Page 224 - Bigotry: The Dark Danger

Bigotry:
The Dark Danger

The Messiah, the son of Mary, was only a messenger,
before whom other messengers came and went. His
mother was a woman of truth... (Qur'an, 5:75)
In exhibiting their own horrifying ways of thinking
about women by talking about "stupidity," and referring to
pregnancy and childbirth as punishments from God, the

fanatics are at the same time foolishly insulting Mary
(pbuh), the Companions and all other devout women
praised for their superior virtues.

A difficult pregnancy and giving birth in pain is one of
the tribulations of this world, and one that requires great
fortitude, strength and willpower to bear. God reveals that
a mother who displays fortitude in the face of this difficulty

is very valuable in His Sight. For that reason, a mother who
displays submission to God and love of Him despite all
such difficulties is a very superior entity. This value
attached to mothers is one of the moral values in the Qur'an.

As we have seen, there are ways in which women are
even superior to men in the Qur'an, therefore the idea that
they are "deficient in intelligence and faith" is a grotesque

slander by the fanatics. God addresses men and women
equally in terms of responsibility. That is one the reasons
why male and female believers are addressed at the same
time in numerous verses. One such verse reads:

Men and women who are Muslims, men and women
who are believers, men and women who are obedient,
men and women who are truthful, men and women who
are steadfast, men and women who are humble, men
and women who give the alms, men and women who
fast, men and women who guard their private parts,

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