Are the women equal?

Question

In your opinion, what does this say to you?

"The Qur'an, in addressing the believers, often uses the expression, 'believing men and women' to emphasize the equality of men and women in regard to their respective duties, rights, virtues and merits. It says:

For Muslim men and women, for believing men and women, for devout men and women, for true men and women, for men and women who are patient and constant, for men and women who humble themselves, for men and women who give in charity, for men and women who fast, for men and women who guard their chastity, and for men and women who engage much in God's praise, for them has God prepared forgiveness and great reward. (33:35)"

Answer 1

In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful.
4.1: O people! be careful of (your duty to) your Lord, Who created you from a single being and created its mate of the same (kind) and spread from these two, many men and women; and be careful of (your duty to) Allah, by Whom you demand one of another (your rights), and (to) the ties of relationship; surely Allah ever watches over you.

4.3: And if you fear that you cannot act equitably towards orphans, then marry such women as seem good to you, two and three and four; but if you fear that you will not do justice (between them), then (marry) only one or what your right hands possess; this is more proper, that you may not deviate from the right course.

4.4: And give women their dowries as a free gift, but if they of themselves be pleased to give up to you a portion of it, then eat it with enjoyment and with wholesome result.

4.7: 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, whether there is little or much of it; a stated portion.

4.12: And you shall have half of what your wives leave if they have no child, but if they have a child, then you shall have a fourth of what they leave after (payment of) any bequest they may have bequeathed or a debt; and they shall have the fourth of what you leave if you have no child, but if you have a child then they shall have the eighth of what you leave after (payment of) a bequest you may have bequeathed or a debt; and if a man or a woman leaves property to be inherited by neither parents nor offspring, and he (or she) has a brother or a sister, then each of them two shall have the sixth, but if they are more than that, they shall be sharers in the third after (payment of) any bequest that may have been bequeathed or a debt that does not harm (others); this is an ordinance from Allah: and Allah is Knowing, Forbearing.

4.15: And as for those who are guilty of an indecency from among your women, call to witnesses against them four (witnesses) from among you; then if they bear witness confine them to the houses until death takes them away or Allah opens some way for them.

4.23: Forbidden to you are your mothers and your daughters and your sisters and your paternal aunts and your maternal aunts and brothers' daughters and sisters' daughters and your mothers that have suckled you and your foster-sisters and mothers of your wives and your step-daughters who are in your guardianship, (born) of your wives to whom you have gone in, but if you have not gone in to them, there is no blame on you (in marrying them), and the wives of your sons who are of your own loins and that you should have two sisters together, except what has already passed; surely Allah is Forgiving, Merciful.

4.25: And whoever among you has not within his power ampleness of means to marry free believing women, then (he may marry) of those whom your right hands possess from among your believing maidens; and Allah knows best your faith: you are (sprung) the one from the other; so marry them with the permission of their masters, and give them their dowries justly, they being chaste, not fornicating, nor receiving paramours; and when they are taken in marriage, then if they are guilty of indecency, they shall suffer half the punishment which is (inflicted) upon free women. This is for him among you who fears falling into evil; and that you abstain is better for you, and Allah is Forgiving, Merciful.

4.32: And do not covet that by which Allah has made some of you excel others; men shall have the benefit of what they earn and women shall have the benefit of what they earn; and ask Allah of His grace; surely Allah knows all things.

4.34: Men are the maintainers of women because Allah has made some of them to excel others and because they spend out of their property; the good women are therefore obedient, guarding the unseen as Allah has guarded; and (as to) those on whose part you fear desertion, admonish them, and leave them alone in the sleeping-places and beat them; then if they obey you, do not seek a way against them; surely Allah is High, Great.

4.124: 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.

4.128: 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.

4.130: And if they separate, Allah will render them both free from want out of His ampleness, and Allah is Ample-giving, Wise.

2.222: And they ask you about menstruation. Say: It is a discomfort; therefore keep aloof from the women during the menstrual discharge and do not go near them until they have become clean; then when they have cleansed themselves, go in to them as Allah has commanded you; surely Allah loves those who turn much (to Him), and He loves those who purify themselves.

2.223: Your wives are a tilth for you, so go into your tilth when you like, and do good beforehand for yourselves, and be careful (of your duty) to Allah, and know that you will meet Him, and give good news to the believers.

2.228: And the divorced women should keep themselves in waiting for three courses; and it is not lawful for them that they should conceal what Allah has created in their wombs, if they believe in Allah and the last day; and their husbands have a better right to take them back in the meanwhile if they wish for reconciliation; and they have rights similar to those against them in a just manner, and the men are a degree above them, and Allah is Mighty, Wise.

2.233: And the mothers should suckle their children for two whole years for him who desires to make complete the time of suckling; and their maintenance and their clothing must be -- borne by the father according to usage; no soul shall have imposed upon it a duty but to the extent of its capacity; neither shall a mother be made to suffer harm on account of her child, nor a father on account of his child, and a similar duty (devolves) on the (father's) heir, but if both desire weaning by mutual consent and counsel, there is no blame on them, and if you wish to engage a wet-nurse for your children, there is no blame on you so long as you pay what you promised for according to usage; and be careful of (your duty to) Allah and know that Allah sees what you do.

2.234: And (as for) those of you who die and leave wives behind, they should keep themselves in waiting for four months and ten days; then when they have fully attained their term, there is no blame on you for what they do for themselves in a lawful manner; and Allah is aware of what you do.

2.236: There is no blame on you if you divorce women when you have not touched them or appointed for them a portion, and make provision for them, the wealthy according to his means and the straitened in circumstances according to his means, a provision according to usage; (this is) a duty on the doers of good (to others).

2.240: And those of you who die and leave wives behind, (make) a bequest in favor of their wives of maintenance for a year without turning (them) out, then if they themselves go away, there is no blame on you for what they do of lawful deeds by themselves, and Allah is Mighty, Wise.

2.241: And for the divorced women (too) provision (must be made) according to usage; (this is) a duty on those who guard (against evil).

Answer 2

Your words " to emphasize the equality of men and women in regard to their respective duties, rights, virtues and merits." are an assumption? If the Qu`ran doesnt say men and women are equal, then it doestn say it. When you starty assuming things to make it sound better to an audience you are doing the same thing the people do who make it sound worse - misrepresenting its content. Women are 'more' worthy of protection and freedom's then men because they produce the most complicated thing in the world - humans. As a gender they are beautiful, create life, caring and as intellectually capable as men. All men do is carry around sperm.... and the result of that testosterone makes us physically stronger and more focused, but this cannot be considered a positive thing in a modern world where machines can replace male strength - but no machine can create life nor replace a Females compassion, love and beauty. So their 'worth' is greater then men, but they are not equal in our society because males have used their physical strength to dictate how humanity is living. Things might change in the future when that physical strength is no longer a requirment for authority.

Answer 3

Equal to what? To men? To what form of equality do you refer?

In intelligence, morality, depth of feeling and thought, yes, there is an equalness between the genders.

In physical strength, in commonality of personal preferences expressed from earliest childhood, in nurturing, no, the term equality does not fit - but that does not say the same thing as saying one gender is better or more qualified for any given task. It simply means that there are differences.

An apple is not equal to an orange, but does that make one better than the other?

Answer 4

Men and Women are equal in power/ potential, but not in talent... we have differing skill sets and virtues but equal power, quite.
Men and Women are a balancing team of equal strength.

Answer 5

In somethings they are equal and some not. Men and Women are equal in Gods gift of salvation. In marriage, woman submits to a man as is fitting in the Lord and he is required to love her as Christ loves the church. She is his comparable helpmate. God places more accountablity on the man. As a woman I feel honored to be able to get pregnant, have children and to be feminine and be protected by a strong handsome man who is gentle and loving and faithful, who loves the Lord. God hears our prayers just the same and His rewards and promises are the same for both genders. John 1:12 - But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name

Answer 6

I judge by the reality, not the words.

Reality is that in nearly every country that runs by Islamic law, women are treated as chattel with minimal rights.

What it says to me is that, like all religions, followers often interpret things to suit their desires.

Answer 7

I was watching the discovery channel and I saw that originally eve was not the first woman in the garden of eden, her name was lilith. She was created equal to man. She however was not submit to adam sexually so she chose to leave the garden. Adam told God that he wanted a woman that would submit to him. God put him to sleep and made a woman from his rib. This was meant to signify that this new breed of woman was created from man and would aid and submit to man. And although she is equal in spirit and soul, she was made to keep the male sex in good mental and physical health through love and companionship.

Answer 8

I believe that men and women are not equal in terms of what they are made for. According tot he Bible, men are supposed to be leaders in the church, women are keepers of the family and should find joy in motherhood.

Answer 9

This says nothing about equality one way or the other.

Answer 10

The person who received gender training might say Yes, but those who hasn't might say No

Answer 11

They're all equal to me. Young and old. Fugly or no. I'll hit up on em as long as their cell phone coverage is good