Summary: One issue that comes up quite often in discussions about Islam is the role of women in the faith ndash; with many non-Muslims wondering if women are seen as ldquo;second class citizensrdquo; in the religion. While it is true there are some Muslim countries where women have very little, if any, rights. That can also be said of some non-Muslim countries. Within the Islamic tradition women often had important roles to play. In fact it was Muhammadrsquo;s first wife, Khadija, who encouraged the Prophet to do Allahrsquo;s work. She was, in many ways, the first Muslim. During the Prophetrsquo;s time women also fought on the battlefield along side men and took part in commercial transactions. Muhammadrsquo;s wife, Aisha, is considered one of the most important transmitters of the hadith ndash; or sayings of the Prophet. And one school of Islamic law even says women can serve as judges. There are verses in the Qurrsquo;an which, if taken literally or out of context, can be seen as portraying women as less then men. But there are also other verses that give women status equal to that of men.
