The Economic Aspect
According to Islamic Law, woman's right to her money, real estate, or other properties is fully acknowledged. This right undergoes no change whether she is single or married. She retains her full rights to buy, sell, mortagage or lease any or all her properties. It is nowhere suggested in the Islamic Law that a woman is a minor simply because she is a female.
With regard to the woman's right to seek employment it should be stated first that Islam regard her role in society as a mother and a wife as the most sacred and essential one. Neither maids or babysitters can possibly take the mother's place as the educator of an upright, complex-free, and carefully-reared children. Such noble and vital role, which largely shapes the future of nations, cannot be ragarded as "idleness".
However, there is no decree in Islam which forbids woman from seeking employment whenever there is a necessity for it, especially in positions that fit her nature and in which society needs her most. Example of these professions are nursing, teaching, (especially for children), and medicine.
Moreover, there is no restriction on benifitting from woman's exceptional talent in any field. Even for the position of a judge, where there may be a tendency to doubt the woman's fitness for the post due to her more emotional nature, we find early Muslim scholars such as Abu-Hanifa and
Al-Tabary holding the position mentioned.
In addition, Islam restored to woman the right of inheritance:
" Unto men (of the family) belongs a share of that which parents and near kindred leave, and unto women a share of that which parents and near kindred leave, whether it be a little or much - a determinate share." (Qur'an 4:7)
Her share in most cases is one-half the man's share with no implication that she is worth half a man. This variation in inheritance rights is only consistent with the variations in financial responsibilities of man and woman according to the Islamic Law. Man in Islam is fully responsible for the maintenace of his wife, his children, and in some cases of his needy relatives, especially the females. This responsibility is neither waived nor reduced because of his wife's wealth or because of her accesss to any personal income gained from work, rent, profit, or any other legal means.
Woman, on the other hand, is far more secure financially and is far less burdened with any claims on her possessions. Her possessions before marriage do not transfer to her husband and she even keeps her maiden name. She has no obligation (not forced ) to spend on her family out of such properties or out of her income after marriage. She is entitled to the Mahr which her husband gave her at the time of marriage. If she is divorced, she may get an alimony from her ex-husband.
An examination of the inheritance law within the overall framework of the Islamic Law reveals not only justice but also an abundance of compassion for women.
-Nessa Rj, 17/05/2012
(source: The Status of Woman in Islam by Dr. Jamal A. Badawi, April 1980)