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The defense of women’s rights
By: Ayatullah Ibrahim Amini
Reply: The positions some religious persons took regarding the defense of women’s rights did not consist of a unanimous, clearly thought out Islamic strategy. It did not start with regard to the special genesis of women and the necessity for preserving and strengthening the institution of family. It was not coordinated. Among the advocates of women’s rights, differing and sometimes conflicting positions were taken. Some liberalist individuals, who preferred the situation of Western women, propounded the issue of freedom and equality of rights and responsibilities for women and men.
Without giving heed to the special genesis of women and the necessity of upholding and bolstering the institution of family, they endeavor to drag Muslim women down the same path of Western women—upon which Western women have incurred much loss. This is a dangerous task. Conversely, others attempt to keep women in the previous traditional situation and attribute their incorrect ways to Islam. They are not willing to impartially accept the true views of Islam and give women their canonical freedom and rights.
I believe both these parties have gone to extremes. Regarding the positions I take regarding women’s issues, I seek to understand and follow the true opinion of Islam. I take into account the special genesis of women and reinforcing the institution of family. Accordingly, the main criterion for my views is ‘moderation’.
• What is the rank and stature of women in the Islamic perspective?
Reply: The status of women as stated by the Quran and Islam is the status of ‘humanity’. It is very interesting that around one thousand and four hundred years ago, when women were mostly considered a weak and inferior gender and some even doubted the humanity of women, Islam does not even directly address the issue; rather, naturally, it encompasses both women and men when it speaks about humans. Therefore, in order to clarify the status of women in Islam, we must investigate the status of humans in Islam.
Even though this issue requires a comprehensive discussion, in a nutshell, I can say that Islam regards humans as an elect being composed of a body and soul, superior to all material things. Humans are eternal beings that have a lofty purpose for their creation. This purpose is spiritual perfection, and bliss in the anthology of life, especially otherworldly bliss. Islam regards humans as superior life forms, the noblest of creatures [ashraf-e makhluqat] and due to this nobility, various duties have been placed upon our shoulders. Of course, this is a summary of a matter which requires much more thorough discussion. Through this discussion, the status of women may be illuminated.
The Quran and Hadith has put much emphasis on this issue. As an example, this noble verse:
In this verse, God Almighty states: ‘Surely We have exalted the children of Adam [meaning that God has promoted humans—both men and women as children of Adam—above other material beings] and We gave them means of transport on land and sea, and We provide them with good and pure things, and We have elevated them much over many of those We created.’2 Of course, many exegetes state that other than material creatures and angels, there may be other lofty creatures over which humanity has been exalted, but Quranic verses and Hadith clearly state that humanity is superior to the angel race.
Thus, it seems that the minority to which humans are not superior are a few specific sublime creatures. In any case, by citing this verse I intended to show the elevation of the children of Adam over many other creatures and that regarding the designation ‘children of Adam’ women and men are equal as humans. If women were not lofty, it would be said: “We have exalted men.”
Again, there is another verse that states: “Surely We have created humanity in the best formation.”3
This means that the spiritual and corporeal formation of humans is the best possible form. Exegetes state that this ‘supremeness’ means that humans can do many things that other beings cannot. Humans can even do things that angels cannot. Here also humans are at issue, not men. Men and women are generic in their humanity. The creation of humans is detailed in the Quran. God Almighty declared to the angels that He intended to create a trustee [khalifah] on the earth. The trustee was not only man, but all humans; the children of Adam and all humans throughout history are the trustees of Allah—men and women are no different in this regard. The rank gained by Adam (‘a), who was able to learn the ‘Names’ God Almighty taught him, was due to his humanity not his maleness. Because he was human, he was able to understand them and answer questions regarding them. Women are also such. When the angels saw that Adam (‘a) could answer when they could not, they bowed and made obeisance to him: “Thereupon, all the angels made obeisance, bar none.”4
In truth, the obeisance of the angels was due to this ability and potential, and women and men are no different in this manner.
Some may argue: Considering the following facts, how can the name Adam be generalized to the whole of humanity? The Quran employs the name of Adam (‘a) in various verses such as æó Úóáøóãó ÂÏóãó ÇáÃóÓúãóÇÁ ßõáøóåóÇ (and He taught Adam the Names, all of them…5) and æó ÅöÐú ÞõáúäóÇ áöáúãóáÇóÆößóÉö ÇÓúÌõÏõæÇú áÂÏóãó (and when We said to the angels: prostrate yourselves unto Adam…6). Moreover, the name Adam (‘a), which is a proper noun used as opposed to Adam’s wife such as in the verse íóÇ ÂÏóãõ ÇÓúßõäú ÃóäÊó æó ÒóæúÌõßó ÇáúÌóäøóÉó (O Adam! Dwell you and your wife in the Garden…7), is used specifically to indicate the first man.
In answer, we must say: True, here Adam is the addressee. However, sometimes Adam is addressed as a person and sometimes as a human. Here Adam is addressed as a human. It is not true that God intended to designate a certain man as His khalifah upon the earth. Also, it was his human soul that enabled him to understand the ‘Names’. The angels bowed to Adam because of his humanity not his personage or gender. Additionally, some Quranic verses also use the term ‘the children of Adam’.
Consequently, the understanding the angels voiced in their question regarding this new creation (Why do you want to create a creature that will cause corruption and spill blood on the earth?) was the creation of the human kind as opposed to Noble Adam the person. Their understanding was that because this creature is material, it can cause corruption. The corruption, they presumed, involved both genders. This humanity is where we derive our characteristics.
The fact that Islam has not separated males and females is very interesting; it means that it is an indisputable fact that does not even merit a discussion. Especially in times that some cultures doubted the humanity of women, Islam did not see any need to defend the issue. Islam never says women are also human, because it is taken as a given fact.
It is also interesting that no verse in the whole Quran can be found that regards women as less than men or indicates the possibility of deficiency or weakness in their intellect or social behavior. No part of the Quran reproaches women due to their femininity. It does reproach women, not because of their womanhood but due to their deeds, just as it also reproaches men on account of their deeds.
• What are the common duties that Islam has put upon both men and women?
Reply: Humans are superior beings among the creations of God. One of their responsibilities is that they must preserve their species because the extinction of humankind may cause great harm. They are complete beings who are magnificent and are the purpose of Creation. Thus, the first duty of humans is self-preservation and reproduction.
Of course, God has also implanted the instrument for this, which is sexual desire, in the nature of both men and women. In his exegesis ‘Allamah8 Tabataba’i states: Providing this sexual drive in humans is a veil for the reality that the Creator wants humans to sustain their race; this duty has been put upon the shoulders of both women and men and both are the source of the race’s perpetuation. The Quran has also stated this issue; for example in this noble verse: “O Humans! Verily We have created you from a male and female…”9
First, this verse addresses humans [nas], which comprises both women and men. Then it states, We have created you from one male and one female. Again it mentions them both together and does not differentiate. Near the end of the verse it states: “Surely the dearest of you to Allah are the most righteous of you…”10
Here also there is no distinction between men and women. Woman can be just as pious as men and both can deviate from the correct path.
The second common duty among humans is to perfect their souls, use this world to gain a better place in the next, and improve and develop both their worlds. This mystical quest, spiritual perfection, and improvement of worldly and otherworldly life are common responsibilities upon all humans, regardless of whether they are male or female. There are many verses on this issue, some of which I shall enumerate.
“Whosoever performs a good and righteous deed, whether they be male or female, while they are a believer, We shall certainly vivify them with a good and pure life…”11
Good and pure life [hayat-e tayyibah] is congruous in both this world and the afterworld [akhirat]. Life in this world and the next is not separate. One enters pure and good life in this world and continues it in Akhirat. The verse ends thus: “…and We shall recompense them with a reward according to the best of what they used to do.” 12
Again it is made clear that any man or woman that does good deeds shall be given hayat-e tayyibah.
Another verse states: “…I shall not waste the work of any agent among you, whether man or woman; you are all members of the same race…”13
The last statement is very interesting: ÈóÚúÖõßõã ãøöä ÈóÚúÖò (i.e. some of you are from some others). This can mean some women are from other women; some men are from other men; or that some men and some women are from each other. Regardless, it is saying that men and women are the same in this respect. It seems that it wants to say that you are all together, have to continue this life together, and work together to attain human perfection.
Just as the Quran has praised some men for their faith and righteous deeds, so also it has praised some righteous women. For example, it beautifully eulogizes Saint Maryam (‘a): “And [remember] when the angels said: O Maryam! Verily, Allah has chosen you and purified you and preferred you above the women of the worlds.”14
This is a great excellence. Or the example of Asiyah, Pharaoh’s wife, who is also thus. She has been extolled in the Quran: “And Allah has set forth an example for the believers, Pharaoh’s wife when she said, ‘O Nourisher! Build for me, in your presence, a house in Paradise, and deliver me from Pharaoh and his deeds, and deliver me from the evil doing people.”15
It is interesting that God Almighty has cited Pharaoh’s wife as an example for the believers: áöáøóÐöíäó ÂãóäõæÇ–meaning all believers, men and women alike. It wants to say: Look! This is a woman who has gained such rank. It shows great excellence for the Quran to give a model woman as an example for all believers.
Another common merit and duty for humans is gaining knowledge. God Almighty has created humans such that they can acquire both intellectual and empirical knowledge and their greatness is due to this ability. The worth of humans is due to their knowledge, and women and men are similar in this respect. God Almighty has given both men and women the matching ability to learn and acquire knowledge.
The fact that He has given humans this capacity means that we must use it. God has anticipated a purpose and end for everything he has given to humans. If women were not supposed to obtain knowledge, surely God would not give them the capacity to do so. Therefore, they must endeavor to learn and they are completely identical to men in this regard.
Moreover, it is evident that the Quran does not give any special preference to men when speaking of knowledge and women also have these merits. There are many Hadith that instruct us to acquire knowledge, such as this well-known Hadith of the Prophet (S): Seeking knowledge is a duty for every Muslim.
As I have said, the term ‘Muslim’ equally refers to both females and males, but some citations also state this Hadith specifically with the words ‘Muslim’ and ‘Muslimah’:
However, even if it did not contain the word “Muslimah” it would be sufficient for this purpose. Also: Allah loves seekers of knowledge.
Thus, I deem it necessary to succinctly state that if women and men both have the capacity for knowledge and if Islam expects it of both and if the Quran does not differentiate between men and women, then one of the important things to which women must pay attention is the acquisition of knowledge and completing their erudition.
Women must strive to obtain the rights that God has given them. It is with knowledge that humans attain civilization, development, and advancement, and scientists and scholars have delivered humanity to the current state of development and advancement.
Humans are responsible for their own advancement; both men and women—it makes no difference. Women consist of approximately half the population. They should try to become self-supporting because half of the society is women. Naturally, half of universities and schools must be for women and it would be better for them if they governed them, meaning that all the people involved should be women; including the drivers, janitors, teachers, professors, etc. Because half the society consists of women, half of the hospitals, laboratories, and other medical centers must be run by women.
This is due to the fact that women have needs just like men. It is proper that women be independent in these fields; that is, they must have professors, doctors, specialists, nurses, etc. from themselves and be independent of men in this regard. Half of doctors in Iran should be women—no, even more than half; because women usually consult doctors more than men. The wife of one of my students was ready to give birth. He said to me, ‘She was not inclined to let a man help deliver the baby. When I told this to the person in charge, they gave only women responsibility over the necessary tasks and services.’ It is very noble and dignified of a woman to decline to allow a man to examine her. These are truths that women must seek for themselves.
Women also need to learn religious issues, religious jurisprudence, religious precepts, and theology. Half of religious centers must be held by women. Half of preachers must be women. They must hold classes, discussion forums, and lectures for themselves. In fact, they understand each other better and their own words influence other women better. It is very delightful for women to say, ‘We are capable and independent and we wish to be independent in religious issues also. We will train and provide teachers and specialists in this field ourselves. We will do research, write books, make speeches, we will do it by ourselves.’ Why should women not be able to do these things?
Why should we not have enough educated women to teach in schools so that men do not have to teach in women’s high schools?
Why should women be secretaries and men doctors? There should be female specialists with female secretaries and they should perform injections and other services themselves. It is not in a woman’s dignity for her to be a man’s secretary or a male surgeon’s assistant in an operation. A women’s dignity is much greater than this, and they should not be content to be only nurses. True, the work of a nurse is very noble and women are quite competent in such work, but cannot women also be competent as specialists in medicine? We have many talented and brilliant women. They must go after these jobs; this is what gives them greater character.
It would be good if women would reveal the greatness of their character to men. They can if they desire to. I have seen women who are great in various sciences or jobs—even better than men. Unfortunately, the arrogance of men sometimes keeps women from attaining greatness. I have heard that many male specialists do not accept women as their students to become specialists, maybe because they fear that by becoming specialists, women will take over their jobs. I believe that, with regard to statistics, we should lower the number of men that are accepted in medical universities so that more women can enter these fields and the ratio of men to women balances out.
Then woman may say, ‘We have strived for our own independence and now we have really attained it.’ Development and independence is not in sports. Sports are a good thing; however, it is deceiving women to over-promote sports among women because women are similar to men in this respect and can do sports on their own. It is not a merit for which men can hold women under obligation that, ‘we let women do sports’. It would be of much worth if they were to become experts or intellectuals.
I am amazed at women. They sometimes ignore their true rights and dignity and go after inferior things. They say, let us work—but where? They choose second-rate jobs like being a secretary for a male doctor? Women are far more worthy than this. This is also true of the clergy and religious schools. I truly believe that if we want to do it right, if we plan correctly, half of theologues must be women.
However, it is evident that they must learn particular studies that are appropriate to them and hold female-specific specialties, which can help them become more independent. Of course, it is also a matter for debate that even though women have the right to study in any field, is it to the advantage of women and the society in general for women to study in all fields and are not some fields better suited to women? In any event, we should not disregard the femininity of women, the specific situation of women, their families, and even the society.
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