Islam: Equality or Justice?

  • In a society where we understand everyone to be equal, many people, both Muslims and non-Muslims alike, question whether Islam is a religion of male chauvinism. The apparent inequality of the genders found in the rules of inheritance, witness, clothing, and several other rules, would easily lead one to this conclusion. However, before we begin to make such claims, we need to ask ourselves a few questions:

    What is equality? The answer specifically used by governments would be the availability of equal opportunities. This means that no matter what the situation may be, two people of equal ability should have the opportunity to achieve exactly the same things, irrespective of race, gender, age or wealth. Individuals should also be judged equally in the sight of the law.

    Does Islam recognise and advocate equal opportunity? If one were to examine the laws of Islam with an open-mind, they would find that rules such as those pertaining to interest and trade in fact further this goal. In reality, they do so more than the governments that claim to advocate this type of equality do themselves. For example, the prohibition of loans for some worldly benefit prevents the level of extortion that has, and is still, taking place all over the world. Wealthy countries take advantage of the poorer countries’ need for loans, and wealthy individuals take advantage of poorer individuals’ needs. Such levels of extortion, whereby the debtor ends up paying several times more than the capital they were originally lent, would not be possible if such a rule was implemented. However, there are some differences which we will come to, Insha’Allah.

    Is this perception of equal opportunity actually equality? Are all people equal? It is very nice to say such a thing but can the blind person ever be equal to the one who sees? Can the deaf person ever be equal to the one who hears? The reasonable answer, when one considers the facts, is no. The one with such disability needs some assistance to do the same things as the one who is healthy, such as driving. Technology is currently being developed to allow the blind to drive, but even if they could drive, they still wouldn’t be able to drive like the one who sees without such technology. If they were truly equal, we would treat them the same, which means that we would not install such technology. Without this, the blind would not have the opportunity to drive, showing that they are not actually equal.

    If the perception of equal opportunity is not actually equality, what is it that both reasonable people and Islam advocate? Allah (SWT) says in the Qur’an:

    “Verily, Allaah enjoins justice…” [16:90]

    “…and that when you judge between people, you judge with justice.” [4:58]

    How does Islam differ from what is being advocated as equal opportunity? Equality judged by governments and institutions is based upon perceived abilities. For example, it is perceived that men and women are equal in terms of abilities; hence they should have equal opportunities. Islam, however, recognises Allah, the one true God, as being the Creator of all that exists. As such, He alone knows the most about His creation, the opportunities they should have and the differences between them in terms of their abilities.

    Allah (SWT) recognises that men and women are spiritually equal:

    “..Never will I allow to be lost the work of any of you, whether male or female…” [3:195]

    “And whoever does righteous good deeds, male or female, and is a true believer, such will enter Paradise and not the least injustice, even to the size of a speck, will be done to them.” [4:124]

    However, Allah (SWT) also informs us that there are differences between men and women.

    “Men are the protectors and maintainers of women, because Allah has given one more (strength) than the other, and because they support them from their means…” [4:34]

    In this way, Allah (SWT) acknowledges that men are physically stronger and should be the providers, whereas women have been blessed with the natural ability to raise and look after children. ‘Women should raise children?! Is this not the epitome of male chauvinism?’ I ask the reader in response, what is wrong with this noble task? Do we say that teaching is an inferior profession because teachers influence and teach the next generation? Do we say that nursing is also an inferior profession since nurses take care of the sick? Of course not. So how then can have the notion that bringing up children is something that we should look down upon? In fact, this is one of the noblest things a person could do – raise, take care of, and shape the future generation.

    The way that society perceives this noble profession has contributed a huge amount to the ills society faces in our time. The ill-mannered, immoral youth that we see around us are a direct consequence of the lack of appropriate upbringing, and this in turn results in a downward spiral. Much could be said at this stage regarding the amount of good such Islamic principles could contribute to society, however, this is beyond the scope of the discussion.

    It should be noted and firmly embedded in our minds and hearts, that Islam is a religion of justice. Islam recognises the differences in people and judges them based upon that. In this way, Islam recognises the differences between the genders, such as the fact that the average man will be physically stronger than the average woman, and that the average woman will be more emotional than the average man. The different qualities given to men and women are strengths for their own individual roles, and it is based upon these differences that certain rules are set. As those who claim to be submitted to Allah (SWT), we should understand and accept this for what it is, and not judge in the manner that those with less knowledge judge.


    March 4th, 2011 | admin | No Comments |

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