Women should be subordinate to men.

Allegation: The Quran says that women should be subordinate to men, so Islam is misogynistic and patriarchal.

Many anti-Islamic and atheistic circles repeatedly raise an old allegation to prove that Islam is ‘misogynistic’—that is, the Quran says that “women are subordinate to men,” and that Islam oppresses women, does not give them freedom, and has made women a kind of ‘second-class citizen.’ Behind this propaganda, they usually quote one or two specific verses and ignore the rest of the previous and subsequent statements, trying to establish Islam as a patriarchal, conservative, and discriminatory religion. However, the real truth is that Islam has given women such respect, dignity, and rights that were unimaginable in the seventh century, and modern ‘feminism’ has still failed to establish an equal balance.

Here we will analyze this allegation in depth, explaining in the light of the Quran and authentic Hadith that Islam has not diminished the dignity of women, but has assigned them separate responsibilities to maintain the balance of real life, which is not discrimination, but rather an expression of responsibility and respect.

First, the verse that is frequently used behind this allegation is Surah An-Nisa, verse 34:

"And men are guardians over women..."

"And men are guardians over women..."

(Surah An-Nisa, 4:34)

The word 'qawamun' in this verse is often mistranslated as 'above' or 'dominant'. However, the original meaning of the word 'qawam' in Arabic is a responsible guardian, one who maintains, bears expenses and provides protection when necessary. This is not in the sense of dominance or authority, but rather a term of responsibility and accountability.

Immediately after this verse, Allah says:

“... because Allah has made some of you superior to others, and they (men) spend their wealth.”

That is, the basis of being a community is that men have greater financial and social responsibilities. Since Islam has not given women the responsibility of earning, but has given men the obligatory responsibility of running the family, men are called ‘responsible guardians’ to maintain the balance of the family structure. This is not a declaration of exploitation, but a responsibility of maintenance.

Surprisingly, by using this verse, those who call Islam anti-women, they ignore those verses of the Quran where Allah has honored men and women equally. For example:

“I am not inferior to any of you; whether male or female—you are a part of one another.”

(Surah Ale Imran, 3:195)

In another place, it is said:

“Whoever does righteous deeds—male or female—and is a believer, We will surely give him a pure life.”

(Surah An-Nahl, 16:97)

These verses have unified the moral and spiritual status of both men and women. As a result, women have never been relegated to a lower or neglected position in Islamic Sharia.

More specifically, Islam has provided financial security for women. If a woman is in her father’s house, it is the father’s responsibility, if she is under her husband’s control, it is the husband’s responsibility, and if there is none, it is the state’s responsibility to provide for her. Islam even says something about the status of the mother that no other religion or ideology in history has said.

This famous hadith of the Prophet ﷺ is enough:

“Who is the most deserving of you?”

The Prophet ﷺ replied: “Your mother.”

Then who? “Your mother.”

Then who? “Your mother.”

Then who? “Your father.”

(Sahih Bukhari and Muslim)

Even, the Quran clearly protects women's property rights, consent to marriage, security after divorce, special respect as mothers, the right to maintenance from their husbands, and the right to seek justice if their rights are violated.

In Islam, women are allowed to work, have the right to do business, and have the right to keep and spend property in their own name. In the early days of Islam, Hazrat Khadija (RA) was a successful entrepreneur as a businesswoman. The Prophet (ﷺ) respected her and made her his life partner.

However, Islam did not deny the natural differences between men and women. Rather, it divided roles and responsibilities according to the differences that exist in creation and biology. For example, women have the unique status of being mothers, which has no alternative. Men have been given the burden of external work. So if someone asks - why don't women call for prayer like men? Or why don't they fight like men? Then that would be a wrong question that denies the natural differences.

In the modern Western world, in the name of establishing ‘gender equality’, women have been turned into labor machines, where women have been separated from their true nature and social status. Islam has not forgotten that.

Therefore, the claim that Islam has made women second-class citizens—as false as this allegation is, the claim that Islam is misogynistic—is also a deliberate distortion. It is clear from the Quran and authentic Hadith—Islam has given women a balanced combination of respect, protection, freedom and responsibility, which is consistent with their true status.

In the eyes of Islam, a woman is not an object, not a product—rather, she is a complete soul, who is respected in her own identity, in her own dignity. She is not belittled, but a beautiful family, a civilized society, a tolerant nation is built around her.

If you want, you can determine the next allegation based on this discussion, or I can come up with an answer to another important misinterpretation.