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the Islamic system for sharing out an inheritance appears fair; Islam
has also given her the right to run her financial affairs as she likes;
she can buy and sell, she can own property, she can trade and increase
her wealth by any lawful means, whether she is single or married. Here,
it must be pointed out that she even keeps her own maiden (family)
name without taking her husbands name after the marriage. She has no
legal obligation to spend her own'money on her family unless she wants
to. If so, she can, providin& that she is sufficiently mature and
consents freely. An example of such women was that of ciisha,
Prophet's wife who pressed forward with emancipating Bar: Y'rah; she paid
360 Dirham from her own money to the 'lords of that slave to set her
free from slavery,
1
Another example was that of Khadija, the
Prophet's first wife, who gave up her slave. Zayd Bin Frarithah to the
Prophet.
2
In conclusion, Islam has given, the woman the complete freedom
to run her own property, as long as she consents, she has the right
to contract, to fulfill her obligations to own and to run her property.
The fourth exception is women as Heads of State. Islam does not
deny the woman's right to work as long as her work is suitable for her
as a female and within the Islamic traditions, and laws. For instance,
without any suitable mixing with men and as long as she wears Islamic
dress. Moreover, the 'Haiafitescholars agreed that a woman is fib to
be a judge.
3
However, there are certain jobs or positions which
Islam hgave the right solely to men to practice and not women, for
example, the position of Head of States This headship is not merely a
symbol but entails tremendous responsibilities and difficulties. The
Head of State in Islam, specially in early Islam, is the chief of
1. See'c., Arafaiopcit.
2. Ibid
e. P. 171
3. a1-Si i. Mustara. al-M2ah Bayn al Fiqh wa al-QanZ7n, P. 39
00-
I
the
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