Nevertheless...

Nevertheless, some bad spirits of the pre-Islamic era have remained among Muslims until now. You may hear that some man has divorced his wife because she did not bear a male child. Until now, they raise from the Qur'an only this motto “ and beat them ”, besides their sayings that “ woman is the seed of Satan ”, “ she is sedition ”, “ she is shame ”, “ she is scandal ”…etc. Woman among Muslims has remained underdeveloped and ignorant. She has no right to learn and study.

Some people do not agree with her leaving her father’s house, except to the house of her husband or to her grave.[^1] Some men claim and repeat false traditions before learned men and women that the Messenger of Allah (S) has said, “ The best thing for woman is that she should neither see a man nor let a man see her .” What kind of mentality is that, which contradicts what has been mentioned in the Holy Qur'an, concerning the freedom of woman and her rights equal to man’s?

Otherwise, what is the meaning of this saying of Allah: Say to the believing men that they should lower their looks and guard their private parts; that is purer for them; surely Allah is Aware of what they do. And say to the believing women that they should lower their looks and guard their private parts and do not display their adornment except what appears thereof.

Qur'an, 24:30-31 This is very clear evidence on the freedom of woman in going out of her house as man does, and that she is ordered to lower her gaze and observe her modesty exactly as man is ordered to do. Yes! The mentality of the pre-Islamic age has prevailed to some extent in the Arab and Muslim societies. Muslim men have exploited the degree that Allah has given them over woman to give themselves all the rights and deprive woman of all her rights, leaving her with nothing.

I would not go far if I say that the main reason behind our underdevelopment is our injustice against woman and closing the doors before her - no learning, no culture, no communication, no association, no going out and no right to choose her spouse. Until recently, woman is married without her choice.