What does this excerpt tell us about the gender roles in Islamic society? What are the rights for men and women?
Step 1: Read the excerpt “Women” (surah IV from the Quran) ” Answer the following questions: 1. What does this excerpt tell us about the gender roles in Islamic society? What are the rights for men and women? 2. Did women inherent property? If so, was it common in other cultures at the time? 3. What is the reward for those that obey Allah? What is the penalty for those who disobey Allah? 4. Compare the gender roles and responsibilities in this text with the ones in Hammurabi’s Code. What are some of the similarities? Which are some of the changes? Step 2: Use two appropriate secondary sources to research about the Quran, gender in early Islamic society (600s-1000s) -sources about later periods will not be accepted- the and the spread of Islam. Step 3: Write a 300-400 words essay summarizing your research. In this excerpt from the “Women” (surah IV from the Quran) shows how detailed the instructions of the Quran became as Muhammad administered a city that was to become an empire and a civilization. [4.11] Allah enjoins you concerning your children: The male shall have the equal of the portion of two females; then if they are more than two females, they shall have two-thirds of what the deceased has left, and if there is one, she shall have the half; and as for his parents, each of them shall have the sixth of what he has left if he has a child, but if he has no child and (only) his two parents inherit him, then his mother shall have the third; but if he has brothers, then his mother shall have the sixth after (the payment of) a bequest he may have bequeathed or a debt; your parents and your children, you know not which of them is the nearer to you in usefulness; this is an ordinance from Allah: Surely Allah is Knowing, Wise. [] And you shall have half of what your wives leave if they have no child, but if they have a child, then you shall have a fourth of what they leave after (payment of) any bequest they may have bequeathed or a debt; and they shall have the fourth of what you leave if you have no child, but if you have a child then they shall have the eighth of what you leave after (payment of) a bequest you may have bequeathed or a debt; and if a man or a woman leaves property to be inherited by neither parents nor offspring, and he (or she) has a brother or a sister, then each of them two shall have the sixth, but if they are more than that, they shall be sharers in the third after (payment of) any bequest that may have been bequeathed or a debt that does not harm (others); this is an ordinance from Allah: and Allah is Knowing, Forbearing. [] These are Allah’s limits, and whoever obeys Allah and His Apostle, He will cause him to enter gardens beneath which rivers flow, to abide in them; and this is the great achievement. [] And whoever disobeys Allah and His Apostle and goes beyond His limits, He will cause him to enter fire to abide in it, and he shall have an abasing chastisement. [] And as for those who are guilty of an indecency from among your women, call to witnesses against them four (witnesses) from among you; then if they bear witness confine them to the houses until death takes them away or Allah opens some way for them. [] And as for the two who are guilty of indecency from among you, give them both a punishment; then if they repent and amend, turn aside from them; surely Allah is Oft-returning[i] (to mercy), the Merciful. One of the several names of Allah it means The Acceptor of repentance.[i]
