3. WOMANHOOD IN ISLAM

3. Womanhood in Islam ~ 36 ~ 3. WOMANHOOD IN ISLAM FEAR OF God and honoring one’s fellow men — this is the twin foundation of Islam laid down in the Qur’an in these words: 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.32 The words, “and created man’s mate from the same soul” have been explained as meaning that first Adam was created from earth; then a rib was taken from his body, out of which Eve — his mate — was formed. But there is nothing in the Qur’an to support this theory. It is a biblical explanation, not a Qur’anic one. Here is what the Book of Genesis has to say about the creation of Eve: And the Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam, and he slept: and he took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh instead thereof;