Equality of Men and Woman in Islam, and their  complementary nature to one another

In one sense, equality between men and women is possible and reasonable because they are both human, with similar souls, brains, hearts, lungs, limbs, etc. In another sense, equality between men and women is impossible and an absurdity due to their natural differences in physical, mental, emotional and psychological qualities, inclinations and abilities. Between these two we must tread to illuminate how they are equal, and how they are complimentary.

If total equality between all members of the same gender is impossible due to natural differences in strengths and other qualities, regardless of whether the gender is masculine or feminine, then it is definitely impossible between the two genders. Allah, the Exalted and Almighty, says in the Glorious Qur.an: And of everything We have created pairs, that you may remember (the Grace of Allah. Even atoms exhibit this dual quality mentioned, with interrelated and complementary roles played by the positive and negative particles and ions, yet each is an integral part of the whole system of the so called binary basis of all life.

Most living beings have male and female sexes for reproduction. As the science of biology teaches us, all mammals have similar traits in their molecular and glandular structures that determine differences in gender. These basic physical, psychological and sexual traits have their definite effects on other spheres of life. It is natural for a man to need and find fulfillment with a woman and for a woman with a man, since they are created one from the other and for one another. They both are inseparably bound to each other. Neither can they find fulfillment except when in the company of the other as legal and honorable mate and spouse, as Allah says in His Majestic Book, the Qur.an, mentioned in the two verses cited in the preface: O Mankind! We have created you from a male and a female, and made you into nations and tribes, that you may know one another. Verily, the most honorable of you in the Sight of Allah is the believer who has Taqwa (piety and righteousness) and loves Allah most. Verily, Allah is All-Knowing, All-Aware. In many instances Islam treats women as equals to men. Some of them are given below. In the coming sections we will expand on these themes in various contexts throughout the book.)

Both the male and the female are equal in terms of their humanity. Islam does not categorize women, for instance, as the source of evil in the world for some original sin. That caused Adam  to be dismissed from Paradise, or to be the cause of evil in the world by setting loose a Pandora.s box of vices, as some other religious doctrines and fables teach.

Allah, the Exalted and Almighty, states in the Glorious Qur’an: O mankind! Be dutiful to your Lord, Who created you from a single person (Adam), and from him (Adam) He created his wife (Eve), and from them both He created many men and women.

Allah also states in the Glorious Qur’an: Does man think that he will be left neglected without being punished or rewarded for the obligatory duties enjoined by his Lord (Allah) on him? Was he not a mixed male and female discharge of semen pouring forth? Then he became a clot; then (Allah) shaped and fashioned (him) in due proportion, and made him into two sexes, male and female. Is He not able to raise to life those who are dead? Allah illustrated in the verses that He created both sexes from one single source. There is no difference between the two sexes in terms of qualifications in humanity, and each complements the other as the two genders of the species. Islam has abolished and abrogated all the previous unjust laws that demoted women as inferior in quality and nature. The Prophet of Allah said: Verily, women are the twin halves of men.” [Abu Da‘wood, Tirmidhi, & others and verified]) Equal religious duties and rituals are required from both women and men. Testimony of Faith (Shahaadah), Prayer (Salah), Charity (Zakah), Fasting (Saum), and Pilgrimage (Hajj) are equally required of both genders.

In some cases the requirements are a bit easier on women to alleviate their special cases of hardship. For instance, in consideration of her health and physical condition, menstruating woman or a woman in the state of postnatal bleeding and recuperation are absolved from the duty of the prayers and fasting. She is required to make up the days of fasting missed due to menses and postnatal bleeding, but not her prayers, as that would be too burdensome. Sheikh Muhammad Mutawali ash-Sha’rawi said: “From the very beginning of creation, the male has been distinguished and differentiated from the female. One completes the other. Based upon this we believe that such a precise division in terms of the sexes does indeed entail two different missions in life, otherwise, there would be no need for such differences in the sexes. This indicates that each sex has its own merits, while both are human beings. We can easily recognize the difference between day and night, although both help us realize one basic reality about time. The daytime grants us the ability to Seek our daily provision, while the night grants us peace to rest. Man and woman, in this aspect of difference, very much resembles the case of daytime and night-time. There are certain things that are required from man only, based on his natural preparation. Similarly, there are certain things that are required from woman only, based on her natural preparation. Yet both are human beings who share many common characteristics.” Allah, the Exalted, says in the Glorious Qur’an: The believers, men and women, are helpers, friends and supporters of one another. They enjoin all that is good, and forbid what is evil, establish prayers, give the Zakah (Charity), and obey Allah and His Messenger. Allah will bestow Mercy on them. Surely Allah is All-Mighty, All-Wise.) Both males and females have similar rewards for obedience and penalties for disobedience in this world and the Hereafter.

As stated by Allah in the Glorious Qur’an: Whoever does righteous acts, whether male or female, while he is a 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.

And the Lord Most Majestic says: Surely for men who submit to Allah and for women who

submit to Allah, for believing men and for believing women, for devout men and devout women, for truthful men and truthful women, for steadfast men and steadfast women, for humble men and humble women, for charitable men and charitable women, for fasting men and

fasting women, for men who guard their chastity and women who guard their chastity, for men who remember Allah much and for women who remember Allah much, for all of them Allah has prepared forgiveness and amighty reward.)

Women have the same moral obligations and are entitled to the same general rights as men in guarding chastity, integrity and personal honor and respect, etc. No double standards are allowed. For instance, those who falsely accuse a chaste woman of adultery or fornication are publicly punished, just as if a man is slandered. Allah, the Exalted, states in the Glorious Qur’an: And those who accuse chaste women, and produce not four witnesses, flog them with eighty lashes, and reject their testimony forever. Indeed, they are those who are liars, rebellious and disobedient to Allah.) Women are equally qualified and allowed to engage in financial dealings and property ownership. According to Islamic law women can own, buy, sell and undertake any financial transaction without the need for guardianship, and without any restrictions or limitations – a situation unheard of in many societies until modern times.) Islam indicates that a man who honors, respects and deals with women justly and integrally, possesses a healthy and righteous personality, whereas a man who mistreats them is an unrighteous and unrespectable man.

The Prophet of Allah said: The most complete believer is the best in character, and the best of you is the best to his womenfolk.. [Tirmidhi and verified]) Islam entitles women to the same rights as men in terms of education. The Prophet of Allah said, as reported and authenticated by the scholars of prophetic traditions: Seeking knowledge is compulsory for each and every Muslim (i.e. both male and female). [Ibn Majah & al-Baihaqi and verified] Muslim scholars collectively agreed that the word “Muslim“, when used in revealed scriptures, includes both male and female, as we indicated in parenthesis. Thus, Islam entitles women to the same right of education in order to understand the religious and social obligations and obligated them both to raise their children in the best manner, in accordance with the right Islamic guidance and means of education. Of course women have certain obligations in bringing up their children that are commensurate to their abilities and men have complementary obligations to finance, protect and maintain according to their added responsibilities in the family unit. In any case due to the stronger position of the male parent in the family, he is burdened with the overall responsibility of the family and accorded greater reward accordingly.

 

The Prophet said: Whosoever takes care of three daughters and trains them well and marries them and treats them with the best of manners, will have the reward of Paradise…[Ahmad & Ibn Habban and verified] About female slave girls, the Prophet of Allah  said:

Whoever has a female child with him (under his guardianship from slavery), and trains her in the best behavior, and teaches her well, and then frees and marries her, will have a double reward.