Mahjabeen Islam-Husain

In the following viewpoint, Mahjabeen Islam-Husain contends that Islam promotes equality for women. According to Islam-Husain, the Qur’an, Islam’s holy book, mandates that women have the right to seek education, choose their own mates, work, possess and inherit wealth or property, divorce, and remarry. Despite the Qur’an’s clear support for women’s rights, writes the author, many Muslim societies neglect to follow these teachings. Islam-Husain holds that the oppression of women within Muslim countries betrays Islam’s principle of gender equality. Islam-Husain is a family practice physician and a Sunni Muslim. Born in Pakistan, she now lives in the midwestern United States and is active in the Muslim-American community.

As you read, consider the following questions:

1. According to Mahjabeen Islam-Husain, how does Islam provide financial...