Misconception:
The Quran Oppresses Women
The Truth
The Quran uplifted women’s status in a patriarchal society by granting them rights to education, inheritance, and consent in marriage.
Explanation:
The Quran emphasizes the spiritual and moral equality of men and women:
- “Indeed, the Muslim men and Muslim women... Allah has prepared for them forgiveness and a great reward.” (Surah Al-Ahzab, 33:35)
Women in 7th-century Arabia gained rights to own property, inherit wealth (Surah An-Nisa, 4:7), and participate in community affairs. The Prophet ﷺ said:
- “The best of you are those who are best to their wives.” (Sunan at-Tirmidhi, Hadith 1162)
Explanation:
- In the Bible, women’s roles were similarly shaped by patriarchal norms, such as inheritance laws in Numbers 27:8.
- Early Christian and Jewish societies evolved over time, with similar debates about women’s rights occurring centuries later.
