Refuting ‘Verses in Quran Insult Women’

Refuting ‘Verses in Quran Insult Women’

by Ebrahim Saifuddin

The site Skeptics Annotated Bible claims that The Quran contains numerous verses which are insulting to Women. In this rebuttal we analyse all the verses which are supposedly Insulting to Muslim Women.

You can find all the verses here http://www.skepticsannotatedbible.com/quran/women/long.html

2: The Cow

It’s OK to have sex with your wives on the night of the fast.

The website has tried to portray that to have sex with your wives at night during the month of Ramadan is insulting to the women. No sane man in his right mind would say that it is insulting to the women. Ramadan is a month when Muslims fast and thus they cannot eat, drink or have sex. Thus Allah(swt) to clarify informed people that couples are allowed to have sex at night when they are not fasting and the abstinence is only for the day time when everyone is fasting. How exactly was this permission unfair, is beyond me. You be the judge.

Menstruation is a sickness. Don’t have sex with menstruating women.

The following links will state whether having sex during the menstrual period is healthy or not:

http://www.athenainstitute.com/prsexme.html

http://www.womenshealth.org/a/sex_during_period_pregnancy.htm

Have sex with your women whenever and as often as you like.

So no restriction has been set as to when and how many times a married couple can have sex. Is that really an insult?

Women have rights that are similar to men, but men are “a degree above them.”

A degree above them in what? In responsibility because Islam lays down the responsibility of the household on the shoulders of a man.

A woman is worth one-half a man.

Nowhere in the Quran is it stated that a woman is worth half a man. The translation of the Quran on which this statement is based on tells us that concerning financial agreements two female witnesses equal to one male witness.

Since financial responsibility was shouldered by men in those days and even in majority of the households today, they are expected to be well versed in financial transactions as compared to women. As a second option, the witness can be one man and two women, so that if one of the women errs the other can remind her. The Arabic word used in the Quran is ‘Tazil’ which means ‘confused’ or ‘to err’. Many have wrongly translated this word as ‘to forget’.

There are some scholars who are of the opinion that the rule of two female witnesses equal to one male witness should be applied to all the cases. This cannot be agreed upon because one particular verse of the Qur’an from Surah Noor chapter 24, verse 6 clearly equates one female witness and one male witness.

4: The Women

Marry of the women two, or three, or four.

I have to quote the verse that the above sentence refers to, so that it is clear to everyone what exactly is in the Quran, so please do not object.

“If ye fear that ye shall not be able to deal justly with the orphans, marry women of your choice, Two or three or four; but if ye fear that ye shall not be able to deal justly (with them), then only one, or (a captive) that your right hands possess, that will be more suitable, to prevent you from doing injustice.”

Notice how Allah Almighty orders men to be either fair to their wives or never marry more than one wife. A man has to be fair otherwise he CANNOT marry more than one. This verse was revealed after the Battle of Uhud when a lot of muslim men (nearly half) were lost. Hence Allah(swt) told the muslims to adopt orphans and if they fear that they would not be able to be fair with them then they should marry two, three or four women of their choice. And if they feel that they will not be able to treat them all equally then they should only marry ONE. (Read my very first Blog here for a detailed look at the issue of Polygamy)

Males are to inherit twice that of females.

Not always…..there is also a case where the female is to inherit twice that of a male.

Lewd women are to be confined to their houses until death.

The above statement is based on Chapter 4, verse number 15. Firstly, we see the Noble Quran makes it almost impossible to prove a woman guilty of lewdness, because the court needs at least four reliable witnesses to prove that she actually committed a sin by having illegal sex. The reason for that is because A woman’s honor is of primary importance to Islam and thus the method to prove lewdness is formulated such that no one can falsely accuse women. The woman is innocent until 4 witnesses are presented to prove that she is guilty of sin. The witnesses are supposed to be honorable, trustworthy and truthful men, not just any four people. If the witnesses are not presented in the Court of law, the following verse explains the end result:

“And those who launch a charge against chaste women, and produce not four witnesses (to support their allegations),- flog them with eighty stripes; and reject their evidence ever after: for such men are wicked transgressors. (The Noble Quran, 24:4)”

When the woman is proven guilty, then her punishment is to stay at her husband’s house. Her husband must not divorce her at first and must work it out with her. Anti-Islamics claim that “confine them to houses until death do claim them” means that husbands must imprison the wives in the houses until they die. Well this is a false and bogus claim, because:

(1) In Arabic, the word which was wrongly translated as “Confine” is “Fa-Amsikuhunna” which means keep them and does not mean at all to imprison them. The word “Confine them” in Arabic is “Fa-Asjinohunna” or “Fa-Ahbisohunna”. The word “Fa-Amsikuhunna” which was used in the Noble Verse 4:15 only means “keep them” and not imprison them.

(2) The second part of the sentence “…or Allah ordain for them some (other) way. (4:15)” Means in Arabic “Aou yaj-aala Allah lahunna sabeela” which means that if they repent then Allah Almighty will let them go on their ways by allowing the men to either divorce them or keep them as their wives. This is something that both spouses have to workout and decide on. If the woman was not married, then this verse applies to the parents or the guardians.

Finally, (3) In (4:17) above we see that Allah Almighty accepts the repentance of those who do evil “Allah accept the repentance of those who do evil in ignorance…(4:17)”, which totally disproves the Anti-Islamic point about imprisoning the women in their houses until they die, because Allah Almighty forgives those (men and women) who repent and He accepts their repentance.

You may not forcibly inherit women, unless they flagrantly lewd.

These are nothing but misquotations! I am truly shocked! The actual translation is as follows:

O ye who believe! Ye are forbidden to inherit women against their will. Nor should ye treat them with harshness, that ye may Take away part of the dower ye have given them,-except where they have been guilty of open lewdness; on the contrary live with them on a footing of kindness and equity. If ye take a dislike to them it may be that ye dislike a thing, and Allah brings about through it a great deal of good. (4:19)

Firstly this verse bans the old practice of women being inherited and secondly it only commands that husbands are to treat their wives with kindness and love.

Instructions for exchanging wives

The verse referred talks about cases where the husband wants to divorce his wife and marry another woman. At the time of marriage the husband is supposed to give the wife dowry amounts. So the Quran says that when the husband is to divorce the wife, he cannot take even a little bit back out of the dowry amount even if he gave her a treasure worth of dowry.

The husband cannot take anything back! Is that really unfair to the woman!?!??! (refer Quran 4:20-21)

You can’t have married women, unless they are captives.

Only if the captives convert to Islam, and agree to marry. Firstly when a captive will convert to Islam, her marriage with the previous husband will become void automatically because a believing woman cannot be the wife of a disbeliever. However, you still cannot FORCE them to marry you. They along with people that are allowed to marry “are lawful, provided ye seek (them in marriage) with gifts from your property,- desiring chastity, not lust, seeing that ye derive benefit from them, give them their dowers..”(4:24)

Men are in charge of women, because Allah made men to be better than women. Refuse to have sex with women from whom you fear rebellion, and scourge them.

Wrong translation again! The translation is as follows:

Men are the protectors and maintainers of women, because Allah has given the one more (strength) than the other, and because they support them from their means. Therefore the righteous women are devoutly obedient, and guard in (the husband’s) absence what Allah would have them guard. As to those women on whose part ye fear disloyalty and ill-conduct, admonish them (first), (Next), refuse to share their beds, (And last) beat them (lightly); but if they return to obedience, seek not against them Means (of annoyance): For Allah is Most High, great (above you all). (4:34)

Hence there is no concept of a man being MASTER of a woman. It is said that a man is a PROTECTOR and MAINTAINER of a woman.

Secondly to come to the beating part. Firstly you make it sound that if a wife disobeys, the husband is allowed to beat the crap out of her. That is wrong. Quran is referring to the women who cheat on their husbands. Who go sleep with another man (men) while their husbands are not aware.

The word “beating” is used in the verse, but it does not mean “physical abuse”. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) explained it “dharban ghayra mubarrih” which means “a light tap that leaves no mark”. He further said that face must be avoided. Some other scholars are of the view that it is no more than a light touch by siwak, or toothbrush.

Generally, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) used to discourage his followers from taking even this measure. He never hit any female, and he used to say that the best of men are those who do not hit their wives. In one hadith he expressed his extreme repulsion from this behavior and said, “How does anyone of you beat his wife as he beats the stallion camel and then embrace (sleep with) her?” (Al-Bukhari, English Translation, vol. 8, Hadith 68, pp. 42-43)

A couple of his(saw) other sayings are as follows:

“Do not beat the female servants of Allah”;

“Some (women) visited my family complaining about their husbands (beating them). These (husbands) are not the best of you.”

Don’t pray if you are drunk, dirty, or have touched a woman lately.

This does not mean if you have touched her. It means if you have had sex with your wife. It is in Islam that after sex a man and a woman have to do ‘ghusl’ (bathe) before they can approach prayers. One has to be clean before they pray. So to be clean before praying is insulting?

They invoke in his (Allah’s) stead only females

The translation of the concerned verse:

(The Pagans), leaving Him, call but upon female deities:They call but upon satan the persistent rebel! (4:117)

How in the world is it insulting to the women? Pagans used to pray to female deities and the Quran says that this is the work of Satan. This does not mean that if someone prays to the male deities then it is not the work of the Satan. Whether male or female deities it is the work of Satan.

A man cannot treat his wives fairly.

It is said in the Quran that there are certain feelings which are not in man’s control and one of these feelings is love. You cannot love two wives equally. It is natural that one will be loved more and the other slightly less. There will always be this difference. This is human nature explained in the Quran and it is not at all insulting to either woman or man.

Unto the male is the equivalent share of two females.

Again like I previously said; there is also a case where the female gets twice of what the male gets. The issue is specifically dealing with the sons and daughters in case of inheritance. The son is to receive twice as that of the female. The logic behind this is simple. Islam lays down the bread earning responsibilities on the shoulders of man. The wife can work all she wants but she need not participate in the monetary needs of the house. The money earned by her is hers and the husband has no right upon it. Keeping this in mind, sons are given larger shares because they are to take care of their future wives and children. The daughters have no such financial liabilities. They will be taken care by their husbands. If their marriage does not work then their responsibility comes back upon the shoulders of their brothers. Hence to financially secure the male he is given double of what the female is given.

5: The Table Spread

When it’s time to pray and you have just used the toilet or touched a woman, be sure to wash up. If you can’t find any water, just rub some dirt on yourself.

Again please read the actual translation of the verse. It refers to having sex with your spouse. After sex you are to take a bath before you can pray!

11: Hud

Lot offers his daughters to a mob of angel rapers.

The actual verse:

And his people came rushing towards him, and they had been long in the habit of practising abominations. He said: “O my people! Here are my daughters: they are purer for you (if ye marry)! Now fear Allah, and cover me not with shame about my guests! Is there not among you a single right-minded man?”

The people being talked about were all homosexuals, which is not allowed in Islam. When the ‘angels’(disguised as men) came to Lut(as) the people over there wanted to practice homosexuality with them. To that Lut(as) responded that if they wanted they can marry his daughters as they were purer for them – that they should practice heterosexuality rather than homosexuality.

Yes it is truly insulting for the females that men should be heterosexuals rather than homosexuals!

15: Al-Hijr

Lot offers his daughters to a mob of angel rapers.

See explanation above. Also read the translation 15:61-69

22: The Pilgrimage

When the doom of Allah comes, pregnant women will suffer miscarriages, nursing mothers with forget their babies

Translation of related verses:

O mankind! fear your Lord! for the convulsion of the Hour (of Judgment) will be a thing terrible!
The Day ye shall see it, every mother giving suck shall forget her suckling- babe, and every pregnant female shall drop her load (unformed): thou shalt see mankind as in a drunken riot, yet not drunk: but dreadful will be the Wrath of Allah. (22:1-2)

These verses only show how dreadful the Hour of Judgment will be. How is this an insult to the women?

23: The Believers

You don’t have to be modest around your wives or your slave girls “that your right hand possess.”

Who abstain from sex, Except with those joined to them in the marriage bond, or (the captives) whom their right hands possess,- for (in their case) they are free from blame, (23:5-6)

So it is okay to have sex with your wives. I do not see that as an insult to women! As far as the captives are concerned…

In the “Jihads” (Islamic wars) that took place, women who fought war were also, at times, taken as prisoners by the Pagan, Jewish and Muslim armies. Due to lack of the prison systems in that era, the captives were to be kept as slaves. The war captives could not be left roaming about freely among the communities otherwise they could even plan assassinations. These women captives used to be distributed as part of the booty among the soldiers, after their return to Islamic territory. The Head of the State would distribute the captives among the soldiers. Both men and women captives were distributed. It was made permissible for the soldier to have sexual relations with their female captives. This relationship was strictly consensual in nature. No one was given permission to rape anyone.

Due to the presence of prison systems today, this concept of keeping slaves does not apply today.

24: Light

If you accuse an honorable women of adultery, be sure to bring four witness. Otherwise you will receive 80 lashes.

How exactly is this insulting the woman? It only shows that near Islam the woman’s honor is of top priority and thus it makes sure to secure her honor so that no one tries to falsely accuse the woman of lewd acts.

A husband can accuse his wife of adultery with only one witness.

Wrong translation again! Counter check it with the right translation:

And for those who launch a charge against their spouses, and have (in support) no evidence but their own,- their solitary evidence (can be received) if they bear witness four times (with an oath) by Allah that they are solemnly telling the truth;

So it is both ways! Only one woman witness i.e. Herself is also sufficient to launch a charge against her husband.

Believing women must lower their gaze and be modest, cover themselves with veils, and not reveal themselves except to their husbands, relatives, children, and slaves.

Believing men must also lower their gaze and be modest. Secondly “they should not display their beauty and ornaments except what (must ordinarily) appear thereof; that they should draw their veils over their bosoms and not display their beauty…..”(24:31) This is the concept of Hijab. How is it insulting?

33: The Clans

The wives of Muhammad will be punished double for lewdness. (And that is easy for Allah)
and
The wives of Muhammad are not like other women. They must not leave their houses.

This concerns the wives of Prophet Muhammad(saw). It does not even apply to any other woman!

When Allah or Muhammad decide that a man and a woman should marry, they must marry.

What nonsense! The concerned verse:

“It is not fitting for a Believer, man or woman, when a matter has been decided by Allah and His Messenger to have any option about their decision: if any one disobeys Allah and His Messenger, he is indeed on a clearly wrong Path.”(33:36)

It is like in a court of law. When the supreme court passes a judgment regarding lets say a dispute case then one cannot appeal to a higher court. Similarly as Prophet Muhammad(saw) was also a judge, Allah(swt) made it clear to the believers that his judgment is final. Where in the world this guy brings in marriage, I have no clue whatsoever!

Allah gave Zeyd to Muhammad in marriage. This was so that all Muslims would know that it’s OK to marry your adopted son’s ex-wife.

Adoption in Islam is not similar to adoption in the world today. There are two kinds of scenarios in the adoption ordeal. One is that a child is adopted but not fed milk by the adopting mother’s breast. This child will be a na-mahram to the family. The ex-wife of a na-mahram adopted child is allowed. The other situation is when the child is fed milk by the mother and is under two years of age. This child will be a mahram and his ex-wife will be haram to marry.

Allah says it is lawful for Muhammad to marry any women he wants.

Again, he(saw) was allowed to marry any woman he wants (refer to the authentic translation of this…33:50-51) just like any mad if allowed to marry any woman they want. But it does not mean that he could FORCE anyone to marry him. If the woman would not wish to marry him then there was no compulsion. Additionally the women that are forbidden to marry, even the Prophet(saw) was not allowed to marry them.

If men must speak to Muhammad’s wives they must speak from behind a curtain. And no one must ever marry one of his wives.

Again this applies to the wives of the Prophet(saw) and not every single woman!

But it’s OK for Muhammad’s wives to talk with certain people.

The ‘certain people’ being: “their fathers or their sons, their brothers, or their brother’s sons, or their sisters’ sons, or their women, or the (slaves) whom their right hands possess. And, (ladies), fear Allah. for Allah is Witness to all things.”

Yes…Really unfair! I think the author of the referred website did not want them to communicate with their father or brothers etc.

Women must cover themselves when in public.

Again this concerns Hijab. I will do a write up on Hijab soon where I will explain this topic in detail.

37: Those Who Set the Ranks

But the single-minded slaves of Allah will enjoy a Garden filled with lovely-eyed virgins.

“But the sincere (and devoted) Servants of Allah,-
For them is a Sustenance determined,
Fruits (Delights); and they (shall enjoy) honour and dignity,
In Gardens of Felicity,
Facing each other on Thrones (of Dignity):
Round will be passed to them a Cup from a clear-flowing fountain,
Crystal-white, of a taste delicious to those who drink (thereof),
Free from headiness; nor will they suffer intoxication therefrom.
And besides them will be chaste women, restraining their glances, with big eyes (of wonder and beauty).”(37:40-48)

The rewards for believers in the Hereafter. How is it insulting to the women of this world?

37: Those Who Set the Ranks

Female companions await those who enter the Gardens of Eden on the Day of Reckoning.

The Quran speaks of “Hoor”. These are not the women of this world that the Quran speaks of.

The link goes on and on about the “Hoors” so I will not quote and comment on them repeatedly. Almost the same explanation applies to all of the verses regarding “Hoors”. ‘Companions of the Right Hand is referring to the Believers.

65: Divorce

Instructions for divorcing your wives.

And so the Quran lays down the laws regarding divorce. How in the world is it insulting the women!??!?!

The link goes on talking about the wives of the Prophets(pbut) and I have no idea how it is insulting to the women. One of the wives of Prophet Muhammad(saw) divulged something that he(saw) told her in confidence. To that the related verse speaks and tells them not to do such a thing and that if Prophet Muhammad(saw) was to divorce them then Allah(swt) will give him better women to marry. I have no clue as to how this is insulting. Is it really that insulting for a woman not to leak out what her husband tells her out of trust and in confidence?

70: The Ascending Stairways

You don’t have to be chaste around your wives or your slave girls.

Ok this is really funny. How can a man remain chaste after being married? Is it really insulting to the wives that men are allowed to have sex with them?

111: Palm Fibre

Abu Lahab will die and be plunged in flaming Fire. His wife will have on her neck a halter of palm fiber.

One of the disbelievers to the extreme! The fate of disbelievers, whether it be a male or a female, is Hell.

And Allah(swt) knows best.