Islamic Perspective on Women’s Rights: Questioning the Necessity of Feminism

Abstract

This thesis critically examines women’s rights in Islam in comparison with feminist ideology, with a particular focus on whether feminism is necessary in Muslim societies. Using a qualitative thematic analysis of primary Islamic sources—including the Qur’an and Sunnah—together with classical jurisprudence and contemporary feminist literature, the study highlights the sufficiency of Islam’s equity-based framework in ensuring women’s dignity, empowerment, and justice.

The findings reveal that Islam guarantees women’s comprehensive rights in inheritance, property, education, marriage, and social participation while maintaining complementary roles that safeguard family and social harmony. In contrast, the feminist pursuit of absolute equality, shaped by secular and Western socio-historical contexts, often neglects natural gender differences and has produced unintended consequences such as family disintegration and moral instability. Furthermore, misrepresentations of Islam in feminist critiques and media narratives obscure its protective and empowering dimensions, fostering misconceptions about Muslim women’s status.

The study concludes that feminism, as a Western secular ideology, is not necessary within Muslim societies. Instead, the revival and implementation of authentic Islamic teachings provide the most coherent and sustainable framework for women’s empowerment. Recommendations include strengthening Islamic education, pursuing contextual legal reforms, promoting media literacy, conducting further empirical research, and supporting renewal and reinterpretation within Islamic scholarship.

This research contributes to gender and Islamic studies by addressing gaps in existing literature and offering a culturally and theologically grounded response to feminist critiques. It reaffirms that Islam, as a holistic divine system, remains both sufficient and relevant in addressing women’s rights in the modern world.