The hot topic of women’s right in Islam was the subject of a conference by the Islamic Center of Southern California held and cosponsored by The University of Southern California on October 17, 2009.
The Quran unequivocally granted both men and women equal social rights and responsibilities as stated; “And the believers, men and women, are protecting friends one of another; they enjoin the doing of what is right and forbid the doing of what is wrong …” (Quran 9:71). However, many Muslims are influenced by old cultures and tribal traditions that hinder the full participation of women in society. In some cultures, women are kept as virtual prisoners in their own homes – denied education, right of movement, and full participation in community affairs. 

A panel of distinguished speakers discussed this apparent paradox between the expansive rights and responsibilities granted to women in both the Quran and the authentic Sunnah, and the carryover of narrow-minded extremist and unjust interpretations.

Dr. Maher Hathout considered women’s rights as integral part of the principle of social justice and human rights in Islam which is the foundation of any contemporary society; “O ye who believe! Be ever steadfast in your devotion to God, bearing witness to the truth in all equity, and never let the animosity of anyone lead you into the sin of deviating from justice. Be just: this is being closest to being God-conscious…” (Quran 5:8). Dr. Fathi Osman stressed the importance of understanding the Quran within the proper historical and social context. The early jurisprudence, or Ijtihad, served the needs of that time and should have been extended to meet the needs of an ever-changing society.

Ms. Aziza Hassan of MPAC presented a summary of a policy paper under the title “Abusing Women, Abusing Islam”. She sighted several deplorable cases of violence and some times murder committed against Muslim women in some Muslim countries. Sadly, such violence is often condoned and sometimes institutionalized due to rigid interpretations and the application of tribal traditions rather than justice.

Dr. Gasser Hathout, in a well-researched presentation, addressed the topic “What Went wrong?” He showed cases of savagery against women and often innocent young girls for no reason other than going to school or women who dared to show their faces or walk the street without being accompanied by a male. Very often, the perpetrators of such heinous crimes are ignorant men quoting very obscure unsubstantiated religious edicts while ignoring the Quranic injections of justice, goodness and mercy.

As a professor of Constitutional and Islamic law, Dr. Asifa Quraishi stressed the need for contemporary examination of Islamic jurisprudence, or Ijtihad. The methodology of Ausol El-Fiqh could be applicable to today’s Islamic issues in order to ascertain justice for the common good of the society. The consensus of the participants is the urgent need of contemporary examination of Islamic jurisprudence of relevant issues taking into consideration the fast changing society.