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In light of the fact that there seem to be some people that believe Islam accords women a 'subhuman' status, I would like to examine some verses from the Qur'an to prove that such an opinion is unfounded, and then insha'Allah to give my understanding of certain ahadith that could appear to be derogatory towards women.
First of all, it would be good to remind ourselves of just how elevated a status women can reach, by examining the story of Mariyam
, the only woman to have a Sura named after her.When a woman of Imran said: My Lord! surely I vow to Thee what is in my womb, to be devoted (to Thy service); accept therefore from me, surely Thou art the Hearing, the Knowing. [Qur'an 3:35, Shakir]
So when she brought forth, she said: My Lord! Surely I have brought it forth a female-- and Allah knew best what she brought forth-- and the male is not like the female, and I have named it Marium, and I commend her and her offspring into Thy protection from the accursed Shaitan. [3:36]
So her Lord accepted her with a good acceptance and made her grow up a good growing, and gave her into the charge of Zakariya; whenever Zakariya entered the sanctuary to (see) her, he found with her food. He said: O Marium! whence comes this to you? She said: It is from Allah. Surely Allah gives to whom He pleases without measure. [3:37]
And when the angels said: O Marium! surely Allah has chosen you and purified you and chosen you above the women of of the world. [3:42]
This is of the announcements relating to the unseen which We reveal to you; and you were not with them when they cast their pens (to decide) which of them should have Marium in his charge, and you were not with them when they contended one with another. [3:44]
When the angels said: O Marium, surely Allah gives you good news with a Word from Him (of one) whose name is the Messiah, Isa son of Marium, worthy of regard in this world and the hereafter and of those who are made near (to Allah). [3:45]
There are several things to note her. First of all, when Mariyam's mother asked Allah for a child to could be devoted to His service, she was clearly expecting to be give a boy, but Allah (swt) chose to give her a girl instead. He then named her, purified her, and protected her and her offspring from Shaytan. He also provided her with food, and put her under the care of a Prophet of God. She was actually considered so special, that lots were drawn to decide who would take charge of her. In addition to all of this, angels would visit her, and told her that she was chosen to give birth to the Messiah `Isa
, who was known as the son of his mother Mariyam.I don't think a more respectful description of a person, male or female, could be given than that given of Mariyam
in the Qur'an. Would anyone honestly say that there is any degrading about this description, or that there is any indication here that she was in any way a 'second class citizen'? Personally, I don't think so.Now that we have established the heights women can reach, we should examine the more general verses in the Qur'an that deal with women, particularly in their relationship with men.
It is made lawful to you to go into your wives on the night of the fast; they are an apparel for you and you are an apparel for them; Allah knew that you acted unfaithfully to yourselves, so He has turned to you (mercifully) and removed from you (this burden); so now be in contact with them and seek what Allah has ordained for you, and eat and drink until the whiteness of the day becomes distinct from the blackness of the night at dawn, then complete the fast till night, and have not contact with them while you keep to the mosques; these are the limits of Allah, so do not go near them. Thus does Allah make clear His communications for men that they may guard (against evil). [2:187]
O you who believe! it is not lawful for you that you should take women as heritage against (their) will, and do not straiten them in order that you may take part of what you have given them, unless they are guilty of manifest indecency, and treat them kindly; then if you hate them, it may be that you dislike a thing while Allah has placed abundant good in it. [4:19]
He it is Who created you from a single being, and of the same (kind) did He make his mate, that he might incline to her; so when he covers her she bears a light burden, then moves about with it; but when it grows heavy, they both call upon Allah, their Lord: If Thou givest us a good one, we shall certainly be of the grateful ones. [7:189]
And Allah has made wives for you from among yourselves, and has given you sons and grandchildren from your wives, and has given you of the good things; is it then in the falsehood that they believe while it is in the favor of Allah that they disbelieve? [16:72]
And one of His signs is that He created mates for you from yourselves that you may find rest in them, and He put between you love and compassion; most surely there are signs in this for a people who reflect. [30:21]
These verses seem to indicate that the proper relationship between a husband and wife should be one of mutual love, support, and compassion.
Both males and females are rewarded for their good deeds in the same way:
Whoever does good whether male or female and he is a believer, We will most certainly make him live a happy life, and We will most certainly give them their reward for the best of what they did. [16:97]
And whoever does good deeds whether male or female and he (or she) is a believer-- these shall enter the garden, and they shall not be dealt with a jot unjustly. [4:124]
O mankind! We have created you from a male and female, and made you into nations and tribes, that you may know one another. Verily, the most honorable of you with Allah is that (believer) who has piety. [49:13]
The Qur'an condemns those who truly treated women as subhuman:
And when a daughter is announced to one of them his face becomes black and he is full of wrath. He hides himself from the people because of the evil of that which is announced to him. Shall he keep it with disgrace or bury it (alive) in the dust? Now surely evil is what they judge. [16:58-59]
And when the female infant buried alive is asked For what sin she was killed, [81:8-9]
The Qur'an commands respect for parents, but especially mentions mothers:
And We have enjoined man in respect of his parents-- his mother bears him with faintings upon faintings and his weaning takes two years-- saying: Be grateful to Me and to both your parents; to Me is the eventual coming. [31:14]
And We have enjoined on man doing of good to his parents; with trouble did his mother bear him and with trouble did she bring him forth; and the bearing of him and the weaning of him was thirty months; until when he attains his maturity and reaches forty years, he says: My Lord! grant me that I may give thanks for Thy favor which Thou hast bestowed on me and on my parents, and that I may do good which pleases Thee and do good to me in respect of my offspring; surely I turn to Thee, and surely I am of those who submit. [46:15]
To be continued, insha'Allah, when I'll try to deal with the verses that are often used to 'prove' that Islam is misogynistic.
