Islam's Big Mistake: How Women Came to Be Treated

The Reality for Women in Arabia

Redefining women's rights within the customs of the time
People say Muhammad oppressed women. But the truth is a bit different. In Arabia at that time, some tribes even had a custom of burying baby girls alive. Women had almost no inheritance or rights.

Women's Inheritance Rights and Consent to Marriage

Recognition as economic actors and the importance of willing marriage
Muhammad changed these customs. He protected daughters' lives and gave women the right to inherit. He also said consent was needed for marriage. His first wife, Khadijah, was a major merchant, and he didn't stop her business.

The Original Intent vs. Later Interpretation

The hijab: from a symbol of protection to a forced rule, and the value of freedom
The hijab, too, was originally a symbol of modesty and protection. But through later interpretation and local customs, it hardened into a compulsory rule. That's where Islam's big mistake lies. Muhammad's original intent wasn't to bind women, but to loosen their restrictions at least a little by the standards of his time. So today we should respect women more and let them be freer.