This is how Islam led the world with women's rights

Life

So, how did the status of women in the Muslim world spiral downhill?

Well, we would need an entire book to answer that question, but here are some contributing factors:

Fundamentalist interpretations of Quranic verses, which are sometimes taken out of context, as well as long-standing patriarchal, lie in the heart of the problem.

The Quran can be seen distributing gender roles by depicting men as providers of the household and women as caregivers - as that was the social paradigm when the holy book was revealed. This is mainly the reason behind the apparent discrimination between genders, when it comes to matters of inheritance, for instance.

That distribution of gender roles has been exploited. Many men have hand-picked Islamic teachings and used them to assert their dominance over women, interpreting the Quran according to their own patriarchal interests. (Muslim scholars are mostly male - surprise, surprise.)

Meanwhile, crucial Islamic teachings, such as "There is no compulsion in religion" and the laws pertaining to women's rights, are often disregarded.

Plus, over the years, the line separating religion from customs and traditions has been blurred, as societal norms are often mistaken for religious doctrine.

So, before bashing Islam for oppressing women, make sure to distinguish Islamic principles from norms and common practice.