Gender equality in Islam
Harsh reality of woman's status is encapsulated for non-muslim consumption.
JPR's note:
The writer Syed conveniently forgot to mention a couple of things and positively avoided the issue within the framework of gender equality.
1: If a man can have four wives, why can't a woman have four husbands?
2: If a woman has to be wrapped in burka face, foot and everything inbetween, why should not a man be wrapped in burka face, foot and ugly corpulent body?
3: If a man can divorce a woman by mere utterance, why can't a woman do the same?
4: Women are degraded by sexual slavery in harems ( incidence much less now)
5:Shariah endorses superiority of men over women.
6: A muslim man can marry a woman outside his religion without demanding conversion.
7: A Muslim woman can marry only a muslim man.
8: Because men have testes or cojones, the weight of their testimony is twice that of women.
9: A woman with extramarital affair is condemned to punishment in this life and in the next life too.
10:Obedience is demanded of a woman by the husband; the reverse is not true.
11: A woman's contact is with the close relatives; man's physical and visual contacts can be widespread.
12: Travel and having guests is unrestricted for a man; it is not so for a woman.
13: Woman may receive corporal punishment from her husband for transgressions. (one-way spousal abuse)
14: Woman and children are chattel for practical purposes: Afghan men sell children for food- it is a shame; the world hasn't done enough for them. What are the Saudis doing- building madrasas and ignoring hungry children?
Now read the blurb on gender equality in Islam.
By Syed Imad-ud-Din Asad
It is a general belief in the West that in the eyes of Islam woman is inferior to man. This is due to their
lack of access to the Quran and the Traditions. In fact, Islam is the only system which contains
provisions that ensure equality between man and woman. However, the distinction between equality
and similarity must be kept in mind. Man and woman have been created equal, not identical.
In Islam, the rights and responsibilities of a woman are equal to those of a man, but they are not
necessarily the same. Both have been fashioned differently from each other,so their roles are also
different. The variation in their functions does not imply that one is inferior to the other. Let us have a
brief look at the various aspects of the equality of sexes in Islam.
1. Equal Spiritual Status: The highest favour which God has bestowed upon man is the gift of Divine
Revelation. In the Quran we find women to whom Divine Revelation came and who have been
spoken of along with men: "And when the angels said: O'Mary, Allah has chosen thee and purified
thee and chosen thee above the women of the world." (3:41).
"When We revealed to thy mother what was revealed." (20:38) "And We revealed to Moses'
mother..." (28:7)
The Quran speaks of the great prophets of God, saying: "And mention Abraham in the Book."
(19:41). "And mention Moses in the Book." (19:51). A woman is spoken of in exactly the same
manner: "And mention Mary in the Book." (19:61)
2. Equal Bestowal of Rewards: The Quran makes no difference between man and woman regarding
the bestowal of reward for the good deed performed by him or her: "Whoever does good, whether
male or female, and is a believer, We will certainly make him live a happy life, and We will certainly
give them their reward for the best of what they did." (16:97)
"Surely the men who submit and the women who submit; and the believing men and the believing
women; and the obeying men and the obeying women; and the truthful men and the truthful women;
and the patient men and the patient women; and the humble men and the humble women; and the
charitable men and the charitable women; and the fasting men and the fasting women; and the men
who guard their chastity and the women who guard their chastity; and the men who remember Allah
and the women who remember - Allah has prepared for them forgiveness and a mighty reward."
(33:35)
3. Equal Right to Education: Woman is equal to man in the pursuit of education and knowledge. When
Islam enjoins the seeking of knowledge upon the Muslims, it makes no distinction between man or
woman. Muhammad, the Messenger of God, (peace be upon him) declared that the pursuit of
knowledge is incumbent on every Muslim male and female.
4. Equal Right to Inherit: Man and woman have been given equal right to inherit from the parents and
the near relatives: "Men shall have a portion of what the parents and the near relatives leave, and
women shall have a portion of what the parents and the near relatives leave..." (4:7)
A woman's right to inherit is as much protected by the law as that of a man. If the deceased wishes to
deprive her by making a will in favour of other relations or any other cause, the law will not allow it.
However, it must be remembered that whereas the right to inherit of both man and woman is equal,
their shares in the inheritance may differ. In certain cases, a woman gets half of what a man in her
position would get. The cause of this variation is the financial responsibilities and liabilities with which
only man has been burdened, not woman.
As compared to man, woman is financially secure and provided for. If she is a wife, her husband is the
provider; if she is a mother, it is the son; if she is a daughter, it is the father; if she is a sister, it is the
brother; and so on. If she has no relations, then it is the responsibility of the Islamic state to maintain
her. In no case she will be left helpless. Whereas a man, except in one or two exceptional cases, is
supposed to not only look after his family and other needy relations, but also to make financial
contributions to good causes in the society. Thus, a larger share in inheritance does not depict the
supremacy of man over woman, but it is rather a concession granted to him in lieu of his financial
burden.
5. Equal Right to Earn: Islam has granted man and woman equal rights to contract, to enterprise, and
to earn and possess independently. The Quran says: "...For men is the benefit of what they earn. And
for women is the benefit of what they earn. And ask Allah of His grace..." (4:32)
6. Equal Freedom of Expression: Man and woman are equally entitled to freedom of expression.
Women not only expressed their opinion freely, but also argued and participated in serious discussions
with the Prophet and other Muslim leaders. There were occasions when women expressed their views
on legislative matters of public interest, and stood in opposition to the Caliphs, who then accepted the
sound arguments of these women.
7. Equal Civil & Criminal Liability: In the eyes of Islam, a woman's life, property, and honour are as
sacred as those of a man. If she commits an offence, her penalty is no less or more than a man's in a
similar case. If she is wronged or harmed, she gets due compensation, equal to what a man in her
position would get.
Conclusion: The verdict of Islam on the inter se status of man and woman is the only complete, logical,
and practical declaration pertaining to the matter. The approach of Islam towards defining the
positions of man and woman is unique, as it always handles the issue by making a distinction between
equality and sameness.
The misconception in the minds of the westerners that in an Islamic society man is superior to woman,
is partly due to the fact that they consider similarity as equality, and partly due to the irresponsible
attitude of some Muslims. Just because the Muslim woman is not supposed to perform certain tasks
as the Muslim man does, it does not mean that she is less important than him. They are not subject to
the same obligations and rights, because they were never created the same. Greatness does not lie for
man in mimicking woman, nor does it lie for woman in mimicking man: but in being content in what
one is, and by using one's faculties for the greater benefit of mankind. |
