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The Wealth Muslim Women Were Promised—And How Culture Buried It

By Daisy Khan

Dec 11, 2025

Muslim women were granted financial independence in the seventh century. They own their earnings, inherit property, control their wealth, and enter marriage as individuals with legal rights. The mahr they receive isn't a formality. It's a binding obligation. Their inheritance isn't negotiable. It's theirs alone.

So why do so many Muslim women remain confused about these rights?

In this episode of WISE Women with Daisy Khan, host Dr. Daisy Khan sits down with Dr. Rabab Gomaa-Razik, a scholar of Islamic law who spent three decades studying what went wrong. Dr. Gomaa-Razik's book, The Wealth of Women: Understanding Islamic Financial Laws, documents the gap between Islamic teachings and the lived reality.

Why Architects Became Advocates  

Both Daisy Khan and Dr. Rabab Gomaa-Razik began as architects before pivoting to community building. Design thinking trains people to look at systems, not just objects. When you apply that mindset to social change, you see human lives as interconnected structures. If one part weakens (like a woman's financial rights in marriage), the whole system becomes unstable. Dr. Gomaa-Razik watched Muslim women struggle with confusion about their financial rights for 30 years. She witnessed men misrepresent these rights within their own communities. She wrote The Wealth of Women to educate women who deserve to know their rights, men who need to understand their responsibilities, and scholars who must revive the original Islamic texts that cultural customs buried by the eighth century.

The Joint Account Trap  

Sophia and her husband earned similar incomes. All funds went into a joint account she couldn't touch without his permission. The account covered household expenses and regular transfers to his family overseas. After learning about her Islamic rights, Sophia suggested a separate account. Her husband threatened to withhold his IRA and their joint home equity. Dana was shamed during the first week of marriage into sharing her paycheck. Her money went into a joint account she wasn't supposed to touch.

She also worked without pay as her husband's career assistant, handling memos, bookkeeping, and presentations. He eventually rose to a top position making $250,000 annually. Dana received nothing for the invisible labor that built his career. The misconception stems from how men grew up. They saw their fathers control their mothers' money. Women slowly lost control over what they owned. Dr. Gomaa-Razik's advice? Open separate accounts at the beginning. After five years of marriage, suggesting a new account feels offensive to men.

Mahr Doesn't Wait Until Divorce  

When a man enters into matrimony in Islam, he must gift the woman he marries. This is mahr, a financial component of the marriage contract that belongs to her absolutely. Here's what most people get wrong. Mahr doesn't have to wait until divorce. Dr. Gomaa-Razik explains that deferred mahr should have a set date. If a husband can't pay immediately, he pays when he becomes financially able. The deferment exists because of current financial hardship, not because payment only happens at divorce.

One woman received a partial diamond ring and was promised $10,000. Her husband, despite being in good financial condition, refused to pay until divorce. Another woman's parents requested $100,000 as mahr. A year later, the husband asked her to forgive the amount. She thought he'd be afraid to divorce her if he owed money, so she gave it up. She didn't understand that he owed it when he could afford it, not only at divorce.

Everything She Earns Belongs to Her  

Every woman in Islam is born with the right to inherit, earn, keep her earnings, spend as she chooses, and invest, rent, sell, or buy property. Her inheritance belongs to her alone. The same applies to her earnings, gifts from parents, or any other money she receives. In Islam, the man is responsible to provide for the woman he marries. This is a contractual liability. Not a favor, not conditional, and not negotiable. Islamic law doesn't change even when women work or earn more than their husbands.

Dr. Gomaa-Razik points to Imam Malik's doctrine of Ked Wesai (labor and contribution). If a woman contributes to the household financially and the marriage ends, she becomes entitled to a share of the estate. If Ked Wesai isn't enforced, that money becomes a debt. He owes it to her. One woman kept records over 20 years of marriage. She fixed the roof for $9,000, repaved for $14,000, and did siding for $16,000. Because it was his home but she had proof of contributions, she received a higher settlement when they divorced.

The Invisible Labor No One Counts  

A woman is not obligated to do domestic work. According to all schools of Islamic thought, cleaning, cooking, and laundry are not her duty to her husband. She does these things out of her own good heart, but they're not obligations. If you calculate the value of a woman's labor (doctor visits, feeding, nursing, childcare) at minimum wage, it totals roughly $60,000 per year. Over 18 years of raising one child, that's $1 million in unpaid labor. Sikina moved into her new home and discovered her mother-in-law had moved in during the first week without her consent. Sikina spent her entire marriage caring for an elderly woman, unable to socialize or participate in community activities. Years later, when Sikina's daughter was about to marry a man whose mother would live with them, Sikina's husband immediately refused. He saw the injustice only when it threatened his daughter. This was a financial right Sikina lost her entire life. The right to a private household.

When Women Control Their Money  

Daisy shares her childhood memory. Her mother never worked but had gold jewelry from her parents. When money ran tight after school expenses, her mother's bangles saved the family. Once, a man offered to sell an almond grove. Her mother took out her giant bangle and bought it without consulting anyone. Years later, when the family faced financial distress, they sold that land for 100 times what she paid. That was a woman making choices that improved her family's standard of living.

Financial empowerment isn't just about money. It's about emotional security, mutual respect, and social stability. When a woman controls her own finances (her mahr, her savings, her income), she can make choices without fear. That confidence changes the tone in her home. Her children see a model of dignity and fairness.

What to Negotiate Before the Wedding  

The marriage contract is a solemn covenant. Material liabilities come with that contract. The husband maintains the household and spends on his wife throughout their marriage. Every woman enters into a marriage contract as an individual legal person with legal identity (this is called zimma). She keeps her inheritance. She keeps her earnings.

Specific steps families can take:

  • Create prenups stating that earnings during the marriage belong to each individual.

  • Attend marriage counseling with an Islamic scholar who can explain the rights of each gender.

  • Open separate bank accounts at the beginning.

  • Fight for inheritance even if it's overseas. It could become your social security if the marriage ends.

  • Set a date for deferred mahr with accountability.

  • Keep records of contributions to household expenses, home repairs, business investments.

Dr. Gomaa-Razik sees hope in the younger generation (ages 25-40). Men in this age group base their understanding on what the faith texts actually say, not cultural practice. They don't allow culture to get in the way.

The Blueprint Still Works  

Muslim women were granted financial independence 1,400 years ago. The structure was sound. Culture weakened it by the eighth century when new social customs subjugated women. Now it's time to rebuild according to the original blueprint. If you're planning a marriage, open that separate bank account before the wedding. If you're a parent, teach your daughters to document every contribution they make to a household. If you're an imam performing nikah ceremonies, spend five minutes explaining zimma and what contractual liability actually means.

Dr. Gomaa-Razik's book, The Wealth of Women, is available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Walmart, and Islamic bookstores. The structure was sound 1,400 years ago. Culture weakened it. Rebuilding starts with one conversation.

This is Wise Women with Daisy Khan because every story matters. The journey ends not with what we acquire but with what we become. The qualities that sustain us through difficulty often become the very gifts we offer to the world. For more such inspiring stories and discussion, like, follow, and connect with Dr Daisy Khan.

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Connect with Dr. Rabab Gomaa:

 Dr. Rabab Gomaa Bio: 

Rabab Gomaa (maiden name Razik), a University of Houston graduate, began her career as an architect. However, over the past 33 years, she has devoted her life to the study and teaching of Islamic Studies. She holds an Islamic Studies degree from Islamic American University, a Master's in Islamic Studies from American Open University, and a PhD in Islamic Law from American University for Human Sciences. Dr. Gomaa has a deeprooted interest in women's studies under Islamic law, general Islamic law, Islamic history, and comparative fiqh. She is a frequent speaker and guest at churches and on interfaith panels, as well as a sought-after speaker at colleges and universities in the Chicagoland area, where she addresses topics such as spirituality, Islamic law, women's rights in Islam and Islamic creed. Her fluency in Arabic enhances her research and communication skills.

Dr. Gomaa is and has served as a member of various institutions. At Northwest Suburban College, she taught courses such as Qur'anic Arabic and Religion in Architecture. She is also affiliated with the Arab Academy for Shari'a Sciences in Beirut, Lebanon, where she specializes in Comparative Fiqh and serves as a PhD Thesis Review Advisor and Academic Dissertation Panelist. She taught Principles of the Islamic Faith at American Open University and recently taught Comparative Fiqh at the Islamic Society of Northwest Suburbs in Rolling Meadows, IL. Dr. Gomaa is actively engaged in teaching at various times of the year in community centers, mosques, and organizations, including the Islamic Foundation in Villa Park and Al-Huda Academy in Schaumburg, IL. Her dedication to teaching and her ability to make learning an enjoyable experience for her students define her teaching philosophy.

Her recent debut book, "The Wealth of Women: Understanding Islamic Financial Laws" summarizes the fiqh opinions of various classical and traditional scholars, and also highlights areas of controversy. The book also features the diverse stories of 21 women, showcasing the extent to which Islamic financial laws are commonly upheld in practice.

Rabab Gomaa-Razik was born in Cairo Egypt and her parents immigrated to the U.S. when she was eight years old. She is married and has four children and four grandchildren. She resides in South Barrington, IL.

 WISE Women with Daisy Khan 

Where Muslim voices rise, bridges are built, and history's unsung heroines reclaim their light.

WISE Women with Daisy Khan gives voice to Muslims sharing their experiences with anti-Muslim bias, educates non-Muslims to become upstanders against discrimination, and spotlights extraordinary women throughout history whose contributions have been erased. We reclaim faith as a force for good while building bridges between East and West—transforming fear into understanding, one conversation at a time.

In a world where misinformation silences too many voices, we break through the noise by creating space for authentic dialogue. Muslims share their experiences, grievances, and hope for a better future, turning pain into a powerful conversation that demands to be heard.

Our episodes are designed to educate and empower non-Muslims to reject stereotyping and discrimination when they see it. We believe understanding begins with listening, so we challenge disinformation with knowledge and empathy, equipping people to become courageous upstanders.

We revive the legacy of luminary women who shaped civilizations yet were erased from history's

pages—a reminder that women have always been shapers of civilizations, despite attempts to erase their contributions.

At its heart, WISE Women confronts the distortion and weaponization of religion for political gain, reclaiming faith as a force for justice, equality, and empowerment.

This isn't just another podcast—it's a bridge between communities taught to fear each other, between the world as it is and the world as it could be. We're opening hearts and minds, building the understanding our divided world desperately needs.

Welcome to WISE Women. Where wisdom meets courage, and voices become bridges.

News [Source: CBS Evening News]

A man sent a hateful message to a Muslim candidate. He responded with a call for help, article by Steve Hartman

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/a-man-sent-a-hateful-message-to-a-muslim-candidate-he-responded-with-a-call-to-help/

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