Women’s Land Rights across Major Religions in Pakistan: A Comparative Analysis of Islam, Hinduism, Christianity, and Sikhism

Abstract

This research paper conducts a comprehensive examination of the core principles within Islam, Hinduism, Christianity, and Sikhism that influence women’s rights to land ownership, situated within the complex socio-cultural context of Pakistan, highlighting both shared values and notable distinctions. To accomplish this objective, the research primarily employs primary sources, concentrating on the sacred texts of these four major religions: the Quran, the Rig Veda, the Bible, and the Granth Sahib. Each of these texts offers distinct insights into the role of women concerning land ownership. These and the other primary sources, along with secondary data, are analysed through qualitative content analysis, employing a directed approach to verify, nullify, or complement the claim that “religion makes provision for women’s rights to acquire, use or inherit property.” The findings indicate that the principles of Islam, Hinduism, and Christianity confer certain rights to women regarding property ownership. In contrast, Sikhism does not have specified religious laws to regulate women’s land rights.