Islam: A Feminist/Womanist Faith by Jamilah Ali

American media and the Taliban in Afghanistan have both long disparaged Islam regarding the status of women. I would like not only to correct the contention that women are second-class, but to provide for you an argument that Islam is, based on our Prophet and the Holy Quran, a feminist and egalitarian religion. It has been falsely maligned.

For your convenience I will use the English word for Allah, God, throughout this piece. (Did you know Arabic speaking Christians call God; Allah?)

Please note Muslims believe that all the Holy Books, the Bible and Torah, were indeed revelations from God. Belief in all the Holy Books is one of Islams 7 articles of faith. However, according to Muslim creed the Bible has been changed by humans through time deliberately or not. Thus Quran, the most recent revelation sent 610 years after Christ, is relatively unaltered from its original. It was radical, even then, for providing women the rights to inheritance, to have their own money and property, and for them to retain the dowry paid for marriage, not the father.

The life of Muhammad modeled a man who was feminist at heart. He first married Khadijah, a businesswoman, who was 15 years his senior. She was his only wife until she passed away 24 years later. Also, she was the first person to become Muslim after Muhammad received the revelation. As his wife, she knew how sincere, honest, and faithful he was. He was vehemently against femicide of infants. He never lifted a hand against any woman. He did housework and sewing. This is the kind of man God chose to reveal the Quran. One who respected women.

The first Bible story corrected by Quran is the story of Adam and Eve. In the Bible, Eve is seduced by the Devil, angering God when she eats from the forbidden tree, and she is thus responsible for the downfall of all of humanity. It is, according to Christians, “original sin,” and blame for it has fallen on women ever since.

In Quran the same story is related, except BOTH Adam and Eve were convinced by the serpent to eat from the forbidden tree (Surah 7:19). It had the same effect, the couple is sent down to live on Earth from Paradise, with the risk of Satan leading them astray. But it is not the fault of Eve, and Adam has equal responsibility for their downfall. Also, in Quran God made both Adam and Eve from clay. Eve is not from Adam’s rib.

Another beautiful example is the story of Maryam, mother of Jesus, whose pregnancy is agreed in Quran to be the result of immaculate conception (Surah 19:20). Thus, there are many Muslims who believe Maryam is a Prophet, and her message from God was the Prophet Jesus. Jesus, by the way, was born as an infant with the ability to speak (Surah 19:30) and piped up in defense of his mother’s reputation. What is more feminist than that?

The Quran also has what I call the Equal Rights Amendment (Surah 9:71). “The Believers, men and women, are protectors one of the other: they enjoin what is just, and forbid what is evil; they observe regular prayers, practice regular charity, and obey God and God’s apostle. On them will God pour Mercy, for God is exalted in power, wise.” Note God includes mention of both men and women often in Quran. Inclusion of sisters is not just inferred by a generic “he” used in the other Holy Books. And, regarding equality in marriage, this verse (Surah 2:187) says “Your spouses are garments for you and you for them”. Again, we are instructed to cover and protect each other, with equity.

Only slightly off-topic, is what I call the Gay Marriage verse of the Quran (Surah 3:21), “And among God’s signs is this, that God created for you like mates from among yourselves, that you may dwell in tranquility with them, and God has put love and mercy between your hearts…” Notice it is not mentioned that marriage is between a male and female, just “mates”. And, women do not change their last names upon marriage (Surah 33:5).

I would be remiss if I did not include mention of Hagar, the second wife of Prophet Abraham and mother of Prophet Ishmael. She was certainly a feminist example as functionally a single mom, left by Abraham in the desert with her son, Ishmael, to fend for herself. God gave her the miracle of the Well of Zamzam, near the Kaaba. All the Muslims on hajj reenact her struggle looking for water by crossing 7 times between Mount Al-Safa and Al-Marwah. Of course, now they have air-conditioned corridors for pilgrims to traverse.

A document we do not hear enough about is the Last Sermon of Prophet Muhammad on Mount Arafat during his last hajj. We have this sermon transcribed as Hadith narrated by Aisha, his brilliant second wife. Here are some excerpts:

“Oh People, lend an attentive ear, for I know not whether after this year I shall ever be amongst you again. Therefore, listen carefully to what I am saying and take these words to those who could not be here today…

“Oh People, it is true that you have certain rights with regard to your women, but they also have rights over you… Do treat your women well and be kind to them, for they are your partners and committed helpers…All people descend from Adam and Eve, and an Arab has no superiority over a non-Arab, nor is a non-Arab superior to an Arab. A White has no superiority over a Black, and a Black has no superiority over a White except by piety and good action…

“Do not, therefore, do injustice to yourselves. Remember one day you will meet Allah and answer for your deeds. So, beware, do not stray from the path of righteousness after I am gone…

“Oh Allah, be my witness, that I have conveyed your Message to Your people.”

This last sermon represents the true values of Islam, and covers equal rights and social justice, but we never hear of that. Islam is very modern and forward-thinking (Please see Muslims for Progressive Values, for links to the current progressive movement). It was meant to up-lift women, but the current patriarchal Middle East governments conveniently ignore this radical approach to gender politics. As others have suggested, a real Arab Spring could have embraced this perspective as a womanist revolution and really set patriarchy on its head. Mohammad Bouazizi, who sparked the Arab Spring when he self-immolated, was followed by the women in his family speaking out and promoting his goals so his sacrifice would be remembered. This woman-positive Islam could be the antidote we all desperately need about now.

Bio: Jamilah Ali (she/her/sister) identifies as an elder queer Progressive Muslim, writing poetry, essays and opinion. She has a poem coming on-line in the DC Pride Poems 2026, and was invited to read at the Gathering of the Tribes in NYC last month. She lives in Silver Spring, MD, with her partner and kitties