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It all depends on the person’s strength of faith in Allah, his charac-
ter, personality, and the responsibilities one is prepared to accept. The
gender of the person is irrelevant in this regard. Therefore women, who

adopt Islamic morality, do not enter a struggle for equality with men,
but a “race” in the cause of goodness. Racing in the cause of goodness
means that believers do their utmost in every area of their lives to earn
the good pleasure of Allah. In this respect, they race to become the per-
son who is most beloved by Allah, closest to Him and most worthy of
His acceptance. However, this is a good natured and godly race. Allah
reveals in the Qur’an that what takes them forward in this race is their
efforts in this respect:
Such people are truly racing towards good things, and they are the
first to reach them. (Surat al-Muminun: 61)
Then We made Our chosen servants inherit the Book. But some of
them wrong themselves; some are ambivalent; and some outdo each
other in good by Allah’s permission. That is the great favor. (Surat
Fatir: 32)
The equality of men and women is apparent in the equal opportu-
nity Allah grants to them in their worldly trials:

“We made everything on the earth adornment for it so that We could
test them to see whose actions are the best.” (Surat al-Kahf: 7)
Every self will taste death. We test you with both good and evil as a
trial. And you will be returned to Us. (Surat al-Anbiya’: 35)

With these verses Allah reveals that He is trying men and women
alike in order to test who will conduct themselves better.
Allah gives men and women a certain lifespan, holds both account-
able with the Qur’an, gives them both a conscience that will inspire them
to do right, and makes their selfish egos’ and satan their worst enemies.
As a result of the worldly trial, whomsoever, man or woman, acquires

Islam And Far Eastern Religions