Figure 1.-- |
|
"Allah enjoins you concerning your children: The male shall have the equal of the portion of two females,"
This verse is widely used throughout the Muslim world to set the inheritance of daughters as that of half of brothers. Many modern Muslim families wil adjust this my gifting money or valuables to their daughters before their death. The Koranic provision is more carefully followed in traditiinal Muslim societies and families. This verse is very clearly written and there is little prograssive Muslims can do to reinterpret the passage. Islamic scholars explain the provision as reflecting the responsibilities of Muslim men to care for an extended family. Arab women did not have the same level of responsibility. Thus a greater share of ingeritance to bri=others was jusrtified. Progressive Muslims pont out that the situation with many Musklim women today is different. They are more likely to work outside the home and take a greater share in supporting their families. Rhey argue that Islamic law should adjust to these changes. The problem of course is that the Koranic verse is very clear and advocating change in the eyes of Islamicists is advocatug changing the very law og God. An alternative explanation of this verse is that in Arabia during the 7th century, women often married into other tribes. The Koranic limittion on women's inheritance thus had the impct of preserving the wealth of the tribe. This also is a situation that no longer is an important consideration in the modern world.
"In what your wives leave, your share is a half, if they leave no child; but if they leave a child, ye get a fourth; after payment of legacies and debts. In what ye leave, their share is a fourth, if ye leave no child; but if ye leave a child, they get an eighth; after payment of legacies and debts...."
Navigate the Historic Boys' Clothing Web Site:
[Return to the Main Koran women's page ]
[Return to the Main Koran page ]
[Return to the Main Islam page]
[Return to the Middle Eastern chronologies]
[Introduction]
[Activities]
[Art chronologies]
[Biographies]
[Chronologies]
[Clothing styles]
[Countries]
[Bibliographies]
[Contributions]
[FAQs]
[Glossaries]
[Images]
[Links]
[Registration]
[Tools]
[Boys' Clothing Home]