Myth 12: “Women Are Honored in Islam”
π The Reality: Women in Islam Are Legally, Socially, and Spiritually Subjugated by Design
Islamic apologists often claim that Islam was a pioneer in women's rights. The truth is more brutal: Islam institutionalizes gender inequality in scripture, law, and historical practice. Any "honor" comes with systemic control, diminished rights, and state-sanctioned male dominance.
π I. Scriptural Foundations of Gender Inequality
Islamic gender roles are not cultural add-ons — they are encoded into the Qur’an and Hadith.
π 1. Inheritance Law (Qur’an 4:11): Women Get Half
“Allah commands you regarding your children: the male shall have the share of two females…”
This isn't metaphorical. A son gets twice the inheritance of a daughter — period. This legal double standard is enshrined in Sharia and was never abrogated.
π 2. Legal Testimony (Qur’an 2:282): Women’s Word Is Worth Less
“And bring to witness two witnesses from among your men. And if two men are not available, then a man and two women…”
This isn’t just for financial contracts. Classical scholars generalized it to many legal contexts. In criminal courts, a woman’s testimony is often inadmissible, especially in hudud cases.
π 3. Spousal Abuse Permitted (Qur’an 4:34)
“As for those [wives] from whom you fear disobedience, admonish them, forsake them in bed, and strike them…”
π¨ Classical Tafsir confirms:
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Al-Jalalayn: Yes, physical beating — lightly or otherwise.
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Ibn Kathir: This verse is “a means of discipline” and is binding.
“Lightly” is a modern apologetic reinterpretation. The verse authorizes physical violence — a legal right given to men alone.
π§ II. Marriage in Islam: Male Ownership, Not Partnership
π©Έ 1. Polygyny Is Legal
Men may marry up to four women (Qur’an 4:3). Women get no such right.
No reciprocal polyandry. It’s one-way gender privilege, institutionalized.
π§ 2. Male Guardianship Is Permanent
A woman can’t marry without a male guardian (wali) — usually her father or brother. In many Muslim-majority countries, this remains legally enforced.
π 3. Nikah Mut'ah (Temporary Marriage)
While rejected by Sunnis today, it was practiced during Muhammad’s time and is still legal in Shia Islam — a sanctioned form of religious prostitution.
⚖️ III. Divorce Laws: Tilted Completely in the Man’s Favor
π₯ 1. Talaq (Unilateral Male Divorce)
A man can end a marriage instantly by saying “talaq” three times.
A woman, by contrast, must:
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Get permission from a judge
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Return her dowry
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Prove abuse or failure to provide
π 2. Custody Laws
If divorced, the father gains custody of older children by default under classical Sharia — not the mother.
π€ IV. Modesty Codes: Obedience as Honor
“Honor” in Islamic terms means:
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Obeying your husband
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Dressing under mandatory hijab or niqab
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Not leaving the house without permission
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Avoiding mixed spaces
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Being silent and submissive
Sahih al-Bukhari 5196:
“If a woman prays her five prayers, fasts her month, guards her chastity, and obeys her husband, she will enter Paradise.”
That’s not honor — that’s conditional worth based on obedience to men.
π V. Hadiths That Make the Picture Even Worse
π§ 1. Women Are Deficient in Intelligence
Sahih Muslim 241:
“I have not seen anyone more deficient in intelligence and religion than you [women].”
Muhammad claimed that women’s testimony counts less because they are less rational.
π₯ 2. Most of Hell’s Inhabitants Are Women
Sahih Bukhari 304:
“I saw that most of the people in Hell were women.”
Reason? Because they are “ungrateful to their husbands.”
This isn’t moral insight — it’s textbook misogyny wrapped in prophetic authority.
π VI. Real-World Consequences in Sharia-Based Societies
| Country | Legal Reality |
|---|---|
| Saudi Arabia | Guardianship laws for women remain enforced |
| Iran | Compulsory hijab, child marriage legal at age 13 |
| Pakistan | Honor killings often go unpunished; rape victims jailed |
| Afghanistan (Taliban) | Women banned from education and jobs, beatings enforced |
These are not “cultural” — they are the natural consequence of Islamic doctrine.
❌ Final Analysis: “Honor” in Islam Is a Euphemism for Male Control
| Aspect | Male Right / Female Restriction |
|---|---|
| Inheritance | Men get double |
| Legal Testimony | Women’s word counts half |
| Marriage | Men can marry 4; women need permission |
| Divorce | Men: instant; women: restricted |
| Violence | Men allowed to strike wives |
| Clothing & Movement | Women must cover, stay inside, obey |
π« Conclusion: The Myth of “Honor” Masks a System of Gendered Subjugation
Islam doesn’t honor women — it subordinates them. It codifies their inferiority in law, ritual, and family life. The “honor” rhetoric is a clever rebranding of obedience, dependency, and legal disadvantage.
This isn’t just a relic of the past — modern Islamic legal systems and Sharia-based governance continue to enforce these discriminatory practices.
Islamic “honor” is not about dignity. It’s about control. And the texts, laws, and history are crystal clear about it.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------About the Author
Mauao Man is a blog created by a New Zealand writer who believes in following the evidence wherever it leads. From history and religion to culture and society, Mauao Man takes a clear, critical, and honest approach — challenging ideas without attacking people. Whether exploring the history of Islam in New Zealand, the complexities of faith, or the contradictions in belief systems, this blog is about asking the hard questions and uncovering the truth.
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