𝗪𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗻'𝘀 𝗕𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗳𝗶𝘁𝘀 (383)

Are Men Superior to Women? The answer to this question can be understood by reflecting on the following key points. Point 1: Complete Submission to Allāh’s Decrees A true Muslim is one who submits wholeheartedly to the commands and decrees of Allāh, without hesitation or reservation. As Allāh says: ﴿یَـٰۤأَیُّهَا ٱلَّذِینَ ءَامَنُوا۟ ٱدۡخُلُوا۟ فِی ٱلسِّلۡمِ كَاۤفَّةࣰ﴾ “O you who believe! Enter into Islam wholeheartedly.” [Sūrah Al-Baqarah: 208] The more a person submits to Allāh’s rulings, the more complete their Islam becomes. Conversely, rejecting or resisting certain decrees diminishes one’s faith and submission. Point 2: Submission Is Not Based on Personal Preference or Reasoning The decrees of Allāh are not subject to individual preference, emotion, or human reasoning—no matter how rational they may seem to us. Allāh clearly states: ﴿وَمَا كَانَ لِمُؤۡمِنࣲ وَلَا مُؤۡمِنَةٍ إِذَا قَضَى ٱللهُ وَرَسُولُهُۥۤ أَمۡرًا أَن یَكُونَ لَهُمُ ٱلۡخِیَرَةُ مِنۡ أَمۡرِهِمۡۗ وَمَن یَعۡصِ ٱللَّهَ وَرَسُولَهُۥ فَقَدۡ ضَلَّ ضَلَـٰلࣰا مُّبِینࣰا﴾ “It is not for a believing man or woman—when Allāh and His Messenger have decided a matter—to have any other choice in that matter. And whoever disobeys Allāh and His Messenger has clearly gone far astray.” [Sūrah Al-Aḥzāb: 36] Point 3: The Example of True Submission – Prophet Ibrāhīm and Ismā‘īl (peace be upon them) When Allāh commanded Prophet Ibrāhīm (peace be upon him) to sacrifice his beloved son, both father and son submitted without question. Allāh describes this moment: { فَلَمَّاۤ أَسۡلَمَا} “Then when they both submitted (to Allāh’s Will)…” [Sūrah Aṣ-Ṣāffāt: 103] Qatādah (may Allāh have mercy on him) explained: «أسلم هذا نفسَه لله، وأسلم هذا ابنَه لله» “This one (Ismā‘īl) surrendered himself to Allāh, and this one (Ibrāhīm) surrendered his son to Allāh.” [Tafsīr At-Ṭabarī] This is the essence of true faith—putting Allah’s command above all else. Point 4: The Example of Defiance – Iblīs In contrast, when Allāh commanded the angels to prostrate to Ādam, Iblīs refused out of arrogance and pride. He argued: {أَنَا۠ خَیۡرࣱ مِّنۡهُ خَلَقۡتَنِی مِن نَّارࣲ وَخَلَقۡتَهُۥ مِن طِینࣲ} “I am better than him. You created me from fire and created him from clay.” [Sūrah Al-A‘rāf: 12] This is the example of one who prioritises his own reasoning and ego over submission to Allāh’s command. Thus, every person is given freewill and the ability to choose: to follow the example of Ibrāhīm or the defiance of Iblīs. Point 5: Allāh is All-Wise in All His Decrees Among the Beautiful Names of Allāh is Al-Ḥakīm (The All-Wise). Every ruling, distinction, and decree of His is based on infinite wisdom, even if that wisdom is hidden from human perception. As believers, we affirm His wisdom in all matters. Point 6: Allāh Has Favoured Some of His Creation Over Others Allāh has established degrees of virtue among His creation: {وَرَبُّكَ یَخۡلُقُ مَا یَشَاۤءُ وَیَخۡتَارُۗ مَا كَانَ لَهُمُ ٱلۡخِیَرَةُۚ سُبۡحَـٰنَ ٱللَّهِ وَتَعَـٰلَىٰ عَمَّا یُشۡرِكُونَ} “Your Lord creates and chooses whatever He wills. The choice is not theirs. Glorified and Exalted is Allah above what they associate with Him.” [Sūrah Al-Qaṣaṣ: 68] Shaykh Al-Islām Ibn Taymiyyah (may Allāh have mercy on him) extensively discussed the concept of divine preference (tafāḍul) in the Qur’ān—how Allāh has favoured certain people, places, times, actions...over others. Some notable examples include: -> Makkah is the most virtuous land. -> This Ummah is the best of nations, without dispute. -> The best of this Ummah is the Prophet ﷺ—indeed, he is the best of all Prophets, and in fact, the best of all creation. -> Among his followers, the foremost in faith (as-sābiqūn al-awwalūn) are the most virtuous. -> Among them, the four Rightly Guided Caliphs hold the highest status, and the best of them is Abū Bakr, followed by ʿUmar, then ʿUthmān, then ʿAlī (may Allāh be pleased with them all).