic life. In the light of knowledge, a person’s eyes are opened. This person can then worship the Lord with proper insight and understanding. Allah says: 

“Read in the name of your Lord who created. Who created the human being from a clot. Read, and your Lord is the Most Generous. Who taught by the pen. Who taught the human being what he knew not”