Posted on by Elizabeth Arif-Fear

12 Quotes Depicting Women’s Equality in Islam

There’s a lot of misconceptions about Islam – especially in relation to women and feminism. Alongside traditional “Western feminists”, there’s two common branches of Muslim feminists: “secular Muslim feminists” and “Islamic feminists“. As a Muslim woman and an Islamic feminist, I believe in feminism within Islam – both being not only compatible but mutual. In Islam men and women are different yet equal. Women are treasured in all forms – as humans beings, believers, daughters, sisters, mothers, wives…

To give a brief introduction, here are 12 quotations depicting women’s equality to men and status in Islam – belonging to the Qur’an and the ahadith (sayings/teachings) of the Prophet Mohammed (PBUH).

  1. “The most complete believer in faith is the best in morals, and the best among you is the best to their wives.” (Tirmidhi)
  2. “And among God’s signs is this: He created for you mates from amongst yourselves (males […] for females and vice versa) that you might find tranquility and peace in them. And he has put love and kindness among you. Herein surely are signs for those who reflect.” (Qur’an, 30: 21)
  3. “They (your wives) are your garment and you are a garment for them.” (Qur’an, 2: 187)
  4. “O Messenger of Allah! Who is most deserving of my fine treatment?” He said, “Your mother, then your mother, then your mother, then your father, then your nearest, then nearest.” (Narrated by Abu Hurairah – Bukhari and Muslim)
  5. “Observe your duty to Allah in respect to the women, and treat them well.” (Prophet Muhammed’s  Last Sermon)
  6. “I went to the Apostle of Allah (PBUH) and asked him: What do you say (command) about our wives? He replied: Give them food what you have for yourself, and clothe them by which you clothe yourself, and do not beat them, and do not revile them.” (Narrated by Mu’awiyah al-Qushayri – Abu Dawud)
  7. “Verily, women are the twin halves of men.” (Abu Dawud, Tirmidhi)
  8. “And for women are rights over men similar to those of men over women.” (Qur’an, 2: 228)weddind-rings-1419286 (2).jpg
  9. “Say to the believing men that they should lower their gaze and guard their modesty: that will make for greater purity for them: and Allah is well acquainted with all that they do. And say to the believing women that they should lower their gaze and guard their modesty; that they should not display their beauty and ornaments except what (ordinarily) appear thereof; that they should draw their veils over their bosoms.” (Qur’an, 24: 30-1)
  10. “When one of them gets a baby girl, his face becomes darkened with overwhelming grief. Ashamed, he hides from the people, because of the bad news given to him. He even ponders: should he keep the baby grudgingly, or bury her in the dust. Miserable indeed is their judgment.” (Qur’an, 16: 58-59)
  11. “Their Lord responded to them: “I never fail to reward any worker among you for any work you do, be you male or female – you are equal to one another.” (Qur’an, 3: 195)
  12. “The believers, men and women, are helpers, supporters, friends and protectors of one another, they enjoin all that is good, and forbid all that is evil, they offer their prayers perfectly, and give Zakah (obligatory charity) and obey Allah and His Messenger. Allah will bestow Mercy on them. Surely Allah is All-Mighty, All-Wise.” (Qur’an, 9: 71)

So there you are – it’s a vast topic but I hope that’s given some insight into the beauty of being a Muslim woman. Abuses against women in the name of culture and through ignorance and a lack of understanding of Islam, do not represent Islam and are contrary to the rights that Allah had ordained and bestowed upon women.

Salam!

*Images are re-published under a Creative Commons licence

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27 Replies to “12 Quotes Depicting Women’s Equality in Islam”

  1. Pingback: Gender Jihad – misogyny vs. Islam | Voice of Salam

  2. Greetings! I’ve been reading your site for a long time now and finally
    got the courage to go ahead and give you a shout out from Porter Texas!

    Just wanted to tell you keep up the great job!

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  3. Hello! Aww, thanks so much, that really means a lot. 🙂 I’m glad you’ve been enjoying the blog! If you have anything you’d like me to write about – just get in touch! Have a lovely day.

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  4. Pingback: 10 typical Islamist rantings and how to respond | Voice of Salam

  5. That was beautiful my sister. Just keep writing more articles like this one. Honestly, I’m just tired of the corruption that some men from our ummah have spread through writting articles, i.e. by saying in them men are promised 72 virgin women in paradise, men are superior than women because the Prophets were all men you know, but they’re just jealous and just want to have dominance over someone in order to feel important because if you’re not aware some of them even give the feminist label to Islam. I mean for what! Giving women equal rights? Obviously they were expecting that Islam would let them buy us and rape us afterwards, let them treat us like servants while giving us menial pay if not nothing, and let them beat us harshly.

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  6. Pingback: #ChallengingTheNarrative – Which narratives do you refuse to endorse? Here’s 10 I do… | Voice of Salam

  7. asalam o alaikum.
    I am a working woman and I like to give a big share of my salary to my mother but my husband has objection with it he tells me I have to complete the needs of our household. I told him according to islam I have the complete right on my salary go and search in the internet in the reply he told me it’s all bullshit and what does internet knows.
    can u kindly tell me if it is mentioned in quran or no and if it is give me the details plz

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    1. Assalam aleykum sis. Sorry to hear of your problems. A woman does has the right to financial independence but as I’m not a scholar and everything is contextual (especially in today’s economy), please speak to a scholar. I recommend http://aboutislam.net/ Hope everything turns out well in sha’ Allah sis xx

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  9. As-salam-wa-Alaikum Elizabeth sister..I’m feeling so proud after reading your blog.It’s like a great light in a dark world today, as a lot of Muslims are going away from teachings of Islam and which is projecting the false image of Islam.
    Your work is really an effort to improve our society. Actually, I’d been thinking to do some efforts to make people aware of Islam and give meaning to my life. But unfortunately, I haven’t done anything yet in that direction. Insha Allah, I’m looking forward to doing something like that.
    PERSONAL REALISATION: After talking to so many peoples from different countries I’ve found that most of the girls who are either Muslims or Non-Muslims and don’t believe in religious values(previously they used to believe) have somewhere man behind it as a reason(it can be someone ditched them, disrespect women, harassment, etc in 95% cases).
    So today we need to give good teachings of Islam to our kids so from childhood they can understand their duties towards women and vice versa. To give importance to Religious studies are also much important to becoming an engineer, doctor, etc.
    Wish you all happiness. Ameen.
    Regards,
    Laraib Ali

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  10. Salaam, love the post but I would like to know where you found the translation for some of the things as I am struggling to do so. The one where it said “you are equal to one another” as all the ones I looked at said “you are of one another” which isn’t great when you’re trying to prove to someone that men and women are equal in Islam as I am trying to do. Also the translation which says “women have rights similar to men” because the ones I found says women have rights over men but in brackets it says in living expenses… So does that mean only in that regard they have rights?

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    1. Salam, thanks for the feedback 🙂 Unfortunately, I didn’t make a record of the sources. I’d be careful with brackets as that is the tasfir/interpretation/commentary. I’m not a scholar but women have all the rights that all humans are entitled to. Here’s an overview: sexual rights (right to pleasure etc.), economic rights (maintenance – food, clothing, etc. – as the one not having children, the men will always be responsible for her, the right to work is her right and her choice, the woman’s right to keep her money and her own property etc.), religious rights (right to religious education/husband’s religious leadership in the house, to practice her/his faith), right to emotional and social wellbeing (right to love, affection, and to maintain their social wellbeing in and outside the house re. family etc), right to family life (to see parents, siblings etc.), political (to vote, just like men). The translation I think they have translated it like that as in the time of the Qur’an women’s and men’s socio-economic position was different and as they are biologically different, so it means that they are equal but how that pans out practically is more in terms of equity – e.g. women didn’t work so they inherited less. I’d argue (as with common sense), that this needs to be reviewed in today’s world where families often cannot survive on one income and the woman often needs to work. Women and men are 100% equal in Islam but there are contextual differences relating to circumstance and biological sex (women have kids, women often didn’t work and were maintained by family). Today things are different. Like I said, I’m not a scholar but if you need more info/want to chat, please do email on voice_of_salam@outlook.com 🙂

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  11. You could certainly see your enthusiasm in the article
    you write. The arena hopes for more passionate writers such as
    you who aren’t afraid to say how they believe.
    At all times follow your heart.

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  12. Also can u please share more about why men are allowed to practice polygamy in islam with explanation.
    Anyways keep up with the good work

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  14. Pingback: The Children of Peace interview: Elizabeth Arif-Fear – Voice of Salam

  15. Very revealing and apt verses that speak on women’s equality. We are different , but surely equal in the eyes of Allah our creator…do you not then reflect? Its time cultural roller coaster that relegate women to the background give up and turn to Allah, especially in Muslim worlds and Africa

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  18. Hello.. I enjoy your blog, but I could not find this Qur’an, 2: 228 translation to be the same as yours. Instead I found this verse about divorce and women’s waiting time. Can you please elaborate? Thank you

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