Men and Women are Equal in Every Respect
Allah`s beautiful way to describe it:
(sūrat l-aḥzāb)Verse (33:35): إِنَّ ٱلۡمُسۡلِمِينَ وَٱلۡمُسۡلِمَـٰتِ وَٱلۡمُؤۡمِنِينَ وَٱلۡمُؤۡمِنَـٰتِ وَٱلۡقَـٰنِتِينَ وَٱلۡقَـٰنِتَـٰتِ وَٱلصَّـٰدِقِينَ وَٱلصَّـٰدِقَـٰتِ وَٱلصَّـٰبِرِينَ وَٱلصَّـٰبِرَٲتِ وَٱلۡخَـٰشِعِينَ وَٱلۡخَـٰشِعَـٰتِ وَٱلۡمُتَصَدِّقِينَ وَٱلۡمُتَصَدِّقَـٰتِ وَٱلصَّـٰٓٮِٕمِينَ وَٱلصَّـٰٓٮِٕمَـٰتِ وَٱلۡحَـٰفِظِينَ فُرُوجَهُمۡ وَٱلۡحَـٰفِظَـٰتِ وَٱلذَّٲڪِرِينَ ٱللَّهَ كَثِيرً۬ا وَٱلذَّٲڪِرَٲتِ أَعَدَّ ٱللَّهُ لَهُم مَّغۡفِرَةً۬ وَأَجۡرًا عَظِيمً۬ا
Sahih International: Indeed, the Muslim men and Muslim women, the believing men and believing women, the obedient men and obedient women, the truthful men and truthful women, the patient men and patient women, the humble men and humble women, the charitable men and charitable women, the fasting men and fasting women, the men who guard their private parts and the women who do so, and the men who remember Allah often and the women who do so – for them Allah has prepared forgiveness and a great reward.
Men and Women are Close Friends to Each Other
(sūrat l-tawbah)Verse (9:71): وَٱلۡمُؤۡمِنُونَ وَٱلۡمُؤۡمِنَـٰتُ بَعۡضُهُمۡ أَوۡلِيَآءُ بَعۡضٍ۬ۚ يَأۡمُرُونَ بِٱلۡمَعۡرُوفِ وَيَنۡهَوۡنَ عَنِ ٱلۡمُنكَرِ وَيُقِيمُونَ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ وَيُؤۡتُونَ ٱلزَّكَوٰةَ وَيُطِيعُونَ ٱللَّهَ وَرَسُولَهُ ۥۤۚ أُوْلَـٰٓٮِٕكَ سَيَرۡحَمُهُمُ ٱللَّهُۗ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ عَزِيزٌ حَكِيمٌ۬
Sahih International: The believing men and believing women are allies of one another. They enjoin what is right and forbid what is wrong and establish prayer and give zakah and obey Allah and His Messenger. Those – Allah will have mercy upon them. Indeed, Allah is Exalted in Might and Wise.
“أَوۡلِيَآءُ ” mean close friends, helper, allies.
Women’s Rights Correspond to Their Responsibilities, But Men Have One Additional Right
Verse (2:228) [Surah Al-Baqarah]: “وَلَهُنَّ مِثۡلُ ٱلَّذِى عَلَيۡہِنَّ بِٱلۡمَعۡرُوفِۚ وَلِلرِّجَالِ عَلَيۡہِنَّ دَرَجَةٌ۬ۗ وَٱللَّهُ عَزِيزٌ حَكِيمٌ”
Sahih International: “And due to the wives is similar to what is expected of them, according to what is reasonable. But the men have a degree over them [in responsibility and authority]. And Allah is Exalted in Might and Wise.”
One additional right that men have is that they are not required to observe ‘Iddah (a waiting period) after divorce or the death of their wife. This could be the only right granted to men that women do not share.
Allah’s Preference: Equal Rights for Both Men and Women
(sūrat l-nisāa)Verse (4:34): “فَضَّلَ ٱللَّهُ بَعۡضَهُمۡ عَلَىٰ بَعۡضٍ۬” Allah’s Preference “فَضَّلَ ٱللَّهُ“ is Equal to Both. Allah’s Preference for man over woman in the same way as he prefers woman over man.
Are men allowed to hit women? Only if she has given permission.
(sūrat l-nisāa)Verse (4:34): ٱلرِّجَالُ قَوَّٲمُونَ عَلَى ٱلنِّسَآءِ بِمَا فَضَّلَ ٱللَّهُ بَعۡضَهُمۡ عَلَىٰ بَعۡضٍ۬ وَبِمَآ أَنفَقُواْ مِنۡ أَمۡوَٲلِهِمۡۚ فَٱلصَّـٰلِحَـٰتُ قَـٰنِتَـٰتٌ حَـٰفِظَـٰتٌ۬ لِّلۡغَيۡبِ بِمَا حَفِظَ ٱللَّهُۚ وَٱلَّـٰتِى تَخَافُونَ نُشُوزَهُنَّ فَعِظُوهُنَّ وَٱهۡجُرُوهُنَّ فِى ٱلۡمَضَاجِعِ وَٱضۡرِبُوهُنَّۖ فَإِنۡ أَطَعۡنَڪُمۡ فَلَا تَبۡغُواْ عَلَيۡہِنَّ سَبِيلاًۗ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ كَانَ عَلِيًّ۬ا ڪَبِيرً۬ا
Sahih International: Men are in charge of women by [right of] what Allah has given one over the other and what they spend [for maintenance] from their wealth. So righteous women are devoutly obedient, guarding in [the husband’s] absence what Allah would have them guard. But those [wives] from whom you fear arrogance – [first] advise them; [then if they persist], forsake them in bed; and [finally], strike them. But if they obey you [once more], seek no means against them. Indeed, Allah is ever Exalted and Grand.
How could this be possible?
In the verse “فَإِنۡ أَطَعۡنَڪُمۡ” (“But if they obey you“) is crucial in this context. This implies that the purpose of striking is to encourage her to return to obedience, not to her husband as an individual, but to the family rules and values for which the husband is responsible as the head of the family.
One might ask this simple question to his wife: If her response includes statements such as “Try it, and I will kill you,” “I will call the police,” or “Obedience? Impossible,” then it clearly indicates that such women are not the ones addressed by this directive. On the other hand, if a woman believes, out of her faith, that if Allah has allowed her husband to take such a step, there must be wisdom in it, and she permits him to act accordingly, then no one has the right to criticize her, as it is her personal matter.
What is the reasoning behind this?
The term “نُشُوزَ” refers to women who deviate from their responsibilities within the family. On the other hand, “قَـٰنِتَـٰتٌ” describes women who preserve family harmony and uphold its values. “حَـٰفِظَـٰتٌ۬ لِّلۡغَيۡبِ بِمَا حَفِظَ ٱللَّهُۚ” and who protect their dignity in private as Allah has commanded. These terms indicate that a woman who neglects these responsibilities disrupts family harmony.
Due to her soft nature and emotional and sensitive inner life, it may happen that she becomes infatuated with someone outside the marriage, leading to behaviors that could ruin her family. In such cases, a symbolic and measured form of discipline, such as a warning strike, might save the family. Later, she might reflect and realize her mistake, preventing further harm. The purpose of this limited action is to avoid greater violence or destruction. Like starting a controlled fire to prevent a wildfire, this approach has a protective intent in the Divine wisdom.
To eliminate the cause of the horrible statistics given below, Islam allowed measured violence to control the spread of a rivalry conflict in its very beginning—only in cases where women had shown consent in the past. If one do not expect any positive result then there is no purpose left to strike.
domestic violence statistics:
In the year 2023, Germany recorded 256,276 cases of domestic violence, with 65.5% of the victims being women. Alarmingly, 155 women and 24 men were killed by their partner or ex-partner that year. dark figure is even more.
The numbers are even higher in the United States: Over 10 million people experience domestic violence annually.
One of main reason for domestic violence is rivalry.
Why Is One Man Equal to Two Women in Terms of Evidence?
(sūrat l-baqarah)Verse (2:282): فَإِن لَّمۡ يَكُونَا رَجُلَيۡنِ فَرَجُلٌ۬ وَٱمۡرَأَتَانِ مِمَّن تَرۡضَوۡنَ مِنَ ٱلشُّہَدَآءِ أَن تَضِلَّ إِحۡدَٮٰهُمَا فَتُذَڪِّرَ إِحۡدَٮٰهُمَا ٱلۡأُخۡرَىٰۚ
Sahih International: And if there are not two men [available], then a man and two women from those whom you accept as witnesses – so that if one of the women errs, then the other can remind her.
The answer is found in the Verse itself: if one woman errs or forgets, the other can remind her. The second woman is there to assist, much like an interpreter in everyday practice. This constitutes one piece of evidence, not two. It is not as if one woman gives her testimony in court, leaves, and the court then calls for other woman. they two women are one evidence.
Why is this arrangement specified for women? This is because women often have a more emotional and sentiment-driven inner life and are generally less focused on the hard, factual, and objective world—responsibilities that traditionally fell to men. This has been the case throughout much of human history and evolution. However, this is not a negative attribute of women but rather a positive characteristic. which nature found necessary for a strong bond in family life.
As mentioned in the verse, فَضَّلَ ٱللَّهُ بَعۡضَهُمۡ عَلَىٰ بَعۡضٍ۬ (“Allah has preferred some over others”). Each gender is given strengths suited to its nature. Evidence requires precision, neutrality, and the ability to depict events factually and without emotional influence. For some women, this might be more challenging due to their inherent emotional depth. Therefore, the presence of another woman to support and assist is both practical and understandable.
Inheritance Rights for Women
(sūrat l-nisāa)Verse (4:7): لِّلرِّجَالِ نَصِيبٌ۬ مِّمَّا تَرَكَ ٱلۡوَٲلِدَانِ وَٱلۡأَقۡرَبُونَ وَلِلنِّسَآءِ نَصِيبٌ۬ مِّمَّا تَرَكَ ٱلۡوَٲلِدَانِ وَٱلۡأَقۡرَبُونَ مِمَّا قَلَّ مِنۡهُ أَوۡ كَثُرَۚ نَصِيبً۬ا مَّفۡرُوضً۬ا
Sahih International: For men is a share of what the parents and close relatives leave, and for women is a share of what the parents and close relatives leave, be it little or much – an obligatory share.
Property Rights for Women
(sūrat l-nisāa)Verse (4:32): لِلرِّجَالِ نَصِيۡبٌ مِّمَّا اكۡتَسَبُوۡا ؕ وَلِلنِّسَآءِ نَصِيۡبٌ مِّمَّا اكۡتَسَبۡنَ ؕ
Sahih International: For men is a share of what they have earned, and for women is a share of what they have earned.
Mary: A Woman Unlike Any Other, Chosen and Purified Above All Women of the Worlds
(Surah Aal-E-Imran, Verse 3:36-37)
إِذۡ قَالَتِ ٱمۡرَأَتُ عِمۡرَٲنَ رَبِّ إِنِّى نَذَرۡتُ لَكَ مَا فِى بَطۡنِى مُحَرَّرً۬ا فَتَقَبَّلۡ مِنِّىٓۖ إِنَّكَ أَنتَ ٱلسَّمِيعُ ٱلۡعَلِيمُ (٣٥)
فَلَمَّا وَضَعَتۡہَا قَالَتۡ رَبِّ إِنِّى وَضَعۡتُہَآ أُنثَىٰ وَٱللَّهُ أَعۡلَمُ بِمَا وَضَعَتۡ وَلَيۡسَ ٱلذَّكَرُ كَٱلۡأُنثَىٰۖ وَإِنِّى سَمَّيۡتُہَا مَرۡيَمَ وَإِنِّىٓ أُعِيذُهَا بِكَ وَذُرِّيَّتَهَا مِنَ ٱلشَّيۡطَـٰنِ ٱلرَّجِيمِ
Translation (Sahih International):
“But when she delivered her, she said, ‘My Lord, I have delivered a female.’ And Allah was most knowing of what she delivered, ‘And the male is not like the female. And I have named her Mary, and I seek refuge for her in You and [for] her descendants from Satan, the expelled [from the mercy of Allah].’”
(Surah Aal-E-Imran, Verse 3:42)
وَإِذۡ قَالَتِ ٱلۡمَلَـٰٓٮِٕڪَةُ يَـٰمَرۡيَمُ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ ٱصۡطَفَٮٰكِ وَطَهَّرَكِ وَٱصۡطَفَٮٰكِ عَلَىٰ نِسَآءِ ٱلۡعَـٰلَمِينَ
Translation (Sahih International):
“And [mention] when the angels said, ‘O Mary, indeed Allah has chosen you and purified you and chosen you above the women of the worlds.’”
A Unique Woman in History of Mankind.
The Quran narrates a unique event in human history — the birth of a child without male involvement.
Sexual reproduction is nature’s way of ensuring genetic diversity by combining different genetic materials to create stronger offspring. Over time, this process refined itself continuously in search of the best Human being ever.
However, what if nature had already achieved its pinnacle? What if there was no genetic material better than the purest? Would nature still mix this perfect material with something less perfect? Of course not.
This miracle of perfection and purity applies to Mary (peace be upon her), a woman unparalleled in human history.
She possessed these purest human genes ever possible — so pure that no further mixing was required. She was chosen by Allah to give birth to a Miraculous child without the involvement of a man.
The Quran emphasizes her uniqueness:
- She was chosen ٱصۡطَفَٮٰكِ above all the women of the worlds, and no boy was like her.
- She was purified وَطَهَّرَكِ from all conceivable impurities.
- She gave birth to a child through a miraculous event without the involvement of a man.
This was a divine sign — an extraordinary event that stands as a testament to Allah’s wisdom and power.
This child was also a miracle. Allah called him “Ruh Allah”, which means a sign of the divine “command power” of Allah. In the most perfect and pure human being ever, Allah shows his divine power. Humanity saw the unfolding of this power in the form of his miracles.
He was Essa Iben e Mariam (son of Mary) peace be upon him a Miracle of Allah.