GENDER EQUALITY
Equal Partnership
GENDER equality means equality between men and women. This concept is said to have originated and flourished between the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. But in fact, it is a natural concept that can be traced back to the beginning of human history, when the first man and woman were born and settled in a place referred to in the Bible as the Garden of Eden, and in the Quran as jannah, or Paradise.
According to the Quran, when God Almighty created the first pair of Adam and Eve and settled them in Paradise, He said to them: “O Adam, live with your wife in Paradise and both of you eat freely from it, wherever you may wish.” This narration tells us an important fact. Here, “Eat freely” is a symbolic expression. It covers all kinds of human activities. It means: ‘Both are allowed free participation without any restriction in every activity of life’ that a man and a woman share with each other; both are equal partners in the activities of life. Together, both have to try to fulfil the purpose of life. This proves that gender equality is part of nature. It is a part of the creation plan of God and no one can change this status of the two genders.
Gender equality is a part of the creation plan of God and no one can change this status of the two genders.
As far as the religion of Islam is concerned, it acknowledges that there is equality between the two genders. Two references are mentioned here, one from the Quran and the other from the Hadith which are the sayings of the Prophet of Islam. This equal status of the two genders is mentioned in the Quran in these words: “You (man and woman) are members one of another.” Then, the Prophet of Islam has said: “An-nisa shaqaiq ar-rijal.” It means that men and women are two equal halves of a single unit.
It is a social fact that life is based on equal partnership. No single man or single woman can perform any meaningful activity alone. In this world any activity takes place through mutual partnership. This is the law of nature, and the law of nature cannot change.
But, there is a point to be noted here. Although, in theory men and women have equal status, when it comes to practice it is impossible that every individual would perform the same task as the other. Demanding that each individual should perform the same task is like having two people sit on the same seat in an office or any other place. Thus, there must be division of labour.
It is a known fact that in division of labour, division is based on ability and not on gender. As a result, a practical difference is created. This difference not only exists between a man and a woman, but also between one man and another man, and between one woman and another woman.
Men and women are two equal halves of a single unit.
Gender equality is an accepted principle of nature. But, in case of every natural principle there exists the possibility of it being misused, because our world is a world of freedom and choice. Similarly, cases of misuse of the principle of gender equality have happened in the past and may even happen in the present. But, misuse of a principle cannot change the principle. The principle remains intact.
The concept of gender equality is based on eternal laws of nature which are not subject to change. For this reason, the real importance in this regard is what is called ‘Women empowerment’. That is, we need to provide quality education to girls, give them the best training, create awareness in them about the principles of life and make them wellequipped for leading a better life in society. If we perform this task, then without making any formal demands, women will be able to attain an equal status in society.
In conclusion, what is to be understood is that without any formal declaration, men and women should maintain ideal equality; not in the sense of both doing the same task, but rather with a practical division of labour. Each should enjoy autonomy in their respective domains, without interfering in the domain of the other. The formula should be “Gender equality while maintaining division of labour”.
The best life partner is one who possesses inner beauty, not just outward beauty