The Spiritual Aspect (a woman plays in Islam)
The Qur'an provides a clear-cut evidence that woman is completely equated with man in the sight of God in terms of her rights and responsibilities. The Qur'an states: Every soul will be (held) in pledge for its deeds" (Qur'an 74:38)
It also states: ...So their Lord accepted their prayers, (saying): I will not suffer to be lost the work of any of you whether male of female. You proceed one form from another...(Qur'an 3:195)
And in another verse,
Whoever works righteousness, man or woman, and has faith, Verily We will give a new life that is good and pure, and We will bestow on such their reward according to their actions (Qur'an 16:97, see also 4:124)
Woman according to the Qur'an is not blamed for Adam's first mistake. Both were jointly wrong in their disobedience to God, both repented, and both were forgiven: Then Adam received from his Lord Words. And his Lord pardoned him (accepted his repentace). Verily, He is the One who accepts repentance, the Most Merciful. (Qur'an 2:37)
In terms of religious obligations, such as the Daily Prayers, Fasting, Poor-due, and Pilgrimage, woman is no different from man. In some cases indeed, woman has certain advantages over man. For example, the woman is exempted from the daily five prayers and from fasting during her menstrual period and forty days after childbirth. She is also exempted from fasting during her pregnancy and when she is nursing her baby if there is any threat to her health or her baby's. If the missed fasting is obligatory (during the month of Ramadan), she can make up for the missed days whenever she can. She does not have to make up for the prayer missed for any of the above reasons.
Although women can and did go to the mosque during the days of the prophet and thereafter, attendance at the Friday congregational prayers is optional for them while it is mandatory for men (on Friday).
This is clearly a tender touch of the Islamic teachings for they are considerate of the fact that a woman may be nursing her baby or caring for him, and thus may be unable to go out to the mosque at the time of the prayers. They also take into account the physiological and psychological changes associated with her natural female functions.
-Nessa Rj, 16/05/2012
(source: The Status of Woman in Islam by Dr. Jamal A. Badawi, April 1980)