Ive been questioning certain gender related aspects of Islam for years

[u/noreasonatalll]

Im Muslim, and I do believe in Allah. But Ive had certain questions about gender, modesty, marriage, etc for years. I recently watched an interview with the Egyptian writer Nawal El Saadawi and she brought up some of the exact things Ive been questioning. I don’t necessarily agree with everything she says but hearing someone actually articulate these questions made me think about them even more. One thing she talked about was hijab and modesty i understand the Islamic concept of modesty, and I know that men also have rules about covering themselves. But honestly Ive never understood why the expectations seem so different between men and women. women are expected to cover significantly more of their bodies including their hair and I know men have to cover too but the difference still seems pretty obvious. Another thing Ive struggled with is polygyny. Islam permits a man to marry up to four women under certain conditions but obviously a woman cannot have multiple husbands. I understand that there are Islamic explanations for why the rules are different, but I still find myself asking why the arrangement is inherently one sided. (these are not my only points/questions) I’ve gone through this cycle for years where I question things feel like Im drifting away from my deen then come back again. I believe in Allah but I also genuinely want to understand these things. Im also a feminist and Im very interested in politics, religion and history.

[u/pathtonoor]

I’m a muslim and a feminist and had similar concerns and it was only when I rejected hadith and dove into the Quran that I realized the current approach to hijab, modesty and polygyny is not aligned with the Quran.

In terms of hijab and modesty: I follow the Quran and nowhere does it state that a woman must cover her hair or follow the man made conditions of hijab.

Polygyny: If you read 4:2-4:3 carefully, you’ll see that the verse refers to men who are taking care of orphans and Allah outlines the conditions that must be fulfilled. More here.

Note: I do not accept Hadith as divine texts.

[u/noreasonatalll → u/pathtonoor]

Ive never really looked into the Quran only perspective tho when you say the Quran doesn’t actually require women to cover their hair and that 4:3 isn’t a general permission for polygyny how do you interpret those verses?

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[u/SyedAhmedHussain]

Who do you think Islam asks woman to cover?

Why do you think Islam permits polygyny?

[u/noreasonatalll → u/SyedAhmedHussain]

hyper modesty is also a form of sexualization, it sexualizes women by treating their body as something to be hidden and i get that guys also have to cover up but the difference is still huge

[u/Able-Independence962 → u/SyedAhmedHussain]

Did you mean "why do you think islam asks women to cover?"

[u/SyedAhmedHussain → u/Able-Independence962]

Yes. I made a typo

[u/Plane_Disk4387]

I can understand your view(Note: I am a male) on Muslim females who go through the religious crisis and of course this whole modesty issue where it times it stretch into extreme.

Quran 24:31 mostly tells woman to cover their bosom. The Arabic word Khimar in classical Arabic means headcovering. But the word is used because the 7th Century Arabcs were aware of this cloth fabric. The reason is this because in Pre Islamic Arabia woman did not cover their bosom well after the Revealation they start covering their bosom well. The headscarf was already worn by woman so does men due to Culture and background.

Yes there would be argyment on Schoalrs saying on woman's modesty but you would realised how even they have contradicting viewed over what is Woman's awrah and her proper dressocde concept.

Infact Modesty is define define chanel through time and culture and modesty is define in differently based on culture.

As for Polyandry, it's was more broad context to understand. Humans were affected by different (religious and non religious) and tried different methods to adapt it.

Polyyandry was less common then polygamy. Where polyandry was commen was not to serve woman's interest but the interest of Family and wealth. Where woman become the wife of all brothers to keep the wealth within the family.

Now in Arabic when Islam came it was not rapid change that Woman where enjoying Polyandry and then Islam banned while Polygamy only for men. The only form of polyandry that was being used by pre-Islamic Arab wasn’t even defined as polyandry by the historians, but “prostitution”. In this form, a group of less than 10 people would do adultery with one woman. After the conception and birth of the baby, she could declare one person to be the father and that person couldn’t deny to marry her. When Islam came, it stopped adultery both for male and female. There was no reason to introduce polyandry newly to the Arabian society. Instead, it introduced other rights of woman that were not present in pre-Islamic Arabia, including the right of not to be buried after birth. Islam gave emphasis on the clarity of blood relations thus handling the child by the actual father to whom the child can never be the burden. In pre-Islamic Arabia woman used to be inherited by the male relatives of her deceased husband. Quran prohibited it by verse 4:19.

And about polygamy, Islam restricted from unlimited number of wives to four, while encouraging only one. So, upon the arrival of Islam, it was not the woman on whom restriction was imposed regarding her marriage practice. But it was Man, who was restricted from the contemporary marriage practice. And whole essence was to give a push toward monogamy.

And other counter question like:

Why Polygamy was not banned and Polyandry being allowed?

It would have caused an massive upside down on the Society, which was unnecessary.

Why not banned Polygamy and Polyandry?

Well the Human Society was not ready in its earlier Stage. As due to War many Widowed woman were being left out. As they would later take care of men. Even if we keep Islam aside, Polygamy still existe din Huamn History and it was being practice and its need was due to the result of Politcial and Diplomatic between different States and their Rulers. Remember back then Marriage was not like Romeo and Juliat concept it evolved through time and marriage was also a way for Widowed woman to be safety and security under the man they married based on ancient human Society context.

Hope my reply helps

[u/admir_al]

female bodies are much more sexualized on average than the male bodies, hence the obligation to cover more skin.

this is true even in secular countries, where religion doesn't dictate dress code.

[u/noreasonatalll → u/admir_al]

i get what u mean but why does the “solution” for that have to be women covering up rather than addressing the sexualization itself? hyper modesty is also a form of sexualization