“For Muslim men and women, for believing men and women, for devout men and women, for true men and women, for men and women who are patient and constant, for men and women who humble themselves, for men and women who give in charity, and for men and women who fast, for men and women who guard their chastity, and for men and women who engage much in Allah’s remembrance, for them has Allah prepared forgiveness and great reward.” (Quran 33:35)

 

The Quran, a scripture revealed in the seventh century, uses gender-inclusive language when describing the obligations of faith. Although “man” or “he” may be used in a general sense, in this passage the Quran addresses both genders, showing no uncertainty over who must fulfill these responsibilities and making it clear that in faith, there is complete equality between men and women.

The Quran lists the obligations of faith in specific detail. Men and women who wish to gain God’s pleasure in this life and the next, must be prepared to make the effort to attain these qualities.

The first level of faith is based on surrender. To become a Muslim is to surrender completely to God, to turn towards Him at every moment and to seek His face at all times. To become a believer means that faith has entered the heart, motivating a believer with such yearning to meet God that he or she loses fear and sadness. The only real fear or sadness is of anything that might separate a believer from God.

Men and women of faith are devout, infusing every act of worship and virtue with complete sincerity.

Men and women of faith are people of truth. These people are true in speech, true in promises, true in actions, and true in every inward intention.

Men and women of faith are people of patience, who continue to do good despite obstacles. People of patience are willing to suffer for what is true, and for what is beautiful before God, and remain constant in acts of kindness, virtue and worship, despite difficulties.

Men and women of faith are humble. Whatever good comes through them is a gift from God, for which to be grateful, not a pretext to distance themselves from God through arrogance or delusions of self-importance.

Men and women of faith give in charity, not only from what is extra, but from what they love the best. And they give not only in times of plenty, but in times of need and scarcity. Islam teaches the believer to prepare for the time of scarcity by giving charity in abundance. “Who will lend to God a beautiful loan?” the Quran asks, for surely you will be repaid by God at the time of your need.

Men and women of faith fast, giving up the pleasures of food and drink for the gift of “taqwa”, constant awareness of God.

Men and women of faith guard their chastity, preserving and protecting the sacredness of their bodies and their life giving properties, for those with whom they are joined in mutual trust before God.

Men and women of faith engage much in remembrance and praise of God, so that their inner souls resonate with His sacred names and His light becomes implanted in their hearts.

The Quran teaches that God does not look at the outward form or gender, but at what is inside the human being. On the level of faith, men and women are treated with complete equality, and those who earnestly strive to fulfill the obligations of faith will find forgiveness and a tremendous reward from their Lord. 

 

Barbara (Masumah) Helms

(Courtesy of the Standard-Freeholder, published under the title “We are equal in Faith”, January 20, 2007)