Why Does Islam Emphasize Gender Roles?
Answered by Mawlana Ilyas Patel
Question
Why does Islam emphasize distinct roles and characteristics for men and women, encouraging masculinity in men and femininity in women?
Answer
In the Name of Allah, the Most Merciful and Compassionate.
I pray you are in good faith and health. Thank you for your question.
Islam provides a meaningful perspective on the roles of men and women. It teaches that men have a role in offering protection and care, contributing uniquely masculine qualities. Similarly, it emphasizes that women are inherently valuable and make unique feminine contributions, which are essential for a healthy family and society to thrive. Without these distinct contributions from both genders, the well-being of families and communities would be diminished.
For Muslims, the ultimate reference point is the Creator of all humans, rather than the subjectivity found in secular and liberal humanism. It is reasonable to expect that certain fundamental truths about existence, human nature, and our respective rights and responsibilities should be clearly defined, just as they are in the Quran and the teachings of the Prophet.
Who Is Better?
As Muslims, we should believe that in this world, nothing physical distinguishes one gender as superior to another. Only righteousness and piety make us “better” in the eyes of Allah. In the World of Akhira, our souls will be equal before Allah, Most High.
Allah says:
“O humanity! Indeed, We created you from a male and a female, and made you into peoples and tribes so that you may (get to) know one another. Surely the most noble of you in the sight of Allah is the most righteous among you. Allah is truly All-Knowing, All-Aware.” [Quran 49:13]
Allah is our Maker and Creator. He knows how we can best operate and what is best for us. He has assigned us different obligations and rights. Our understanding, beliefs, and actions should ultimately lead us to this: submission to Allah, which is the essence of Islam.
Reward For Both
Finally, Allah has a plan to reward both genders, as He told us in His book,
“Surely (for) Muslim men and women, believing men and women, devout men and women, truthful men and women, patient men and women, humble men and women, charitable men and women, fasting men and women, men and women who guard their chastity, and men and women who remember Allah often—for (all of) them Allah has prepared forgiveness and a great reward. [Quran, 33:35]
I would like you to go through the valuable answers and links below. In sha’ Allah, you will receive guidance and direction.
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I pray this helps with your question.
Wassalam,
[Mawlana] Ilyas Patel
Checked and Approved by Shaykh Abdul-Rahim Reasat
Mawlana Ilyas Patel has received traditional education in various countries. He started his schooling in the UK and completed his hifz of the Quran in India. After that, he joined an Islamic seminary in the UK, where he studied secular and Aalimiyya sciences. Later, he traveled to Karachi, Pakistan, and other Middle Eastern countries to further his education. Mawlana has served as an Imam in the Republic of Ireland for several years and taught the Quran and other Islamic sciences to both children and adults. He also worked as a teacher and librarian at a local Islamic seminary in the UK for 12 years. Presently, he lives in the UK with his wife and is interested in books and gardening.
