Rights of women in Islam

AncientGlory said:

I have found here six translations of Qur'an 4:34:(Taken directly from the internet)

All of them says men are superior to women and they have the right to beat them.

(1)So it seems to me that islam is not a religion where women are treated equally. Do you agree?

(2)If not why?

1. "Men are superior to women on account of the qualities with which God has gifted the one above the other, and on account of the outlay they make from their substance for them. Virtuous women are obedient, careful, during the husband's absence, because God has of them been careful. But chide those for whose refractoriness you have cause to fear; remove them into beds apart, and scourge them: but if they are obedient to you, then seek not occasion against them: verily, God is High, Great!" (Rodwell's version of the Koran, Quran, 4:34)
2. "Men have authority over women because God has made the one superior to the other, and because they spend their wealth to maintain them. Good women are obedient. They guard their unseen parts because God has guarded them. As for those from whom you fear disobedience, admonish them and send them to beds apart and beat them. Then if they obey you, take no further action against them. Surely God is high, supreme." (Dawood's version of the Koran, Quran, 4:34)
3. "Men are in charge of women, because Allah has made the one of them to excel the other, and because they spend of their property (for the support of women). So good women are the obedient, guarding in secret that which Allah has guarded. As for those from whom you fear rebellion, admonish them and banish them to beds apart, and scourge them. Then if they obey you, seek not a way against them. Lo! Allah is ever High Exalted, Great." (Pickthall's version of the Koran, Quran, 4:34)
4. "Men are the managers of the affairs of women for that God has preferred in bounty one of them over another, and for that they have expended of their property. Righteous women are therefore obedient, guarding the secret for God's guarding. And those you fear may be rebellious admonish; banish them to their couches, and beat them. If they then obey you, look not for any way against them; God is All high, All great." (Arberry's version of the Koran, Quran, 4:34)
5. "Men are the maintainers of women because Allah has made some of them to excel others and because they spend out of their property; the good women are therefore obedient, guarding the unseen as Allah has guarded; and (as to) those on whose part you fear desertion, admonish them, and leave them alone in their sleeping places and beat them; then if they obey you, do not seek a way against them; surely Allah is High, Great. (Shakir's version of the Koran, Quran, 4:34)
6. "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. As to those women on whom part you fear disloyalty and ill conduct, admonish them (first), (next), refuse to share their beds, (and last) beat them (lightly); but if they return to obedience, seek not against them means (of annoyance) for Allah is Most High, Great (above you all). (Ali's version of the Koran, Quran, 4:34)

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AncientGlory said:

I apologize for re-posting. I just want to know the Muslim idea on this. Will they agree that women are not treated equally? Or if not it would be interesting to see how they will refute it. If a discussion is already going on, please direct me to that thread.

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AncientGlory said:

Thank you njsa. Your reply is valuable here on two parts.

(1) It says that talking about this issue is not haraam.

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Now talking about the original question in thread were you trying to make a point by highlighting some parts in red?

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If so I apologize but I did not see it. Can you elaborate?

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Are women treated equally in Islam?

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AncientGlory said:

So njsa if women are treated equally how can men be superior to women?

I can't understand how the two(equal place and one being superior) can co-exist. Can you??

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AncientGlory said:

Hey good to have you here again man. Good luck with your exams.

And thank you for your answer. What you try to say is that men and women have equal rights, the word 'superior' used does not really mean that men get something better. right?


first of all What is the definition of Women Rights, According to the Oxford dictionary, ‘Women’s Rights are the rights, that promote a position of social and legal equality, of women to men’
According to the Oxford dictionary, ‘they are the rights, claimed for the women, equal to those of men, as regards to suffrage that right to vote, as regards to property, etc’.

Man has more superiority or responsibility in the family life, which doesn't mean the women right is degraded by islam.

Even if we agree,it is part of the rights,I told u this in my answer Most of the people have misunderstood this verse, when it says ‘a men have a degree higher’ - As I said we should analyze the Qur’an as a whole. And its mentioned in Surah Nisa, Ch. 4, Verse No.34 which says, ‘The men are the protectors and maintainers of the women, for God has given one of them more strength than the other and they give them their means’.

People say the word ‘Kawwam’ means, ‘one degree higher in superiority’ - But actually the word ‘Kawwam’ comes from the root word ‘Ikamah’. ‘Ikamah’ means for example ‘when you give the Ikamah before prayers - You stand up’.

So ‘Ikamah’ means to standup - so the word ‘Kawwam’ means one degree higher in responsibility, not one degree higher in superiority.

But men get to beat their wives if they are disobedient. is that correct? I'm not looking for a long answer, a simple yes or no will do.

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AncientGlory said:

So njsa if women are treated equally how can men be superior to women?

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men are superior in some issues mainly as our protectors..and in arabic there are several meanings for one word.so no one can translate the exact word of the arabic word.superior can mean ප්‍රධානයා as well.

so as i love srilanka mentioned there are many verses tells the equal right of men and women.
here quran tells about beating(under some rules as mentioned above) wife who are disobedient to their husband.

a. It must be seen as a rare exception to the repeated exhortation of mutual respect, kindness and good treatment. Based on Quran and Hadith, this measure may be used in the cases of lewdness on the part of the wife or extreme refraction and rejection of the husband's reasonable requests on a consistent basis (nushuz). Even then, other measures, such as exhortation, should be tried first.

b. As defined by Hadith, it is not permissible to strike anyone's face, cause any bodily harm or even be harsh. What the Hadith qualifies as "dharban ghayra mubarrih", or light striking, was interpreted by early jurists as a (symbolic) use of siwak! They further qualified permissible "striking" as that which leaves no mark on the body.

c. The permissibility of such symbolic expression of the seriousness of continued refraction does not imply its desirability. In several Hadiths, the Prophet (p.b.u.h.) discouraged this measure. Here are some of his sayings in this regard:

"Do not beat the female servants of Allah";

"Some (women) visited my family complaining about their husbands (beating them). These (husbands) are not the best of you."

In another Hadith the Prophet (p.b.u.h.) is reported to have said: “How does anyone of you beat his wife as he beats the stallion camel and then he may embrace (sleep with) her?”

d. True following of the Sunnah is to follow the example of the Prophet (p.b.u.h.) who never resorted to that measure, regardless of the circumstances.

e. Islamic teachings are universal in nature. They respond to the needs and circumstances of diverse times, cultures and circumstances. Some measures may work in some cases and cultures or with certain persons but may not be effective in others. By definition, a "permissible" act is neither required, encouraged or forbidden. In fact it may be to spell out the extent of permissibility, such as in the issue at hand, rather than leaving it unrestricted or unqualified, or ignoring it all together. In the absence of strict qualifiers, persons may interpret the matter in their own way, which can lead to excesses and real abuse.

f. Any excess, cruelty, family violence, or abuse committed by any "Muslim" can never be traced, honestly, to any revelatory text (Quran or Hadith). Such excesses and violations are to be blamed on the person (s) himself, as it shows that they are paying lip service to Islamic teachings and injunctions and failing to follow the true Sunnah of the Prophet (p.b.u.h.)."

AncientGlory said:

Thanks. the meaning of the use of word superior is well understood.

So it seems that you also accept that the husband has the right to hit his wife, in some cases.

If the woman has the equal rights she should have the right to hit her husband right?

Again no long answer is necessary, no verses from quran or hadiths are necessary unless asked. Just interested in your opinion.

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AncientGlory said:

Ok so men can hit women and refuse to share the bed.

Have you got any other way to correct your wife, if your wife is not obedient to you. I would like to know what is your option?

If a man is bad can a woman hit him and refuse to share bed?

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AncientGlory said:

See the difference is I don't consider my wife as my property. So I don't go around ordering stuff. She never gets a chance to disobey.


You see, we don't really need to go further in the discussion. We all know that women are not physically strong enough. That's why this question about equal rights came in the first place. If people were not different we don't need to talk about it. That's why there are laws. To give the equal rights.

What you are saying is
(1)Husband has the right to beat his wife and refuse sex
(2)Wife does not have the same rights.

In conclusion Islam does not give women equal rights. Thank you. It is clear. I think the idea of the tread is met here.

If you want to beat your wife or whatever and if your wife is stupid enough to tolerate such behavior, that is your own business. But don't say Islam treats women equally. Clearly it does not. I learn things about it everyday. Thanks.

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