Gender Equity vs. Gender Equality in Islam

• Prof. Dr. Ali Akbar āl Azhārī

  Head of the Department, Department of Islamic Studies, Garrison University, Lahore

  Author

The debate on gender justice in Islam often gets irretrievably mired in modern concepts of "equality" and "equity." While equal treatment is the premise of the idea of gender equality, Islamic theology instructs the idea of gender equity—emphasizing justice and recognizing the natural physiological, psychological, and social differences between men and women. This paper offers a critical examination of the Islamic conception of gender roles, duties, and rights, tracing its roots in the Qur'an, Hadith, and early Islamic history. It outlines the difference between Islamic gender equity and secular concepts of equality, untangling how misundersatndings or confusion of these ideas can lead to flawed conclusions regarding Islam's gender approach. Founded on ideas from classical as well as modern Islamic scholarship, the study argues a balanced conception of how Islam balances justice and mercy in gender affairs, while it also outlines common issues confronting modern Muslim societies.

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