Is there equality between men and women in Islam? and why did Prophet Muhammad peace be upon him say that he saw most of the people in hell are women?


Most women are in hell?

It is the most ironic and childish attempt from Christians (the most of offenders) and other non Muslims to use this topic to try to disprove the validity of Islam. They claim that since Prophet Muhammad peace be upon him claimed what he saw in hell regarding most of the people in hell were women, then therefore Islam is a sexist religion that discriminates against women.

First, we need to understand that Prophet Muhammad peace be upon him did not sentence any man or woman to hell or heaven. He only said what he saw. It was not of his own opinion. If Allah Almighty throws many women in hell because of their wickedness, then it is not Prophet Muhammad peace be upon him to be blamed. If you have a problem with this issue, then all I can tell you is to complain to GOD Almighty about it.

What did Prophet Muhammad peace be upon him say?

Sahih Bukhari, The book of Belief, Volume 1, Book 2, Number 28:

Narrated Ibn 'Abbas:

The Prophet said: "I was shown the Hell-fire and that the majority of its dwellers were women who were ungrateful." It was asked, "Do they disbelieve in Allah?" (or are they ungrateful to Allah?) He replied, "They are ungrateful to their husbands and are ungrateful for the favors and the good (charitable deeds) done to them. If you have always been good (benevolent) to one of them and then she sees something in you (not of her liking), she will say, 'I have never received any good from you."

Sahih Bukhari, The book of Eclipses, Volume 2, Book 18, Number 161:

Narrated 'Abdullah bin Abbas:

The sun eclipsed in the life-time of the Prophet (p.b.u.h) . Allah's Apostle offered the eclipse prayer and stood for a long period equal to the period in which one could recite Surat-al-Baqara. Then he bowed for a long time and then stood up for a long period which was shorter than that of the first standing, then bowed again for a long time but for a shorter period than the first; then he prostrated twice and then stood up for a long period which was shorter than that of the first standing; then he bowed for a long time which was shorter than the previous one, and then he raised his head and stood up for a long period which was shorter than the first standing, then he bowed for a long time which was shorter than the first bowing, and then prostrated (twice) and finished the prayer. By then, the sun (eclipse) had cleared. The Prophet then said, "The sun and the moon are two of the signs of Allah. They eclipse neither because of the death of somebody nor because of his life (i.e. birth). So when you see them, remember Allah." The people say, "O Allah's Apostle! We saw you taking something from your place and then we saw you retreating." The Prophet replied, "I saw Paradise and stretched my hands towards a bunch (of its fruits) and had I taken it, you would have eaten from it as long as the world remains. I also saw the Hell-fire and I had never seen such a horrible sight. I saw that most of the inhabitants were women." The people asked, "O Allah's Apostle! Why is it so?" The Prophet replied, "Because of their ungratefulness." It was asked whether they are ungrateful to Allah. The Prophet said, "They are ungrateful to their companions of life (husbands) and ungrateful to good deeds. If you are benevolent to one of them throughout the life and if she sees anything (undesirable) in you, she will say, 'I have never had any good from you.' "

What's wrong with the sayings above?

Prophet Muhammad was very specific about why many women will end up in hell. The reason is because many women don't appreciate their husbands!. How good is a woman who doesn't appreciate her husband, and doesn't care about him enough, that if he does something bad to her, then she'll remember it for him for the rest of her life? How good is a woman who doesn't remember much of the good that her husband does for her?

Women of that kind are not accepted in Islam. Women in Islam must honor their husbands and seek with their best ability their comfort. A woman who doesn't appreciate her husband is in reality treating him as a working slave for her and for their kids.

Islam does not generalize against women. The sayings above were very specific and were only talking about a group of women, and not all women.

Islam is a religion that honors and respects women very much:

Allah Almighty ordered men in the Noble Quran to take care of women and to protect them; "Men are the protectors and maintainers of women, because Allah has given the one more (strength) than the other, and because they support them from their means. Therefore the righteous women are devoutly obedient, and guard in (the husband's) absence what Allah would have them guard. (The Noble Quran 4:34)"

Allah Almighty also ordered men in the Noble Quran to love and respect their wives; "O ye who believe! Ye are forbidden to inherit women against their will. Nor should ye treat them with harshness, that ye may take away part of the dower [money given by the husband to the wife for the marriage contract] ye have given them, except where they have been guilty of open lewdness; on the contrary live with them on a footing of kindness and equity. If ye take a dislike to them it may be that ye dislike a thing, and God brings about through it a great deal of good. (The Noble Quran, 4:19)"

Allah Almighty equalizes between men and women; "To Allah belongs the dominion of the heavens and the earth. He creates what He wills. He bestows female children to whomever He wills and bestows male children to whomever He wills. (The Noble Quran, 42:49)"

Prophet Muhammad peace be upon him also said "He who is involved in bringing up daughters, and accords benevolent treatment towards them, they will be protection for him against Hell-Fire."

Prophet Muhammad peace be upon him also said "Seeking knowledge is obligatory on every Muslim man and Muslim woman." This saying too equalizes between men and women in Islam.

What did Prophet Muhammad say about mothers?

"A man asked the Prophet (Muhammad, peace be upon him): 'Whom should I honor most?' The Prophet replied: 'Your mother'. 'And who comes next?' asked the man. The Prophet replied: 'Your mother'. 'And who comes next?' asked the man. The Prophet replied: 'Your mother!'. 'And who comes next?' asked the man. The Prophet replied: 'Your father.' (Bukhari and Muslim)"

Prophet Muhammad peace be upon him said "Paradise is under the feet of the (good) mothers."

Let compare few Verses from the Noble Quran to the Bible:

Let us look at Leviticus 12:2-5 in the Bible "A woman who becomes pregnant and gives birth to a son will be ceremonially unclean for seven days, just as she is unclean during her monthly period. On the eighth day the boy is to be circumcised. Then the woman must wait thirty-three days to be purified from her bleeding. She must not touch anything sacred or go to the sanctuary until the days of her purification are over. If she gives birth to a daughter, for two weeks the woman will be unclean, as during her period. The she must wait sixty-six days to be purified from her bleeding" This verse clearly says that a birth of a female causes a double pollution.

Compare the above verse to the following from Islam:

"To Allah belongs the dominion of the heavens and the earth. He creates what He wills. He bestows female children to whomever He wills and bestows male children to whomever He wills. (The Noble Quran, 42:49)" There is no difference between a birth of a boy or a girl in Islam.

Prophet Muhammad peace be upon him said "He who is involved in bringing up daughters, and accords benevolent treatment towards them, they will be protection for him against Hell-Fire."

Let us look at the following from the Bible: "When a woman has her regular flow of blood, the impurity of her monthly period will last seven days, and anyone who touches her will be unclean till evening. anything she lies on during her period will be unclean, and anything she sits on will be unclean. Whoever touches her bed must wash his clothes and bathe with water, and he will be unclean till evening. Whoever touches anything she sits on must wash his clothes and bathe with water, and he will be unclean till evening. Whether it is the bed or anything she was sitting on, when anyone touches it, he will be unclean till evening. (Leviticus 15:19-23)" The woman becomes a disease when has her period. She is unclean and everything she touches becomes unclean with her.

Compare it to the following from Islam: "Ali asked the Prophet Mohammed if when a man and a woman make love then their clothes stick to them from the sweat of their bodies, or if when a woman has her period her clothes stick to her body, are the clothes considered unclean? The Prophet replied: 'No, the uncleanness is only in the semen and the blood.' (Saying of Prophet Mohammed peace be upon him)"

Let us look at the following from the Bible: "Do not approach a woman to have sexual relations during the uncleanness of her monthly period. (Leviticus 18:19)"

Let us look at Noble Verse 2:222 from the Noble Quran: "They ask you concerning women's courses (period). Say: They are a hurt and a pollution: so keep away (of making love) from women in their courses, and do not approach them until they are clean..." Notice that Allah Almighty was concerned first about the pain the woman would suffer and then her uncleanness second.

Let us look at the following from the Bible: "Let your women keep silence in the churches: for it is not permitted unto them to speak; but they are commanded to be under obedience, as also saith the law, and if they will learn anything, let them ask their husbands at home: for it is a shame for woman to speak in the church. (1Corinthians 14:34-35)" Notice how the Bible doesn't allow women to get education on their own. Only the woman's husband is the source of education for her. He must always be the only source for her!. This clearly prohibits her from studying and pursuing her education.

Compare it with Islam: "Seeking knowledge is obligatory on every Muslim man and Muslim woman. (A Saying from Prophet Muhammad peace be upon him)"

Let us look at how the Bible doesn't allow women to inherit as long as a son is present: "If a man dies and leaves no son, turn his inheritance over to his daughter. (Numbers 27:8)"

Compare it with the Nobel Quran: "From what is left by parents and those nearest related there is a share for men and a share for women, whether the property be small or large, a determinate share. (The Noble Quran, 4:7)"

It is the Bible that generalizes against all women:

Let us look at Ecclesiastics 7:26-28 "And I find more bitter than death the woman who is a snare, whose heart is a trap and whose hands are chains. The man who pleases God will escape her, but the sinner she will ensnare....while I was still searching but not finding, I found one upright man among a thousand but not one upright woman among them all".

Let us look at Ecclesiastes 25:22 "Of the woman came the beginning of sin, and through her we all die." (from the Catholics Bible).

Let us look at Ecclesiasticus 22:3 "The birth of a daughter is a loss" (From the Catholics Bible). What more despising statement to women than this do we need to read?

Let us look at the Tenth Commandment, Exodus 20:17 "You shall not covet your neighbor's house. You shall not covet your neighbor's wife, or his manservant or maidservant, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor [this includes the wife as a belonging]." This verse lumps a wife together with his servants, animals and house.

Let us look at Exodus 21:7 "If a man sells his daughter as a servant...." A man could sell his daughter as a slave as he chose.

Let us look at 1 Corinthians 14:34-35 "As in all Churches of the saints, the woman should be subordinate as even the law says...for it is shameful for a woman to speak in church."

Let us look at 1 Timothy 2:11 "Let a woman learn in silence with all submissiveness. I permit no woman to teach or have authority over men. She is to keep silent, for Adam was formed first then Eve, and Adam was not deceived but the woman was deceived and became a transgressor."

Let us look at 1 Corinthians 11:6 "For if a woman will not veil herself then she should cut off her hair, but if it is disgraceful for a woman to be shorn or shaven, let her wear a veil...for man was not created from woman but woman from man. Neither was man created for woman but woman for man."

What about the Eastern Pagan religions?

HINDUISM AND WOMEN:

In Hindu religious literature by far, the most effective weapon used by the Gods to corrupt virtuous mortals is a woman. Usually a seductive celestial nymph but sometimes just woman, the root of all evil in the ascetic oriented view of the orthodox Hindu (Baldick, Radice, Jones 36).

The Mahabharata states, "I will tell you my son, how Brahama created wanton women and for what purpose, for there is nothing more evil than women... The Lord Grandfather, learning what was in the hearts of the Gods, created wanton women by a magic ritual in order to delude mankind.. (13.40.3-10)"

CHINESE RELIGIOUS CONCEPTS AND WOMEN:

The Yin and the Yang is a concept quite familiar even in the west especially in merchandise. In their mythical theory of how the universe operates, Chinese philosophers invented the concept of the Yin and Yang. The universe they concluded is understood to be a balance of the Yin (evil or negative) and the Yang (good or positive).

When asked to further describe Yin (evil), the explanation comes:"The Yin is the negative

force in nature. It is seen in darkness, coolness, FEMALENESS, dampness, the earth, moon and the shadows. The Yang (good) is the positive force in nature. It is seen in lightness, warmness, MALENESS, dryness and the sun. (Hopfe 207)."

Are women equal to men in Islam?

"And among God's signs is this: He created for you mates from amongst yourselves (males as mates for females and vice versa) that you might find tranquillity and peace in them. And he has put love and kindness among you. Herein surely are signs for those who reflect. (The Holy Quran 30:21)"

Surprisingly egalitarian in its approach, the The Holy Quran doesn't agree with men being owners of women like the Bible, neither does it agree with women being created for or from men like the Bible nor does it say that women cannot teach or have authority over men. The The Holy Quran also dispels the common myth among religions in general that, a woman is evil by nature and has been created to deceive mankind. The purpose, says that The Holy Quran, of mates is that tranquillity and peace emerges through the natural instinct of love and kindness among mates.

People who analyze the The Holy Quran however sometimes feel different about many of its verses which to them suggest that the The Holy Quran is in some way putting down women. These verses are a handful and given the nature of this chapter we can go in depth with them. The verse in the The Holy Quran that causes trouble to most liberals and is misused by evangelical Christians is: "Men are the protectors (Qawamoon) of women, because God has given preference to some over others. and because men spend of their property on women. So good women are obedient, guarding even unnoticed that what Allah (God) has asked them to guard. As for those from whom you fear rebellion in this (i.e guarding their chastity in your absence), i) talk to them, ii)leave them alone in their beds, iii)beat them. If they then obey you, look not for any way against them..(The Holy Quran 4:34)."

The verse in question is quite clear if we don't jump to hasty conclusions. Men have been given the duty to protect and support women. God has given preference to one gender over another in certain duties. Men have been given preference in being the providers of women and women are given preference in caring for a child. Even if divorce separates a man from his wife, he has to seek her help in caring for the child or another female if the mother agrees (The Holy Quran 2:233). Men are told to spend of their property on women and not ask the woman for anything even if she happens to be rich.

Now to the controversial part. The verse asks women to guard even when unnoticed, that which God has asked them to guard. If we have read the The Holy Quran carefully, we wont have trouble in determining that God specifically asks women and men to "guard" their chastity (The Holy Quran 24:30-31). To the women who cheat on their husbands, the The Holy Quran gives a three step, braking mechanism to hasty divorce or worse still capital punishment for adultery.

Step 1, the husband should talk to the wife and try to resolve it. Usually, given human emotions step one would normally be shouting and cursing and maybe even hitting. Around one to two million women in the U.S are severally battered each year. One to two thousand of them die. Rather unfortunate and avoidable if a braking mechanism exists for people exercising their emotions. Contrary to this, the The Holy Quran suggests that talk be the first option.

Step 2, the The Holy Quran recommends that marital relations be temporarily stopped between the couple, if cheating persists even after a talk. This would give the woman further opportunity to consider if she'd rather separate from the man and provide for herself after divorce or if she'd rather stay in the current marriage.

Step 3, the The Holy Quran says beat them to stop it. If the woman doesn't want to end the current marriage and also doesn't want to put an end to her cheating episodes, the The Holy Quran suggests that the husband beat her, for her own benefit. This is very liberal. The woman on her own would be under financial hardship and so she wants to use the current marriage relationship. However she also doesn't want to quit cheating on her husband. People, men or women normally aren't so liberal so as to keep the marriage and accept that the other party remain cheating. Something has to be done to make the relationship compatible, after both talking and temporarily halting marital relationship hasn't worked. However, in all sincerity, I can state confidently that step 3 will never arrive since both the man and the woman are free to end the relationship during the course of step 1 and step 2. The The Holy Quran by making beating step 3 is actually controlling human emotions of hitting, which usually come before talking and reasoning. It makes it virtually impossible that a man going through 1 and 2 will resort to 3 also and not break the marriage before. The The Holy Quran is concerned to the utmost about women's rights. Human society has usually not given equal opportunity to women, even today in the west. The The Holy Quran wants to protect women in a harsh society and at the same time change men's "control-oriented" minds to one that is more reasonable. The method the The Holy Quran uses is more result oriented than dogmatic, where both parties are dealt with equitably and with justice.

This attitude of the The Holy Quran to protect women in an economically harsh environment is seen in many places throughout the book. For example, men married to women who then become guilty of lesbianism or bi-sexuality are told not to throw the women out of their homes but to keep them there till some way is found (The Holy Quran 24:3). The The Holy Quran has given some duty preference to men over women and some to women over men. This was mentioned briefly before. However, this doesn't mean that the The Holy Quran forbids women from earning their livelihood if they have no man to support them. The Holy Quran 4:22 for example states that for men is what they earn and for women what they earn and that both men and women should seek God's bounty collectively.

PROPERTY LAWS:

Around two hundred years back, women had no property rights in Europe. Islam has given them such since the start. Property rights in Islam, given the nature of the various relationships that men and women fit under, are surprisingly egalitarian. When a man marries a woman, he has to give a substantial part of his property (according to his means) to the woman as a "marriage gift (Mahar)," stated as a man's duty unto God (The Holy Quran 4:24).

A woman doesn't have to give anything to a man even if she is rich. It is for this reason primarily that the The Holy Quran asks that out of a parents property the son get twice that of the daughter (The Holy Quran 4:11). It is expected that the daughter would marry and get a man's property as marriage gift and not have to worry about providing for herself, as it's the man's duty to provide for her. The son on the other hand would Islamically be expected not only to provide for his potential wife but also give a major part of his property to her as marriage gift.

This however, is not discrimination among the genders. There are specific reasons why the son get twice that of the daughter. When the conditions are different, the The Holy Quran suggests that both male and female get the same amount. For example out of a son's wealth both the father (male) and the mother (female) get equal shares if the deceased had a son.

LEGAL BATTLES:

"O believers. When you contract a debt for a given fixed term, record it in writing...and call to witnesses from among your men, two witnesses. And if two men be not present then one man and two women of such as you approve as witnesses, so that if one of them errs, the other admonishes her. (The Holy Quran 2:82)"

This particular statement in the The Holy Quran has been abused by both faithful believers and attackers from all camps. It is presented by them in a generalized form with a concluding statement that Islam considers women's testimony to be half that of men.

The above verse does not talk about testimony in general but only presents one case basically involving financial transactions. It doesn't state any generalization of women's testimony being half that of men, or that two women will equal one man. If interpretation is sought, then a positive one would be that the The Holy Quran wants to protect women from being unfairly influenced or pressurized by men. As support for the woman another woman is supplemented, so that if one errs the other reminds her.

Not to put down women in any way, but statistics show that women are more difficult as witnesses in courts of law and have been found more guilty of perjury than men. The The Holy Quran recognizes this difference in men and women, be it social or biological and corrects for it to support the woman from being manipulated. The end purpose is justice which shouldn't offend any reasonable person.

In different circumstances however, one woman's testimony is given more weight than one man's testimony in the The Holy Quran, as it can override it. This case would be when a man (husband) accuses a woman (his wife) of cheating in a relationship but has no witness except his own testimony, which is against her testimony (The Holy Quran 24:6-9).

Let us look at the following Noble Verses from the Noble Quran to further prove equality between men and women in Islam:

"And when you men have divorced women, ...then either retain them in kindness if you reconcile, or part with them in kindness. Do not retain them to harm them so that you transgress limits. He who does this has wronged himself. (The Holy Quran 2:231)"

"O believers! It is not lawful for you to inherit women against their will, nor that you should put restrictions on them, that you might take what you had given them...Consort with them in kindness, for if you hate them, it might happen that you hate something in which God has put much good. (The Holy Quran 4:19)"

"Women impure for men impure. And women of purity for men of purity. These are not affected by what people say. For them is forgiveness and an honorable provision. (The Holy Quran 24:26)"

"...Indeed the noblest of you in the sight of God (among men and women and races and nationalities) is the one most responsive to the truth (taqwa). (The Holy Quran 49:13)"

"And their Lord has heard them and says: 'I don't let the work of any worker be lost be they male or female. You both proceed one from the other..(The Holy Quran 3:195)"

" Indeed, men who submit and women who submit, believing men and believing women, and men who obey and women who obey, and truthful men and truthful women, and men who persevere and women who persevere, and men who are humble and women who are humble, and men who give alms and women who give alms, and men who fast and women who fast, and men who guard their chastity and women who guard their chastity, and men who remember God much and women who remember God much. God has prepared for them forgiveness and a great reward. (The Holy Quran 33:35)"

"And the believers men and women are friends one of the other, they enjoin what is right and forbid what is wrong, and they establish worship and pay the poor due, and they obey God and his messenger. As for these, God will have mercy on them...(The Holy Quran 9:71)"

Conclusion:

Islam is a very beautiful and fair religion to all women and men. The anti-Islamic false claims regarding unjust treatment between men and women are only weak attempts to make the True Religion of the One True Living GOD, Allah Almighty look bad. The truth of Islam will always prevail.