Does the Qur’an Disrespect Women?

Question and Answer Details

Name of Questioner Anonymous   – Afghanistan   Title Does the Qur’an Disrespect Women?   Question The Qur’an says that  a woman is like a field for you, so go to them in every way you like. Does that mean that the woman is an object for the man, and that the woman is only there for the man to have intercourse and fun with? Why is the woman a field for the man? Why does the Qur’an most of the time speak to men and not to women as well?   Date 10/Jan/2008   Name of Mufti `Abdel Khaliq Hasan Ash-Shareef Topic Misconceptions

Answer

In the Name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful. All praise and thanks are due to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon His Messenger. Dear questioner, thank you for your question.         To understand the descriptions mentioned in the Qur’an correctly, one ought to understand the contexts and  topics in which these descriptions are mentioned, and above all understand the language of the Qur’an. As for the specific example you mentioned in your question, the Qur’an described women as a ’tilth’; it did not refer to them as an object. Rather, they were described as such in the context of stating what is permissible and impermissible between a husband and his wife during intercourse. Second, when the Qur’an uses ‘masculine address’ it does not exclude women nor does it degrade them in any way, as one of the original usages of  ‘masculine address’ in the Arabic language is to address a general mass that includes both men and women.     In response to your question, Sheikh `Abdel Khaliq Hassan Ash-Shareef, an Egypt-based renowned scholar and da`iyah, says,   This is not the only way  Allah the Almighty described women in the Glorious Qur’an. Describing them in a certain way does not mean this is the only way they are described. Allah the Almighty says in the Qur’an:   [They are your garments and ye are their garments.] (Al-Baqarah 2: 187) [How can ye take it (back) after one of you hath gone in unto the other, and they have taken a strong pledge from you?](An-Nisaa’  4: 21) [And of His signs is this: He created for you helpmeets from yourselves that ye might find rest in them, and He ordained between you love and mercy. Lo! Herein indeed are portents for folk who reflect.] (Ar-Rum 30: 21) As you can see, this  is not the only description of women in the Qur’an. In addition, you have to understand the context in which they were described as a ’tilth’. Allah the Almighty says,[Your women are a tilth for you (to cultivate) so go to your tilth as ye will, and send (good deeds) before you for your souls, and fear Allah, and know that ye will (one day) meet Him. Give glad tidings to believers, (O Muhammad).] ( Al-Baqarah 2: 223) To understand the context of this verse, you should  read the verse before it which states,[They question thee (O Muhammad) concerning menstruation. Say: It is an illness, so let women alone at such times and go not in unto them till they are cleansed. And when they have purified themselves, then go in unto them as Allah hath enjoined upon you. Truly Allah loveth those who turn unto Him, and loveth those who have a care for cleanness.] ( Al-Baqarah 2: 222) Allah the Almighty described women as such in the context of talking about menstruation, stating what is permissible and what is not during intercourse between a husband and his wife. Therefore, you should not take this out of  context to draw such a generalization. With regard to your question about why the Qur’an talks to men and not to women, it is said in the Glorious Qur’an,[And the believers, men and women, are protecting allies one of another; they enjoin the right and forbid the wrong, and they establish worship and they pay the poor-due, and they obey Allah and His messenger. As for these, Allah will have mercy on them. Lo! Allah is Mighty, Wise.] ( At-Tawbah 9: 71) Women are not excluded in any way whatsoever. Moreover, one of the original usages of ‘masculine address’ in the Arabic language is to address a general group that includes both men and women.  Therefore,  one ought to understand the language of the Qur’an first before drawing any conclusions.

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	Allah Almighty knows best.

Source: http://www.islamonline.net/