In the Name of Allah the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful
Equality between male and female:
Dear brothers and sisters, women in Islam are equal to men in so many aspects:
1- Equality in humanity:
Women have feelings, personal status, and special characters, Allah says:
(O mankind! Be dutiful to your Lord, Who created you from a single person (Adam))
[Al Nisaa, 1]
“O mankind” means men and women.
As men feel, women feel too, as men level up to values, women also do, and as men can achieve heroism, women can, too. Hence, men and women are created from one soul.
As men feel, women feel too, as men level up to values, women also do, and as men can achieve heroism, women can, too. Hence, men and women are created from one soul.
(and from him (Adam) He created his wife [Hawwa (Eve)], and from them both He created many men and women and fear Allah through Whom you demand your mutual (rights), and (do not cut the relations of) the wombs (kinship) . Surely, Allah is Ever an All-Watcher over you.)
[Al Nisaa, 1]
Women are human exactly like men, and the Prophet PBUH said in this respect:
Women are twin halves of men
And He said also:
Every new-born child is born in a state of fitrah (innate). Then his parents make him a Jew, a Christian or a Magian, just as an animal is born intact. Do you observe any among them that are maimed (at birth)?
[Bukhari, Muslim, Tirmizi, Nasaee, Abu Dawood, Ahmad, and Malek]
This new-born indicates male and female.
Any inferior look at the woman as less human than man is a Jahilyya (pre-Islamic) consideration that is not admitted in Islam. Better yet, Islam came to fight such consideration as a form of discrimination.
Any inferior look at the woman as less human than man is a Jahilyya (pre-Islamic) consideration that is not admitted in Islam. Better yet, Islam came to fight such consideration as a form of discrimination.
2- Equality in subliming:
Dear brothers, women can be righteous exactly like men, and they can be deviated like men as well. A man can be a believer or a disbeliever, and so can woman be, man can be obedient or disobedient to Allah, and so can woman be, man can sublime and ascend and woman can sublime and ascend too. Allah says:
(And by Nafs (Adam or a person or a soul, etc.), and Him Who perfected him in proportion Then He showed him what is wrong for him and what is right for him)
[As-hams, 7-8]
“Nafs” here is refers to both male and female.
(Then He showed him what is wrong for him and what is right for him)
[As-shams, 8]
Man and woman are created so as to know by innate nature what is wrong and what is right, and to know when they do wrong and when they do right.
This is the real Islam according to its origins and resources. It is not what Muslims do nowadays; it is rather the great principles established by the noble prophet (PBUH). Allah says:
This is the real Islam according to its origins and resources. It is not what Muslims do nowadays; it is rather the great principles established by the noble prophet (PBUH). Allah says:
(Indeed he succeeds who purifies his ownself (i.e. obeys and performs all that Allah ordered, by following the true Faith of Islamic Monotheism and by doing righteous good deeds). And indeed he fails who corrupts his ownself (i.e. disobeys what Allah has ordered by rejecting the true Faith of Islamic Monotheism or by following polytheism, etc. or by doing every kind of evil wicked deeds))
[As-shams, 9-10]
This Ayah addresses both men and women. Saving one’s life is like saving all mankind, and killing one person is like killing all mankind.
Dear brothers, woman is equal to man as a human being, and as a person who has the ability to transcend, sublime, excel, and to be looked up to.
Dear brothers, woman is equal to man as a human being, and as a person who has the ability to transcend, sublime, excel, and to be looked up to.
3-Equality in dignity and honor:
One other thing, woman is equal to man in dignity and honor.
In Hamorabi’s law that is taught in law schools, if someone killed another person’s daughter, he ought to deliver his own daughter to be killed by that person… well, what is her fault? What is the fault committed by the killer’s daughter to be killed in revenge for the victim? The Prophet PBUH was asked once:
In Hamorabi’s law that is taught in law schools, if someone killed another person’s daughter, he ought to deliver his own daughter to be killed by that person… well, what is her fault? What is the fault committed by the killer’s daughter to be killed in revenge for the victim? The Prophet PBUH was asked once:
What is the worst sin in the sight of Allah? He said: “To join a partner with Allah Who created you”. The man said said: then what? He said: “And to kill your children for fear of poverty”. He asked: then what? He said: “and to commit adultery with your neighbor’s wife”
[Agreed upon]
And Allah says in the noble Quran:
(And when the female (infant) buried alive (as the pagan Arabs used to do) shall be questioned. For what sin she was killed?.)
[Al Takweer, 8-9]
And He says as well:
(And there is (a saving of) life for you in Al-Qisas (the Law of Equality in punishment), O men of understanding, that you may become Al-Muttaqun (the pious).)
[Al Baqara, 179]
Islamic law scholars legislated that a man is killed for killing a woman, because they both share the same dignity and honor.
Therefore, women are equal to men in humanity, transcendence, dignity, and honor. Moreover, great Islam imposed a penalty of eighty whips and an eternal declined testimony on those who accuse the chaste women without bringing to testimony four witnesses on that act, unless they repent, but still, after repenting, the penalty should be carried out in this life, as it won’t be canceled by repentance, hence, it was mentioned in the tradition:
Therefore, women are equal to men in humanity, transcendence, dignity, and honor. Moreover, great Islam imposed a penalty of eighty whips and an eternal declined testimony on those who accuse the chaste women without bringing to testimony four witnesses on that act, unless they repent, but still, after repenting, the penalty should be carried out in this life, as it won’t be canceled by repentance, hence, it was mentioned in the tradition:
Slandering a chaste woman perishes the deeds of a year
4- Equality in all religious duties:
Dear brothers, woman is not only equal to man in humanity, transcendence, and honor. She is also equal to him in having the same duties in the respect of faith pillars, not to mention all the religious duties that man is assigned to by Allah. Following are some evidences from the Quran:
(Verily, the Muslim men and women, the believing men and women, the men and the women who are obedient (to Allah), the men and women who are truthful, the men and the women who are patient, the men and the women who are humble (before their Lord Allah), the men and the women who give Sadaqat (i.e. Zakat, and alms, etc.), the men and the women who observe Saum (fast), the men and the women who guard their chastity and the men and the women who remember Allah much with their hearts and tongues Allah has prepared for them forgiveness and a great reward (i.e. Paradise).)
[Al Ahzab, 35]
If the language of this ayah didn’t mention women, it would still be addressing men and women as well (as it addresses people in general), but Allah wanted to confirm, clarify, and perish any doubt about equality between men and women in religious duties, faith pillars, and Islamic pillars, and here is another evidence:
(Whoever works righteousness, whether male or female, while he (or she) is a true 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 (i.e. Paradise in the Hereafter).)
[Al Nahl, 97]
And the third evidence:
(So their Lord accepted of them (their supplication and answered them), “Never will I allow to be lost the work of any of you, be he male or female. You are (members) one of another)
[Al Imran, 195]
5- Women are charged with special assignments:
Dear brothers, women are independent regarding responsibility to deeds and they have some special religious duties. The Prophet PBUH said:
…The woman is a guardian and is responsible for her husband’s house and his offspring
[Agreed upon]
In other words, woman is independently charged with faith pillars, Islam pillars, and religious duties, and she is held responsible for any delinquency. Allah the Almighty says:
(So whosoever does good equal to the weight of an atom (or a small ant), shall see it. And whosoever does evil equal to the weight of an atom (or a small ant), shall see it.)
[Al Zalzalah, 7-8]
6- Equality in education and politeness:
Women are equal to men in education and politeness, Allah says:
(O you who believe! Ward off from yourselves and your families a Fire (Hell) whose fuel is men and stones, over which are (appointed) angels stern (and) severe, who disobey not, (from executing) the Commands they receive from Allah, but do that which they are commanded)
[Al Tahreem, 6]
The word “family” in this Ayah indicates the wife and the children whether daughters or sons. The Prophet PBUH says:
The best of what a father might give his child is the good manners
“His child” here means male or female, also the Prophet PBUH said:
Whoever looks for two girls till they attain maturity, will come with me on the Day of Resurrection like this”. The messenger of Allah (PBUH) joined his two fingers illustrating this.
[Muslim]
This is a glad tiding to all of you, whoever has two daughters whom he rears according to Islam, looks after, and be good to, is granted paradise. In another Hadith:
There is no one who has three daughters or three sisters…
This Hadith is critical so pay attention, whoever has a sister under his care, and he dignifies her, honors her, and guides her to Allah’s path, will be granted paradise. A woman might be a spinster and she lives under her brother’s care, this precise Hadith is addressing this brother who is in charge for her, and he will be granted paradise if he dignifies, rears, and guides her to the right path of Allah. The prophet PBUH says:
There is no one who has three daughters, or three sisters, and he treats them well, but Allah will admit him/her to Paradise.
[Tirmidhi, Al Nasaee, Abu Dawod , and Ibn Majah]
7- Equality in knowledge, individual duty, and collective duty:
Dear brothers, woman also equals man in seeking knowledge, individual duties, and in collective duty, and since she is charged with faith pillars, Islam pillars, and religious duties, she can’t carry all that out without knowledge, and for that reason, Allah the Almighty says:
(And say: “My Lord! Increase me in knowledge.”)
[Taha, 114]
This Ayah is recited by boys and girls, men and women, and seeking knowledge is an individual duty that is enjoined on every Muslim whether male or female. Dear brothers, the Prophet PBUH says:
He who has a daughter and who teaches her good manners and improves her education and then manumits and marries her, will get a double reward; and any one of the people of the Scripture who believes in his Prophet and Me, will get a double reward; and any slave who observes Allah’s right and his master’s right will get a double reward.
[Agreed upon]
Orwah Ibn Al Zubair described his aunt Aisha (may Allah be pleased with them both) saying:
I have never met anyone who is more knowledgeable in Fiqh (Islamic legislation), medicine, and poetry than Aisha May Allah be pleased with her
Lot of Ahadith were narrated by the mothers of believers (The Prophet’s wives), and there are a lot of sayings referred to them in Quran’s interpretation and hadith’s jurisprudence, not to mention all the women who learned, recited and momorized the Quran
8- Equality in holding on to morals:
Dear brothers, women are ordered like man to hold on to morals either in their apparent behavior, pure intentions, or in the clean heart. Allah says:
(So whoever hopes for the Meeting with his Lord, let him work righteousness and associate none as a partner in the worship of his Lord.)
[Al Kahef, 110]
This Ayah refers to male or female. Some people say: Behind every problem look for a woman, whereas Islam says: Behind every problem look for the sin, because all adversities on earth occur as a result of derivation from Allah’s path due to ignorance which is the worst enemy of mankind.
One of the Prophet’s wives was jealous (which is a character of women) and she said: ‘It’s bad enough that Safiyyah is such and such. (Some of narrators said: she is short).’ He said: “You have said a word which could spoil the sea water if mixed withit.
[Tirmidhi, Abu Daawood, and Ahmad]
How dignified woman is in Islam! When this wife mocked her because she is short, the Prophet PBUH said to her:
You have said a word which could spoil the sea water if mixed with it
Dear brothers, women are in charge of their hearts in respect of faith, hypocrisy, sincerity, or duplicity, of their tongues in respect of truthfulness and lying, and of their organs in respect of obedience and committing sins. Hence, women are equal to men in the obligation towards having a pure heart and good intentions, and towards watching the tongue and the actions.
9- Equality in the six fundamentals:
Dear brothers, women are equal to men in their obligation towards maintaining the six fundamentals for which Islam has come. Islam is established on maintaining those six fundamentals, and whoever violates any of them, is punished by a certain penalty (Hadd) that is mentioned in the noble Quran and is detailed in the Sunnah.
Shari’a (Islamic Law), as you know, is all about interests, mercy, and justice, and every case overpasses justice to injustice, interests to corruption, and mercy to harshness, is not part of Shari’a even if it was justified by thousands of interpretations.
The six fundamentals are religion, soul, mind, honor, wealth, and security, and whoever violates any of them, whether male or female will be punished with a certain penalty that is mentioned in Quran and detailed in Sunnah . Allah the Almighty says:
Shari’a (Islamic Law), as you know, is all about interests, mercy, and justice, and every case overpasses justice to injustice, interests to corruption, and mercy to harshness, is not part of Shari’a even if it was justified by thousands of interpretations.
The six fundamentals are religion, soul, mind, honor, wealth, and security, and whoever violates any of them, whether male or female will be punished with a certain penalty that is mentioned in Quran and detailed in Sunnah . Allah the Almighty says:
(Cut off (from the wrist joint) the (right) hand of the thief, male or female, as a recompense for that which they committed, a punishment by way of example from Allah. And Allah is All-Powerful, All-Wise)
[Al Maida, 38]
The one who drinks wine, whether male or female, should be whipped eighty times.
Whoever commits adultery will be punished by whipping or stoning, Allah says:
Whoever commits adultery will be punished by whipping or stoning, Allah says:
(The woman and the man guilty of illegal sexual intercourse, flog each of them with a hundred stripes.)
[Al Noor, 2]
And taking somebody’s life, Allah says:
(And there is (a saving of) life for you in Al-Qisas (the Law of Equality in punishment), O men of understanding, that you may become Al-Muttaqun (the pious).)
[Al Baqara, 179]
This Qisas (the law of equality in punishment) is for men and women alike. As for security, the recompense of those who wage war against Allah and His Messenger and do mischief in the land is that they shall be killed, crucified or a hand and a food are cut off on the opposite sides.
10- Equality in calling to Allah:
Dear brothers, Islam also makes men and women equal in calling to Allah. Thereby, every woman should pass her knowledge to other women, and should spread this religion, because Allah says:
(By Al-’Asr (the time). Verily! Man is in loss, Except those who believe (in Islamic Monotheism) and do righteous good deeds, and recommend one another to the truth , and recommend one another to patience.)
[Surat Al ‘Asr]
When revelation came to the Prophet PBUH and he said to Khadija:
I fear that something may happen to me.” She replied, “Never! By Allah, Allah will never disgrace you. You keep good relations with your Kith and kin, help the poor and the destitute, serve your guests generously and assist the deserving calamity-afflicted ones.
What does that mean? It means that she was with the Prophet PBUH in his mission.
The first Martyr in Islam was a woman, namely Sumayah and her husband Yaser who were killed in the line of their commitment to their belief, and because they held on to this righteous religion. Hence, women also call to Allah and spread this religion in the field suitable for them and within the permissible limits.
The first Martyr in Islam was a woman, namely Sumayah and her husband Yaser who were killed in the line of their commitment to their belief, and because they held on to this righteous religion. Hence, women also call to Allah and spread this religion in the field suitable for them and within the permissible limits.
11- Equality in inheritance:
Dear brothers, men and women are equal in inheritance, Allah says:
(There is a share for men and a share for women from what is left by parents and those nearest related, whether, the property be small or large – a legal share.)
[Al Nisaa, 7]
She is equal to him in inheritance, but in regard of the Ayah that says “the male will have twice the share of the female“ , that is a totally different issue that needs elaborating some other time.
12- Equality in transactions (like in contract or avadavat):
Men and women are equal in all kinds of transactions such as: signing a contract, buying, selling, donating, almsgiving, lending, or signing a guaranty act.
Thus, women equal men in a lot of things such as signing contracts, transactions, inheritance, calling to Allah, seeking knowledge, being charged with faith pillars, Islam pillars, religious duties, obligation towards purifying the heart, having the good intentions, watching the tongue, in individual duties, in collective duties, in politeness, in education, in believing in Allah, in dignity, in creation, and she is fully equal to him in humanity.
Hence, all the texts I have mentioned from the Quran and Sunnah indicate that the woman is a human being in the full sense of the word, and she is completely equal to man..
Thus, women equal men in a lot of things such as signing contracts, transactions, inheritance, calling to Allah, seeking knowledge, being charged with faith pillars, Islam pillars, religious duties, obligation towards purifying the heart, having the good intentions, watching the tongue, in individual duties, in collective duties, in politeness, in education, in believing in Allah, in dignity, in creation, and she is fully equal to him in humanity.
Hence, all the texts I have mentioned from the Quran and Sunnah indicate that the woman is a human being in the full sense of the word, and she is completely equal to man..
