Gender Rights in Islam

The father of all the human being is Adam, who is created from dust, soil, or clay. Eve is the mother of the human kind, who is created from the rip of Adam: "The Creator of the heavens and the earth. He hath made for you pairs of yourselves, and of the cattle also pairs, whereby He multiplied you. Naught is as His likeness; and He is the Hearer, the Seer." (Koran 42:11.) Their off springs are the men and women. All the people around the world belong to the same family of Adam and Eve. No matter what color they are or what country and ethnicity they claim. The reason why the God have created them is to worship Him alone and they are equal to God: "I did not create the jinn (Demon) and humankind except to worship Me." (Koran 51:56.) This is the equality that God gave the men and women. And it is mentioned in every book of God: the Gospel, the Torah, the Psalms, and the Qur'an (Koran.) On the contrary, some people argue that women are not equal to men near God, and they are oppressed in the religions and/or cultures. This is true, in some way, women are oppressed. While some religions claim that the men and women are equal to God but not the same. Then, the question is where are they oppressed? Is in the religions or in the cultures? The men and women are equal but not similar, is sounds confusing, but the reality is something easy to comprehend. For example: if we put a pound of feather and a pound of stones on scale, they weigh the same but they are different components. Like this, man and woman are equal in rights but not similar in roles.

I am Muslim, and I will examine the equality and difference in the Islamic prospective. In Islam men and women are equal but not the same. They are equal in faith, laws apply on them in the same way, and they have the same consequences if they disobey God. For example: On one hand, they are equal in faith, they believe in the same God (Allah,) they pray in the same way, fast in the same month of Ramadan, pay the same amount of tax or (charity), and make the pilgrimage to the same place of Kaaba in Mecca. However, there are some exempts for both in the cases of sickness and disability. On the other hand, they are not the same when it comes to the social issues like reproduction (birth), leadership, care, protection, raising the children, and providing the necessities for the family.

Why they are different socially? We know scientifically, man's body has more protein than woman, and woman's body has more fat. This makes them different in structure and strength. So that the man is the physical protector of the family. On this strength, men are more resistant to the fatigue of the physical work, and this is why men are the bread winners of the families from work. At the leadership, men make harsh decisions than the women because of the women's closeness to the care and mercy side. Yet, this is what makes men the decision makers of the family in Islam. On the contrary, man cannot give birth, woman is, and this is why the woman takes care of the children. Also the woman's fat containing body is what gives the child the softness he/she needs. The mercy or less aggressiveness of the woman is a major role for the woman to make less harsh decision during the tough situations. However, these mentioned things, in some ways are not exclusive for men or women but they co-operate one another. In some situations man concentrates on an issue and other situations woman concentrates on specific things and fields.

When man and woman co-operate to fulfill each other's duties and not intervene the other's decisions; the society will become strong and going forward to the success. On the contrary, when each of the members did not fulfill his/her role or responsibility of the family and/or the society, then this is when the things get bad. Competition starts and the consequences are not welcomed. For example: if the man does not work to provide enough food for the family, the woman is forced to find a job. Then the child birth will decrease, while also the children are not getting enough care from the father or the outside taking care person. This causes damage to the foundation of the family and the society. Then, the next generation will become insufficient to stand up by its own to maintain the religion and the culture. Whereas, if the woman interferes the decision making of the man, then the man will become unable to provide the necessities for the family and this may lead to a domestic violence and/or a divorce. The consequences of violence and divorce may favor the husband or the wife, but on either way, the impact on the children and the society will be severe. To protect the woman, the family, and the society's interests, Islam have set rules to be a solution to the problem of today's injustice.

The solution is clear, which is the recognition of each person's rights and responsibilities. I am not supporting the status queue of oppression but demanding justice for all. God gave us equal justice and responsibility and we should follow these to the literally mean. Men should protect, provide enough for their families, and make wise decisions - because that is their job. While women have to be good care givers to their men and children. Other wise there is and will be a chaos, competition, and oppression, which are not benefiting or meeting the demands of either men or women.

In conclusion, according to the religion of Islam; the men and women are equal in the spiritual way and are different in many roles. This does not mean oppression. It is just the different roles and responsibilities they play in the society. But when one tries not to fulfill, over power, abuse, or compete with the other, then there will be consequences. The results will cause a devastating impact and effect specially to the household members and/or the society as a general. This situation is when the relationships end up in an abuse and oppression. The Islam gives solution not only for Muslims but for the non-Muslims too, which is to recognize the rights and responsibilities.

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