Women in Christianity and Islam
According to the Bible and The Qur'an
Related Articles
The Ideal Muslim Woman and her Husband
Women's Nature
What the Bible Says
A man ought not to cover his head, since he is the image and glory of God; but the woman is the glory of man. (1 Corinthians 11:7)
What the Qur'an Says
Never will I allow to be lost the work of any of you, male or female. You are one of another. (Qur'an, 3:195)
Commentary
The Qur'an confirms that men and women are equal in the sight of Allah. The Qur'an does not say that the man is the glory of Allah and the woman is the Glory of man. This is nonsense because the male and the female are both created by Allah, and because the male comes from the female and the female comes from the male. They are one of another.
Women's Original Sin
What the Bible Says
And Adam was not the one deceived; it was the woman who was deceived and became a sinner. (1 Timothy 2:14)
What the Qur'an Says
And he (Satan) swore by Allah to them both (Adam and Eve) (saying): "Verily, I am one of the sincere well-wishers for you both." So he misled them with deception. (Qur'an, 7:21 -22)
Thus did Adam disobey his Lord, so he went astray. Then his Lord chose him, and turned to him with forgiveness, and gave him guidance. (Qur'an, 20:121,122)
Commentary
According to the Qur'an both Adam and Eve were tempted by Satan. The Qur'an blames both of them for their sin. However, Adam and Eve prayed earnestly to Allah for forgiveness and He forgave them.
According to the Bible, Eve was the sinner and because of her sin all humans are born in sin.
Women's Righteousness
What the Bible Says
... I found one upright man among a thousand, but not one upright woman among them all. (Ecclesiastes 7:28)
Then the cover of lead was raised, and there in the basket sat a woman! He said, "This is wickedness,"... (Zechariah 5:7,8)
The woman Folly is loud; she is undisciplined and without knowledge. (Proverbs 9:13)
What the Qur'an Says
And Allah has set forth an example to those who believe: The wife of Pharaoh, when she said: "My Lord! Build for me a home with You in Paradise, and save me from Pharaoh and his work, and save me from the people who do wrong." And Mary, the daughter of lmran who guarded her chastity. And We breathed into (the sleeve of her garment) through Our Ruh (Gabriel), and she testified to the truth of the Words of her
Lord, and His Scriptures, and she was one of the devout servants. (Qur'an, 66:11,12)
Commentary
The Bible states that women are foolish, wicked, undisciplined and without knowledge. It also says that no one upright woman was found among them all. On the contrary, the Qur'an orders all Muslims, men and women, to follow the shining examples of two perfect women, Mary the mother of Jesus (pbuh) and Pharaoh's wife. These two ideal women were models of faith, righteousness, and patience for the sake of Allah.
Women's Role
What the Bible Says
Now I want you to realise that the head of every man is Christ, and the head of the woman is man, and the head of Christ is God. (1 Corinthians 11:3)
