Seven Quran Verses that Protect Women in Marriage
“Muslim women are oppressed by their husbands”.
I’m sure you’ve heard that before.
In fact, so many have taken it upon themselves to campaign for the reforming of Islam to ensure such oppression no longer continues. And in all honesty, such statements couldn’t be further from the truth.
While yes, some Muslim women, like all other women, may face injustice in their homes. It has little to do with men following Islam and more to do with them neglecting Islam. And if we truly want to rid injustice in marriage or protect women, we need not reform Islam, but rather, we must return to Islam.
Here are seven clear Quran verses that prove my point and protect Women. Husbands must give women their dowry. Unlike the traditional understanding of a marriage dowry, whereby a woman must give her husband a bridal gift of value upon marriage. Islam reverses the concept whereby it is the husband who must pay his wife whatever sum of money she requests. Not only is a man obliged by law to give his bride-to-be this dowry, but the Quran also states he must do so graciously, without expressing any dissent. These commands from Allah protect
Husbands must give women their dowry.
“And give the women [upon marriage] their [bridal] gifts graciously.”
Quran 4:4
A woman must not be restricted from her wealth.
“But if you want to replace one wife with another and you have given one of them a great amount [in gifts], do not take [back] from it anything. Would you take it in injustice and manifest sin?”
“And how could you take it while you have gone in unto each other and they have taken from you a solemn covenant?”
Quran 4:20-21
Husbands must always treat women with kindness.
“And live with them in kindness. For if you dislike them – perhaps you dislike a thing and Allah makes therein much good.”
Quran 4:19
The end of forced marriages.
“O you who have believed, it is not lawful for you to inherit women by compulsion.”
Quran 4:19
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ
said:
“The virgin should not be given in marriage until her permission has been sought.”
Sahih Al-Bukhari
Husbands must spend on their wives.
“Lodge them [in a section] of where you dwell out of your means and do not harm them in order to oppress them. And if they should be pregnant, then spend on them until they give birth. And if they breastfeed for you, then give them their payment and confer among yourselves in an acceptable way; but if you are in discord, then there may breastfeed for the father another woman.”
“Let a man of wealth spend from his wealth, and he whose provision is restricted – let him spend from what Allah has given him. Allah does not charge a soul except [according to] what He has given it. Allah will bring about, after hardship, ease.”
Quran 65:6-7
Avoid bitterness in divorce.
“And if you fear dissension between the two, send an arbitrator from his people and an arbitrator from her people. If they both desire reconciliation, Allah will cause it between them. Indeed, Allah is ever Knowing and Acquainted [with all things].”
Quran 4:35
“And when you divorce women and they have [nearly] fulfilled their term, either retain them according to acceptable terms or release them according to acceptable terms, and do not keep them, intending harm, to transgress [against them]. And whoever does that has certainly wronged himself.“
Quran 2:231
The right to inherit.
“For men is a share of what the parents and close relatives leave, and for women is a share of what the parents and close relatives leave, be it little or much – an obligatory share.”
Quran 4:7
Truth, Question & Misconception 