No. The Quran and Sunnah give women the same human worth, the same accountability before Allah and the same reward as men, along with rights to property, earnings and consent in marriage. Islamic law does not make men and women identical in every role, and it is honest to say so, but difference in role is not the same as lesser worth.
The Quran's chapter called "The Women" opens by reminding all people that they were created "from one soul" and
its mate 1. Men and women come from the same origin and stand before the same Lord.
When the Quran lists the qualities Allah loves, it names each one twice, for Muslim men and Muslim women,
believing men and believing women, fasting men and fasting women, and promises all of them "forgiveness and a
great reward" 2. No text says a woman's soul, prayer or place with Allah is worth less.
Women were also given rights in this world. A woman has "a share of what [she has] earned" 3, and it belongs to
her. Her consent matters in marriage: when a father married his daughter Khansa, who had been married before, to a
man she disliked, the Prophet ﷺ declared the marriage invalid 4, and he said that a virgin too should not be
married without her permission 5. He told a man that his mother had the greatest claim on his kindness,
repeating it three times before mentioning the father 6, and he said that "the best of you is the best to his
wives" 7.
It would be dishonest to claim that the rules are the same for both. The Quran says wives have rights "similar to"
what is expected of them, and that men "have a degree over them" 8, which scholars explain as the husband's
responsibility to lead and provide for the family. Inheritance shares, witnessing in some contracts, a man's
permission to marry more than one wife and the rules of divorce also differ. Each of these has a context, and the
related answers look at several of them one by one.
What the texts do not support is the idea that a woman may be harmed, silenced, married off against her will or
denied what she has earned. Where Muslims treat women that way, these same texts are the standard that condemns
them.
The evidence
1
Quran An-Nisaa · 4:1
All people were created from one soul and its mate.
O mankind, fear your Lord, who created you from one soul and created from it its mate and dispersed from both of them many men and women. And fear Allah, through whom you ask one another, and the wombs. Indeed Allah is ever, over you, an Observer
2
Quran Al-Ahzaab · 33:35
Every quality praised is named for men and women alike, with the same forgiveness and reward.
Indeed, the Muslim men and Muslim women, the believing men and believing women, the obedient men and obedient women, the truthful men and truthful women, the patient men and patient women, the humble men and humble women, the charitable men and charitable women, the fasting men and fasting women, the men who guard their private parts and the women who do so, and the men who remember Allah often and the women who do so - for them Allah has prepared forgiveness and a great reward
3
Quran An-Nisaa · 4:32
Women have their own share of what they earn, just as men do.
And do not wish for that by which Allah has made some of you exceed others. For men is a share of what they have earned, and for women is a share of what they have earned. And ask Allah of his bounty. Indeed Allah is ever, of all things, Knowing
4
HadithSahih al-Bukhari 5138
SahihBukhari
A previously married woman given in marriage against her wishes had the marriage declared invalid.
Narrated Khansa bint Khidam Al-Ansariya:that her father gave her in marriage when she was a matron and she disliked that marriage. So she went to Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) and he declared that marriage invalid
A matron is not married without consulting her, nor a virgin without her permission.
Narrated Abu Huraira:The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "A matron should not be given in marriage except after consulting her; and a virgin should not be given in marriage except after her permission." The people asked, "O Allah's Messenger (ﷺ)! How can we know her permission?" He said, "Her silence (indicates her permission)
The mother is named three times as most deserving of good companionship, before the father.
Narrated Abu Huraira:A man came to Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) and said, "O Allah's Messenger (ﷺ)! Who is more entitled to be treated with the best companionship by me?" The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "Your mother." The man said. "Who is next?" The Prophet said, "Your mother." The man further said, "Who is next?" The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "Your mother." The man asked for the fourth time, "Who is next?" The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "Your father
العربية
حَدَّثَنَا قُتَيْبَةُ بْنُ سَعِيدٍ، حَدَّثَنَا جَرِيرٌ، عَنْ عُمَارَةَ بْنِ الْقَعْقَاعِ بْنِ شُبْرُمَةَ، عَنْ أَبِي زُرْعَةَ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ ـ رضى الله عنه ـ قَالَ جَاءَ رَجُلٌ إِلَى رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَقَالَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ مَنْ أَحَقُّ بِحُسْنِ صَحَابَتِي قَالَ " أُمُّكَ ". قَالَ ثُمَّ مَنْ قَالَ " أُمُّكَ ". قَالَ ثُمَّ مَنْ قَالَ " أُمُّكَ ". قَالَ ثُمَّ مَنْ قَالَ " ثُمَّ أَبُوكَ ". وَقَالَ ابْنُ شُبْرُمَةَ وَيَحْيَى بْنُ أَيُّوبَ حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو زُرْعَةَ مِثْلَهُ.
7
HadithJami' at-Tirmidhi 3895
Sahihgraded by Al-Albani
The best of you is the best to his wives.
Narrated 'Aishah:that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: "The best of you is the best to his wives, and I am the best of you to my wives, and when your companion dies, leave him alone
العربية
حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يُوسُفَ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا سُفْيَانُ، عَنْ هِشَامِ بْنِ عُرْوَةَ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، عَنْ عَائِشَةَ، قَالَتْ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " خَيْرُكُمْ خَيْرُكُمْ لأَهْلِهِ وَأَنَا خَيْرُكُمْ لأَهْلِي وَإِذَا مَاتَ صَاحِبُكُمْ فَدَعُوهُ " . قَالَ أَبُو عِيسَى هَذَا حَدِيثٌ حَسَنٌ غَرِيبٌ صَحِيحٌ مِنْ حَدِيثِ الثَّوْرِيِّ مَا أَقَلَّ مَنْ رَوَاهُ عَنِ الثَّوْرِيِّ . وَرُوِيَ هَذَا عَنْ هِشَامِ بْنِ عُرْوَةَ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم مُرْسَلٌ .
8
Quran Al-Baqara · 2:228
Wives have rights similar to their duties, and men have a degree of responsibility over them.
Divorced women remain in waiting for three periods, and it is not lawful for them to conceal what Allah has created in their wombs if they believe in Allah and the Last Day. And their husbands have more right to take them back in this [period] if they want reconciliation. And due to the wives is similar to what is expected of them, according to what is reasonable. But the men have a degree over them [in responsibility and authority]. And Allah is Exalted in Might and Wise
This answer was compiled with the help of AI, using only the verified texts shown here. Every reference links to its source. If you find a mistake, please report it. Updated 2026-09-24