Political Rights of Women from Islamic Point of view

Dr. Abdul Baqi Abdul Kabeer

According to the teaching of Islam. Participation in the political modification is the duty of human being. Regardless of being a man or women and this is counted as Fardh-e-Kefaya (compulsory shared duties), and accordingly, the responsibility was given to the Islamic nation as a whole, in order to safeguard general interests of the population, as well as having political rights, and properly usage of these rights by members of the society will lead to the progress and development of the society.

In general speech Shariah (Islamic Law) orders and duties are for man and women, and during Prophet Mohammad (SAW) and during the Four Khalifas (The first four leaders of Islamic State after Prophet Mohamamd) women participated in different kinds of political activities, which is leading us to the fact that the lack of such participation is the symptom of the dark age of Islamic Nation.

The Islamic concept of covering rights through (orders and prohibitions) is a modern grasp, which forbids negative usage of political rights. Therefore, the concept of religious duties in the Islamic methodology is the best way of explaining the nature of human being, its status and its rights-particularly political rights compared to the methodology used in the contemporary theory of human rights.

Islamic statements and its implications making for human being (whether it is man or woman) to participate in the wise ranging of political activities like the activities of advice, declaration of opinions, speech of virtuous, finger-pointing to the unjustified, participation in the process of choosing the honest and capable individual to rule the country, and working towards the establishment of institutions which are hopeful for the political modification, like; Auditing Organizations, Trade Unions, Research and Preaching Institution…and son on.

As the nation is in urgent need for modification of its political system as means towards progress and development; the activities of the female section-counted as half of the population---is a valid part which will lead to the progress and development. Therefore it is a religious duty to pave the way for women to be able to have rights of political participation and to exercise these rights as a “religious duty” in order to get us out of the vicious circles of backwardness, subjugation...etc

Source: Ma’arif-e-Islami
Faculty of Arabic & Islamic Studies AIOU Islamabad.

Regards,