A survey conducted in January 2017 revealed that almost 80% of women are not getting their legal share in the inheritance. Majority of women who get their inheritance they transfer their share to their husband or husband’s family. So ultimately, they own nothing. World Bank reports that women in around half of the countries of the world do not control or manage their land even if they somehow receive ownership rights thus making them socially, economically, and politically subservient to men. For example, only 37 out of 161 countries surveyed have definite laws granting equal rights for both genders to own, use, and manage land.
In Islam, men and women both have rights, including but not limited to working, acquiring wealth, possession of the property. Women are entitled to acquire property through purchase, inheritance, gifts, will, etc. The Quran declares: “For men, there is a share from what their parents and close relatives leave, and for women, there is a share from what their parents and close relatives leave, be it little or considerable; a definite share.” Quran 4:7
Why Pakistanis, although clear instructions in Islam, do not give rights to women? The answer is the culture and traditions of the sub-continent. Patriarchy, feudal, tribal, and capitalist social constructions made it worst. In addition, most of the women in this conservative society have to maintain the so-called ‘honour’ of their families by limiting their socioeconomic mobility and political/cultural association.
In agricultural land women almost own little to no land in Pakistan. According to a survey conducted by the United Nations in rural areas of Punjab in 2014, showed that only 36 women out of a thousand surveyed households had entitlement to ownership and out of these only 9 had the power to sell or trade without the permission of their male relatives.
The significance of the right to land is acknowledged in Islam and now globally people believe that securing land rights are essential for women’s economic empowerment. Inheritance could be in the form of land or money both but we are talking about giving women the foundation for their financial stability. If women who comprises half of our population will have financial stability it will be beneficial for our country’s growth. On the other hand, exclusion of right to ownership and right to control land further promotes patriarchy and poverty.
We have to end the customs and cultural practices and promote awareness among the families to allow women to own and control land, and amongst women themselves to demand right to own and control land.