of the woman; some were skeptical about it; and still others admitted
it, yet considered the woman a thing created for the humble service of
the man.
With the advent of Islam, circumstances improved for the woman. The
woman's dignity and humanity were restored. Islam confirmed her
capacity to carry out Allah's commands, her responsibilities and
observation of the commands that lead to heaven.
Islam considered the woman as a worthy human being, with a share in
humanity equal to that of the man. Their single origin, their general
human traits, their responsibility for the observation of religious
duties with the consequent reward or punishment, and the unity of
their destiny all bear witness to their equality from the Islamic
point of view. This fact is established in the Noble Qur'an.
" O mankind! Be dutiful to your Lord, Who created you from a single
person (Adam) and from him (Adam) He created his wife (Eve), and from
them both He created many men and women and fear Allah through Whom
you demand your mutual (rights), and (do not cut the relations of) the
wombs (kinship). Surely, Allah is Ever an All-Watcher over you." The
Holy Qur'an, Chapter 4, Verse 1
As is stated in another verse:
" It is He Who has created you from a single person (Adam), and (then)
He has created from him his wife (Eve), in order that he might enjoy
the pleasure of living with her." The Holy Qur'an, Chapter 7,Verse 189
The Qur'an, on its part, treats this issue of equality among men and
women from more than one perspective.
On the purely religious level
"Verily, the Muslims (those who submit to Allah in Islam) men and
women,the believers men and women (who believe in Islamic
Monotheism),the men and the women who are obedient (to Allah), the men
and women who are truthful (in their speech and deeds), the men and
the women who are patient (in performing all the duties which Allah
has ordered and in abstaining from all that Allah has forbidden), the
men and the women who are humble(before their Lord Allah),the menand
the women who give Sadaqat, (i.e. Zakat, and alms, etc.),the men and
the women who fast (the obligatory fasting during the month of Ramadan
and the optional Nawafil fasting),the men and women who guard their
chastity (from illegal sexual acts) and the men and women who remember
Allah much with their hearts andtongues (while sitting, standing,
lying, etc.) Allah has prepared for them forgiveness and a great
reward (i.e. Paradise)." TheHoly Qur'an, Chapter 33, Verse 35
On the basic social and religious responsibilities
The Qur'an establishes equality by maintaining
"The believers, men and women,are "Awliy," (helpers,
supporters,friends, protectors) of one another, they enjoin (on the
people) Al-Ma`ruf (i.e. Islamic Monotheism and all that Islam orders
one to do);and forbid (people) from Al-Munkar (i.e. polytheism and
disbelief of all kinds, and all that Islam has forbidden); they offer
their prayers perfectly (lqamat-as-Salat), and give the Zakat and obey
Allah and His Messenger. Allah will have mercy on them." The Holy
Qur'an, Chapter 9, Verse 71
In Adam's story, Divine Orders were made to him and his wife, both and equally:
"O Adam! Dwell you and your wife in the Paradise and eat both of you
freely with pleasureand delight of things therein as wherever you
will, but come notnear this tree or you both will be of the Zalim'n
(wrongdoers)."The Holy Qur'an, Chapter 2, Verse 35
What is new, however, about this story as given by the Qur'an is that
the temptation is blamed not on Eve but on Satan.
"Then the Satan made them slip there from (the Paradise), and got them
out from that in whichthey were." The Holy Qur'an, Chapter 236
The reverse of The Old Testament versions. Thus Eve was neither the
sole eater from the tree, nor the one who initiated the act. Rather,
the mistake was theirs both, and both of them repented and asked for
forgiveness:
"They said, "Our Lord! We have wronged ourselves. If You forgive us
not, and bestow not upon us Your Mercy, we shall belosers." The Holy
Qur'an, Chapter7, Verse 23
Further still, some verses ascribethe trespass to Adam:
"And indeed We made a covenant with Adam before, buthe forgot, and We
found on his part no firm will-power". Then Satan whispered to him
saying,"O Adam! Shall I lead you to the Tree of Eternity and to a
kingdom that will never waste away?" Thus did Adam disobey his Lord,
so he went astray." TheHoly Qur'an, Chapter 20, Verse 115, 120 and 121
Equality of punishment and reward and eligibility for Paradise
The Almighty says: "That was a nation who has passed away. They shall
receive the reward ofwhat they earned and you of what you earn. And
you will not be asked of what they used to do." The Holy Qur'an, ...
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