Equality in Islam means that all people are equal before God's law in
rulings and obligations.
Islam established equality among its followers in all rights: the right
to own property, the right to education, the right to express opinions, and
many other rights. Islam did not limit equality to its followers alone but also
extended it to Muslims and non-Muslims in terms of rights and duties. Equality
in Islam includes equality before Islamic law, equality before the courts, and
equality between Muslims and non-Muslims.
If you reflect on the verses of the Quran that address all people,
believers and non-believers alike, or believers, or non-believers, or certain
categories of people, and not any specific group. Islam establishes equality
among people regardless of gender, race, or religion. The criterion for
differentiation between people is piety, as stated by God Almighty: “O mankind! We have created
you from a male and a female and made you into nations and tribes, that you may
know one another. Verily, the most honorable of you with Allah is that believer
who has At-Taqwa [i.e. one of the Muttaqun (pious - see V. 2:2). Verily, Allah
is All-Knowing, All-Aware.” (Surat
Al-Hujurat: 13) And that equality between people stems from the linguistic and
moral equality between men and women, as in the words of God Almighty: “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 men and the women who give
Sadaqat (i.e. Zakat, and alms, etc.), the men and the women who observe Saum
(fast) (the obligatory fasting during the month of Ramadan, and the optional
Nawafil fasting), the men and the women who guard their chastity (from illegal
sexual acts) and the men and the women who remember Allah much with their
hearts and tongues (while sitting, standing, lying, etc. for more than 300
times extra over the remembrance of Allah during the five compulsory
congregational prayers) or praying extra additional Nawafil prayers of night in
the last part of night, etc.) Allah has prepared for them forgiveness and a
great reward (i.e. Paradise).” (Surat
Al-Ajzab: 35) Equality in the general rules of inheritance, as in the words of
God Almighty: “There
is a share for men and a share for women from what is left by parents and those
nearest related, whether, the property be small or large - a legal share.” (Surat An-Nisa: 7), and His words, blessed be His
name: “And
wish not for the things in which Allah has made some of you to excel others.
For men there is reward for what they have earned, (and likewise) for women
there is reward for what they have earned, and ask Allah of His Bounty. Surely,
Allah is Ever All-Knower of everything.”
(Surat An-Nisa: 32). These two verses establish equality between men and women
in the inheritance of parents or relatives, regardless of the value of that
inheritance. Equality is not limited to inheritance but extends to equality
between men and women in testimony in cases of adultery, known as the verse of
“li’an” (mutual imprecation), in the words of God Almighty: “And those who accuse chaste
women, and produce not four witnesses, flog them with eighty stripes, and
reject their testimony forever, they indeed are the Fasiqun (liars, rebellious,
disobedient to Allah).4 Except those who repent thereafter and do righteous
deeds, (for such) verily, Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful. 5 And for
those who accuse their wives, but have no witnesses except themselves, let the
testimony of one of them be four testimonies (i.e. testifies four times) by
Allah that he is one of those who speak the truth. 6 And the fifth (testimony)
(should be) the invoking of the Curse of Allah on him if he be of those who
tell a lie (against her). 7 But it shall avert the punishment (of stoning to
death) from her, if she bears witness four times by Allah, that he (her
husband) is telling a lie. 8 And the fifth (testimony) should be that the Wrath
of Allah be upon her if he (her husband) speaks the truth. 9” (Surat An-Nur: 4-9) The Quran contains many verses
that address men and women equally regarding righteous deeds, such as: “And whoever does righteous
good deeds, male or female, and is a true believer in the Oneness of Allah
(Muslim), such will enter Paradise and not the least injustice, even to the
size of a Naqira (speck on the back of a date-stone), will be done to them.” (Surat An-Nisa: 124), and in His words, the Most
High: “So
their Lord accepted of them (their supplication and answered them), "Never
will I allow to be lost the work of any of you, be he male or female. You are
(members) one of another, so those who emigrated and were driven out from their
homes, and suffered harm in My Cause, and who fought, and were killed (in My
Cause), verily, I will remit from them their evil deeds and admit them into
Gardens under which rivers flow (in Paradise); a reward from Allah, and with
Allah is the best of rewards."
(Surat Al Imran: 195) And regarding divorce, in His saying: “But if they separate (by
divorce), Allah will provide abundance for everyone of them from His Bounty.
And Allah is Ever All-Sufficient for His creatures' need, All-Wise.” (Surat An-Nisa 4:130); and regarding guardianship,
in His saying, the Exalted: “The believers, men and women, are Auliya' (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 perform As-Salat (Iqamat-as-Salat) and give the Zakat, and
obey Allah and His Messenger. Allah will have His Mercy on them. Surely Allah
is All-Mighty, All-Wise.” (Surat
At-Tawbah: 71); and regarding faith, in His saying: “Whoever works righteousness,
whether male or female, while he (or she) is a true believer (of Islamic
Monotheism) verily, to him We will give a good life (in this world with
respect, contentment and lawful provision), and We shall pay them certainly a
reward in proportion to the best of what they used to do (i.e. Paradise in the
Hereafter).” (Surat An-Nahl: 97); and
regarding dealing with marital disputes, in His saying: "If you fear a breach between
them twain (the man and his wife), appoint (two) arbitrators, one from his
family and the other from her's; if they both wish for peace, Allah will cause
their reconciliation. Indeed Allah is Ever All-Knower, Well-Acquainted with all
things.” (Surat An-Nisa 4:35) And in responsibility and bearing
The sin is in His saying: “So he misled them with deception. Then when they tasted of the tree,
that which was hidden from them of their shame (private parts) became manifest
to them and they began to stick together the leaves of Paradise over themselves
(in order to cover their shame). And their Lord called out to them (saying):
"Did I not forbid you that tree and tell you: Verily, Shaitan (Satan) is
an open enemy unto you?" (Surat
Al-A’raf: 22). And regarding marriage to a non-Muslim, in His saying: “And do not marry
Al-Mushrikat (idolatresses, etc.) till they believe (worship Allah Alone). And
indeed a slave woman who believes is better than a (free) Mushrikah
(idolatress, etc.), even though she pleases you. And give not (your daughters)
in marriage to Al-Mushrikun till they believe (in Allah Alone) and verily, a
believing slave is better than a (free) Mushrik (idolater, etc.), even though
he pleases you. Those (Al-Mushrikun) invite you to the Fire, but Allah invites
(you) to Paradise and Forgiveness by His Leave, and makes His Ayat (proofs,
evidences, verses, lessons, signs, revelations, etc.) clear to mankind that
they may remember.” (Surat
Al-Baqarah: 221) And in the punishment in His saying: “The woman and the man guilty
of illegal sexual intercourse, flog each of them with a hundred stripes. Let
not pity withhold you in their case, in a punishment prescribed by Allah, if
you believe in Allah and the Last Day. And let a party of the believers witness
their punishment. (This punishment is for unmarried persons guilty of the above
crime but if married persons commit it, the punishment is to stone them to
death, according to Allah's Law).”
(Surat An-Nur: 2), and in the prohibition in His saying: “The adulterer marries not
but an adulteress or a Mushrikah and the adulteress none marries her except an
adulterer or a Muskrik [and that means that the man who agrees to marry (have a
sexual relation with) a Mushrikah (female polytheist, pagan or idolatress) or a
prostitute, then surely he is either an adulterer, or a Mushrik (polytheist,
pagan or idolater, etc.) And the woman who agrees to marry (have a sexual
relation with) a Mushrik (polytheist, pagan or idolater) or an adulterer, then
she is either a prostitute or a Mushrikah (female polytheist, pagan, or idolatress,
etc.)]. Such a thing is forbidden to the believers (of Islamic monotheism).” (Surat An-Nur: 3) And in directing the command to them
in His saying, “It
is not for a believer, man or woman, when Allah and His Messenger have decreed
a matter that they should have any option in their decision. And whoever
disobeys Allah and His Messenger, he has indeed strayed in a plain error.” (Surat Al-Ahzab: 36) And regarding human qualities,
in His saying, “Bad statements are for bad people (or bad women for bad men), and bad
people are for bad statements (or bad men for bad women). Good statements are
for good people (or good women for good men), and good people are for good
statements (or good men for good women); such (good people) are innocent of
(each and every) bad statement that they say, for them is forgiveness, and
Rizqun Karim (generous provision, i.e., Paradise).” (Surat An-Nur: 26). Islam also established equality
between men and women in the reward for good deeds, as stated in the verse:
"Whosoever
does an evil deed will not be requited except the like thereof, and whosoever
does a righteous deed, whether male or female, and is a true believer (in the
Oneness of Allah), such will enter Paradise, where they will be provided
therein (with all things in abundance) without limit." (Surat Ghafir 40:40). This equality is further
emphasized in the ethical guidelines, as stated in the verse: "Tell the believing men to
lower their gaze (from looking at forbidden things) and protect their private
parts (from illegal sexual acts, etc.). That is purer for them. Verily, Allah
is All-Aware of what they do. 30 And tell the believing women to lower their
gaze (from looking at forbidden things), and protect their private parts (from
illegal sexual acts, etc.) and not to show off their adornment except only that
which is apparent (like palms of hands or one eye or both eyes for necessity to
see the way, or outer dress like veil, gloves, head-cover, apron, etc.), and to
draw their veils all over Juyubihinna (i.e. their bodies, faces, necks and
bosoms, etc.) and not to reveal their adornment except to their husbands, their
fathers, their husband's fathers, their sons, their husband's sons, their
brothers or their brother's sons, or their sister's sons, or their (Muslim)
women (i.e. their sisters in Islam), or the (female) slaves whom their right
hands possess, or old male servants who lack vigour, or small children who have
no sense of the shame of sex. And let them not stamp their feet so as to reveal
what they hide of their adornment. And all of you beg Allah to forgive you all,
O believers, that you may be successful. 31”
(Surat An-Nur 24:30-31)
The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, affirmed in many hadiths
that all people are equal before God's laws. It was narrated on the authority
of Aisha that she said, "The Quraysh were greatly concerned about the case
of the Makhzumi woman who had stolen. They said, 'Who will speak to the
Messenger of God, peace and blessings be upon him, about her?' They said, 'Who
would dare to speak to him except Usama ibn Zayd, the beloved of the Messenger
of God, peace and blessings be upon him?' So Usama spoke to him, and the
Messenger of God, peace and blessings be upon him, said, 'Are you interceding
concerning one of God's prescribed punishments?' Then he stood up and addressed
the people, and then said, 'What destroyed those before you was that when a
noble person among them stole, they would let him go, but when a weak person
among them stole, they would carry out the punishment on him. By God, if
Fatimah, the daughter of Muhammad, had stolen, I would have cut off her hand.”
(Narrated by Aisha, the Mother of the Believers; Source: Sahih al-Bukhari) And
the measure of distinction between people is piety and righteous deeds, as
narrated on the authority of Abdullah ibn Umar, who said, “The Messenger of
God, may God’s prayers and peace be upon him, addressed the people on the day
of the conquest of Mecca, saying, ‘O people, God has removed from you the
arrogance of ignorance and its boasting about lineage. People are of two kinds:
the righteous, pious, and honorable in the sight of God, and the wicked,
wretched, and insignificant in the sight of God. People are the children of
Adam, and God created Adam from dust. God said, “O mankind, indeed We have
created you from male and female and made you peoples and tribes that you may
know one another. Indeed, We have created you from male and female and made you
peoples and tribes that you may know one another.”’” “The most honorable among
you in the sight of God is the most righteous of you. Indeed, God is
all-knowing, all-aware.” (Narrated by Abdullah bin Omar; Source: Sahih
al-Tirmidhi); and in the saying of the Messenger of God, may God bless him and
grant him peace, “O people, your Lord is One. There is no superiority for an
Arab over a non-Arab, nor for a non-Arab over an Arab, nor for a red person
over a black person, nor for a black person over a red person, except through
piety. Indeed, the most honorable among you in the sight of God is the most
righteous of you.” (Narrated by Jabir bin Abdullah; Source: Ghayat al-Maram);
And in his saying, may God’s prayers and peace be upon him: “People should stop
boasting about their dead forefathers, for they are but fuel for Hell. Or they
will be more insignificant to God than a dung beetle that rolls dung with its
nose. God has removed from you the arrogance of ignorance and its boasting
about forefathers. Rather, one is either a pious believer or a wretched sinner.
All people are the children of Adam, and Adam was created from dust.” (Narrated
by Abu Hurairah; Source: Sunan al-Tirmidhi.)
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