WOMEN'S RIGHT OF INHERITANCE IN THE BIBLE AND THE QURAN: A COMPARATIVE STUDY

Abstract

The purpose of this research paper is to analysis Women's rights of inheritance in the holy book of Bible and the holy Quran. The holy Bible (Old Testament and New Testament) and the holy Quran are considered as revealed books by their respective followers. The paper will enable the readers to know that it was the holy Bible that entitled daughter(s) to inheritance, provided that they had no brothers; although other aspects of women's life i.e. mother(s), sister(s) and wife/wives have not been discussed. However, this gap was filled by the holy Quran, the last and the final revealed book. Thus religion, particularly, the revealed religions, gave women their right of inheritance, according to their role and responsibilities of their time in the society. A comparative study of the topic concerned will enable the readers to understand the similarities and differences between the two. Moreover, the article will enable the readers to understand how religion encourages and endorses the genuine demands of women for their rights. The readers will come to know how the final revealed book i.e. the holy Quran gives equal right of inheritance to women. The research is divided into four parts. Part one explores, what legal inheritance is? And explains a brief background of inheritance. Part 2nd deals with inheritance (both theological and legal) in general, and with women's right of inheritance, particularly, in the holy book of Bible. Part three is about women's right of inheritance in the holy Quran, (Surah Nisaa). The last but not the least is the concluding portion of the paper which discusses the similarities and differences between the Bible and the Quran, in terms of women's right of inheritance, followed by a conclusion.