The Holy Quran, as a guiding light, leads humanity on the path of justice and wisdom. This divine scripture, with rulings revealed within various historical and social contexts, continually requires contemplation and reconsideration to address the increasing needs of human societies. Although divine laws are rooted in the infinite wisdom of God, they acquire meaning within the framework of social subjects and conditions. This treatise, by a profound examination of the eleventh verse of Surah An-Nis, explores the question of how social transformationsespecially regarding the status of womennecessitate a re-evaluation of inheritance laws. Employing scientific perspectives and reflections on historical contexts, it endeavours to reinterpret the spirit and message of this verse in the present era.
This verse, addressing inheritance laws, was revealed within a context in which women in the Jahiliyyah society were deprived of any inheritance rights. The Holy Quran, by allocating women half the share of men, took a significant step towards social justice. However, the contemporary social contextwhere women participate alongside men in education, employment, and social rolesraises the question of whether this ruling remains just. Social transformations, like a roaring river, have surpassed previous boundaries and revealed the necessity of revisiting these laws.
Religious rulings, like a mirror reflecting social reality, change as their subjects evolve. For example, previously, the making of idols was prohibited due to their worship; however, modern dolls, which are merely entertainment tools, are exempt from this ruling. This change, akin to a transformation from the darkness of ignorance to the light of play and creativity, illustrates the impact of the nature of the subject on religious law. Dolls, once symbols of disbelief, have now become instruments for nurturing childrens imagination.
In pre-Islamic societies, women, like marginalised beings, were deprived of fundamental rights and sometimes regarded on par with animals. They were not only excluded from inheritance but were also subjected to stringent protections indicative of their social weakness. The Holy Quran, by granting women inheritance rights, took a monumental step towards justice. Today, women shine like stars in the sky of society; educated, employed, and in some fields even pioneering men. This transformation, like a breeze reshaping the face of the earth, renders the reconsideration of prior rulings imperative.
Religious sciences, which ought to be like a flowing spring responding to the needs of the era, have sometimes fallen prey to superficiality. The absence of scholarly and research institutions capable of analysing subjects and updating rulings has rendered jurisprudence powerless in the face of social changes. Ijtihd, which functions as a bridge between the past and present, requires profound analysis of social and historical contexts, akin to the interpretation derived from a complex dream. The lack of such an approach has left religious understanding vulnerable to unscientific interpretations.
Traditional rulings, such as the diyah (blood money) value that regards a womans worth as half that of a man, have been criticised and ridiculed in the modern context. These rulings, which were just in a specific historical context, no longer correspond with current social realities. Women who today head households and work in demanding professions such as piloting and truck driving deserve equal rights. Traditional justifications, such as maintenance payments or dowry, pale in the face of these realities.
The Holy Quran, by emphasising the unity of the human soul, negates any discrimination based on gender or race. Humanity, like a mighty tree, maintains unity of root despite diverse branches. External differences, such as beauty or strength, cannot serve as a basis for discrimination in rights. Women, who today excel in fields of science, sport, and society, bear witness to this unity.
Traditional interpretations that label women as deficient in intellect or long-haired animals stem from cultural prejudices rather than religious truth. These superstitions, like a veil of dust over the mirror of truth, have obscured the correct understanding of the Holy Quran. Religion is a rational and social methodology that must be accompanied by logic and justice, not baseless prejudices.
For dynamism and responsiveness to the needs of the time, religion requires scientific institutions. Jurisprudential laboratories for analysing subjects and criteria, grooming centres for eliminating superstitions, and birthplaces for producing novel rulings are indispensable. Without these institutions, religion risks falling into obsolescence and superficiality.
In some societies, women actively participate in worship and religious preaching, demonstrating equality in religious roles. This experience, like a mirror, reflects the necessity of reconsidering traditional limitations. Religion must be a rational methodology reflecting justice and fairness in all dimensions.
The eleventh verse of Surah An-Nis, like a torch in the darkness of ignorance, granted inheritance rights to women. However, the current social context, in which women partake equally with men in education, employment, and household leadership, renders the reconsideration of this ruling imperative. Religious sciences, to remain dynamic, require research institutions to harmonise rulings with social realities. Religion is a rational and social methodology that must be cleansed of superstitions and adorned with justice. This treatise, by reflecting upon inheritance laws and social transformations, paves the way for a novel understanding of the Holy Quran.
Supervised by Sadegh Khademi
