Part One: SEERAH (Biographical Sketch) CHAPTER

C:\Users\Admin\Dropbox\The Message - Material of Maulana\16. Books and Review\Apa's Books\Life And 52 CHAPTER 5 The Status of Woman in Islam A study of the Quran and Hadith tells us that in Islam a woman enjoys the same status as that of a man. The Quran says: “You are members, one of another.” (3:195) There is no difference between the two as regards status, rights and blessings both in this world and in the Hereafter. 1. The first verse that we find in the Quran on this subject is as follows: ‘Mankind, fear your Lord who created you from one soul and created man’s mate from the same soul, from these two scattering on earth many men and women. Fear God, in whose name you entreat one another, and be careful not to sever your ties of kinship, God is watching over what you do.’ (4:1) This verse of the Quran tells us that God has created man and woman from the same soul, that is, from the same substance. The entire human race has come from Adam and Eve, the first man and the first woman. Looked at in this way human beings on this earth are blood brothers and blood sisters. 2. Another verse of the Quran reads: It is He who created you from a single soul and made from him his mate so that he might find comfort in her. (7:89) This verse stresses the aspect of commonness between man and woman (what is common between the two) that is, both are a source of comfort to one another. The word ‘comfort’ relates to all the activities of life, meaning thereby that God has created men and women in such a way that they assist one another in all matters of life, in order to go on life’s journey peacefully and successfully. 3. There is another verse in the Quran which tells us that men and women have equal status in God’s eye. None is superior to the other.