SUPERSTITIONS CONCERNING WOMEN

Just as the Qur’an has rectified many distortions of the accounts of the Bible, so has it also refuted this distorted account of Adam and Eve. The following passage from the Qur’an puts the incident in its true perspective: To Adam He said: “Oh Adam! Dwell with your wife in Paradise, and eat from whatever you please; but never approach this tree or you shall both become transgressors.” But the devil tempted them, so that he might reveal to them that which had been hidden from them of their shame. He said: “Your Lord has forbidden you to approach this tree only to prevent you from becoming angels or immortals.” Then he swore to them that he would give them friendly counsel. Thus he cunningly seduced them. And when they had eaten of the tree, their shame became visible to them, and they both covered themselves with leaves of the garden. Their Lord called out to them, saying: “Did I not forbid you to approach that tree, and did I not warn you that the devil was your sworn enemy?” They replied: “Lord, we have wronged ourselves. Pardon us and have mercy on us, or we shall surely be among the lost.” He said: “Go hence, and may your descendants be enemies to each other. The earth will for a while provides your sustenance and dwelling-place. There you shall live and there you shall die, and thence you shall be raised to life.”8 In the above-quoted passage the dual form of the verb in Arabic has been used throughout, so that it is made abundantly clear that for every transgression both Adam and Eve have been held equally responsible. Thus it becomes quite evident that Satan tempted them together, both fell into his trap, both ate the forbidden fruit and both were equally held responsible and both suffered equally in consequence. This surely demonstrates that they were on an equal footing in the eyes of God. CELIBACY Celibacy has existed in some form or another throughout man’s religious history and has appeared in virtually all the major religious traditions of the world.9 It is true that prior to Islam, in almost every religion, celibacy was considered to be the highest criterion of piety, the fundamental reason for this being the inferior status of women. There were periods in the history of certain countries when women were considered almost sub-human and a source of sin. Those who associated with them were, therefore, regarded as being inferior. By contrast, those who lived a life of celibacy had an aura of sanctity about them and basked in the esteem of society. The basic function of celibacy was to establish the internal wholeness and spiritual selfsufficiency of the truly religious person, so that he might become a living symbol of