MYTH VS. REALITY: RECLAIMING WOMEN’S EMPOWERMENT IN ISLAM

Abstract

The discourse on women’s empowerment in Islam is often clouded by cultural practices, historical distortions, and media misrepresentations, leading to a significant gap between myth and reality. This paper seeks to explore the authentic Islamic perspective on women’s rights and status, as rooted in the Qur’an, Hadith, and the Prophet Muhammad’s (PBUH) practices. Contrary to widespread myths, Islam granted women remarkable rights in education, ownership, inheritance, marriage, and social participation long before many modern societies. By examining key Islamic texts and historical examples of empowered Muslim women, the paper challenges stereotypes and reclaims the narrative of female empowerment within an Islamic framework. It also differentiates between religious teachings and patriarchal cultural practices that often overshadow the original message of equality and dignity. This study aims to contribute to a more informed and balanced understanding of women’s empowerment in Islam.