Women in the bible and quran

Missionaries love to point out how women in the Qur'an are oppressed (Which is one of the biggest misconceptions). They find verses they can twist and turn to try and make their points. Well, here is a comparison of the treatment of women in the Bible and the Qur'an, you decide which is more severe, harsh, degrading, and subjugating.

Nobody wants to be a hypocrite, so if a person wants to call themselves Christian, they should not just follow the parts of the Bible that they find suitable, they should follow it all. Ladies, we will begin with Paul's commands:

Paul says that women have to cover their heads as a sign of inferiority. Men must keep their heads uncovered because they are in the image of God. Woman are of the man and were created for the man, men are not of the women, nor created for the women. Also, notice the ordering: God, Jesus (pbuh), Man, and woman at the bottom. Here are Paul's exact words:

1 Corinthians 11:³But I would have you know, that the head of every man is Christ; and the head of the woman is the man; and the head of Christ is God. ⁴Every man praying or prophesying, having his head covered, dishonoureth his head. ⁵But every woman that prayeth or prophesieth with her head uncovered dishonoureth her head: for that is even all one as if she were shaven. ⁶For if the woman be not covered, let her also be shorn: but if it be a shame for a woman to be shorn or shaven, let her be covered. ⁷For a man indeed ought not to cover his head, forasmuch as he is the image and glory of God: but the woman is the glory of the man. ⁸For the man is not of the woman: but the woman of the man. ⁹Neither was the man created for the woman; but the woman for the man.

Qur'an 2:187 "You [believers] are permitted to lie with your wives during the night of the fast: they are [close] as garments to you, as you are to them."

Qur'an 30:21 "Another of his signs is that he created spouses from among yourselves for you to live with in tranquility: He ordained love and kindness between you. There truly are signs in this for those who reflect."

Qur'an 33:35 "For men and women who are devoted to God -- believing men and women, obedient men and women, truthful men and women, steadfast men and women, humble men and women, charitable men and women, fasting men and women, chaste men and women, men and women who remember God often -- God has prepared forgiveness and a rich reward."

As you can see, the Qur'an gives equal footing to both men and women.

Paul also commands women to be quiet in Church. If a woman has a question, she can ask her husband when they get home. Paul says it's a shame for a woman to speak in Church.

1 Corinthians 14:³⁴Let your women keep silence in the churches: for it is not permitted unto them to speak; but they are commanded to be under obedience as also saith the law. ³⁵And if they will learn any thing, let them ask their husbands at home: for it is a shame for women to speak in the church.

2 Timothy 2: ¹¹Let the woman learn in silence with all subjection. ¹²But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence. ¹³For Adam was first formed, then Eve. ¹⁴And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the transgression.

Qur'an 58:1 "God has heard the words of the woman who disputed with you [Prophet] about her husband and complained to God: God has heard what you both had to say. He is all hearing, all seeing"

So in the Qur'an, women could even argue with the Prophet and God would listen to them. Also, notice how the Bible blames women for the fall of Adam (pbuh) and Eve. The Qur'an, however, places blame on both:

Qur'an 2:36 "But Satan made them slip, and removed them from the state they were in."

Qur'an 7:20 "Satan whispered to them so as to expose their nakedness, which had been hidden from them: he said, 'Your Lord only forbade you this tree to prevent you becoming angels or immortals, 21. and he swore to them, "I am giving you sincere advice' --22. he lured them with lies. Their nakedness became exposed to them when they had eaten from the tree: they began to put together leaves from the Garden to cover themselves. Their Lord called to them, 'Did I not forbid you to approach the tree? Did I not warn you that Satan was your sworn enemy?"

Qur'an 20:120 "But Satan whispered to Adam, saying, 'Adam, shall I show you the tree of immortality and power that never decays?' 121. and they both ate from it. They became conscious of their nakedness and began to cover themselves with leaves from the garden. Adam disobeyed his Lord and was led astray--122. later his Lord brought him close, accepted his repentance, and guided him"

Ladies, submit to your husbands, as they are your masters. Paul says that your husband is your head to the extent that Christ is head to the Church:

Ephesians 5:²²Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord. ²³For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body. ²⁴Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing.

"O People, it is true that you have certain rights with regard to your women but they also have rights over you. Remember that you have taken them as your wives only under Allah's trust and with His permission. If they abide by your right, then to them belongs the right to be fed and clothed in kindness. Do treat your women well and be kind to them for they are your partners and committed helpers. And it is your right that they do not make friends with anyone of whom you do not approve, as well as never to be unchaste."

According to the Bible, if a man raped a virgin, he's penalty was that he had to pay her father 50 shekels, and he also had to marry the woman and never divorce her. Now notice a few things... Who is really being punished? Do you think a woman really wants to marry her rapist? To live with him forever? Keep in mind, that Jewish women were not allowed to initiate divorce. Also, notice that the fine was paid to her father. The reason for this is that the woman was considered her fathers property till she married, then she became her husbands property, as will be shown a little further down.

Deuteronomy 22:²⁸If a man find a damsel that is a virgin, which is not betrothed, and lay hold on her, and lie with her, and they be found; ²⁹Then the man that lay with her shall give unto the damsel's father fifty shekels of silver, and she shall be his wife; because he hath humbled her, he may not put her away all his days.

Deuteronomy 22:28 If a man meets a virgin who is not engaged, and seizes her and lies with her, and they are caught in the act, ²⁹the man who lay with her shall give fifty shekels of silver to the young woman’s father, and she shall become his wife. Because he violated her he shall not be permitted to divorce her as long as he lives. (NRSV)

Ok, a brief introduction to what you're about to read. If a man marries a woman, then accuses her of not being a virgin, her father must bring the cloth that proves her virginity to the elders. If he provides it, then the man is chastised and the father is paid 100 shekels and he must forever stay married to her. Notice again, the father is the one that receives the fine, even though it was his daughter that was wrongs. This is because the woman is considered her fathers property.

Deuteronomy 22:¹³If any man take a wife, and go in unto her, and hate her, ¹⁴And give occasions of speech against her, and bring up an evil name upon her, and say, I took this woman, and when I came to her, I found her not a maid: ¹⁵Then shall the father of the damsel, and her mother, take and bring forth the tokens of the damsel's virginity unto the elders of the city in the gate: ¹⁶And the damsel's father shall say unto the elders, I gave my daughter unto this man to wife, and he hateth her; ¹⁷And, lo, he hath given occasions of speech against her, saying, I found not thy daughter a maid; and yet these are the tokens of my daughter's virginity. And they shall spread the cloth before the elders of the city. ¹⁸And the elders of that city shall take that man and chastise him; ¹⁹And they shall amerce him in an hundred shekels of silver, and give them unto the father of the damsel, because he hath brought up an evil name upon a virgin of Israel: and she shall be his wife; he may not put her away all his days. ²⁰But if this thing be true, and the tokens of virginity be not found for the damsel: ²¹Then they shall bring out the damsel to the door of her father's house, and the men of her city shall stone her with stones that she die: because she hath wrought folly in Israel, to play the whore in her father's house: so shalt thou put evil away from among you.

Now the Qur'an:

Qur'an 24:4 "As for those who accuse chaste women of fornication, and then fail to provide four witnesses, strike them eighty times, and then reject their testimony ever afterwards: they are the lawbreakers"

So, the Qur'an requires not only one witness, but four witnesses to make sure the accused is guilty. and if someone were to bring up a false accusation against a chaste woman, then he is punished for it.

The following verses describe what happens if a man suspects his wife of adultry.

Numbers 5: ¹²Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, If any man's wife go aside, and commit a trespass against him,¹³And a man lie with her carnally, and it be hid from the eyes of her husband, and be kept close, and she be defiled, and there be no witness against her, neither she be taken with the manner; ¹⁴And the spirit of jealousy come upon him, and he be jealous of his wife, and she be defiled: or if the spirit of jealousy come upon him, and he be jealous of his wife, and she be not defiled: ¹⁵Then shall the man bring his wife unto the priest, and he shall bring her offering for her, the tenth part of an ephah of barley meal; he shall pour no oil upon it, nor put frankincense thereon; for it is an offering of jealousy, an offering of memorial, bringing iniquity to remembrance. ¹⁶And the priest shall bring her near, and set her before the LORD: ¹⁷And the priest shall take holy water in an earthen vessel; and of the dust that is in the floor of the tabernacle the priest shall take, and put it into the water: ¹⁸And the priest shall set the woman before the LORD, and uncover the woman's head, and put the offering of memorial in her hands, which is the jealousy offering: and the priest shall have in his hand the bitter water that causeth the curse: ¹⁹And the priest shall charge her by an oath, and say unto the woman, If no man have lain with thee, and if thou hast not gone aside to uncleanness with another instead of thy husband, be thou free from this bitter water that causeth the curse: ²⁰But if thou hast gone aside to another instead of thy husband, and if thou be defiled, and some man have lain with thee beside thine husband: ²¹Then the priest shall charge the woman with an oath of cursing, and the priest shall say unto the woman, The LORD make thee a curse and an oath among thy people, when the LORD doth make thy thigh to rot, and thy belly to swell; ²²And this water that causeth the curse shall go into thy bowels, to make thy belly to swell, and thy thigh to rot: And the woman shall say, Amen, amen. ²³And the priest shall write these curses in a book, and he shall blot them out with the bitter water: ²⁴And he shall cause the woman to drink the bitter water that causeth the curse: and the water that causeth the curse shall enter into her, and become bitter. ²⁵Then the priest shall take the jealousy offering out of the woman's hand, and shall wave the offering before the LORD, and offer it upon the altar: ²⁶And the priest shall take an handful of the offering, even the memorial thereof, and burn it upon the altar, and afterward shall cause the woman to drink the water. ²⁷And when he hath made her to drink the water, then it shall come to pass, that, if she be defiled, and have done trespass against her husband, that the water that causeth the curse shall enter into her, and become bitter, and her belly shall swell, and her thigh shall rot: and the woman shall be a curse among her people. ²⁸And if the woman be not defiled, but be clean; then she shall be free, and shall conceive seed. ²⁹This is the law of jealousies, when a wife goeth aside to another instead of her husband, and is defiled; ³⁰Or when the spirit of jealousy cometh upon him, and he be jealous over his wife, and shall set the woman before the LORD, and the priest shall execute upon her all this law. ³¹Then shall the man be guiltless from iniquity, and this woman shall bear her iniquity.

So, if a husband suspects, but has no evidence that his was committed adultery, then he is to take her to the priest. The Priest will remove her head covering, which would be considered a disgrace to her. He would then scoop us the dust on the floor and mix it with water, and he would make her drink it. If she feels pain, and her uterus and womb drop, then she is guilty of defiling herself. If she is not guilty, then she'll be immune to it. Apparently, if the husband was wrong, there is no consequence to him.

Qur'an 24:6 "As for those who accuse their own wives of adultery, but have no other witnesses, let each on four times call God to witness that he is telling the truth, 7. and, the fifth time, call God to reject him if he is lying; 8. punishment shall be averted from his wife if she in turn four times calls God to witness that her husband is lying 9. and, the fifth time, calls God to reject her if he is telling the truth."

So, according to the Qur'an, not only does an accuser require four witnesses to make make sure the accused is guilty, but if there are no witnesses, then both their words carry equal weight. The accuser must accuse the woman four times with God as his witness, and the fifth time call to God to reject him if he is lying. Then, the woman may then accuse her husband of lying four times, and call to God to reject her if she is lying. If the wife does this, her punishment is averted. The liar must then answer to God when the time comes.

More Proof that the woman belongs to her father when living in his house and her husband when in his.

Numbers 30: ⁶And if she had at all an husband, when she vowed, or uttered ought out of her lips, wherewith she bound her soul; ⁷And her husband heard it, and held his peace at her in the day that he heard it: then her vows shall stand, and her bonds wherewith she bound her soul shall stand. 8But if her husband disallowed her on the day that he heard it; then he shall make her vow which she vowed, and that which she uttered with her lips, wherewith she bound her soul, of none effect: and the LORD shall forgive her.

Numbers 30:¹²But if her husband hath utterly made them void on the day he heard them; then whatsoever proceeded out of her lips concerning her vows, or concerning the bond of her soul, shall not stand: her husband hath made them void; and the LORD shall forgive her. ¹³Every vow, and every binding oath to afflict the soul, her husband may establish it, or her husband may make it void. ¹⁴But if her husband altogether hold his peace at her from day to day; then he establisheth all her vows, or all her bonds, which are upon her: he confirmeth them, because he held his peace at her in the day that he heard them. ¹⁵But if he shall any ways make them void after that he hath heard them; then he shall bear her iniquity. ¹⁶These are the statutes, which the LORD commanded Moses, between a man and his wife, between the father and his daughter, being yet in her youth in her father's house.

Numbers 27: ⁸And thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel, saying, If a man die, and have no son, then ye shall cause his inheritance to pass unto his daughter.

Numbers 36:⁶This is the thing which the LORD doth command concerning the daughters of Zelophehad, saying, Let them marry to whom they think best; only to the family of the tribe of their father shall they marry. ⁷So shall not the inheritance of the children of Israel remove from tribe to tribe: for every one of the children of Israel shall keep himself to the inheritance of the tribe of his fathers.

The birth of a daughter causes a woman to remain unclear for twice the duration of the birth of a son, according to the Bible.

Leviticus 12:²Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, If a woman have conceived seed, and born a man child: then she shall be unclean seven days; according to the days of the separation for her infirmity shall she be unclean. ³And in the eighth day the flesh of his foreskin shall be circumcised. ⁴And she shall then continue in the blood of her purifying three and thirty days; she shall touch no hallowed thing, nor come into the sanctuary, until the days of her purifying be fulfilled. ⁵But if she bear a maid child, then she shall be unclean two weeks, as in her separation: and she shall continue in the blood of her purifying threescore and six days. "

If a woman tries to come to her husbands aid while he's being beat down, and she grabs his attackers crotch, her hands are to be cut off.