The status of women in the Arab world has remained virtually unchanged for the past century. Whereas Western women benefitted from a liberation movement in the twentieth century that elevated their status in the home and society, the Arabic culture continues to encourage the oppression of women. Arab society is largely patriarchal, which means whether it be government or the family, women's discrimination begins in the home and continues throughout school and marriage. Unfortunately, only a few women find the courage to fight back against a society that punishes them for the simple fact of being a woman. The main impediment to Arab women's progress is Islam; religious law governs the most important aspects of women's lives. Although there is a great degree of diversity of social conditions in the Arab world, the experience of Iranian and Palestinian women illustrates the extent of gender discrimination and mistreatment in this culture.
The foundation of the religion of Islam is the Holy Qur'an. A connection exists between religious doctrine and social ethics in the Holy Qur'an because one of the goals of Islam is the establishment of a holy, organized society. Ideally, this society would be based on eternal principles of righteousness and fair dealing, cleanliness and sobriety, honesty and helpfulness. The moral code in the Qur'an is an attempt to put these principles into concrete form, to create a complete system of religion that suits the times and circumstances, and the varying needs of the average individual. The laws governing human conduct in the Qur'an define both social and economic justice, and the pursuit of a good life in society: "Minorities, women, and slaves are the groups that have historically constituted a challenge and a limitation to Islam's claim to universality and equality" (Mernissi 44).
The Qur'anic code of social ethics sets forth spiritual guidelines regarding lawful and unlawful actions, a...