1. Gender Equality & Equity in Islam

2. AN OUTLINE INTRODUCTION & METHODOLOGY AN ISLAMIC PERSPECTIVE
SPIRITUALITY & HUMANITY
ECONOMIC
SOCIAL
LEGAL AND POLITICAL
CONCLUSION

3. INTRODUCTION &METHODOLOGY
1. Teachings & Muslim cultures
2. Teachings = Bases for evaluation
3. Primary sources & juridical opinions
4. Interpretation rules include
Context: historical & textual
Occasion of revelation
Role of Hadeeth
5. Underlying worldview
6. Equity [fairness] & Equality
7. Full equality and full equity are possible

4. I.SPIRITUAL/HUMAN ASPECT An Example of Full Equality
1. Same as man [4:1, 7:189, 42:11]
2. Divine breath [15:29, 32:9]
3. Dignity & trusteeship [2:30, 17:70]
4. The forbidden tree [7:19-27, 46:15]
5. Duties & responsibilities [3:195, 33:35]
6. Superiority: by gender or piety? [49:13]

5. II. ECONOMIC ASPECT An Example of Full Equity
1. Property rights
2. Financial security
Control on property
Marital gift
Full support
Rights of divorcees
Lesser share of inheritance

6. III.SOCIAL – DAUGHTER An Example of Both
1. Ending female infanticide
Regarded as any other act of murder [81:8-9]

7. 2. CHEER UP! IT’S A GIRL! [16:58-59]

8. III.SOCIAL – DAUGHTER An Example of Both
3. Kindness & justice
Equitable treatment of children
Praises of kindness to daughters
4. Education
Mandatory duty of all

10. III.SOCIAL – WIFE An Example of Both
1. Marriage = love, compassion [30:21]
2. Accept or reject proposals

11. III.SOCIAL – WIFE An Example of Both
3. Qiwamah = responsibility
4. Resolving marital disputes
Privately
Family mediation/arbitration
5. Divorce & khul’ (divestiture )
6. Custody of children

12. III. SOCIAL- POLYGAMY An Example of Both
1. Monogamy = norm
2. Introduced or limited ? [4:3]
See for example, Edward Westermarck, History of Human Marriage
3. Why not outlawed ?
4. Options for parties

13. III. SOCIAL - AS A MOTHER An Example of Both
1. Kindness to parents
Next to worship of God [17:23]
2. Specially mothers
Rationale: pains of pregnancy & childbirth [31:14, 46:15]

14. III. SOCIAL- AS A SISTER An Example of Both
1. Twin halves of men
“Shaqa’iq”
2. Kindness, care & respect

15. III. SOCIAL – MODESTY An Example of Both
1. Norm vs. Extremes
2. Parameters or code
Not cultural style
3. Personal commitment
4. No seclusion in the Prophet’s time
Cultural influences

16. IV. LEGAL & POLITICAL An Example of Both
1. Universal justice
2. Woman as witness [24:6-9, 2:282]
3. Participation
4. Historical practices
5. Leadership positions

17. CONCLUSIONS 1. The real & the ideal 2. Cultural diversity
Negatives
Positives
Emerging trend
Abiding by teachings; letter & spirit

18. For Further Information
Badawi, Jamal A., Gender Equity in Islam
Available at : Jannah.org Type book title
Other material, audio or written
click under “Reading Islam” , also in www. Islamicity.org
Thank you!