The Rights of Women in Islam and Some Misconceptions: An Analysis from Nigerian Perspective

Abstract

Allah (SWT) has created both men and women without subordination of one another. Islam has
ensured gender equality and women’s rights in every sphere of their life. Islam has guaranteed
rights of men and women in an equal degree and there is no discrimination between men and
women. But due to the prevailing socio-cultural norms and practices in Nigeria sometimes the
guarantee of Islam do not get translated into tangible actions. Islam is the religion which liberated
Muslim women by ensuring equal rights to them in comparison to their male fellow. There are
some misconceptions prevailing in Nigeria regarding women’s rights in Islam. Sometimes Muslim
women themselves falsely knew that they are backward and oppressed by their religion. Some
make great mistake in presuming that all conduct and practices of a Muslim are connected to
Islam. The prime object of this study is to pick out how rights of women are ensured and protected
in Islam. This study concludes with an allusion that women are not subordinate of men and indicate
an avenue to identify properly women in the light of Islam. This research is actually qualitative in
nature where only secondary data has been used. Analytical method was also used in this research.
Data has been collected from various books, journals, holy Qur’an and Sunnah (tradition) of the
Prophet (peace be upon him). This research finds that Islam does not deprive the women rather
ensuring proper rights, dignity and status but due to lack of proper Islamic knowledge and
awareness and sometimes to dominate or neglect some misconceptions prevailing among Muslims
women in Nigeria. To eliminate prevailing misconceptions regarding women rights in Islam
proper Islamic knowledge and awareness of the women is essential.