About gender equality in Islam. “I shall not lose sight of the labor of any of you who labors in My way, be it man or woman; each of you is equal to the other (3:195)”

For both genders, Allah has defined spiritual equality and responsibility in Quran. Men and women are both accountable for their deeds and  it is a well-developed theme in the Quran. In the eyes of Allah, the spiritual equality is not limited to purely spiritual, but is the basis for equality in all aspects of human lives.

Adam and Eve: Gender Equality

The best way to understand the concept of gender equality is the example of Adam and Eve in Islam. According to Quran, both sexes male and female (Adam and Eve) were independent and the issue of which sex was created first is not a matter of significance for the purpose of this world.

“O mankind! Be conscious of your Sustainer, who has created you out of one living entity (nafs), and out of it created its mate, and out of the two spread abroad a multitude of men and women. And remain conscious of God, in whose name you demand your rights from one another, and of these ties of kinship. Verily, God is ever watchful over you! (4:1)”

We cannot be sure from this ayah that Adam was created first or Eve was created out of Adam’s rib? Islam provides the proof for gender non-bias and equality.

Adam and Eve story is told in Quran and how they were told to avoid a specific tree, which they fail to avoid. This disobedience led them to be banished from the garden heaven. Upon their repentance but paid the price for their choice. They were both responsible for that individually therefore gender equality is an intrinsic part of Islamic belief. (See Quran 2:30-37)

In Islam, women are considered independent individuals.

“no human being shall be of the least avail to another human being” (82:19) If men were ultimately responsible for women (fathers for their daughters, husbands for their wives, etc.), then this accountability would be solely on men’s shoulders to bear until the Day of Judgment. But this is not the case: “And whatever wrong any human being commits rests upon himself alone; and no bearer of burdens shall be made to bear another’s burden…” (6:165)

The example of Adam and Eve makes it clear that men and women both have their own choices to make to reap the benefits of punishment on the day of judgment.

Equality in Practice

In the Quran, reference to men and women is through attributes and deeds, by which we will be judged. Whoever follows the commands of God is the most pious. Quran describes the “men and women” with ethical and practical qualities throughout the verses, and even emphasizes this ten times in the following verse:

“Verily for all men and women who have surrendered themselves unto God, and all believing men and believing women, and all truly devout men and truly devout women, and all men and women who are true to their word, and all men and women who are patient in adversity, and all men and women who humble themselves before God, and all men and women who give in charity, and all self-denying men and self-denying women, and all men and women who are mindful of their chastity, and all men and women who remember God unceasingly: for all of them has God readied forgiveness of sins and a mighty reward.” (33:35)

Gender equality in Islam. In Quran, it is important to not only have faith but to put the faith into practice.

Source: mwlusa.org