MYTH VS. REALITY: RECLAIMING WOMEN'S EMPOWERMENT IN ISLAM

Abstract:The discourse on women’s empowerment in Islam is often clouded by cultural practices,historical distortions, and media misrepresentations, leading to a significant gap betweenmyth and reality. This paper seeks to explore the authentic Islamic perspective on women’srights and status, as rooted in the Qur’an, Hadith, and the Prophet Muhammad’s (PBUH)practices. Contrary to widespread myths, Islam granted women remarkable rights ineducation, ownership, inheritance, marriage, and social participation long before manymodern societies. By examining key Islamic texts and historical examples of empoweredMuslim women, the paper challenges stereotypes and reclaims the narrative of femaleempowerment within an Islamic framework. It also differentiates between religious teachingsand patriarchal cultural practices that often overshadow the original message of equality anddignity. This study aims to contribute to a more informed and balanced understanding ofwomen’s empowerment in Islam.