In the name of God, Most Beneficent, Most Merciful
Qur'anic References Regarding Women
Creation
Story of Adam and Eve 2:30-39, 7:11-25, 20:115-123 (conscious of nakedness),
15:26-40
Created from one entity, then mate, then multitudes 4:1, 6:98
Created out of male and female into nations and tribes 49:13
Brought into being out of one entity 6:98, out of it, its mate 39:6
Created from one entity, then mate so incline towards one another 7:189,
mates of own kind 16:72, marriage-tie 53:54
Created mates from selves (pairs/opposites) 36:36, 43:12, 51:49, 78:8
Creates males/females out of drop of sperm 53:45, 75:37-39,92:3, out of loins,
pelvic arch 86:5, 15:27
Gender Parity/Disparity
Two female witnesses 2:282 Other references to witnesses: property of orphans,
lewdness 4:6, 15; bequests 5:106-108, adultery 24:4-9, divorce 65:2
Inheritance 4:7, 11-12, 33 176
Blood money for murder (female for female, slave for slave) 2:178-9 (note
147)
Reward for labor of believing men/women 3:195
You are members, one from another 4:25
Believing men and women get benefit from what they earn 4:32
Believing men and women, protectors of one another 9:71-72
Good deeds of believing men and women will be rewarded 4:124, 57:18, 48:5,
40:40, 9:72, 16:97, 48:5
Say to believing men and believing women…33:35-36 ***
Ask forgiveness for yourself and believing men/women 47:18, 71:28 (du’a)
Suffering for hypocrites male/female, mercy for believers male/female 33:72,
57:12-13
Corrupt women are for corrupt men 24:26
Hypocrites, male/female 9:67-68, 48:6
Those who persecute believing men/women and don’t repent will suffer in hell
85:10
Those who malign believing men/women 33:58
Baiya (pledge of allegiance to Prophet) from believing women 60:12
Marriage
Unlawful to marry non-believers 2:221, 60:10-11
Outlines who is lawful/unlawful for marriage, dowry 4:4, 19-28
Lawful to marry women from People of the Book 5:5
Do not betroth in secret 2:235
They are your garments 2:187
Approach wives as you will, they are your tilth, avoid sex during menses
2:222-223
Consort with wives in goodly manner, do not keep against her will 4:19
Friend by your side (spouse) 4:36
Mates from among yourselves 7:189, 16:72, 42:11
Ask for spouses/offspring who are a joy to our eyes 25:74
Mates, tranquility and love 30:21
Enemies among spouses and children, pardon and forbear 64:14
God endowed men with descent and marriage-tie 25:55
Get married even to your slaves, if can’t marry, stay chaste 24:32-33
Be mindful of chastity, relations only with spouse or whom right hands possess
70:29-31, 23:5-6
Men protectors of women, discord (nushuz), arbitration 4:34-35
Nushuz from husband to wife 4:128
Marriage to adopted son’s ex-wife 33:37-40
Lawful women to Prophet includes slaves, first cousins, no more wives after
this verse 33:50-52
Polygamy 4:3, 127-129 (other references to orphans 2:219, 4:5, 6:152)
Divorce
General rules 2:224-237, Ch. 65 (Talaq)
Decisions re children (shura), nursing, parents not to suffer because of
child 2:233
Waiting period (iddah), treat in fair manner without harshness, spend on
wife, children while pregnant, nursing (alimony/child support) 65:4-7, alimony
2:241
No waiting period if marriage not consummated 33:49
Khul, woman gives up dowry to free herself if no offense by husband 2:229
Don’t retain women against their will 2:231
Don’t hold women against their will, don’t take back dowry 4:19
Rights equal, but men have precedence (daraja) 2:226-228 (cf: 6:165)
Act with grace 2:237
If do separate, God will provide 4:130
Nushuz from husband, seek amicable settlement 4:127-130
If choose to separate, take witnesses endued with justice; God grants a way
out 65:2
Arbitration in conflict 4:35
Zihar forbidden 58:1-4
Don’t send women back to mushrik husbands, don’t stay married to women unbelievers
60:10-11 (note 11: women not property)
Don’t expel from homes unless guilty of immoral conduct 65:1
Widows
Iddat/remarriage 2;234-5 right to one year’s maintenance (unless remarries)
2:240
Sex Crimes
Women guilty of immoral conduct (lewdness, implies homosexuality) 4:15-16
Punishment for zina, slander 24:2-26
Punishment for slandering chaste women, requirement for witnesses 24:4-25
Corrupt women for corrupt men, chaste for chaste 24:3, 26
Mind chastity 23:5, 70:29-30
Do not commit zina 17:32, 25:68, 60:12
Homosexuality (Lot) 7:80-84, 11:69-83, 15:58-76, 21:71, 26:160-174, 27:54,
29:29
Modesty
Garments to cover nakedness, best garment is taqwa 7:26 (libasan)
Lower gaze, guard modesty, don’t draw attention 24:30-31 (khimar)
Cover bosom with outer garment 33:59 (jilbab)
Women past age of marriage/sexual desire can cast aside outer garment 24:60
(thiyab)
Awra 24:31, 58; 20:115-123 (Adam and Eve)
Women in Qur'an
Mary 3:31-49 (bows down with those who bow down), never deviated from truth
5:75, 19:16-29, sign from God 23:50, 21:91, 4:156 (Mary as prophet, among
those inspired ("rijal") 12:109,15:43, 21:7; "nas" 22:75)
Queen of Sheba 27:23-44
Wife of Abraham 11:71-73
Zulaykha in story of Yusuf 12:24-35, 51
Women in story of Moses, mother given inspiration 20:37-41, 52:39; sisters,
wife of Pharoah 28:7-13, marriage of Moses 28:23-28
Lot’s wife/Noah’s wife/Mary/wife of Pharoah are examples for all believers
66:9-10
Prophet’s wives, Not like other women, greater punishment/reward, stay in
houses 33:28-34
Mothers of Believers 33:6
Speak to his wives from behind a screen, don’t marry his widows 33:53-55
Divulged confidence, offered divorce, may substitute better, virgin or previously
married 66:1-5
Marriage to Zaineb 33:37-40
No more wives after this verse 33:50-52
Story re Aisha and the necklace 24:11-20
Lot’s family 11:77-81
Wife of Abu Lahab Ch. 111
God appointed wives, offspring for apostles 13:38
Ascribing daughters to God 17:40, 37:149-143, 53:20-24 (Lat, Uzza), 53:27
(angels as women), 42:16-20 (females reared for ornament)
Concubines/Slavery
Marry up to 4 women or from among whom right hands possess 4:3
Marry slaves to avoid evil, better to abstain, marriage to captives 4:24-25,
24:32
Don’t force slave girls into prostitution, if any desire freedom, give it
24:33
Sexual relations with spouse or those whom right hands possess 23:6, 70:30
Free slave to make up for breaking oath 5:89, 58:3, to make up for zihar
58:3
Charity to free a slave 9:60
True piety includes the freeing of slaves 2:177
Share sustenance with slaves 16:71, free slave, feed hungry, care for orphans,
etc. 90:13
Don’t display beauty except in front of relatives and whom right hands possess
24:31, 58
Lawful for Prophet’s wives to appear in front of slaves 33:55
Prophet not to keep captives unless battles strenuously 8:67-70
Female Infanticide
Face darkens with news of birth of a girl 16:57-60, 43:17-18
Asked for what crime she was killed 81:8-9
Don’t kill children for fear of want 6:151, 17:31
Baiya from women includes pledge not to kill their children 60:12
Slaying of children seems good to unbelievers 6:137, 140
Hereafter
Rewards of this world and the hereafter with God 4:135, 18:107
Reward for Truthful, God pleased with them and they with him 5:119
Believers attain paradise, God removes lingering thoughts and feelings 7:42,
15:45-48
Realm beyond human perception, no empty talk, peace, sustenance 19:61-63,
56:25-26
Waters beneath feet, gardens of bliss, "salam" to those entering paradise
10:9, 20:75-76
What is with God is everlasting, rewarded according to best of deeds 16:96-97
Paradise described: jewelry, silk, couches 18:31, 22:23; mansions, etc. 29:57-59;
water, milk, wine, honey 47:15
Good deeds of believing men and women rewarded 4:124, 40:40, 9:72, 48:5
Enter paradise, you and spouses 43:70
Joined with righteous among parents, spouses 13:23-24, 40:8, 29:9; and offspring
52:21
Resurrected as virgins, full of love 56:34-40**, 43:70, 36:55
Spouses pure 2:25, 3;15, 4:57
Recline on couches with spouses-delight/joy/peace 36:55-57, facing each other
in love 44:51-53, 56:16
Sit on thrones with mates of modest gaze, beautiful eye 37:40-50, 38:49-52,
55:56
Houri al ‘ayn 44:53, unite with houri 52:20, 56:22, n.8, 55:72-74, 56:22,
34; 53:54
Companions, youth 78:33, 52:24, 56:17, 76:9
Description of hell 14:18, 22:19-22
Compiled by Laila Al-Marayati, 1998
