The Islamic Revolution’s Impact on the
Women of Islam
The Five Pillars of Islam
1: Shahadah- profession of faith. “There is no God but God and Muhammad is the Messenger of God.”
2: Salah- prayer.
3: Zakat- almsgiving- 2.5% of individual’s total net worth
4: Sawm- fasting during the holy month of Ramadan
5: Hajj- pilgrimage to Makkah
(one)
Iran Before the Revolution: The Pahlavi Era
1925-1979
Education was both free for men and women
In 1963, women acquired suffrage and the ability to run for parliament Women won the right to file for divorce and gain custody of their children Men had to have sufficient reasoning for divorce and could no longer automatically gain custody of their children
Marriage age for girls was raised from 13 to 18
(three)
Statistics Before the Revolution
1/3 of all university students were women
333 women were elected onto local councils
22 women sat in parliament
Two million women were in the work force with more than
146,000 of them being in civil service
(three)
The Hijab
women are required to observe the hijab in front of any man they could theoretically marry.
does not need to be worn in front of other Muslim women
Some Muslim women wear full-body garments that only expose their eyes. Some cover every part of the body except their face and hands. Some believe only their hair or their cleavage is compulsory to hide, and others do not observe any special dress rules.
Iran After the Revolution
Family Protection Law was suspended
Women could only file for divorce if it was agreed upon in