CHAPTER FOUR

ADDRESSING WOMEN IN ISLAM ~ The Quran is one of the few holy books to address women specifically and in conjunction with men. Both the Quran and the sayings/practices of Muhammad address many different women’s issues, including their rights in marriage, divorce, family, children, inheritance, work, financial situations, and society. Islamic theology contains over 100 laws pertaining to women’s rights. Unfortunately, most of these laws are not practiced in most countries where Muslims are the majority today. Cultural indoctrination and tradition have overridden these very basic teachings that come from the Quran and Muhammad’s teachings. The Quran states very clearly that men and women are equal in the eyes of God and in their duty to Him (33:35). This belief is established in the very first tale regarding humankind—the story of Adam and Eve (2:31–37). The well-known Abrahamic tale as told in the Quran differs in two important ways. According to Genesis, it is Eve who tempts Adam into sinning. In the Quran, Adam and Eve were both tempted and sinned at the same time. This is a critical point, since it means that Adam and Eve were equally responsible and equally at fault. Both were filled with remorse, and their repentance was equally accepted.