The image of the typical Muslim woman wearing the veil, forced to stay home, and forbidden to drive is all too common in most peoples' thoughts.

　　The status of women in Islam is often the target of attacks in the secular media. The ‘Hijab,’ or Islamic dress code for women, is cited by many as an example of the ‘subjugation’ of women under Islamic law. Before mentioning the reasoning behind the religiously mandated Hijab, let us first study the status of women in societies before the advent of Islam.

　　In the past, women were degraded and generally used as objects of lust.

　　The following are examples from history which amply illustrate the fact that the status of women in earlier civilisations was very low, to the extent that they were denied basic human dignity:

　　A. Roman civilisation:

　　When Roman Civilisation was at the zenith of its ‘glory’, a man even had the right to unjustifiably take the life of his wife. Prostitution and nudity were common practice amongst the Romans.

　　D.