Islam recognizes the practical equity and spiritual equality of men and women. The Holy Quran declares, “But whoso does good works, whether male or female, and is a believer, such shall enter heaven…” (4:125). According to Islam, the most important goal and greatest objective of a human being is to attain righteousness and nearness to God—and both men and women have equal capacities in achieving this goal.

The Holy Quran states, “Surely men who submit themselves to God, and women who submit themselves to Him, and believing men and believing women, and obedient men and obedient women and truthful men and truthful women, and men steadfast in their faith and steadfast women, and men who are humble and women who are humble, and men who give alms and women who give alms, and men who fast and women who fast, and men who guard their chastity and women who guard their chastity, and men who remember Allah much and women who remember Him—Allah has prepared for all of them forgiveness and a great reward” (33:36). This verse highlights that men and women will be rewarded equally for their actions.

While the spiritual realm is most important, Islam immensely values the equitable status of women in the secular world. Islam was the first religion to champion the educational and economic rights of women. The Holy Prophet Muhammad^sa remarked, “It is the duty of every Muslim man and every Muslim woman to acquire knowledge” (Ibne Majah). The Holy Prophet Muhammad^sa had such high respect for the knowledge, education, and wisdom of his wives, that he stated, “Half the religion of Islam can be learned from Ayesha.” Indeed, after his death, the entire Muslim community sought the advice of his wives. This demonstrates that women in Islam are respected as important sources of knowledge.

Islam also granted economic rights to women fourteen centuries ago, establishing for women the ability to own, keep, and manage their own property and wealth, to seek divorce, to remarry, to inherit, and to ensure their own economic independence. The Holy Prophet Muhammad’s^sa first wife, Khadijah^ra, owned and operated her own thriving trade business.

While Islam urges both sexes to dress modestly and guard their eyes, women are enjoined to cover their heads and wear an outer garment to conceal their beauty from strangers. Her dress encourages society to focus on her intellectual merit rather than her physical characteristics. Contrary to some assumptions, Muslim women are active in every sphere of life and are among the most educated women in the world. There are Muslim female heads of state, doctors, lawyers, journalists, engineers, as well as mothers, wives, sisters, and daughters. Therefore, Islam recognizes the equity and equality of women.