It may appear as though gender equality is a foreign import to Islam, with an emphasis on it the result of external forces pressuring Muslim communities to reform practices and attitudes related to gender inequality and negligence of women status.
Despite many wrong beliefs and misconceptions, Islam gave women the status of respect and to be loved with all pureness and affection they deserve
It is true that both Men and Women are the beautiful creation of Allah and no one is superior or inferior to any of them in any context.
Islam has given Women so much importance that the first person who embraced Islam was a woman (HAZRAT KHADIJA R.A).
TEACHINGS OF QURAN:
The Quran teaches us clearly that Adam and Eve were created from the same soul, confirming their equality in any aspect.
Allah precisely mentioned in the Quran several times about the status of women and men considering them equal, As in Quran says:
“The men believers and the women believers are responsible for each other.”
Many of the negative assumptions made against the status of women in Islam to date despite all the Hadiths and verses mentioned in the Quran. Women are the asset of our houses, our religion, and our nation.
Quranic verse lays out the status of women and men as equals, stating:
“To whoever, male or female, does good deeds and has faith, we shall give a good life and reward them according to the best of what they used to” (16:97)
Allah clearly mentioned the status of women in the context of living, surviving in the world so that no confusion occurred when it comes to practicing religion yet there are a lot of areas and places where religion is still not welcomed fully.
TEACHINGS OF HAZRAT MUHAMMAD ﷺ
Our Prophet HAZRAT MUHAMMAD ﷺ preached boldly on the importance of women, their immense contribution to family and society. Hazrat Muhammad ﷺ also condemned the ill-treatment of women.
Our Holy Prophet plays a vital role practically to show how important the status of women is to the world for better understanding, His immense love for His Daughter Hazrat Fatima (R.A) is exemplary.
He always stood up for her daughter whenever she came to visit, this is no less than an example to show the world what it is meant to the importance of women in the life of one’s home.
Hazrat Muhammad taught kindness, care, and respect to women in general. He says:
“I command you to be kind to women”
Read More: Status of Islam in the Islamic Republic of Pakistan
Gender Equality in Islam Endnotes:
The term “equity” is used instead of the common expression equality which is sometimes mistakenly understood. Islamic teachings are universal in nature.
It implies to all sections of Muslim society and in today’s world.
it’s a basic need to understand the meaning of gender equality and more preferably the importance of women for the better survival of human being