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Shiavault - a Vault of Shia Islamic Books Defending the Woman's Rights Chapter Four : Woman's Social Status Islam has given equal positions to man and woman in most social activities. Woman has responsibilities in all group social activities, except Jihad (the holy war) and only Jihad; women have duties in defense, preceding and following the stages of Jihad.

The Holy Qur'an says: (And as for the believing men and the believing women, they are guardians of each other; they enjoin good and forbid evil and keep up prayer and pay the poor-rate, and obey Allah and His Messenger. As for these, Allah will show Mercy to them; surely Allah is Mighty, Wise) 1 As to these words of Allah, women have the great responsibility of guardianship as men do, so they enjoin to good and forbid from evil.

Woman's social status is as vast as the concept of good and evil in Islam. Therefore, women can engage in all social activities that men do, including the most important social field that is politics and government. That is why women were active in political scenes in the early Islamic era and had leading roles in government. Prophet Mohammad (a.s.) took an oath of allegiance with women, according to the Qur'anic order, so that this half of ________________________ 1 Qur'an, 9:71.

the Islamic society becomes familiar with its socio-political responsibilities. The Holy Qur'an states: (0 Prophet!

When believing women come to you, giving you a pledge that they will not associate aught with Allah and will not steal and will not commit fornication and will not kill their children and will not bring calumny with what they have forged of themselves and will not disobey you in what is good, accept their pledge and ask forgiveness for them from Allah, surely Allah is Forgiving, Merciful) 1 This verse is about paying of allegiance with the newly-established Islamic government in the Prophet's age, which happened on the Day of the Conquest of Mecca.

After the men's allegiance with the Prophet (a.s.), women came to him and asked to pay allegiance too. Then the mentioned Qur'anic verse was revealed and it mentioned the qualifications for being the prophet's allegiant, emphasizing women's engagement in the political activities. It is narrated that the Prophet (a.s.), on that day, took the women's allegiance verbally. Women could also do so by putting their hands inside a bowl of water in which the Prophet (a.s.) had put his own hand.