وراثت سے خواتین کی محرومی: دین فہمی ، فقہ اور ثقافتی اثرات کے تناظر میں تجزیاتی مطالعہ

Women's Deprivation from Inheritance: An Analytical Study in the Context of Religious Understanding, Islamic Jurisprudence, and Cultural Influences

Abstract

This study examines the persistent issue of women’s deprivation from inheritance in Muslim societies particularly in Pakistan through the analytical lenses of religious understanding, Islamic jurisprudence, and socio-cultural practices. Although Islamic law clearly establishes women’s right to inheritance, as explicitly articulated in the Qur’an and reinforced by Prophetic traditions, a significant gap remains between normative Islamic teachings and social practice. The research aims to analyze the doctrinal foundations of women’s inheritance rights in Islam, identify the major factors contributing to their deprivation, and propose potential reform measures to address this problem. Adopting a qualitative research methodology, the study relies on textual analysis of Qur’anic verses, Prophetic traditions, classical juristic interpretations, and contemporary legal literature. It also draws on recent survey data and empirical reports from the past fifteen years to highlight the extent of the problem in Pakistan and South Asia. The findings indicate that women’s exclusion from inheritance is not rooted in Islamic law itself but rather in a combination of socio-cultural traditions, patriarchal attitudes, limited religious literacy, and weaknesses in legal implementation. Empirical data further reveal that an overwhelming majority of women in Pakistan do not receive their legally entitled share of property, despite the existence of constitutional and legal safeguards. The study concludes that the deprivation of women from inheritance constitutes both a violation of Islamic principles and a form of social injustice that undermines women’s economic empowerment and family equity. Addressing this issue requires a multidimensional approach involving religious awareness, educational reforms, legal facilitation, and institutional accountability. By bridging the gap between Islamic teachings and societal practice, meaningful progress can be made toward ensuring the rightful inheritance of women and promoting a more just and equitable social order.