All of the characteristics that distinguish males and females from each other in living things are called sex. Male and female genders are biologically, physiologically and psychologically different. For example, when a woman is in a creation capable of becoming pregnant; This is not the case for men.
When equality practiced between people with different characteristics it results in injustice and badness. Equality may not lead to correct results for people with different characteristics, as in the example of giving size 38 shoes to all people with different foot sizes. The religion of Islam does not accept women and men in absolute equality, nor does it accept them in absolute inequality.
Men and women are biologically different. For this reason, Islam has given different responsibilities and rights to men and women according to these differences. It is stated in the Quran that a woman is a creation capable of becoming pregnant: “Your wives are like farmland for you.”[1] due to a woman being pregnant and giving birth While her husband ordered to be give her alimony ,for a man there is no such a situation so his wife is not obligated to give him alimony.[2] Women are ordered not to do certain worship during their menstrual period due to the process they are in.[3] Since men do not have such an excuse, they must perform their prayer constantly.
As it is seen, while some physiological differences cause some exemptions for women, it is not possible to talk about absolute equality in some provisions in the field of law due to such differences as well as some special abilities and social roles. Since Islam accepts justice as the basic moral value, it did not allow an absolute equality that would result in injustice in this regard. There is neither absolute equality nor absolute inequality between men and women. In other words, it is not possible to say “Air is better than fire” or “Fire is better than air”, nor can it be said “Men are better than women” or “Women are better than men”. Both genders are valuable and unique as they exist. Islam is far from an attitude that ignores and aims to destroy the difference between men and women, and from an attitude that creates pressure and domination in favor of one or the other because of this difference.
Men and women in the Quran; faith, obedience to Allah, humility, worship, truthfulness, patience, help, protection of honor, and remembrance of Allah were evaluated equally.[4] This shows that men and women are equal in the need to use their mind and live a moral life.
Specifically, in the Quran, Islam looks at men and women as two people who support and complement each other. The measure of being valuable in the sight of Allah for men and women is taqwa.[5] There is no discrimination between men and women in matters that religion aims to protect. Just as a man’s mind, property, religion, progeny and honor are sacred values, so are women’s minds, property, religion, progeny and honor. In terms of the continuation of the generation, the role of women is more than that of men. Both the boy and the girl are brought into the world through the body of the woman.
During the time of the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessing be upon him), women were in social life, and the veiling order in the Quran allowed them to exist safely in social life. As a matter of fact, although jihad was originally obligatory for men, women also participated in expeditions and provided medical aid and support, worked in auxiliary services such as cooking, and in peacetime they were engaged in trade, science, administration and administrative affairs. By saying, “Do not prevent the female servants of Allah from coming to Allah’s mosques,” the Prophet (PBUH) encourages women to learn and removes the obstacles to their education.[6]
The relationship of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) with his wives and the way his wives lived their own lives opens a window on the approach of Islam to gender equality. Each of the wives of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) are women with a different temperament and character. Khadijah is an economically independent woman who owns intercity caravans. Mariyya continued her life as the concubine of Muqawqis, the ruler of Egypt, but became the wife of the prophet as free when she was sent to the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). Hafsa is like her father Omer, quick-tempered and outspoken. Aisha defines Hafsa as follows: “Hafsa is literally her father’s daughter. She has a strong will. Her essence is one.” [7] In addition, Hafsa is a woman who talks to the prophet Muhammad (PBUH) on issues that he cannot agree with and argues from time to time with him.[8] Aisha is the only young woman that the prophet Muhammad (PBUH) married. The prophet Muhammad (PBUH) went to watch a play with Aisha.[9] In addition Aisha is one of the scholars who transmitted the most hadiths.[10] It should also be added that Aisha is one of the leaders of the community, whose opinion is consulted in the conflicts that arose after the death of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). Safiyyah is the daughter of the leader of a tribe of Jewish origin. She was grown up in Jewish culture and a wealthy life. she was captured by the Muslims in the Battle of Khaybar, and the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) offered her choice of returning to her tribe or marrying him, Safiyyah became Muslim and married the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH).[11]
The premarital lifestyle and perspective of each of the wives of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) are quite different.The Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) adjusted his relations with his wives according to their character, age and temperament of the woman he is addressing. He did not try to change the characters or individual differences of his wives. if they were in a wrong attitude without breaking their hearts he stated that they were wrong. Aisha, at the time she was preparing a meal for the prophet Muhammad (PBUH), Hafsa,one of the wives of the prophet, cooked a meal and serve it before her and Aisha become jealous. When Hafsa’s concubine put the meal in front of the prophet Muhammad (PBUH), Aisha hit his hand and the plate fell and broke. The food inside was also spilled. Thereupon, Hz. Muhammad put the pieces of the plate together, collected the spilled food, and said to his companions, “Your mother was jealous.” Then he sent another solid plate to his wife, Hafsa, instead of the broken one.[12] It is understood that the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) considers the differences in character and temperament according gender equality in his behavior towards his wives, and treats them fairly.
The prophet Muhammad (PBUH) does not discriminate between men and women in terms of the right to receive education; He conveyed the Quran to everyone without distinction between men and women.[13] He stated that women have rights over men and men have rights over women.[14] Therefore, in Islam, equality of values and equality of law as a principle have been accepted among individuals regardless of gender.
In the Quran and In the hadiths of the prophet Muhammad (PBUH); Humans are created in the most beautiful way without gender discrimination,[15] that the feeling of love and compassion that will ensure the continuation of generations and the unity of spouses is put to both sexes in creation[16], that women and men must protect each other like a cover in order to live sexuality correctly with this love. It was stated that they besieged them.[17]
According to Islamic law, a woman has the right to own and dispose of property independently and fully, just like a man. No one has the right to interfere with her in this matter. However, financial obligations are primarily the man’s responsibility to provide for the family’s livelihood.[18] On the other hand, the mother has priority in the care, supervision and upbringing of the child.
It should also be added that there is no understanding of “original sin” in Islam, which is first committed by the woman and caused by the deception of the woman, which also causes the man to commit it. The Holy Quran mentions that the prophet Adam (PUH) and Hawwa was deceived together and that they were forgiven together after they repented.[19]
As a result, in Islam, individuals are not evaluated based on their male and female genders, but according to whether they obey the consent of the creator and live accordingly as human beings.
[1] Al-Baqarah, 223
[2] At- Talaq, 6
[3] “How could He not know His Own creation?”, Al-Mulk, 14; “As long as your period continues, leave the prayer, then make the ablution and pray.”, Al-Bukhari,Menstrual period,62; Sunan Abi Dawud, Purification,109
[4] Al-Ahzab,35
[5] “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 Aware.”, Al-Hujurat,13
[6] Sahih Al-Bukhari, Friday prayer, 13; Sahih Muslim, The book of prayers, 136.
[7] At-Tirmidhi, Chapters on virtues, 63
[8] Then `Umar added, “By Allah, in the Pre-lslamic Period of Ignorance we did not pay attention to women until Allah revealed regarding them what He revealed regarding them and assigned for them that He has assigned. Once while I was thinking over a certain matter, my wife said, “I recommend that you do so-and-so.” I said to her, “What have you got to do with the is matter? Why do you poke your nose in a matter which I want to see fulfilled.?” She said, How strange you are, O son of Al-Khattab! You don’t want to be argued with whereas your daughter, Hafsa surely, argues with Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) so much that he remains angry for a full day!” , Sahih Al-Bukhari, Dress, 31.
[9] “On one of the holydays, both the prophet (PBUH) and Aisha watched people playing
fencing, they separated from the place when he realized Aisha was tired.” Sahih Al-Bukhari, Muslim ; Aisha said, ” I swear by God that I have seen the Prophet standing at the door of my room when the Abyssinians were playing with spears in the mosque and God’s Messenger was covering me with his cloak in order that I might look over his shoulder* at their sport. He would then stand for my sake till I was the one who departed; so estimate the time a young girl eager for amusement would wait.” Sahih Al-Muslim, The book of prayer-Two Eids, 18
[10] Among the Companions (followers) of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), one of the seven people who were famous for giving many fatwas was the One of the prophet Muhammad (PBUH)wives, Aisha.
[11] Tabakat, 8:123.
[12] Al-Bukhari, Wedlock,Marriage, 108.
[13] Sunan Ibn Majah, I, 81.
[14] At-Tirmidhi, The book on suckling, 11.
[15] At-Tin, 4.
[16] Ar-Rum,21.
[17] Al-Baqarah,187.
[18] An-Nisa, 34
[19] Al-Baqarah, 35-37 ; Taha, 120-122.