Historical background of Muslim Women in India with their Islamic Rights

In the present paper, Researcher tries to explore the political, socio-economic and legal position of Muslim women within a historical framework beginning with the evolution of Islam in India. The main emphasizes of the present paper is the complex diversity of women in Muslim communities and the range of factors influencing their status. The Researcher traces the developments in discourses of the rights of Muslim women from the 12th century (beginning of Islam in India) to the present day. Muslim women’s contributions, successes and failures within the women’s movement are outlined, as well as the formidable challenges they face as members of India’s largest religious minority community after independence. Actually, we think that women are liberated and that the women’s liberation movement began in the 20th century, but according to Islam, the women’s liberation movement was not begun by women but was revealed by God to a man Prophet Muhammad. The Quran and the traditions of the Prophet are the sources from which every Muslim Woman derives her rights. So, Islamic theory accepted social equality to men and women but does not allow women to have equal participation in religious field.  Example, Islamic marriage is a contract, still it does not give equal rights to men and women, polygamy is allowed and easy divorce is granted to the husband only. The middle class Muslim Women are not allowed to participate in social activities and they are expected to observe Pardah especially while moving in the streets. The paper is based on information collected from secondary sources, and analysis is more from a gender rights perspective with a historical and political background.