Women should not allow themselves to be playthings in the...

Women should not allow themselves to be playthings in the hands of dissolute youths, they should not lower their station and, God forbid, come out into the streets dressed up and made up, placing themselves in full view of depraved men. Women must act like true human beings; they must be pious. Women enjoy a dignified position; they have free will, just as men have. God created you free beings and gave you dignity. (55) 1 February 1980 (12 Bahman 1358 AHS) Islam has particular regard for women.

Islam appeared in the Arabian Peninsula at a time when women had lost their dignity, and it raised them up and gave them back their pride. Islam made women equal with men; in fact, it shows a concern for women that it does not show for men. (56) 1 February 1980 (12 Bahman 1358 AHS) One of the benefits of the Islamic movement obvious today is that women, these effective members of society, have to some extent regained their standing.

(57) 5 May 1980 (15 Urdibihisht 1359 AHS) Women’s rights in Islam Women’s rights in Islam As regards the issue of the right of the woman to execute a divorce, if, at the time of marriage, she stipulates that she would possess this right either conditionally or unconditionally, the question has been raised: What about those women who have already entered into matrimony? They oppose this legal power of the faqih even when they don’t know what his powers are.

If a man mistreats his wife, this is one of the concerns of the faqih who will first of all counsel him then secondly punish him, and if he sees that none of this has worked, he will grant the divorce. Support this guardianship of the faqih, it is a gift from God the Blessed and Exalted to the Muslims.

Among the concerns the faqih deals with are matters relating to the question you have just posed: what must those women do who already have a husband and are experiencing difficulties in their marriage? They must refer the matter to a faqih, either at a court or elsewhere, and he will deal with it. If the complaint is valid, he will punish the husband, he will try to compel him to behave properly, and if this fails, the faqih will grant the woman a divorce.

He has the legal power to do so if he sees that it would be damaging to the people involved if the marriage were to continue.