Amriah Buang

Given that Muslim societies generally have been slow to give women the empowerment that the Quran and the sunnah had granted them, it is not too farfetched to say that in the face of this systemic weakness it is women themselves who have to always be on the alert, to come forward, and do whatever they can to protect and defend themselves. In short, to mobilise themselves in order to restore the empowerment that is their God-given right.

Women were actively engaged in public, political, economic and educational spheres of the early Islamic society. Appointments to the influential posts were based on qualifications and skills of the individual, and not on his or her gender.

Muslim women today are still not adequately empowered with respect to :

economic participation and opportunity;
educational attainment;
health; and
political participation.