Women in Islam
The image of Muslim women is often misrepresented in the West. The portrayal is one of oppression and withholding of rights. The reality is in stark contrast.
THE HISTORY
If we examine the Western tradition we see a quite disturbing portrayal of women. The Aristotelian view, whereby women were not full human beings, was carried on into the early Christian tradition of the Catholic Church. A mere fifty years before the advent of Islam there was a gathering of bishops in France to discuss whether women possessed souls or not, and, if so, what was their purpose on earth? The conclusion: women do possess souls but that their purpose was not just to worship God, but also to serve men.
What They Say About...the Qur'an
Humanity has received Divine guidance through two channels: firstly the word of God, secondly the prophets who were chosen by God to communicate His Will to human beings. These two things have always been going together and attempts to know the Will of God by neglecting either of these two have always been misleading. The Hindus neglected their prophets and paid all attention to their books that proved only word puzzles which they ultimately lost. Similarly, the Christians, in total disregard to the Book of God, attached all importance to Christ and thus not only elevated him to Divinity, but also lost the very essence of monotheism contained in the Bible.