THE King's historic decision to give women a chance to become full members of the Shoura Council and allow them to vote and stand for municipal elections is a great victory for Saudi women. The decision will allow the country to benefit from the expertise of educated Saudi women who have excelled in various fields. Their participation in the Shoura and regional councils will enable them to raise issues affecting women. Of course, all this will be in the best interests of the country. It is indisputable that the decision is rooted in the rules of Allah's Shariah and the Prophet's Sunnah. It also reflects the respect that ancestors had bestowed on women as decreed by the Almighty Allah. In the early history of Islam there were numerous woman scholars who played very significant roles in the Muslim world. There were women scholars in the fields of religion, literature and medicine. Ayesha, the Prophet's (peace be upon him) wife, was among the most famous Muslim scholars. Not only was she very intelligent, she was also considered to be one of the most important scholars of Hadith. In the pre-Islamic era, Arab societies deprived women of the most basic human rights required for human existence. The practice of female infanticide was widely practiced by some Arab tribes. The first and most significant contribution of Islam to women was to elevate their social status to be that of men. Aside from this, they were also given equal spiritual status. Islam has given women the right to work, own property and wealth. Women can seek employment and work in professions in medical care, teaching, civil service and other jobs. This shows that King Abdullah, Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, has given Saudi women a victory in accordance with the jurisdiction of the Islamic Shariah and Prophet's Sunnah. __
