Are men and women equal in Islam?

**soulsociety** · 01-11-2007

Are Men and Women Equal in Islam?

Marriage: No
wife has to obey husband
husband has to pay maintenance

Parents: No
Mother has priority over father

Inheritance from parents: No
Son gets double that of the daughter

Inheritance from other relations: Yes
Parents who inherit from a deceased child, for example, each inherit one-sixth of the property if the deceased child is survived by a child of his or her own. In that instance, the division is equal between the mother and the father of the deceased.

Liyan(?): Yes equal
Witness of spouses against eachother, accusation of adultery, is equal.

Witness to certain crimes and contracts: No
1 male witness or 2 female, 4 male witnesses, etc.

Military service: No
Women are excused

but where it matters?

Reward for good deeds: Yes
If any do deeds of righteousness, be they male or female,
and have faith, they will enter Paradise
and not the least injustice will be done to them.
[Quran 4:124]

Allah (SWT) won't ask you if you had a career or not, if you were a co-wife or an only wife, if you "wore the trousers" in the marriage or not. You'll be asked about your good deeds.

Abdul Hakim

**brenton** · 01-11-2007

I'm not sure family life and a person's word is not "where it matters."

**Umar001** · 01-11-2007

Originally Posted by brenton

I'm not sure family life and a person's word is not "where it matters."

am sure that you'd agree though that compared to pleasing G-d, other things other than that are pretty insignificant?

**brenton** · 01-11-2007

Of course--I can see how that would be important from your perspective.

I'm struck though everytime I look at the Prophet's life (and Jesus too) how progressive and inclusive he was of women given his culture. I just wished Islam carried that perspective forward.