Gender equality

Question 1

What does spiritual equality mean?

Answer 1

• Have the same opportunities to develop spiritually and express their spirituality freely as men
• Equal rights to practice worship in Mosques
• Same judgement - stand before God on judgement day
• Same clothing standards should apply to female as to male
• Stand before God equally in prayer
• Created by god just as men are
• Treated equally by men

Question 2

What does Qur’an 4:1 say that supports spiritual equality?

Answer 2

men and women were created together simultaneously from a single cell

Question 3

What does Qur’an 16:97 say that supports spiritual equality?

Answer 3

“Whoever works righteousness, man or woman has faith, verily we give a new life.”

Question 4

How do heaven and hell support spiritual equality?

Answer 4

At the final judgement humanity will be led to the plain of resurrection. People will be sorted into three groups, companions of the right hand are those who have submitted to God and are destined for heaven- al Jannah. Companions of the left hand are those who have denied God and will go to hell. All stand naked before God. They are given the book of their life to read out to everyone there and to God. If given the book in the right hand they go to heaven and if given the book in their left hand then they will go to Hell- Al Jahannam

Question 5

What does Qur’an 24:31 say that can both support and undermine spiritual equality?

Answer 5

“And say to the believing men that they should lower their gaze and guard their modesty. 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 appear thereof; that they should draw their veils over their bosoms. And not display their beauty except to their husbands, their fathers, their husband’s fathers, their sons, their husband’s sons….and O ye believers! Turn ye all together towards God that thee may attain Bliss.”

Question 6

What does Qur’an 33:35 say that supports spiritual equality?

Answer 6

“For God offers forgiveness and great reward for men who surrender to Him and women who surrender to Him… For men who believe and women who believe…”

Question 7

What does Qur’an 2:228 say that contradicts spiritual equality?

Answer 7

Women have the same rights in relation to their husbands as is expected in all decency of them; while men stand a step above them.

Question 8

What does Qur’an 4:34 say that contradicts spiritual equality?

Answer 8

“men are to take care of women because God has given them greater strength and because men use their wealth to provide for them.”

Question 9

What does Qur’an 9:71 say that supports spiritual equality?

Answer 9

“The believers, men and women, are protectors of one another; they enjoin what is just, and forbid what is evil. They observe regular prayers, practice regular charity, and obey Allah and his messenger. On them will Allah pour his mercy…”

Question 10

What does the Qur’an say on knowledge that supports spiritual equality?

Answer 10

Only those who are learned truly fear Allah…. The search for knowledge is the duty of every Muslim

Question 11

What is sura 4 called?

Answer 11

The protection of women

Question 12

Was polygamy accepted in early Islam?

Answer 12

Men could marry up to four women at a time in order to protect widows and orphans. Accepted polygamy in circumstances after war when widows were left without husbands and needed support.
They must all be treated fairly and if this cannot be the case then better to marry fewer women.
“Marry those women who are lawful for you….but only if you treat them all equally.”

Question 13

Were marriages forced in early islam?

Answer 13

No - “there is no compulsion in marriage (Quran)

Question 14

How were dowries used in early islam?

Answer 14

Women must be given their dowries and these can be kept as their own personal property throughout a marriage. This forced husbands to provide for their wives out of their own wealth but if a woman hands it across to her husband then it is within his rights to keep it (if uneducated about their rights then they fall into this trap)

Question 15

How was adultery treated in early islam?

Answer 15

If a woman commits adultery ( Zina) then there must be four witnesses to the act. If there are then a man must keep the woman in his home until she dies.

Question 16

Was divorce accepted in early islam?

Answer 16

Divorce is discouraged but allowed. If a man divorces his wife then he cannot ask her for her dowry back. If a couple want to separate then an arbitrator from the male and female side will help them talk.

Question 17

What quote suggests men are in control of women?

Answer 17

“The men are in charge of women and God has endowed them with certain qualities and made them the bread winners….if you experience rebellion from the women, you shall first talk with them, then desert them in bed, then you may beat them. “

Question 18

How can a quote be interpreted differently to suggest men help women?

Answer 18

“Men are the support of women ….As for women you feel are averse talk to them suasively, then leave them alone in bed (without molesting them) and go to bed with them (when they are willing)

Question 19

How did the prophet treat wives?

Answer 19

The Prophet had 12 wives and treated them all equally and he was betrothed to Aisha before puberty and had sex with her when puberty started.
He did not beat them

Question 20

How did Muhammad respond to complaints about the inheritance laws?

Answer 20

“Those who disobey God and his messenger and who try to overstep the boundaries of this inheritance law will be thrown into Hell…”

Question 21

What is khul?

Answer 21

When a woman asks for a divorce

Question 22

Who was Khadijah?

Answer 22

• the first wife of Muhammad and the first muslim
• She was a prominent and wealthy Meccan business woman and widow. She proposed to him after she hired him to manage her business affairs.
• With the exception of Khadijah women in pre Islamic Arabia could not own property or inherit from their husbands. In fact a wife was considered property and both she and her dowry could be inherited by the male heir of her deceased husband. If he was not interested in her then he could hand her over to a kin member. However according to many scholars Prophet Muhammad tried to redress these laws and give women some level of equality. After all, Khadijah his wife had wealth and stability that he had benefited greatly from.
• He had 12 wives in total although he remained monogamous and faithful to Khadijah for 20 years.

Question 23

Who was Aisha?

Answer 23

• one of Muhammad’s wives
• Prophet Muhammad is criticised for having sex with Aisha when she was young ( 12 years old approx) although many would say this was culturally acceptable for the time and he should not be judged by the standards of the C21.

Question 24

What did a hadith say al-khudri swore?

Answer 24

He heard the Prophet tell a group of women “ I have not seen anyone more deficient in intelligence and religion than you.”

Question 25

What did Abu Bakr claim in the hadith?

Answer 25

He claimed to have said 25 years after Muhammad died that he once heard the Prophet say “ Those who entrust their affairs to a woman will never know prosperity.”

Question 26

What did Fatima Mernissi note on the hadiths?

Answer 26

Behind every hadith lies a power struggle and a conflict of interests that represents the society of that time. As a result these reports are inaccurate and do not reflect the message of Muhammad.

Question 27

What did Kadri say on the hadiths?

Answer 27

The Hadith sayings are linked to cultural custom

Question 28

What did a hadith narrated by Aisha say on dress?

Answer 28

The Prophet said: Allah does not accept the prayer of a woman who has reached puberty unless she wears a veil.

Question 29

Who was Umm al-Darda?

Answer 29

• a female islamic scholar in C7
• she debated with the male scholars
• she taught the hadith and fiqh
• she prayed with men in the male section of the mosque

Question 30

What did Muhammad say about Khadija in a hadith?

Answer 30

“God Almighty never granted me anyone better in this life than her. She accepted me when people rejected me; she believed in me when people doubted me; she shared her wealth with me when people deprived me; and God granted me children only through her.”

Question 31

Who was Fatima?

Answer 31

• She was the daughter of the Prophet by Khadīja and it is only through Fāṭima (especially through her two sons, al-Hasan and al-Husayn) that the lineage of the Prophet Muhammad is preserved.
• part of the ahl al bayt

Question 32

Who was Hafsa?

Answer 32

• preserved the initial collection of the Qur’an
• Granddaughter of Muhammad
• Leading figure of the Ahl al-bayt
• Played a central role in the Massacre at Karbala, where her brother and 72 of her nephews were killed by the Umayyads
• Was the effective leader of the Ahl al-bayt for a time, and was the primary defender of the cause of her brother
• Defended her nephew from certain death at Kufa
• Gave an impassioned and forceful speech in the royal court at Damascus that the caliph was convinced by his advisers to release her and the prisoners taken at Karbala
• Her shrine at Damascus remains a major place of visitation by both Sunnis and Shi’is

Question 33

Who was Rabi’a al-Adawiyya?

Answer 33

• One of the most important mystics (or Sufis) in the Muslim tradition, she spent much of her early life as a slave in southern Iraq before attaining her freedom.
• She is considered to be one the founders of the Sufi school of “Divine Love,” which emphasizes the loving of God for His own sake, rather than out of fear of punishment or desire for reward.

Question 34

Who was Razia Sultan?

Answer 34

• She was the ruler of the Sultanate of Delhi for 4 years
• She was a fairly effective ruler and was a major patron of learning, establishing schools and libraries across northern India.
• In all matters, she behaved like a sultan, leading armies, sitting upon the throne and even adopting the same royal dress as her father; to the outrage of many, she also insisted on appearing unveiled in public.

Question 35

Who was Lubna of Cordoba?

Answer 35

• Originally a slave girl of Spanish origin
  
  • Rose to become one of the most important figures in the Umayyad palace in Cordoba
  • Was the palace secretary of caliphs
  • Was a skilled mathematician and presided over the royal library which had over 500,000 books
    “She excelled in writing, grammar, and poetry. Her knowledge of mathematics was also immense and she was proficient in other sciences as well. There were none in the Umayyad palace as noble as her.” - scholar Ibn Bashkuwal

Question 36

Who was the Arwa al-Sulayhi?

Answer 36

• Ruled as Queen of Yemen from 1067 to 1138
  
  • Was well versed in various religious sciences, the Qur’an, the hadith, poetry and history
  • Described as incredibly intelligent by chroniclers.
  • During her reign missionaries were sent to western India, where a major center was established at Gujrat (which continues to be a stronghold of the faith)
  • Her reign was marked by various construction projects and improvement of Yemen’s infrastructure, as well as its increased integration with the rest of the Muslim world
  • She was perhaps the single, most important example of an independent queen in Muslim history

Question 37

What does awra mean?

Answer 37

Modesty - regarding dress and behaviour

Question 38

Why might there be a conflict between scripture and cultural customs?

Answer 38

This can happen for different reasons e.g male rulers may institute laws that enslave women or traditionally certain values such as family are important and cultural customs build up around that or the cultures is assimilated by other cultures. Sometimes the customs of cultures are similar to Scripture and often traditional customs of Islam are similar to Patriarchal readings of Shari’a law where it might suit men to subjugate women.

Question 39

Why was cousin marriage practised?

Answer 39

Tradition - it may be something they grow up with
To preserve political power
To keep traditions within the family
Keeps dowry in family

Question 40

What hijabs are traditional to wear in India?

Answer 40

Traditionally in India Muslim women wear a patterned hijab because this is a tradition amongst Hindu and Sikh cultures which they have been assimilated into over thousands of years. However, In islamic teachings women wear a hijab which is plain.

Question 41

How does the Qur’an suggest marriage is a means of protection for both partners?

Answer 41

“They are a vestment for you and you are a vestment for them.”

Question 42

How did witness testimonies work in Islam?

Answer 42

In the second chapter of the Quran, it teaches that two women are the equivalent of one man in providing a witness testimony (in financial situations.) This is implemented in Pakista, Saudi Arabia and Iran

Question 43

Are blood relationships acceptable in Islam?

Answer 43

No - Sura 4 forbids them - “prohibited to you are-your mothers, daughters, sisters; father’s sisters, mother’s sisters…”

Question 44

Are blood relationships accepted anywhere?

Answer 44

In Pakistan cousins can traditionally marry.

Question 45

How are dowries used in India?

Answer 45

Traditionally in countries such as India a dowry is given by the bride’s family to that of the husband. ( not the other way around as the Qur’an teaches)

Question 46

How do cultural customs treat polygamy?

Answer 46

Traditionally, Polygamy is banned in Turkey and was abolished in Tunisia, and some countries today such as Iran, India, Bangladesh, Lebanon, Morrocco allow a woman to add a clause in the marriage contract that reduces polygamy. In Pakistan permission must be given from the first wife through the courts to allow a husband to have a second wife. However, in many Islamic cultures traditionally a man is polygamous e.g in Indonesia, Saudi Arabia, Iran.

Question 47

How do cultures treat disobedient women?

Answer 47

Traditionally in some countries such as the Sudan and rural Pakistan men do beat their wives if they disobey their husband.

Question 48

How do cultures treat forced marriage?

Answer 48

In rural Pakistan girls are forced to marry men and often run away which leads to honour killings and even in Great Britain there have been cases of families forcing their daughters to marry.

Question 49

What is triple talaq? How is it treated in cultures?

Answer 49

The husband pronounces three times at once that he wants a divorce whilst the woman is not menstruating according to the Qur’an. Under Libyan law talaq must have a proper intention behind it. Today triple talaq has been banned in India. It is still possible in rural Pakistan.

Question 50

What does the Quran ask believers to do with dowries?

Answer 50

“give the woman their dowries as a gift spontaneous” . It cannot be returned. If a man takes on another wife in place of another she can keep the dowry. If a husband initiates a divorce he is asked to pay the wife mahr under Islamic law. The Mahr is still part of the marriage contract today for Muslims across the world e.g in Saudi Arabia and Iran and a woman can keep it if she has stipulated this in the marriage contract.

Question 51

What does Mahr mean?

Answer 51

Dowry

Question 52

What did Alaa Murabit say?

Answer 52

“if we are equal in the eyes of god why are we not equal in the eyes of men?”

Question 53

What does the Qur’an teach on women’s clothes?

Answer 53

Women must “draw their clothes around them a little to be recognised as believers and so that no harm will come to them.”

Question 54

What does the Quran say on jilbabs?

Answer 54

“O Prophet! Tell thy wives and daughters, And the believing women ,That they should Cast Their Jilbab over Their persons(when abroad)…” A jilbab was a long cloak

Question 55

What does the Quran command men to do?

Answer 55

In the Qur’an men are commanded to “lower their gaze” and this suggests that they are mixing publicly with women but should not be staring at women in public

Question 56

What did the Hanbali law school say?

Answer 56

Every part down to the toenails must be covered during prayer.

Question 57

What did jurists say on women leading prayer?

Answer 57

Jurists agree that a woman cannot lead the congregational prayer as she would have to stand in front of the men so that men are not tempted by women sexually during prayer.

Question 58

Could women pray with men?

Answer 58

According to the jurists women and men could pray in the same space but women should stand behind the men.

Question 59

How are women treated traditionally in the Muslim world?

Answer 59

• Traditionally women do not lead congregational prayer e.g in Saudi, India, Great Britain etc.
• Traditionally in Iran the chador is worn to protect women from men.
• Traditionally in countries such as Iran and Afghanistan it is the law to wear the hijab and some women even in Great Britain choose to wear the Niqab and Purdah.
• In some countries traditionally Muslim women have been able to dress liberally and wear no hijab at all e.g in Tunisia they banned the niqab and hijab in state buildings
• In France and other European countries the burqa is banned in public spaces.

Question 60

Why did some countries such as Tunisia ban the hijab niqab etc?

Answer 60

out of concern that full body coverings can hide weapons or explosive devices used to carry out terrorist attacks

Question 61

What is Islamic feminism?

Answer 61

Islamic feminism is defined by Islamic scholars as being anchored within the discourse of Islam with the Qur’an as its central text and as being more radical than secular feminism. They argue that Islam has historically been interpreted in patriarchal and often misogynistic ways, that Sharia law has been misunderstood and misapplied, and that both the spirit and the letter of the Qur’an have been distorted.

Question 62

What did Amina Wadud say?

Answer 62

• Defines islam by fundamental principle of tawhid - refers to God at one and in matters of social justice -unity. Humans are equal
• the role of woman is to be a khalifiah on earth - “Indeed I will create an agent on the earth.” Qur’an.
• Woman was not created as a second class citizen to man - her agency is to be filled out on this earth, standing up for social justice
• Women are human and this humanity is given to women as Allah-they do not depend on men.

Question 63

Who was Amita Barlas?

Answer 63

• Barlas does not describe herself as an Islamic feminist but she does believe that the Qur’an teaches that women have equal rights. She thinks the term feminist is a western term that she does not want her thinking to be categorised under.
• She rejected patriarchal imagery of god as father in quran
• Women and men were created from the same thing, both endowed with moral choice and personality, and are obligated to act as vice regent on earth

Question 64

What is Fakhry’s interpretation of the Quran?

Answer 64

Men are in charge of women…

• it is used to justify violence against women, and traditionalists would refer to this interpretation more

Question 65

What is Ali’s interpretation of the Quran?

Answer 65

Men are the support of women….

• it is used to empower women

Question 66

What do the Malaysian sisters believe?

Answer 66

Contemporary society does not accept violence, so the accept that man are the SUPPORT of women as it is compassionate.

Question 67

How does Barlas interpret “men are the support of women”?

Answer 67

It means that men are the providers of financial support to women. It does not mean that women cannot finance themselves or support themselves but if they cannot then a man will do so for her. “…as God gives some more means than others…” could simply mean that men often are most likely to make more money and have more overseeing of the money as part of their role in family life in Islam.

Question 68

What does Al-HIbri say on the support of women quote?

Answer 68

Al–Hibri agrees with Barlas and adds it does not mean that men as a gender/class are given more importance than women. It does not mean that they are superior to women as the Quran in other places states that both men and women are protectors of each other. It does not imply that a man is head of the household.

Question 69

How is daraba interpreted differently?

Answer 69

• Many Muslims interpret the word daraba as wife-beating - to strike again and again and intensely beat someone
• Wadud claims it can mean “to set an example” as well as ”to strike”
• Barlas writes that daraba can mean to prevent - prevent a women from leaving the house. It does not mean to be violent towards women.

Question 70

What does Afshar claim?

Answer 70

Lightly beating the wife was a
description for Arabs at the time but not for Muslims to follow today.

Question 71

What does Barlas say about Job?

Answer 71

Job is told to take a sprig of leaves and carry out daraba against his wife who has cursed God. In this case the act would be symbolic of a strike and would cause no physical harm - so the passage on wives should be read at least similarly to this.

Question 72

What is sunken?

Answer 72

Deep love intimacy - God created “helpmeets from amongst yourselves that you might find Sunken (love deep intimacy) in them”

Question 73

What does QUran 33:53 say on Muhammads wives?

Answer 73

“And when ye ask of them anything, ask it of them from behind a curtain.”

Question 74

How do traditionalists interpret “O Prophet! Tell thy wives and daughters that they should cast their jilbab over their persons (when abroad) and say to the believing men that they should lower their gaze and guard their modesty”?

Answer 74

Interpret this to mean that women should cover up the hair and chest area but for Patriarchal traditionalist Muslims this extends to covering the whole body to not sexually corrupt to men. This view was developed between C9-12 by men. This means Muslim women should wear the Burqa and Niqab.
From the Western/Islamic Feminist perspective this is oppressive. However, for some Islamic traditionalists they could argue it liberates women because they are seen for their whole person and not for their sex and they are not harassed out in public.

Question 75

How does Barlas interpret “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 (must ordinarily) appear …That they should draw their (khumar- covering) over their bosoms and not display their beauty except to…” ?

Answer 75

• The word khumar means covering so the bosoms must be covered but not the face or hair with the hijab - no need for it.
• For Barlas covering is applicable to the eyes in the sense that one should cover the eyes by looking downwards and not gaze at the opposite sex so as to attract unwanted attention-both men and women.
• .Barlas claims that the covering was used only to distinguish reputable Muslim women from slaves at the time who did not wear a covering.
• .Barlas claims that women should be allowed to mix publicly with men otherwise it would not state to cast their eyes down. Both should be covered and dress modestly and avert their gaze. The verse has to state that women should cover the bosoms because they have them. Men don’t so there’s no need to state this for them.
• Therefore she may conclude that the wearing of the hijab, purdah, niqab etc. is not to be forced on women.

Question 76

How do Barlas and Ahmed interpret “And when ye ask of them [the wives of the Prophet] anything, ask it of them from behind a curtain.”

Answer 76

• Prophet Muhammad’s wives wore the veil because they were higher in society so this didn’t apply to most Muslim women and nor should it today. Prophet Muhammad is no longer here so the ruling regarding his wives applies to no one today.
• In the qur’an the Arabic term for hijab means curtain so the wives of the Prophet were to talk to visitors to the house from behind the curtain - it is not a reference to the hijab necessarily.
• Therefore the forcing of the wearing of the veil is seen as symbol of oppression by these feminists. Their argument is to liberate women and give them a choice to wear the veil.

Question 77

How is the verse that talks of men marrying two, three or four women interpreted regarding the veil?

Answer 77

Traditionalists claim Prophet Muhammad was polygamous and married Aisha at puberty. They could see this as liberating as it protects girls from puberty onwards and ensures stability and polygamy ensures that widows are looked after.

Islamic feminists/Malaysian sisters state that men should act compassionately to their wives because the Qur’an teaches that God is compassionate. Allah is compassionate - therefore the theme of compassion must run through the Qur’an and means that if men treat women compassionately in marriage then they must also treat them compassionately regarding the veil, and give them a choice to wear it.

Question 78

How is “Women have the same rights in relation to their husbands as is expected in all decency of them; while men stand a step above them.” interpreted regarding the veil?

Answer 78

Traditionalists claim men make the ultimate decisions on behalf of a women e.g whether the wife should wear a hijab, a niqab and whether she can work.

Islamic feminists say women should have the same rights as their husbands-e.g they can work, they can choose whether to wear a veil. In a marriage if the couple strongly disagree then the husband makes the very final decision as someone has to do so. It is not that the husband has more rights than the wife. They are equal.

Question 79

What does Haleh Afshar claim about woman’s testimony?

Answer 79

It is only worth half of a man’s in financial matters

Question 80

Why do some Muslim feminists favour the veil?

Answer 80

Many Muslim men and women now view the veil as a symbol of Islamic freedom. While there are some Islamic scholars who interpret Islamic scripture as not mandating hijab, many Islamic feminists still observe hijab as an act of religious piety or sometimes as a way of symbolically rejecting Western culture by making a display of their Muslim identity.

Question 81

What did Amara say?

Answer 81

Amara explained her support for France’s ban of the garment in public buildings: “The veil is the visible symbol of the subjugation of women, and therefore has no place in the mixed, secular spaces of France’s public school system. “When some feminists began defending the headscarf on the grounds of “tradition”, Amara said: “It’s not tradition, it’s archaic!

Question 82

What did Mhenni say?

Answer 82

Mhenni expressed support for Tunisia’s ban on the veil: “If today we accept the headscarf, tomorrow we’ll accept that women’s rights to work and vote and receive an education be banned and they’ll be seen as just a tool for reproduction and housework.”

Question 83

What is the White Wednesday movement?

Answer 83

Led by Alineajad, the White Wednesday movement opposes compulsory hijab and promotes freedom of choice for Iranian women.

Question 84

Who was Mahsa Amini?

Answer 84

Amini died in police custody in Iran having been taken in by the morality police for wearing her hijab incorrectly and having hair showing. This has led to widespread protests in Iran and across the world on behalf of Muslim women who do not wish to be forced to wear the hijab as well as the general treatment of women by the Iranian authorities .