Feminism is a non existent movement to the Muslims - a thread, pertaining to equity vs equality! [WARNING: LENGTHY]

So before we get into this, let’s first assess feminism as a concept. Feminism can be defined as: the advocacy of women's rights on the ground of the equality of the sexes.

We must also establish the fact that feminism’s lack of presence in Islam does not mean women don’t have rights- subhanallah, it is quite the opposite. Both the men and women of Islam have their rights, as prescribed by Allah!

Feminism strives for equality; whereas Islam strives for equity - meaning what is fair. Allah, in his infinite mercy, created men and women differently, and then prescribed rights to cater for each gender. We know this.

Allah did not create men and women to be the EXACT same - physically, we aren’t the same, therefore psychologically/mentally we aren’t the same. We are not made to have the same psyche as man, and therefore our innate characteristics are not the same as men.

Islam strives to make things fair for both genders. Equality actually brings about oppression in regards to feminism, and I’ll give you some examples as to why.

Let’s say we put a young child, age 6, in a room full of university level students. We teach them all the same content and expect them all to pass the exam. Is that equal? Yes, it is, they’ve all got the resources and facilities. But is that fair? No!

If I ask someone on a wheelchair who is physically unable to do things that the able person can do, and I give them both the chance to run an 800m race, is that equality? Yes. But is that fair? No!

In these scenarios, by way of equality the child is oppressed as they don’t have the mental capacity to understand uni level content, and the disabled person is opressed as they cannot run that race

Now let’s look at this from an Islamic POV. We all know Allah knows his creation the best, while we know not. So the individual rights he has prescribed for us are because HE KNOWS what is better for us!

Take women for example; in the time of rasulullah ﷺ, there were some women who fought alongside him in battle. did he stop them, no. They were brave but held femininity. But was it made fardh upon them? No! bc Allah did not make this fardh upon women! -cont

Allah did not make warfare and battle fardh upon us because a woman is not designed to be big and strong, manly and able to fight; the female psyche is for love, nurturing and caregiving.

Men; however, are to protect women as mentioned in the Quran, and are made stronger and have been given certain characteristics to handle battle such as physical strength and endurance, and therefore it is haram for them to run from battle! Women’s strength is different to men’s

Imagine if that was obligatory for us to fight. The amount of women who would die, fall into depression, become weak; fear for their lives would be horrible because we ARE NOT made for that. Allah saved us from this, because he knows what’s greater for us.

So let’s say Islam was about equality then. If fighting in battle for both genders is equal bc that’s what feminism strives for, is it equal? Yes, but is it fair, no! Remember feminism wants the same for both genders- Islam wants equity

So if Islam was really equal it would be fardh for all of us and the women would suffer under this because men would have the strength to fight whereas women have other strengths - bearing children, running households, giving love, etc

Let me give you another example. Feminism wants equality remember, Islam wants equity. Let’s say a Muslim couple has a baby. Feminism states both parents have equal rights on the child? Is this the case islamically, NO

A man came to the Prophet and said, ‘O Messenger of God! Who among the people is the most worthy of my good companionship? The Prophet said: Your mother. The man said, ‘Then who?' The Prophet said: Then your mother. The man further asked, ‘Then who?' The Prophet said:

Then your mother. The man asked again, ‘Then who?' The Prophet said: Then your father. (Bukhari, Muslim).

Is that equal? No. But is it fair? YES! The mother has rights over her child because she did 3 things the father did not do. She carried him, she brought herself to the brink of death to give birth, and then she weaned the child - the father did not do this!

She has more rights because this is what Allah deemed fair for her. Men have more rights over some things and women have more rights over other things. Is that equal, no. But is it fair? Yes.

Islam will never oppress women, or even men. It is here to impose justice, Allah has extended his mercy over us by giving us different rights and needs. And he has matched them perfectly in his unmatched wisdom.

Allahu Alam.