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inheritance. She was even inherited just like property. However,
inheritance among the Hebrews largely follows lines of descent
within the family. From this rule, it follows that males are
preferred to females as heirs since the line of descent is
patrilineal. " 1 However, in a later time, Hebrews gave the woman a
share in her father's inheritance if the father had no male children.
And, in, such a case, the woman who inherited must get married to a man
of her father's tribe or clan. The idea behind that was to keep the
properties of the children of Jews for themselves and not to allow the
properties of one tribe to be transferred to another. However, a wife
was not allowed to have a share in her husband's inheritance; she was
to be inherited just like her husband's inheritance. In general.
the woman's status in many ancient nations was such that the woman's
rights were denied for the most part; her position was so weak that
she was not even able to defend her humanity or her rights,
and she had no right to inherit or to run property. Now, we must pause
to ask, what is Islam's position regarding the economic affairs of the
woman ? Did Islam change the practices which prevailed in the
pre-Islamic era ? Did Islam give the woman the right to inherit and to
run, property
Islam strengthened the woman's position. gave her new rights, and
a share in the inheritance. The Qurlan has laid down the general
principle of the woman's right to inherit in this verse:
"From what is left by parents and those nearest
related. there is a share for men and a share
for women, whether the property be small or large,
a determinate share. " 2
See Abd. &l4tl* op. cit.. P. 250
2. Q 4,7
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