Page 63 - Quick Grasp of Faith 2

them to the punishment of the Blazing Fire? (Surah
Luqman: 21)

No, in fact they say, "We found our fathers following
a religion and we are simply guided in their foot-
steps." (Surat az-Zukhruf: 22)

57. Are man and woman equals in Islam?

In the Qur'an, Allah refers to believers who have faith and
do deeds of righteousness. In the sight of Allah the measure
of value and superiority is not being a man or a woman, but
to have faith and to perform good deeds. Everyone, with no
exception, is responsible for their own fulfilment of Allah's
commands and the precepts of Islam. It is stated in the Qur'an
that the reward for people's good actions, whether male or fe-
male, will be paid on equal terms:
Anyone, male or female, who does right actions and
is a believer, will enter Paradise. They will not be
wronged by so much as the tiniest speck. (Surat an-

Nisa': 124)
Besides this, Allah has informed us in other verses that a
person's heedfulness (taqwa) is the important thing; not their
gender. In other words, fearing Allah, protecting the self from
all kinds of sin, disobedience, corruption and deviation, and
avoiding all kinds of evil which will lead to destruction in the
Hereafter are of the real issues of importance:
Mankind! We created you from a male and female, and
made you into peoples and tribes so that you might
come to know each other. The noblest among you in
Allah's sight is the one who best performs his duty.
Allah is All-Knowing, All-Aware. (Surat al-Hujurat: 13)

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HARUN YAHYA