Intellectual Partners

Intellectual Partners If you study matters objectively and also in the questing spirit, you will find that there is no difference between the two sources of knowledge. Both are equally effectual in the discovery of the truth. Intellectual Partners A ccording to Islamic teachings, both men and women are equal in status. In fact, men and women are two equal halves of a single unit. Both are intellectual as well as spiritual partners to each other. In the chapter Al-‘Imran (The Family of Imran), the Quran emphasizes this principle. The relevant Quranic verse is as follows: Their Lord accepted their prayer, saying, ‘I will deny no man or woman among you the reward of their labours. You are members one of another.’ (3:195) ‘Members one of another’ does not mean that both are one and the same in every respect. It does not mean that both are each other’s counterparts. It means rather that both are made in such a way that they can play a complementary role to each other. So, both are complementary partners to each other rather than each other’s counterparts. There is a saying: “If all think alike, no one thinks very much.” So, uniformity between men and women could never have been good for mankind. The creation of man or woman is based then not on uniformity but on difference. Due to this, each is capable of becoming a useful partner for the other. According to the divine scheme, man and woman were made on the principle of mutual support. Both are intellectual partners to each other; both can discuss and exchange with their partners