OPPRESSION OF WOMEN AND ENDORSEMENTS OF SLAVERY ARE INTEGRAL PARTS OF THE QURAN

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"˹The law of˺ retaliation is set for you in cases of murder—a free man for a free man, a slave for a slave, and a female for a female."

Quran 2:178

(translated by Dr. Mustafa Khattab)

 

If you are a slave and your master killed someone else's slave, Allah has bad news for you. Per his justice standards, you will be killed now despite it having nothing to do with you. You're just property. The same goes for females in the household.

 

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"Your wives are a place of cultivation [i.e., sowing of seed] for you, so come to your place of cultivation however you wish"

Quran 2:223

(Sahih International translation)

 

Allah sees women as fields to plow with your privates whenever you want.

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"For those who swear not to have sexual relations with their wives is a waiting time of four months, but if they return [to normal relations] - then indeed, Allah is Forgiving and Merciful."

Quran 2:226

(Sahih International translation)

 

Women aren't given such an option to decide to not have sex with their husbands without direct negative consequences.

 

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"The men [i.e., husbands] have a degree over them [wives] [in responsibility and authority]."

Quran 2:228

(Sahih International translation)

 

The book essentially says that men are superior to women.

 

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"So if a husband divorces his wife ˹three times˺, then it is not lawful for him to remarry her until after she has married another man and then is divorced."

Quran 2:230

(translated by Dr. Mustafa Khattab)

 

So, if you want to marry her back for the fourth time, you would first need to find a man to screw the woman you love.

 

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"As for those of you who die and leave widows behind, let them observe a waiting period of four months and ten days. When they have reached the end of this period, then you are not accountable for what they decide for themselves in a reasonable manner."

Quran 2:234

(translated by Dr. Mustafa Khattab)

 

Even after the death of the husband, a woman still doesn't belong to herself for around four months. No such limitation for the males, of course.

 

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"Call upon two of your men to witness. If two men cannot be found, then one man and two women of your choice will witness—so if one of the women forgets the other may remind her."

Quran 2:282

(translated by Dr. Mustafa Khattab)

 

A woman's testimony is worth half of a man's.

 

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"Marry other women of your choice—two, three, or four."

Quran 4:3

(translated by Dr. Mustafa Khattab)

 

A man living with four women is a respectful Muslim, but a woman living with four men is to be executed. Double standards in religion are very common.

 

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"Marry other women... But if you are afraid you will fail to maintain justice, then ˹content yourselves with˺ one or those ˹bondwomen˺ in your possession."

Quran 4:3

(translated by Dr. Mustafa Khattab)

 

Female slaves are a divine loophole to avoid marriage obligations while getting the benefits of it. Allah endorses the unlimited 'use' of female slaves when you are not confident you can handle full-scale wives.

 

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"Allah instructs you concerning your children [i.e., their portions of inheritance]: for the male, what is equal to the share of two females."

Quran 4:11; similar: 4:176

(Sahih International translation)

 

As per Quran, males 'deserve' double the inheritance than females. You may argue that's it's because in the Islamic worldview men have broader financial responsibilities, but this rule drives an unfair perception of inferiority of women.

 

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"˹As for˺ those of your women who commit illegal intercourse... confine the offenders to their homes until they die"

Quran 4:15

(translated by Dr. Mustafa Khattab)

 

Can you please help me find a comparable rule to confine the men for the same actions?

 

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"It is not permissible for you to inherit women against their will or mistreat them to make them return some of the dowry ˹as a ransom for divorce˺—unless they are found guilty of adultery."

Quran 4:19

(translated by Dr. Mustafa Khattab)

 

It costs a woman her freedom and dowry to use her own body as she decides.

 

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"If you want to replace one wife with another..."

Quran 4:20

(Sahih International translation)

 

And how about a verse on wanting to replace one husband with another? Not there.

 

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"˹Forbidden are˺ married women—except ˹female˺ captives in your possession."

Quran 4:24

(translated by Dr. Mustafa Khattab)

 

In god's eyes, female prisoners of war are just booty to be used by Muslims

 

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"Whoever among you cannot [find] the means to marry free, believing women, then [he may marry] from those whom your right hands possess of believing slave girls."

Quran 4:25

(Sahih International translation)

 

Is there a part in the process where a slave girl's consent is asked? Nah.

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"If they [female slaves] commit indecency after marriage, they receive half the punishment of free women."

Quran 4:25

(translated by Dr. Mustafa Khattab)

 

A great perk for female slaves. What about letting them choose whom to marry? No, thanks.

 

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"Righteous wives are devout... If you fear high-handedness from your wives, remind them [of the teachings of God], then ignore them when you go to bed, then hit them."

Quran 4:34

(translated by Abdul Haleem)

 

Quran encourages husbands to alienate and beat disobedient wives.

 

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"Be kind to... ˹bondspeople˺ in your possession..."

Quran 4:36

(translated by Dr. Mustafa Khattab)

 

It's great that it calls for kindness in slavery practices but it's similar to saying 'don't forget to feed the person you locked up in your basement for your amusement'. A small good call doesn't negate the large bad one. Being truly kind would mean making them free to stay or leave.

 

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"Do not approach prayer... in a state of janābah... And if... one of you comes from the place of relieving himself or you have contacted women [i.e., had sexual intercourse] and find no water, then seek clean earth and wipe over your faces and your hands [with it]."

Quran 4:43; similar: 5:6

(Sahih International translation)

 

Women are so dirty in god's eyes that earth is cleaner than them. You need to 'wash off' women's dirtiness from yourself by the earth.

 

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"When Our messengers, [the angels], came to Lot... his people came hastening to him, and before [this] they had been doing evil deeds. He said, 'O my people, these are my daughters; they are purer for you. So fear Allah and do not disgrace me concerning my guests.'"

Quran 11:77-78; similar:15:67-71 (Sahih International translation)

 

"To Lot We gave judgement and knowledge, and We saved him from the city that was committing wicked deeds... Indeed, he was of the righteous."

Quran 21:74-75

(Sahih International translation)

 

Righteous Lot offered his daughters to a mob of rapists. He didn't care about their sexual and emotional health. A positive opinion about him from guest-strangers was much more important to him. A great example of a truly Islamic family, according to Quran.

 

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"Joseph responded, “It was she who tried to seduce me.” And a witness from her own family testified: “If his shirt is torn from the front, then she has told the truth and he is a liar. But if it is torn from the back, then she has lied and he is truthful.” So when her husband saw that Joseph’s shirt was torn from the back, he said ˹to her˺, “This must be ˹an example˺ of the cunning of you ˹women˺! Indeed, your cunning is so shrewd!"

Quran 12:26-28

(translated by Dr. Mustafa Khattab)

 

Inconclusive 'investigation' in the spirit of old tales followed by a generic conclusion about women's deficiency. A classic episode of low-quality stories.

 

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"Those who guard their chastity except with their wives or those ˹bondwomen˺ in their possession, for then they are free from blame"

Quran 23:5-6; similar: 70:29-30

(Sahih International translation)

 

Allah approves of masters raping their slaves.

 

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"Those who accuse chaste women ˹of adultery˺ and fail to produce four witnesses, give them eighty lashes ˹each˺."

Quran 24:4

(translated by Dr. Mustafa Khattab)

 

At first sight, this looks like protection of women from excessive false accusations. But a much more superior way would be to let women decide how they want to handle their bodies. Because, remember, if the accuser can bring 4 witnesses, the woman is done.

 

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"Tell the believing women to lower their gaze and guard their chastity, and not to reveal their adornments except what normally appears. Let them draw their veils over their chests, and not reveal their ˹hidden˺ adornments except to their husbands, their fathers, their fathers-in-law, their sons, their stepsons, their brothers, their brothers’ sons or sisters’ sons, their fellow women, those ˹bondwomen˺ in their possession, male attendants with no desire, or children who are still unaware of women’s nakedness. Let them not stomp their feet, drawing attention to their hidden adornments."

Quran 24:31

(translated by Dr. Mustafa Khattab)

 

Women have no right to unsanctioned behavior to show themselves out there in the world outside of the four walls. Women are just an appendix of a man, one of the household items, somewhat like cattle.

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"O believers! Let those ˹bondspeople˺ in your possession... ask for your permission..."

Quran 24:58

(translated by Dr. Mustafa Khattab)

 

Quran regulates slavery and has no intention to abolish it because it's not a book of high divine morals but a book that just reflects the cultural setting of its human author(s). 7th-century people didn't know any better and couldn't come up with anything better. That's why their god lags behind human progress, just like they are.

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"O wives of the Prophet!... Settle in your homes, and do not display yourselves as women did in the days of ˹pre-Islamic˺ ignorance."

Quran 33:32-33

(translated by Dr. Mustafa Khattab)

 

Stay locked and dissolve your personality as in the days of Islamic oppression.

 

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"When you ˹believers˺ ask his wives for something, ask them from behind a barrier."

Quran 33:53

(translated by Dr. Mustafa Khattab)

 

Why limit it with just a barrier? Just make it a covered cage straight away.

 

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"There is no blame on the Prophet’s wives ˹if they appear unveiled˺ before their fathers, their sons, their brothers, their brothers’ sons, their sisters’ sons, their fellow ˹Muslim˺ women, and those ˹bondspeople˺ in their possession."

Quran 33:55

(translated by Dr. Mustafa Khattab)

 

Religions blaming women for showing themselves to the world is just a way to compensate for men's insecurities at the cost of the freedom of women.

 

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"Ask your wives, daughters, and believing women to draw their cloaks over their bodies."

Quran 33:59

(translated by Dr. Mustafa Khattab)

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'The disappearance of the woman' by Boushra Almutawakel