Equality of Men and Woman in Islam, and their complementary nature to one another
In one sense, equality between men and women is possible and
reasonable because they are both human, with similar souls,
brains, hearts, lungs, limbs, etc. In another sense, equality
between men and women is impossible and an absurdity due to
their natural differences in physical, mental, emotional and
psychological qualities, inclinations and abilities. Between
these two we must tread to illuminate how they are equal, and
how they are complimentary.
If total equality between all members of the same gender is
impossible due to natural differences in strengths and other
qualities, regardless of whether the gender is masculine or
feminine, then it is definitely impossible between the two
genders. Allah, the Exalted and Almighty, says in the Glorious
Qur'an:
(And of everything We have created pairs, that you may remember
(the Grace of Allah).)
[51:49]
Even atoms exhibit this dual quality with inter-related and
complementary roles played by the positive and negative
particles and ions, yet each is an integral part of the whole
system of the so called binary basis of all life. Most living
beings have male and female sexes for reproduction. As the
science of biology teaches us, all mammals have similar traits
in their molecular and glandular structures that determine
differences in gender. These basic physical, psychological and
sexual traits have their definite effects on other spheres of
life.
It is natural for a man to need and find fulfillment with a
woman and for a woman with a man, since they are created one
from the other and for one another. They both are inseparably
bound to each other. Neither can they find fulfillment except
when in the company of the other as legal and honorable mate and
spouse, as Allah (The Almighty) says in His Majestic Book, the
Qur'an, mentioned in the two verses cited in the preface:
(O Mankind! We have created you from a male and a female, and
made you into nations and tribes, that you may know one another.
Verily, the most honorable of you in the Sight of Allah is the
believer who has Taqwa (piety and righteousness). Verily, Allah
is All-Knowing, All-Aware.)
[49:13]
In many instances Islam treats women as equals to men. Some of
them are given below. In the coming sections we will expand on
these themes in various contexts throughout the book.
1) Eqaulity in Basic Humanity
Both the male and the female are equal in terms of their
humanity. Islam does not categorize women, for instance, as the
source of evil in the world for some & original sin that caused
Adam (Peace be Upon Him) to be dismissed from Paradise, or to be
the cause of evil in the world by setting loose a Pandora's box
of vices, as some other religious doctrines and fables teach.
Allah, the Exalted and Almighty, states in the Glorious Qur'an:
(O mankind! Be dutiful to your Lord, Who created you from a
single person (Adam), and from him (Adam) He created his wife
(Eve), and from them both He created many men and women...)
[4:1]
Allah also states in the Glorious Qur'an:
(Does man think that he will be left neglected without being
punished or rewarded for the obligatory duties enjoined by his
Lord (Allah) on him? Was he not a mixed male and female
discharge of semen pouring forth? Then he became a clot; then
(Allah) shaped and fashioned (him) in due proportion, and made
him into two sexes, male and female. Is He not able to raise to
life those who are dead?)
[75:36-40]
Allah illustrated in the verses that He created both sexes from
one single source. There is no difference between the two sexes
in terms of qualifications in humanity, and each complements the
other as the two genders of the species. Islam has abolished and
abrogated all the previous unjust laws that demoted women as
inferior in quality and nature. The Prophet of Allah (Peace be
Upon Him) said:
Verily, women are the twin halves of men.
[Abu Dawood #234 , Tirmidhi #113 & others]
2) Equality in Religious Obligations
Equal religious duties and rituals are required from both women
and men. Testimony of Faith (Shahaadah), Prayer (Salah),
Obligatory Charity (Zakah), Fasting (Saum), and Pilgrimage
(Hajj) are equally required of both genders. In some cases the
requirements are a bit easier on women to alleviate their
special cases of hardship. For instance, in consideration of her
health and physical condition, menstruating women or a woman in
the state of postnatal bleeding and recuperation are absolved
from the duty of prayers and fasting. She is required to make up
the days of fasting missed due to menses and postnatal bleeding,
but not her prayers, as that would be too burdensome.
3) Equality in Rewards and Punishments
Both males and females have similar rewards for obedience and
penalties for disobedience in this world and the Hereafter. As
stated by Allah in the Glorious Qur'an:
(Whoever does righteous acts, whether male or female, while he
is a believer, verily, to him We will give a good life, and We
shall pay them certainly a reward in proportion to the best of
what they used to do.)
[16:97]
And the Lord Most Majestic says:
(Surely for men who submit to Allah and for women who submit to
Allah, for believing men and for believing women, for devout men
and devout women, for truthful men and truthful women, for
steadfast men and steadfast women, for humble men and humble
women, for charitable men and charitable women, for fasting men
and fasting women, for men who guard their chastity and women
who guard their chastity, for men who remember Allah much and
for women who remember Allah much, for all of them Allah has
prepared forgiveness and a mighty reward.)
[33:35]
4) Equality in Preservation of Honor and Nobility
Women have the same moral obligations and are entitled to the
same general rights as men in guarding chastity, integrity and
personal honor and respect, etc. No double standards are
allowed. For instance, those who falsely accuse a chaste woman
of adultery or fornication are publicly punished, just as if a
man is slandered. Allah, the Exalted, states in the Glorious
Qur'an:
(And those who accuse chaste women, and produce not four
witnesses, flog them with eighty lashes, and reject their
testimony forever. Indeed, they are those who are disobedient to
Allah.)
[24:4]
5) Equality in Financial Dealings and Property Ownership
Women are equally qualified and allowed to engage in financial
dealings and property ownership. According to Islamic law women
can own, buy, sell and undertake any financial transaction
without the need for guardianship, and without any restrictions
or limitations - a situation unheard of in many societies until
modern times.
6) Best of you is the Best to his Womenfolk
Islam indicates that a man who honors, respects and deals with
women justly and integrally, possesses a healthy and righteous
personality, whereas a man who mistreats them is an unrighteous
and unrespectable man. The Prophet of Allah (Peace be Upon Him)
said:
The most complete believer is the best in character, and the
best of you is the best to his womenfolk.
[Tirmidhi #1162 and verified]
7) Equality in Education and Cultivation
Islam entitles women to the same rights as men in terms of
education and cultivation. The Prophet of Allah (Peace be Upon
Him) said, as reported and authenticated by the scholars of
prophetic traditions:
Seeking knowledge is compulsory for each and every Muslim (i.e.
both male and female).
[Ibn Majah #224 al-Baihaqi and verified]
Muslim scholars collectively agreed that the word Muslim when
used in revealed scriptures includes both male and female, as we
indicated in parenthesis. Thus, Islam entitles women to the same
right of education in order to understand the religious and
social obligations, and obligated them both to raise their
children in the best manner, in accordance with the right
Islamic guidance. Of course women have certain obligations in
bringing up their children that are commensurate to their
abilities and men have complementary obligations to finance,
protect and maintain according to their added responsibilities
in the family unit.
The Prophet (Peace be Upon Him) said:
Whoever takes care of two girls until they reach puberty, he and
I will come on the Day of Resurrection like this.” The Messenger
of Allah (peace be upon him) then joined his fingers to
illustrate this.
[Muslim #2631]
About female slave girls, the Prophet of Allah (Peace be Upon
Him) said:
Whoever has a female child with him (under his guardianship from
slavery), and trains her in the best behavior, and teaches her
well, and then frees and marries her, will have a double reward.
[Bukhari #97 & Muslim #154 ]
8) Equality in Social Responsiblities
Men and women have similar obligations and responsibilities to
reform and correct the society to the best of their capability.
Men and women shoulder the responsibility of enjoining good and
forbidding evil equally, as Allah, the Exalted, states in the
Qur'an:
(The believers, men and women, are helpers, supporters, friends
and protectors of one another, they enjoin all that is good, and
forbid all that is evil, they offer their prayers perfectly, and
give Zakah (Obligatory Charity) and obey Allah and His
Messenger. Allah will bestow Mercy on them. Surely Allah is
All-Mighty, All-Wise.)
[9:71]
9) Right to Receive Fair Share of Wealth
Men and women have set and determined rights to receive their
fair share of wealth, just as they are obliged to give Zakah
(Obligatory Charity) according to the set calculation. All
Muslim scholars unanimously agree upon this. A woman has her set
share of inheritance, as will be discussed in more detail later,
which was a right unthinkable in many societies.
Allah (The Almighty) says:
(There is a share for men from what is left by parents and those
closely related, and there is a share for women from what is
left by parents and those closely related, whether the wealth be
small or large: a legal mandatory share.)
[4:7]
10) A woman, just like a man, can give someone the right of seeking refuge and security among the Muslims
Allah, the Exalted, says:
(And if one of the polytheists seeks refuge, give him until he
hears the words of Allah, then take him to his place of
security.)
The Messenger of Allah (Peace be Upon Him) said:
And the protection of Muslims is one, and the least among them
can give protection; and whoever usurps the right of a Muslim
then the curse of Allah and His angels and all the people is
upon him, and no repentance or ransom will be accepted from him
[Bukhari #3008]
This is also proven by the famous story of Um Hani' (Mother of
Hani') when she gave protection to a polytheist who sought
refuge with her on the day of the conquest of Makkah after her
relative threatened to kill that person (for some past enmity)
so the Messenger of Allah (Peace be Upon Him) said,
We protect and give asylum to whomever you give asylum O Um Hani'.
[Bukhari #350]
These are just some of the rights, mentioned here as examples in
a summarized way to indicate the comprehensive nature of the
Islamic jurisprudence.
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