About women in Islam in comparison with other relegions

1. Women in IslamWomen in Islam
By
Maram Mohammad Hasan

2. 11--IntroductionIntroduction
Almost all Moslim
societies have
deviated from the
ideals of Islam with
respect to the status
of women , also
some people mix
Islam with traditions,
therefore the
behavior of some
nominal followers of
Islam is misleading.

This presentation is
dedicated to declare
what is stated in Quraan
about women in
comparison with the
vision of the followers of
both Judaism and
Christianity , as we -as
muslims- believe that the
original books of both
relegions are distorted ,
and of course we do
believe that all religions
stem from one source.

3. In Judaism and Christianity ,
when god rebuked Adam
for what he did ,Adam puts
all his blame on Hawwaa .
He said:
"The woman you put here
with me , .....she gave me
some fruit from the tree
and I ate it".
2-Eve's Fault?
God created both Adam and Hawwaa (Eve) . All religions
agree for that , but after that , we have some difference:

4. In Quraan we find another
concept , in several places , for
example:
 ‫اية‬ ‫الرعراف‬23
 7:23
 They said, "Our Lord, we have
wronged ourselves, and ifYou
do not forgive us and have
mercy upon us, we will surely
be among the losers."

5. The Quraan , contrary to the bible ,The Quraan , contrary to the bible ,
places equal blame on both Adamplaces equal blame on both Adam
and Eve for their mistake , there isand Eve for their mistake , there is
not even the slightest hint that Evenot even the slightest hint that Eve
tempted Adam to eat from the treetempted Adam to eat from the tree
or ate before him , so in Quraan ,or ate before him , so in Quraan ,
Eve is not a deceiverEve is not a deceiver..

6. In the Old Testament
we find:
"While I was still searching
but not finding , I found one
upright man among a
thousand , but not one
upright woman among them
all".
)Ecclesiastes 7:28(
3-Eve's Legacy
The image of Eve as temptress in the written Bible has resulted
in an extremely negative impact on women thoughout the
Judio-Christian tradition . All women were believed to have
inherited from their mother , Eve , her guilt.

7. While we find
in Quraan:
And Allah presents an example of those who believed: the
wife of Pharaoh, when she said, "My Lord, build for me near
You a house in Paradise and save me from Pharaoh and his
deeds and save me from the wrongdoing people.“
And [the example of] Mary, the daughter of 'Imran, who
guarded her chastity, so We blew into [her garment]
through Our angel, and she believed in the words of her
Lord and His scriptures and was of the devoutly obedient.
‫اية‬ ‫التحريم‬12,13

8. The Quraan never says that noThe Quraan never says that no
upright woman have ever existed ,upright woman have ever existed ,
to the contrary , the Quraan hasto the contrary , the Quraan has
instructed all the believers , womaninstructed all the believers , woman
as well as men , to follow theas well as men , to follow the
example of those ideal women suchexample of those ideal women such
as Virgin Mary and the Pharaoh'sas Virgin Mary and the Pharaoh's
wifewife..

9. Catholic Bible states:
"The birth of a daughter is a
loss"
4-Shameful Daughters?
In the written Bible , a daughter is considered a painful burden.

10. While the Quraan
makes no distinction
between boys and
girls .The Quraan
considers the birth of a
female as a gift and a
blessing from God , the
same as the birth of a
male .The Quraan even
mentions the gift of a
female birth first:
 To Allah belongs the dominion of the
heavens and the earth; He creates
what he wills. He gives to whom He
wills female [children], and He gives to
whom He wills males.
‫اية‬ ‫الشورى‬49

11. We find in the New
Testament:
"Women should remain
silent in the churches , they
are not allowed to speak ,
but must be in submission
as the law says . If they want
to inquire about something ,
they should ask their own
husbands at home".
5-Female Education
The Bible and the Quraan have extremely different attitudes to
female who tries to learn her religion.

12. In Quraan , one short story
narrated sums up the position of
the woman in Islam concisely:
When Khawla , the Muslim
woman , came to the prophet to
plead her case in (Al Zihar
accident ) she kept arguing with
the prophet until her plea was
accepted , the devine verdict
abolished this pagan custom , and
the chapter revealed on the
prophet was named after her " Al
Mujadala " means " the woman
who is arguing" .
 Certainly has Allah heard the speech of
the one who argues with you, [O
Muhammad], concerning her husband
and directs her complaint to Allah .And
Allah hears your dialogue; indeed,Allah
is Hearing and Seeing.
‫اية‬ ‫المجادلة‬1
How can a woman grow intellectually if she is obliged to
be in a state of full submission?

13. So , the woman in the QuranicSo , the woman in the Quranic
conception has the right to argueconception has the right to argue
and no one has the right to instructand no one has the right to instruct
her to keep silent or to ask herher to keep silent or to ask her
husband instead of asking the jurist ,husband instead of asking the jurist ,
and this considered to be the wayand this considered to be the way
for learningfor learning..

14. The Rabbis justify why
women cannot bear
witness by citing
Genesis 18:9-16
where it is stated that Sara
(may Allah be pleased with
her ) , wife of Abraham
(peace and blessing may be
upon him ) had lied.
6-Bearing Witness
It is true that the Quraan has instructed the believers dealing in
financial transaction to get two male witnesses or one male and
two females ,on the other hand , women were not allowed to
bear witness in early Jewish society

15. In contrast to
this accusation ,
the Quraan
praises Sara:  They said, "Are you amazed at the
decree of Allah ? May the mercy of
Allah and His blessings be upon you,
people of the house. Indeed, He is
Praiseworthy and Honorable."
‫اية‬ ‫هود‬73
It should be noted here that a similar story mentioned in
Quraan without any hint of any lies by Sara (AP( .

16. The Talmud describes the
financial situation of a wife as
follows:
"How can a woman have
anything whatever it hers
belong to her husband ? ,
what is his is his and what
is hers is also his".
7-Wife's Property
The three religions share a belief in the importance of marriage
and family life , and agree on the leadership of the husband
over his family . Nonetheless , differences do appear among
Judio-Christianity and Islam about the limits of this leadership.

17. But Islam , since the seventh
century , has granted married
woman the independent
personality .The gift from the
groom to the bride is
considered her property and
neither the groom nor her
family have a control over it
,the Quraan states:
 And give the women [upon
marriage] their [bridal] gifts
graciously. But if they give up
willingly to you anything of it,
then take it in satisfaction and
ease.
‫اية‬ ‫النساء‬4

18. Also , the woman is not a property to beAlso , the woman is not a property to be
inherited , as stated in Quraaninherited , as stated in Quraan::
O you who have believed, it is not lawful for you to inherit
women by compulsion. And do not make difficulties for them in
order to take [back] part of what you gave them unless they
commit a clear immorality. And live with them in kindness. For if
you dislike them - perhaps you dislike a thing and Allah makes
therein much good.
‫اية‬ ‫النساء‬19

19. to the contrary , the Old
Testament frequently attest to
the legality of polygamy:
King Solomon-whose said to
be a prophet in Quraan- said
to have 700 wives , also king
Dawood-whose also a
prophet- is said to have too
many wives (Samuel 5:13(
8-Polygamy
Polygamy is a very ancient practice found in many human
societies .The Bible did not condemn polygamy.

20. Father Eugene Hillman in his
insightful book said:
"Nowhere in the New
Testament is there any explicit
commandment that marriage
should be monogamous or
any explicit commandment
forbidden polygamy".
What about polygamy in the new testament?

21. In the Quraan we find this
verse:
 And if you fear that you will not
deal justly with the orphan girls,
then marry those that please you
of [other] women, two or three
or four. But if you fear that you
will not be just, then [marry
only] one or those your right
hand possesses.That is more
suitable that you may not incline
[to injustice].
 ‫اية‬ ‫النساء‬3

22. The Quraan too , allowed polygamy , butThe Quraan too , allowed polygamy , but notnot
without restrictionswithout restrictions . The Quraan limits the. The Quraan limits the
maximum number of wives tomaximum number of wives to fourfour under the strictunder the strict
condition of treating the wives equally and justlycondition of treating the wives equally and justly..
It should be understood that the Quraan isIt should be understood that the Quraan is notnot
exhortingexhorting the believers to practice polygamy or thatthe believers to practice polygamy or that
polygamy is considered as an ideal , in other words ,polygamy is considered as an ideal , in other words ,
the Quraanthe Quraan allowedallowed polygamy inpolygamy in certaincertain conditionsconditions..

23. 99--ConclusionsConclusions
Do Muslim women in the Muslim
world today receive this noble
treatment as what is stated about
them in Islam?

24. The fact is that there are two directions in muslimThe fact is that there are two directions in muslim
society :society :
The first is too restrictive and tradition oriented .The first is too restrictive and tradition oriented .
The second is more liberal and western oriented ,The second is more liberal and western oriented ,
both of them deprive women of many of herboth of them deprive women of many of her
rights granted by Islam whether it is by deprivingrights granted by Islam whether it is by depriving
of going to school or by losing her name byof going to school or by losing her name by
marriagemarriage..

25. Furthermore ,Furthermore , the problem is that Muslim societythe problem is that Muslim society
today is far from Islam in many aspects of life ,today is far from Islam in many aspects of life ,
therefore , reforming the look to the womentherefore , reforming the look to the women
should be joined with reforming of the Muslimshould be joined with reforming of the Muslim
society .society .
IslamIslam should be viewed by us not as ashould be viewed by us not as a rivalrival toto
Judio-Christianity but as aJudio-Christianity but as a perfectionperfection of the divineof the divine
message . If we have this point of view , we willmessage . If we have this point of view , we will
correct any misconception about Islamic womencorrect any misconception about Islamic women
consideration and we will develop women'sconsideration and we will develop women's
position in Islamic societyposition in Islamic society..

26. At last , the Quraan states this vision about allAt last , the Quraan states this vision about all
humans whom are created by Allahhumans whom are created by Allah::
Sahih International
O mankind, indeed We have created you from male and female
and made you peoples and tribes that you may know one
another. Indeed, the most noble of you in the sight of Allah is
the most righteous of you. Indeed, Allah is Knowing and
Acquainted.
‫اية‬ ‫الحجرات‬13

27. 1010--SourcesSources
Women in IslamWomen in Islam
By
Dr. Sherif Abdel AzimDr. Sherif Abdel Azim

28. Thank youThank you