Does Islam treat women and men differently?

Question

There is a verse in the Quran [4:34] that tells Muslim men that if they fear their wives want to leave them, they can advise their wives, punish them or even beat them.

However, there is another verse in the same chapter of the Quran [4:128] that tells Muslim women if they fear their husbands want to leave them, they can give up some of their rights (food, sex, or any other right) in order to keep their husbands.

Is there any reason for the difference between the way a man can handle the problem of his wife leaving him (by advising her, punishing her or even beating her), and a woman that handles the SAME problem (when her husbands wants to leave her) by giving up some of her rights?

Answer 1

Aren't Muslim men allowed to have 4 wives?
Can't Muslim men divorce their wife but just saying "Talik talik talik"?

Answer 2

First of all, women and men are equal in Islam.

[3:195 ]"Their Lord responded to them: "I never fail to reward any worker among you for any work you do, be you MALE OR FEMALE, YOU ARE EQUAL TO ONE ANOTHER........."


Ok, let's look at the verse 4:34
[4:34] The men are made responsible for the women, and GOD has endowed them with certain qualities, and made them the bread earners. The righteous women will cheerfully accept this arrangement, since it is GOD's commandment, and honor their husbands during their absence. If you experience rebellion from the women, you shall first talk to them, then (you may use negative incentives like) deserting them in bed, then you may (as a last alternative) beat them. If they obey you, you are not permitted to transgress against them. GOD is Most High, Supreme.

Reading it through, it may strike you that it seems to encourage wife beating. On the contrary, it doesn't. It actually prohibits the beating of wives by using the best psychological approach.

As for 4:128

128. If a wife fears cruelty or desertion on her husband's part, there is no blame on them if they arrange an amicable settlement between themselves; and such settlement is best; even though men's souls are swayed by greed. But if ye do good and practise self-restraint, Allah is well-acquainted with all that ye do.

Where do you see anything about women giving up their rights?

And one more thing about the four witnesses for a women's rape.

For a woman to prove rape, four adult males of "impeccable" character must witness the incident: This a gross misunderstanding of this law. Like any civil law in the civilized world, Quran urges a proof beyond doubt for such a horrendous crime. Quran accepts a proof of a crime if the proof is beyond doubt, e.g. see 12:75. Therefore although the verses of adultery which is used in cases of rape are applied, a proof beyond doubt, e.g. DNA of the offender should be an acceptable proof instead of four witnesses in these cases. Insisting on four witnesses when the other proof is beyond doubt is NOT Quranic.

Answer 3

ok. lier
a christian was just asking,why does a person rape his own little girl?so i say''where is this mans wive''right!
if i was a ***** to my husband,
i need a beating,so does every woman!
so stop messing with verses,when you dont know nothing

004.034
YUSUFALI: Men are the protectors and maintainers of women, because Allah has given the one more (strength) than the other, and because they support them from their means. Therefore the righteous women are devoutly obedient, and guard in (the husband's) absence what Allah would have them guard. As to those women on whose part ye fear disloyalty and ill-conduct, admonish them (first), (Next), refuse to share their beds, (And last) beat them (lightly); but if they return to obedience, seek not against them Means (of annoyance): For Allah is Most High, great (above you all).




always get your verses right

004.128
YUSUFALI: If a wife fears cruelty or desertion on her husband's part, there is no blame on them if they arrange an amicable settlement between themselves; and such settlement is best; even though men's souls are swayed by greed. But if ye do good and practise self-restraint, Allah is well-acquainted with all that ye do.
PICKTHAL: If a woman feareth ill treatment from her husband, or desertion, it is no sin for them twain if they make terms of peace between themselves. Peace is better. But greed hath been made present in the minds (of men). If ye do good and keep from evil, lo! Allah is ever Informed of what ye do.
SHAKIR: And if a woman fears ill usage or desertion on the part of her husband, there is no blame on them, if they effect a reconciliation between them, and reconciliation is better, and avarice has been made to be present in the (people's) minds; and if you do good (to others) and guard (against evil), then surely Allah is aware of what you do.

Answer 4

This the translation for 4:34
004.034
Men are the protectors and maintainers of women, because Allah has given the one more (strength) than the other, and because they support them from their means. Therefore the righteous women are devoutly obedient, and guard in (the husband's) absence what Allah would have them guard. As to those women on whose part ye fear disloyalty and ill-conduct, admonish them (first), (Next), refuse to share their beds, (And last) beat them (lightly); but if they return to obedience, seek not against them Means (of annoyance): For Allah is Most High, great (above you all).

The women are not to beat for some things but only if they are cheating. Look at this in perseptive. The punishment for adultery was more severe than this and if the husband did beat his wife he could not hit her hard enough to really hurt or bruise her. Also, it says that you should first admonish her then leave her bed, and finally as last resort beat her.

The Quran is interpreted by scholars who may or may not be correct. The word "daraba" used in the verse is translated to "beat" but can also mean to leave and is used in this context in other verses of the Quran. This means that the verse does not necessarily mean that the beating of women is allowed. The arabs before islam were kind of barbarious in many ways and islam brought them a set of rules that forced them to improve their ways. The translation with the meaning "to leave" makes more sense because of all the hadith in which the Prophet (pbuh) told his followers not to beat their wives.

"I went to the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) and asked him: What do you say (command) about our wives? He replied: Give them food as what you have for yourself, and clothe them as you clothe yourself, and do not beat them, and do not revile them."

And from the Quran:

"O ye who believe! Ye are forbidden to inherit women against their will. Nor should ye treat them with harshness, that ye may take away part of the dower [money given by the husband to the wife for the marriage contract] ye have given them, except where they have been guilty of open lewdness; on the contrary live with them on a footing of kindness and equity. If ye take a dislike to them it may be that ye dislike a thing, and God brings about through it a great deal of good. (The Noble Quran, 4:19)"

verse 4:128 actually works against your claim.
"If a wife fears cruelty or desertion on her husband's part, there is no blame on them if they arrange an amicable settlement between themselves; and such settlement is best; even though men's souls are swayed by greed. But if ye do good and practise self-restraint, Allah is well-acquainted with all that ye do. "
This is actually saying that if the husband is cruel to her, the wife is allowed to divorce him.

If the word "daraba" does in fact mean "beat" in this context, why would I as a muslim female defending it? First of all, as I already said, the wife cannot be beat for something stupid like the husband not liking her food. Its only under the circumstance of when the women is cheating. Also it orders the men to give the women 2 chances before. If I was married, first of all I would never cheat but just for the sake of argument, if I was in that position, I would not let my husband beat me. 4:128 gives women the right to leave if their husbands are cruel to them. I would use that right.

It does not say in the Quran that you need 3 witnesses to prove rape. I would like the first poster to present the verses that say this. I think he's confusing this with the 4 witnesses needed to prove adultery.

Answer 5

woman and man are equal in islam.

The Prophet Muhammad sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam said: "The best believers are the best in conduct, and the best of you are those who are best to their wives." (Tirmidhi) narrated by Abû Hurayrah

try to read a woman right in islam and a woman right in bible.

http://www.bismikaallahuma.org/archives/2005/a-comparison-of-women-in-the-quran-bible/

http://members.lycos.co.uk/sep2002/WomenintheQuranandWomenintheBible.htm