ARTICLE:
Gender discrimination is the daunting problem and an important topic of the contemporary world. Men and women are definitely equal in Islam by means of human-beings as Islam conclusively establishes that all human beings have a common origin. Islam demonstrates the idea of equality of man and women in all aspects of life that they are equal in, because both of them are from the common origin. Although there are natural differences between them taking into consideration of the special qualities and attitudes.
EQUALITY IN THE HUMAN ORIGN
This utmost reality that humans are equal in origin is mentioned in several places in the Holy Quran. Almighty Allah says
يٰۤـاَيُّهَا النَّاسُ اتَّقُوۡا رَبَّكُمُ الَّذِىۡ خَلَقَكُمۡ مِّنۡ نَّفۡسٍ وَّاحِدَةٍ وَّخَلَقَ مِنۡهَا زَوۡجَهَا وَبَثَّ
مِنۡهُمَا رِجَالًا كَثِيۡرًا وَّنِسَآءً ۚ وَاتَّقُوا اللّٰهَ الَّذِىۡ تَسَآءَلُوۡنَ بِهٖ وَالۡاَرۡحَامَ ؕ اِنَّ اللّٰهَ كَانَ عَلَيۡكُمۡ رَقِيۡبًا
(Surah An-Nisa, Ayah 1)
“O mankind! Be dutiful to your Lord, Who created you from a single soul (Adam), and from it created its match [Hawwa (Eve)], and spread many men and women from the two. Fear Allah in whose name you ask each other (for your rights), and fear (the violation of the rights of) the womb-relations. Surely, Allah is watchful over you.
This point is declared in the Holy Quran
يٰۤاَيُّهَا النَّاسُ اِنَّا خَلَقۡنٰكُمۡ مِّنۡ ذَكَرٍ وَّاُنۡثٰى وَجَعَلۡنٰكُمۡ شُعُوۡبًا وَّقَبَآٮِٕلَ لِتَعَارَفُوۡالِتَعَارَفُوۡا ؕ اِنَّ اَكۡرَمَكُمۡ عِنۡدَ اللّٰهِ اَ تۡقٰٮكُمۡ ؕ اِنَّ اللّٰهَ عَلِيۡمٌ خَبِيۡرٌ
(Surah Al-Hujurat, Ayah 13)
“O Mankind, verily we have created you from a man and a female, and made you into races and tribes, so that you may identify one another. Surely the noblest of you, in Allah’s sight, is the one who is most pious of you. Surely Allah is All-Knowing, All-Aware.”
Islam declares equilibrium women privileges and position in order to preserve social stability. The term ‘equality’ does not have the same repercussion in every society as it differ in different culture and society, or point of view. The West considered the political, social and economic rights as the meticulous standard (showing high level of attention) that would determine the comprehensive equality between men and women as human beings. On the contrary Islam declares that all human beings are equal considering the status, preferment and dignity but determine the different responsibilities of male and female. Because the responsibilities must take into consideration of varying natural inclinations and affinity of individuals, so that Islam determine and prefer the concept of ‘justice’ rather than ‘equality’. Justice is more fruitful and rewarding than equivalence in many cases and situations.
GENDER EQUALITY IN ISLAM: A BALANCED PERSPECTIVE
Islam, as a major religion, has been a subject of much debate regarding its views on gender roles and equality. While cultural practices across various Muslim-majority countries have sometimes deviated from the core teachings, Islam itself advocates for a balance between the rights and responsibilities of men and women. To better under-stand gender equality in Islam, one must explore the religion’s foundational texts, historical context, and its overarching principles on justice and fairness.
EQUALITY IN CREATION AND SPIRTUALITY
The Qur’an, the holy book of Islam, affirms the spiritual equality of men and women. It explicitly states that men and women are created from a single soul.
يٰۤـاَيُّهَا النَّاسُ اتَّقُوۡا رَبَّكُمُ الَّذِىۡ خَلَقَكُمۡ مِّنۡ نَّفۡسٍ وَّاحِدَةٍ وَّخَلَقَ مِنۡهَا زَوۡجَهَا وَبَثَّ مِنۡهُمَا رِجَالًا كَثِيۡرًا وَّنِسَآءًٰۤ ۚ
(Surah Al- Nisa, Ayah 1)
“O men, fear your Lord who created you from a single soul, and from it created its match, and spread many men and women from the two.”
This verse highlights the shared origin and spiritual parity between genders. Furthermore, the Quran emphasizes that righteousness is the criterion for honor, irrespective of gender:
اِنَّ اَكۡرَمَكُمۡ عِنۡدَ اللّٰهِ اَ تۡقٰٮكُمۡ ٌ
(Surah Al-Hujjrat, Verse 13)
“Surely the most noble of you in the sight of Al-mighty Allah is the most righteous among you”
And that both genders are equally responsible for their actions and accountable before God. Surah Al-Ahzab further underscores that men and women, whether in belief, worship, or deeds, are treated equal by God.
Almighty Allah says
اِنَّ الۡمُسۡلِمِيۡنَ وَالۡمُسۡلِمٰتِ وَالۡمُؤۡمِنِيۡنَ وَالۡمُؤۡمِنٰتِ وَالۡقٰنِتِيۡنَ وَالۡقٰنِتٰتِ وَالصّٰدِقِيۡنَ وَالصّٰدِقٰتِ وَالصّٰبِرِيۡنَ وَالصّٰبِرٰتِ وَالۡخٰشِعِيۡنَ وَالۡخٰشِعٰتِ وَالۡمُتَصَدِّقِيۡنَ وَ الۡمُتَصَدِّقٰتِ وَالصَّآٮِٕمِيۡنَ وَالصّٰٓٮِٕمٰتِ وَالۡحٰفِظِيۡنَ فُرُوۡجَهُمۡ وَالۡحٰـفِظٰتِ وَالذّٰكِرِيۡنَ اللّٰهَ كَثِيۡرًا وَّ الذّٰكِرٰتِ ۙ اَعَدَّ اللّٰهُ لَهُمۡ مَّغۡفِرَةً وَّاَجۡرًا عَظِيۡمًا
(Surah AL-Ahzab, Verse 35)
“Surely, Muslim men and Muslim women, believing men and believing women, devout men and devout women, truthful men and truthful women, patient men and patient women, humble men and humble women, and the men who give Sadaqah (charity) and the women who give Sadaqah, and the men who fast and the women who fast, and the men who guard their private parts (against evil acts) and the women who guard (theirs), and the men who remember Allah much and the women who remember (Him) – for them, Allah has prepared forgiveness and a great reward.”
From a spiritual perspective, men and women are on equal footing. They are equally capable of attaining piety (taqwa) and righteousness. There are numerous examples of women who played significant roles in early Islamic history, from the Prophet Muhammad’s first wife, Hazrat Khadijah, who was a successful businesswoman, to Bibi Aisha, a scholar and teacher of Islamic knowledge.
RIGHTS IN MARRIAGE, DIVORCE, AND FAMILY LIFE
Islam grants both men and women rights in marriage and family life, challenging the common misconception that women are subservient to men in all aspects of personal life. Both spouses have rights and duties toward each other, with mutual respect being a cornerstone of a harmonious marriage. The Quran states,
وَمِنۡ ءَايَٰتِهِۦٓ أَنۡ خَلَقَ لَكُم مِّنۡ أَنفُسِكُمۡ أَزۡوَٰجٗا لِّتَسۡكُنُوٓاْ إِلَيۡهَا وَجَعَلَ بَيۡنَكُم مَّوَدَّةٗ وَرَحۡمَةًۚ إِنَّ فِي ذَٰلِكَ لَأٓيَٰتٖ لِّقَوۡمٖ يَتَفَكَّرُونَ
(Surah Ar-Rom, Verse 21)
“And of His signs is that He created for you from yourselves mates that you may find tranquility in them; and He placed between you affection and mercy. Indeed in that are the signs for a people who give thought”
In matters of divorce, the right to dissolve a marriage is not exclusive to men. Women can seek divorce through a process called khulla if they find the marriage untenable. In Holy Quran Allah almighty
اَلطَّلَاقُ مَرَّتٰنِ فَاِمۡسَاكٌ ۢ بِمَعۡرُوۡفٍ اَوۡ تَسۡرِيۡحٌ ۢ بِاِحۡسَانٍ ؕ وَلَا يَحِلُّ لَـکُمۡ اَنۡ تَاۡخُذُوۡا مِمَّآ اٰتَيۡتُمُوۡهُنَّ شَيۡـــًٔا اِلَّاۤ اَنۡ يَّخَافَآ اَ لَّا يُقِيۡمَا حُدُوۡدَ اللّٰهِؕ فَاِنۡ خِفۡتُمۡ اَ لَّا يُقِيۡمَا حُدُوۡدَ اللّٰهِۙ فَلَا جُنَاحَ عَلَيۡهِمَا فِيۡمَا افۡتَدَتۡ بِهٖؕ تِلۡكَ حُدُوۡدُ اللّٰهِ فَلَا تَعۡتَدُوۡهَا ۚ وَمَنۡ يَّتَعَدَّ حُدُوۡدَ اللّٰهِ فَاُولٰٓٮِٕكَ هُمُ الظّٰلِمُوۡنَ
(Surah Al-Baqarah, Verse 229)
“Divorce may be retracted twice, then the husband must retain ˹his wife˺ with honour or separate ˹from her˺ with grace.1 It is not lawful for husbands to take back anything of the dowry given to their wives, unless the couple fears not being able to keep within the limits of Allah.2 So if you fear they will not be able to keep within the limits of Allah, there is no blame if the wife compensates the husband to obtain divorce.3 These are the limits set by Allah, so do not transgress them. And whoever transgresses the limits of Allah, they are the ˹true˺ wrongdoers.”
While some cultures may restrict this, islamically, women have the right to negotiate their rights and stipulations within a marriage contract, which can include divorce conditions.
SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC RIGHTS
Islam provides women with specific social and economic rights that were revolutionary for their time. More than 1,400 years ago, Islam gave women the right to own property, inherit, work, and receive an education. This was in stark contrast to many societies where women were treated as property themselves and had no independent legal rights.
“To men belongs a share what they earn and to women a share of what they earn” (Surah Nisa Ayat 32)
This verse highlights economic equality, affirming that both genders have rights to their earnings
Women have the right to retain their maiden names after marriage, control their own finances, and inherit from family members. The Qur’an delineates inheritance laws that guarantee women a share of family wealth, though the distribution varies based on specific circumstances.
EQUALITY IN THEIR COMMON DESTINY
Islam establishes the ideology that all man-kind is going to return to the same destination. They all are going to return from their worldly life to eternal life and to the ultimate happiness or sadness. They will receive the rewards or punishments according to their good or bad deeds in the worlds. Al-Mighty Allah says,
كَيۡفَ تَكۡفُرُوۡنَ بِاللّٰهِ وَڪُنۡتُمۡ اَمۡوَاتًا فَاَحۡيَاکُمۡۚ ثُمَّ يُمِيۡتُكُمۡ ثُمَّ يُحۡيِيۡكُمۡ ثُمَّ اِلَيۡهِ تُرۡجَعُوۡنَ
(Surah Baqrah Ayat 28)
“How can you disbelieve in Allah? Seeing that you were dead and HE gave you life. Then He will give you death, then again will bring you to life (on the Day of Resurrection) and then unto Him you will return.”
GENDER EQUALITY IN THE LIGHT OF QURANIC VERSES
Both males and females are treated equally and have equal opportunities, as indicated in the following Quranic verses:
“And whoever does righteous good deeds, male or female, and is a true believer in the Oneness of Allah(Muslim),such will enter Paradise and not the least injustice, even to the size of a Naqira (speck on the back of date-stone) will be done to them.”
(Surah Al Nisa Ayat 124)
This emphasizes that both men and women are equally rewarded for their righteous deeds.
CONCLUSION
Gender equality in Islam is deeply rooted in principles of justice, compassion and respect. While men and women may have distinct roles in certain contexts, their value and rights remain equal in the eyes of Almighty Allah. By understanding and implementing Islamic teachings in their true spirit, societies can achieve the harmony and equity envisioned by Islam.
This article aims to clarify misconceptions and inspire dialogue about the empowering and balanced perspective Islam offers on gender equality.
Hijab Syed
University of Karachi
hijabsyed12700@gmail.com
